When I get bored, I start projects. Here I completely took apart my Guitar Hero controller, sanded it, primed it, painted it in 'hammered bronze' with a chrome pick guard. The neck is now oak veneered with the frets being strips of metal tape. Still works and rocks harder than ever! Only took me about two hours to do, not counting drying time.

Just imagine if this human had three or, shucks, four hours.

Customized Guitar Hero Controller [flickr Thanks, Alice!]

Two players are assigned one jug instrument each, which they blow puffs of air into to score points. Players also "clink" their instruments together in a social "cheers!" that allots them bonus points.

If you live around San Mateo, you can check out Jug Hero this May 3rd and 4th at the Maker Faire.

P.S. Anyone who thinks that these people look stupid has not played Guitar Hero in the mirror.

Jug Hero @ Maker Faire [MAKE]

According to Lafemmereaper:

I wanted the icing to be black, however I settled for grey - the black colouring got so messy (as I watched somebody else get black staining on their hands...that wouldn't wash off for two days...)

It still took me three weeks just to get it to the right grey colour.

Before you DDR freaks criticize that the speakers are not meant to be that way, I was trying to stay true to the machine, but icing bags are awfully hard to control when you are learning to decorate a cake for the first time. The arrows on the screen were all piped on when the cake was standing up - ie. it was vertical. I also realise that the red "bars" (those 3D curvy bits at the front) should have a black bit on them, but I've left that off as it was too complicated to stick on (the black icing didn't want to stick to anything.)

Thunderous applause!

DDR Cabinet [That Girl's Site]

For the love of Bionic Commando, and in the spirit of it's soon-to-be rearmed release on Xbox Live, I made this and wanted to share it with you guys.

Hit the jump for a YouTube clip of it in action.

Chain Chomp Hat [Knitting Ninja - thanks, Motha!]

I followed the tutorial you posted earlier, except I used colored foam sheets (2 thin layers stacked), and black felt on top. Here are the results. I think it actually looks cooler this way. It doesn't make the drums silent, by any means, but the difference is very noticeable. It cost me $27 for everything, the bulk of which was the circle-cutter at $16. The pads peel off the drums very easily too, so there's no danger to your drum set.

All it takes is a simple download, a computer that runs Windows, the ability to edit PNG files and a bit of patience as you wade through the read me file. What's that you say? Have a contest to see who can create the best Kotaku theme? What a fantastic idea! I'll get right on that. In the meantime, have fun!

PlayStation 3 Theme Editor [.zip]

• Sheet of A3-size printer paper
• Color printer
• Pair of breast-shaped sponges
• Bra
• Glue
• Box cutter
• Needle and thread

1. Print the background illustration on A3 size paper using the provided PDF
2. Glue the printed sheet to the foam board and cut around the character outline
3. Glue the sponges to the board, aligning with the lower edge of the breasts and trimming to the proper size
4. Mount the bra over the sponges and sew it in place.

The Controller Bong [Aeropause]

In our big PS3 contest earlier this year, there were cone hats. How many cone hats?

Personally, I hate that the rumble pack for the DS Lite sticks out of the thing when you're using it. Actually I hate that all GBA carts stick out when you're using them, but that's another story.

Enter Xyzzy, an Instructable user that came up with a bit of a homebrew mod that jams a rumble pack into the DS Lite's dust cover. The mod uses an old Pokemon cart, and the motor from a Nokia 5100 phone, meaning more than likely you won't be doing this one on your own. But it's still worth checking out how he did it.

DUY RumblePak for Nintendo DS Lite [Instructables, via Nintendo Gal]

I ended up making two of these, although I have almost NO experience with sanding and finishing an' whatnot. The first one is attractively on display at the Irrational HQ, and the Dev team was awesome enough to sign this one for me.

My version is actually a stock DS Lite stylus cut down to the right size and placed in a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto pen. I also put in a little bit of rubber from the grip from an old pen so that the stylus tip has a little bit of give. It ended up taking about 5 minutes to put together and it was free, which is always nice. I used an old stylus which, as any DS Lite user knows, starts to fall out of the holder when the little stopper ridge wears out. The extra size makes the stylus a lot more comfortable and the added width helps as well.

Best DS Stylus [arghyle, Thanks Torokun!]

