Retro Nintendo controller hacked for Android

Gamers who play Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games on Android phones but miss the feel of a good old SNES controller, here's the hack for you. Computer Engineering graduate Rich Degenhardt modified an SNES controller such that pressing the buttons controls the game character on a linked Android device. "In order to successfully complete the entire tutorial you will probably need some soldering skills, basic circuits knowledge, and some C++ and Java programming experience," he said in a technical tutorial on his web page. Degenhardt used a BlueSMiRF Gold Bluetooth Modem, an Arduino Pro Mini 328, a USB connector for the Arduino, a 5-volt power supply, and an SNES controller. "If the BlueSMiRF is paired with a device (say an Android phone) it will be as if the data is going into the recieve line of this device. But before we can start communication between devices we need to first program the Arduino," he said. In the demo video, Degenhardt said that he modified the SNES controller to accommodate four AAA-size batteries, and link to the Android device via Bluetooth. He then managed to play "Super Mariokart" on the Android phone, using the SNES controller to control his character. "It's better than the virtual keyboard," he said. — TJD, GMA News