When cleaning out the garage a few weeks ago, I found my original Nintendo Entertainment System. Rather than sell it on ebay, I decided to do a few projects using this iconic video game system.
At first, I simply wanted to turn the controller into a flash drive and be one of the thousands of videos and blogs of people turning everyday objects into external memory, but ever since I got my first arduino working, I’ve been itching to do something different. I thought, wouldn’t it be cool to add a security feature that required someone to enter the classic contra “30 lives” code before they could access the data?
A few prototypes later, I had it working on the breadboard. It’s fairly straight forward. The arduino constantly polls the controller for button states. When you push a button, it stores that value in an array which always holds the most recent 10 values. Whenever you push the start button, it checks the stored array against a separate array which contains the values for the konami code (Up,Up,Down,Down,Left,Right,Left,Right,B,A). If valid, the arduino sends a pulse to the relay which switches power to the embedded flash drive and hence fully connects to the computer.
In practice, I’m not sure if this security feature is practical, but it’s pretty fun! There’s nothing like entering the classic konami code on the original NES controller!
Resources:
Blog post about connecting the NES controller to an arduino
[...] wrote in to show us his unique NES controller mod. He initially thought of just putting some flash storage in his controller like so many others. [...]
Pingback by Nes controller storage with security - Hack a Day on October 11, 2009 at 5:44 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joven. Joven said: Finally finished my konami code locked nes controller flash drive! Video: http://tinyurl.com/yg48o3o Blog: http://tinyurl.com/yjgou7f @make [...]
Pingback by Tweets that mention ProtoDojo: Prototype Sanctuary by Joven » Retro GamerDrive -- Topsy.com on October 11, 2009 at 10:55 am
to me, this mod is incomplete until it also has the ability to be used as a gamepad as well as a flash drive. so that when the relay is activated, it hosts two USB devices, as opposed to one.
that way, this could be used to hold NES games and an emulator, as well as control them, and be locked in a cool way!
either way this is very impressive
Comment by kronflux on October 11, 2009 at 12:39 pm
[...] wrote in to show us his unique NES controller mod. He initially thought of just putting some flash storage in his controller like so many others. [...]
Pingback by Nes controller storage with security | Diy all the Way on October 11, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I have a great idea…. I was wondering if you would be interested in working on a prject with me that would be something similar to what you made with the Nintendo remote, but really take the arudino to the next level….. If your interested, fire me an email and we can chat about it….
Great job.
Comment by Sashmo on October 11, 2009 at 4:09 pm
What a sharp vid and a great mod…
I agree with the above commenter that it would be cool for the controller to house and control
an NES emulator.. So you could plug in at work or where ever..
Still a great mod..
Comment by CE on October 11, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Dude, that is way too cool. You gave me a wild idea. Let me know when you have the code ready for the controller to be additionally used as an input device.
Comment by Gatti on October 11, 2009 at 5:57 pm
[...] will think it is just another mod for a flash drive with the Nintendo controller. However, Joe from ProtoDojo step it up a notch by adding a cool security feature to the controller [...]
Pingback by NES Controller Flash Drive Mod with Konami Code Security Feature on October 11, 2009 at 7:42 pm
[...] Fonte – ProtoDojo [...]
Pingback by Geekalhadas | 8-Bit Revolution on October 12, 2009 at 12:22 am
[...] ahead of what most people use to secure things that are really important to them. [via Gizmodo - Protodojo] Posted in General | Leave a [...]
Pingback by TheTechnologySources.com » Blog Archive » NES Controller USB Flash Drive with Konami Security Code on October 12, 2009 at 1:04 am
[...] [via Gizmodo - Protodojo] [...]
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[...] Plus d’ifos sur le site du concepteur : protodojo.com [...]
Pingback by Une clé USB dans un pad NES sécurisée par Konami code. | Semageek on October 12, 2009 at 3:00 am
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Pingback by NES USB Drive with Security - Hacked Gadgets - DIY Tech Blog on October 12, 2009 at 4:43 am
[...] made out of old NES controllers before on Geeky Gadgets, the latest one was created by Joe from ProtoDojo, and it features built in [...]
Pingback by NES Controller USB Drive with built in security | Geeky Gadgets on October 12, 2009 at 6:57 am
[...] from ProtoDojo has made a NES USB Drive with Security out of his old NES controller. Instead of simply hacking the device with a USB drive he wanted to [...]
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[...] [via Gizmodo - Protodojo] [...]
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[...] [via Gizmodo - Protodojo] [...]
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[...] Gizmodo – Protodojo] private student [...]
