Have a couple new podcasts for you this week. Both involve next-generation gaming, with the theme of the Benheck.com podcast specifically being "The Console Wars" Which contains predictions you'll find nowhere else on internet gaming sites. For a unique (and possibly refreshing) view, listen in!

For all of you who visited this site in the last week, hope you've enjoyed the stories and makings of. The server had some problems, but now it's back with more bandwidth than ever. I'm going to come up with a new layout, hopefully better than this temp one, along with some other cool new features. Stay tuned!

Article Links:

Latest Benheck,Com Podcast (Episode 3 - The Console Wars)

Sonic Boom Podcast Episode 10

Sonic Boom Podcast Episode 11

Encoded with Sony Vegas

The web trailer for our upcoming documentary "Echoes of the Past" is now online and available for download. The documentary explores the history, myths and legends of a long-abandoned ghost town by the name of "Pere Cheney" in northern Michigan.

We're still deep in post-production but plan to have the finished product out before the end of year. In the meantime you can watch the promotional trailer we've put together, available in a variety of formats, using the links below.

Stay tuned to One Man Down Productions and Benheck.com for more information on the documentary as the process nears competition.

Article Links:

"Echoes of the Past" - Official Site

One Man Down Productions

Encoded with Sony Vegas

What a fitting news item for the 6 year anniversary of my site. Yes, it's been 6 whole years since the first incarnation of this site limped onto Geocities and shocked the world with a -gasp- portable Atari 2600. Shortly thereafter I was on the Gamespy network, then in 2004 I bought a domain of my own. It's been a fun ride and now, for your viewing pleasure, I present the Xbox 360 Laptop!

Ben Heckendorn's Custom Xbox 360 Laptop

I guess I would say I don't "mod" systems so much as completely rebuild them. This is a perfect example as everything in the Xbox 360 has been taken apart and reassembled, with LCD screen, in laptop form inside a custom case. Here are the specs:

1) Uses a 17" wide (diagonal) 1280x720 progressive-scan LCD VGA monitor (for HD-level resolutions) Thus you can actually read the text in Dead Rising.

2) Water-cooled with custom-built radiator. Allows for a slimmer main body versus the mammoth heat sinks in a stock 360.

3) Built-in keyboard and Wi-Fi.

4) USB hub allows original number of 3 USB ports for user.

5) All-aluminum case, except for plastic keyboard / ring of light / screen control area.

6) Uses single customized "expanded" power supply brick for both screen and Xbox 360.

7) Breakout ports on back allow hookup to component TV, VGA monitor, sound system (analog or TOSlink) and even crummy composite video.

8) Size: 16.75" x 10.75" x 2.8"  Weight: 14 pounds (with water loaded)

A fine "coffee table" game system.

Originally I didn't think this project would be so tricky but I was quite wrong, it became the most monstrously difficult one since I've been into this "portablization" thing. Oh well. At least now I know how to build it.

Zombie killin' fun!

Click on the links below to read the whole step-by-step story for the creation of this unit (good way to waste a lunch hour) or click "Photos" to simply see, well, more photos of the thing. Enjoy!

Article Links:

XBox 360 Laptop "Making Of" Story

Xbox 360 Laptop Finished Product Photos Page Includes videos and a full-resolution photo pack.

A final note - this was a commissioned job so the unit has already been sold and is thus not for sale. Those interested in persuading me to build another are free to email and ask, but beware of sticker shock. You could always buy my book and become a modder yourself!

Sub-final note to answer some FAQ's: The unit cost about $1200 to build in materials and CNC machine time. That's not including labor and design. Also since the software/firmware was not modified it is fine to use on Xbox Live (which I have)

Jones was, well, "Jones'n" to do another podcast, so last Friday we not only recorded a new episode of the Benheck.com podcast, but did a whole new one for Jones' "Fistful of Reviews" movie site. This new podcast stars Jason Jones and Dale Nauertz and they discuss movie stuff. Well, mostly rip on things in movies they're sick of (movies about characters "beginning", superhero films) but it's still pretty funny, especially the part where Dale asks "Why can't we get a "Rocky Ends" movie???

Each is around an hour in length and yes, in MP3 format this time. Also look for the "Echoes of the Past" documentary trailer, hopefully later this week.

Article Links:

Benheck.com Podcast: Episode 2 (mirror)

Benheck.com Podcast: Episode 2 (local copy)

A Fistful of Reviews Inaugural Podcast #1

...and yet another Sonic Boom podcast, of which I am now an official co-host.

Fear not, I have returned safely from our documentary shoot in northern Michigan. Here's a photo of the intrepid, fearless crew involved with this project...

This is an assortment of different crews, from One Man Down Productions, to the Dead Workers Party and myself and Dale Nauertz from the "Port Washington" team. All in all we got along well and collected quite a bit of interesting footage and interviews. The trailer for this project will be released the same day as my "super portable", so stay tuned!

Article Links:

http://www.onemandownproductions.com/

http://www.deadworkers.com/

This week I am heading out to film our long-planned documentary on a haunted ghost town someplace in the Midwest. We're calling it "Echoes of the Past", with a subtitle being the location we're visiting (name to be released after we're done filming)

As far as my involvement, I am co-director, director of photography and I also came up with the basic outline for the piece. The shoot runs Thursday through Sunday, editing will take place this fall.

The target is a 1-2 hour documentary filled with interviews, history of the town and a finale involving an all-night stay in the allegedly haunted ruins of the town and nearby graveyard. We're rolling about 7 cameras for that so we should get good coverage. While not specifically a "ghost hunting" type of thing, we're bring temperature meters, infrared flashlights and various recording equipment.

Look for a trailer to be released in the weeks following the shoot (second half of August), probably around the same time I finish my long delayed, super-complex "uber-portable"

For more information and podcasts, or if you're interested in possibly taking a look at or picking up the final product for release, please visit the One Man Down Productions website.

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