The Dingoo reset button

If you own a Dingoo A320, you’ll know that the reset button is a critical feature (especially if you install Dingux). Sadly it’s hidden inside the case, accessible only via a toothpick or something else you’re not carrying. The solution is simple; a tiny screw inserted through the hole from the inside. I had to widen the hole a little to accommodate my screw of choice, and the screw head needed to be flattened down too. For the latter task, I put a Dremel grinder bit into a battery drill (the Dremel itself is a little bit hardcore for such a fiddly job), and slowly ground the head down until it was almost paper thin. The end result works like a bought one.

Roland, sweet Roland. Where were you when I needed you most?

Spirits are high at camp Gruso, following the arrival of a legendary piece of gaming and synthesizer history: a Roland MT-32. If you’re familiar with the MT-32, then you’re already nodding knowingly. If not, I’ll bring you up to speed with some edited excerpts from Wikipedia.

The Roland MT-32 Multi-Timbre Sound Module is a MIDI synthesizer module first released in 1987 by Roland Corporation. Along with its compatible modules, it established an early de-facto standard in computer music.

Shoulder complaints, serious business.

Shoulder buttons. Not a fan. Maybe it’s my creaky old hands, but shoulder buttons always seem to sit just outside comfort for me. In the case of the Xbox 360 controller, they’re an annoying upward reach for my index fingers which are busy gripping the triggers. It might be a dumb complaint, but it feels counter-intuitive in the heat of a game.

This minor annoyance got the better of me recently, when I bought CellFactor:PW from XBLA. It’s a first person arena shooter in which you’re armed with one weapon and three psychic powers. These functions are mapped to the triggers and shoulder buttons (aka bumpers), and if you don’t have a finger on each of these four buttons at all times, you don’t really have a chance. My options were to change my grip to suit the controls, or change the controls to suit my grip.

I’m stubborn, I have a Dremel, decision made.

The KJ64

If you want to breathe new life into an old C64, there’s no better toy than a MSSIAH. In a nutshell, the MSSIAH is a naughty cartridge loaded with a bunch of synth and sequencing apps that tap into the 64’s legendary audio chip, the SID. And it’s got a MIDI in port too, giving you full control of the SID via your sequencer/VST of choice (more on MSSIAH VSTs in a future post).

MSSIAH is a fantastic piece of kit, but there are a few catches. If you want to tweak all those on screen knobs, you have to peck your way around the keyboard to highlight a control, then operate it with the joystick. Doable, but… nah. There are mouse options, but they’re expensive. Lastly and bestly, you can connect up to four potentiometers direct to the joystick ports. Many MSSIAH disciples go out and buy all the components, surface mount the pots on their C64, and wire them internally (find some of these projects here). I thought a bunch of old Pong paddles would be more fun.

The GP2X d-pad mod

The GP2X F200 d-pad, pictured above in its original form. What a bunch of bastards. Here’s how I (and a few plastic hacking proteges) solved the problem and made the device much more enjoyable. This is a minimal skill level mod that can be done with a pair of sidecutters / snips and some superglue. A soldering iron and a Dremel will make the job easier if you have access to them.