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is it for sale?
Comment by zakyr on October 12, 2009 at 12:58 pm
[...] latest NES hack/mod comes to us from Joe over at ProtoDojo. While rummaging through his uncle’s garage, Joe came upon his old Nintendo system. And like any [...]
Pingback by nes controller flash drive is like spy tech for geeks | Tamasindo Secret & Technology on October 12, 2009 at 1:02 pm
[...] made out of old NES controllers before on Geeky Gadgets, the latest one was created by Joe from ProtoDojo, and it features built in [...]
Pingback by NES Controller USB Drive with built in security | Diy all the Way on October 12, 2009 at 1:58 pm
[...] NES flash drive, made by ProtoDojo, is definitely more clunky and cumbersome than any flash drive you find in stores, but how many [...]
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Pingback by Gadgets & Tech » ProtoDojo turns NES controller into flash drive with Konami-level security on October 12, 2009 at 3:07 pm
[...] latest NES hack/mod comes to us from Joe over at ProtoDojo. While rummaging through his uncle’s garage, Joe came upon his old Nintendo system. And like any [...]
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[...] mod est signé protodojo. Articles similaires : Rei de Evangelion en clé [...]
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[...] an awesome NES hack that involves a retro-NES controller hacked as an NES USB Flash drive, also with added NES security that can only be unlocked using the NES controller itself, how [...]
Pingback by Arduino Hack – How to Make an NES USB Flash Drive! (with NES security) on October 12, 2009 at 7:22 pm
is that hard to do? I just googled arduino pro mini and read a few things about it. Sound extremely complicated. I had no idea what most of the stuff I read meant.
Comment by Electricb7 on October 12, 2009 at 8:24 pm
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Thanks everyone for the great comments!
kronflux, that’s a great idea!!! I’ll work on that next along with bumping up the internal flash to 32gb (now that I know it works with the 1gb) haha
Comment by digitaljoven on October 12, 2009 at 10:00 pm
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Pingback by ProtoDojo turns NES controller into flash drive with Konami-level security | SalDee.com on October 13, 2009 at 3:08 am
[...] Ce mod est signé protodojo. [...]
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[...] Check out the full project at Joven’s site: Retro GamerDrive. [...]
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Pingback by ProtoDojo turns NES controller into flash drive with Konami-level security « Gadgets Club on October 14, 2009 at 10:15 pm
[...] garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life — it can now be [...]
Pingback by NES controller flash drive is Konami Code-protected on October 15, 2009 at 12:31 am
[...] garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life — it can now be [...]
Pingback by NES controller flash drive is Konami Code-protected | GameSpasm on October 15, 2009 at 12:32 am
[...] garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life — it can now be [...]
Pingback by NES controller flash drive is Konami Code-protected | mediaflava.com on October 15, 2009 at 12:40 am
[...] garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life — it can now be [...]
Pingback by NES controller flash drive is Konami Code-protected « GadgetBag on October 15, 2009 at 12:45 am
[...] garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life — it can now be [...]
Pingback by NES controller flash drive is Konami Code-protected | Games Journal on October 15, 2009 at 12:50 am
[...] garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life — it can [...]
Pingback by NES controller flash drive is Konami Code-protected| Latest breaking News on Video Games Hardware and Software.| BadPower.com Blog on October 15, 2009 at 1:34 am
[...] garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life — it can [...]
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[...] garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life — it can [...]
Pingback by Nintendo Wii » Blog Archive » NES controller flash drive is Konami Code-protected on October 15, 2009 at 7:19 am
[...] it’s all about the geek cred, one of the clever monkeys at Protodojo built a custom flash drive using an NES controller. Not content to just make a cool looking drive [...]
Pingback by DIY: Secure your data using the Konami code on October 15, 2009 at 11:31 am
[...] http://www.protodojo.com/content/2009/10/retro-gamerdrive/ Posted in Design, life | Tagged nintendo, protodojo, usb drive Cancel Reply [...]
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[...] Protodojo ] VIA [ Crunchgear [...]
Pingback by Encrypt Your Flash Drive With The Konami Code | Diy all the Way on October 20, 2009 at 2:40 am
[...] do it with an Arduino board easily. This guy made a password protected USB drive in an NES gamepad: ProtoDojo: Prototype Sanctuary by Joven
Pingback by The Transporter 2 keypad - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum on October 23, 2009 at 8:18 am
[...] that you have 4 ports of Nintendo goodness, why not go ahead and make a flash drive out of a controller? The best part of this one is the fact that the drive has a security feature [...]
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