Here's a nice weekend craft for all you olde shcool video game crafters. Lenore at Hacker Zen has made these awesome 8-bit Mario and Peach shirts using a few household sundries and acrylic fabric paint. The end result is really terrific and nothing wears better than something you made yourself. This way you won't be in danger of going to a party and finding three other people wearing that Pac-Man shirt you got from Target.

Lenore gives step by step instructions for you folks who are willing to put down the controller for a few hours and dedicate yourself to the project. But for god's sake DON'T USE PUFF PAINT. Flynn De Marco

Make a Video Game Pixel Art T-Shirt [Hacker Zen]

Start doodling now and get this time next Sunday, you could be on your way to video game greatness. Or you spend the entire morning frustrating yourself before calling it quits and making lunch. Either way, you'll get a nice sandwich out of it. Kim Phu

How to Create Your First Game [Game Producer]

Finally, a NES controller wallet to go with your girlfriend's NES Purse. (and I mean a real girlfriend, not the female Blood Elf you chat with online who is really a guy) Zenilorac over at Instrutibles has given us a step by step picture guide on how to make this little beauty. All you need is a NES controller (preferably a dead one) a long zipper, some glue, wire snips, a small screw driver and a little talent and you've got yourself a dandy wallet. Just imagine the gasps of amazement when you whip this baby out in public. Now that's what I call olde schoole class! (can also be used as a change purse if you like that sort of thing) Flynn De Marco

Color Wiimote Straps [Instructables]

Enter the new hack for the Sega Genesis controller to add to your accessories for your Nintendo Wii. All you need is a some wiring know-how, a Genesis controller, and a shopping list only a geek like my dad can understand. A couple of hours and expletives later, you too could be a proud owner of a classic controller that works on a not-so classic machine. Kim Phu

Wireless Sega Genesis Controller for Wii [Cre.ations via Sega Nerds]

Will D'angelo of the Wiicast website has created this amazing Donkey Kong clock. All the materials were purchased at a local art supply store for a mere fifteen dollars. He doesn't say where he acquired the images from, but it's not terribly difficult to come up with screenshots from one of Nintendo's most famous games (no, they are not hand painted). After putting the whole framework together, he created new 80's style retro hands for the clockworks to finish it off and... voila, instant retro gaming clock awesomeness! Flynn De Marco

DIY Donkey Kong Clock for under $15

Lurking deep in the Craftster forum is a very dedicated individual who has figured out how to take two ugly chairs from work (free of course) and turn them into eBay millions.

Boingo82 has put together a very impressive NES controller chair that is sewn together with vinyl (very pro, you need a pretty heavy-duty sewing machine to do this, and a lot of patience) and industrial foam. The stitching detail is really very good and it looks like a chair that can be sat in, not just for show.

Hat's off to you! Kim Phu

NINTENDO chair-UPDATE - DONE! [Craftster via Tanooki]

Some people want to completely customize their Miis, which is understandable, but the point of using the Mii software on the Nintendo is to make them look Nintendo. That's at least my favorite part, I already think of myself in real life as a Nintendo character, so it does as a bit of a shock in the morning when I wake up, look in the mirror and find out that I'm not. Kim Phu

My Mii Manager [Go Nintendo]

Here's a project for the upcoming Easter holiday for those of you who are going to dive into some much needed spring cleaning and are wondering what to do with all of those extra joysticks from your childhood. It's a tutorial on how to take any autofiring joystick and make it into a noisemaker of sorts. Although the instructions look intimidating, they are written very well with lots of diagrams.

It's Kraftaku-riffic! Kim Phu

From Joystick to noisestick [AEE Projectblog]

Ever since I brought the video game papercraft feature back from the grave, I've been getting a lot of links from readers to some terrific pieces. This one is really amazing as not only is it well done and home made, but it's Pyramid Head from Silent Hill 2. PYRAMID HEAD! I'm a huge fan of the Silent Hill series and this is one of the papercrafts I've highlighted that I might actually be able to make some time to put together. Kudos go out to Chamoo232 (aka Anne Marie) for creating this awesome piece! Flynn De Marco

Pyramid Head Papercraft Model [PaperKraft.net]

Ben will be posting a comprehensive, episodic how to starting next Tuesday over at Engadget, so with any luck I'll be well on my way to completely destroying my console and setting my apartment on fire in no time. Michael Fahey

The Wii Laptop! [Thanks Steven!]

More photos of this lovely project can be seen right here on Flickr. Michael McWhertor

Super Mario Quilt Block and Super Mario Quilt Corners [DIYnamite]