Gaming
Unlock the achievements they don’t want you to know about with these five clever console mods.
Two researchers have recently figured out how to stream PC games to a Nintendo Wii U GamePad, busting the next-gen console wide open for codes and hobbyists to do everything from play any game on any platform on the controller’s six-inch display, to turning the GamePad into a controller and video screen for drones.
You can see how they’ve done it in the video below, but for the good stuff skip to the end, where you can see a GamePad playing an emulated version of Zelda from a nearby PC.
But this feat of technological wizardry is far from the only hack you can carry out on the consoles you already own. From boosting the Ouya's software library and resurrecting your decrepit old Xbox as a media centre to unlocking the untapped power of your Wii with software-based mods, we look at the ways you can strap rockets to the machines you assumed were dead and buried.
Turn your old Xbox into a media powerhouse
XBMC is one of the most versatile and powerful media players around, but you might be surprised to learn that it actually started life on the original Xbox and has since outgrown Microsoft's first console to become an insanely popular download for savvy movie, TV and music lovers that runs on everything from PCs to Raspberry Pi boards. Despite the machine's age, the Xbox is still more than capable of fulfilling your video and music streaming needs with XBMC installed, and if you happen to still have your console, there's never been a better time to dust it off and give it a new lease of life. You can even configure XBMC for retro game emulation, which brings the concept full circle and showcases the Xbox doing what it was originally created for: playing games.
Installing XBMC on your Xbox is pretty easy, but you should be aware that not all of the player's current functions are available on the veteran console - you won't be able to take advantage of the newer skins, for example. However, this is a small price to pay for saving your Xbox from the scrapheap - there's no reason why it can't go on serving you loyally for many years to come.
Unlock Ouya with Amazon Appstore access
The Android-powered Ouya micro console is home to some amazing titles - system exclusive TowerFall being the most famous - but there's no denying that the selection of titles currently available pales in comparison to what's available elsewhere. Thankfully, the console is capable of side-loading applications, which means you can install the Amazon App Store and gain access to the impressive catalogue of titles. There is an issue with optimisation - many of the games are intended for touch screens and won't function properly on the Ouya's physical pad - but if you know where to look, you'll be handsomely rewarded. Sega's Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio both support the controller, for example, and the Appstore also provides a legitimate way to install Netflix on the $89.99 box.
Hack your Nintendo Wii for homebrew goodness
The Nintendo Wii is another old console that can be retooled for fresh adventures in a few easy steps. While it used to be the case that hardware modification was required to unlock the full potential of Nintendo's popular system, the march of progress means that it's now possible to "softmod" the machine to grant access to all kinds of cool homebrew software - and that includes music players, movie players and even entire operating systems, such as Wii Linux. You can also backup your games to a hard disc drive, so you don't have to grab the case off the shelf every time you want to play something, and with an SD card, you can turn Smash Bros into the game it ws meant to be with the amazing fan mod Project M [http://projectmgame.com/en/].
Make your N64 even faster
We're going way back now - the N64 is a console from the mid-'90s - but this hack is the most hardcore one listed here and therefore very cool indeed. The concept of overclocking will be instantly familiar to PC gamers, but in the realm of home consoles it is less common, purely because it involves boosting the system's clock speed beyond its intended limits. The N64 overclock modification is pretty demanding as it requires you to resolder connections on the CPU, effectively making it run faster. This isn't a hack for the faint of heart - not only do you risk damaging your console, but you'll also need to invest in some kind of heat sink as the CPU gets pretty hot when running at a higher speed - but the results are worth it, with many games getting major frame rate boosts. N64 systems are cheap enough these days that you won't be out of pocket if things go wrong.
Blow your PSP wide open
Sony's PSP may have been superseded by the PS Vita, but it's still one of the most capable handheld systems when it comes to hacking and homebrew. It's possible to open up the console to a world of retro emulation, and you can also store your legally owned games on a memory stick, removing the need to lug all those UMDs around with you. Given that most PSP consoles are probably sat in drawers gathering dust these days, this is the perfect way to resurrect them - what could be more appealing than carrying around a console capable of playing movies, music and almost every retro console under the sun?
