Downing's Basement

For Sale: The PS2 Advance Controller

Posted: 01/12/2014 in Uncategorized
Tags: case mod, CNC, PS2

Once again, it’s time to sell off one of my prized creations. The PS2 Advance Controller was kind of a side project that just started to snowball into something that became on of the most fun projects I’ve done. Using a couple pre-made enclosures from two AG-85 cases from Poly Case, a custom DS2 PCB made by RDC and a lot of CNC work, this came out better than was really intended.

First off, please note. This is a controller, not a full portable system, which means that to use this you must have a PS2 and A/V cable. The A/V cable then plugs into the Breakout Box shown above. The rest will be supplied.

Included:
-The PS2 Advance Controller
* 4.3″ TFT Display, 25mm Stereo speakers, Custom PS2miniDS2 controller board, dual analog control sticks
-The Original Cross Plane BOB
-Custom USB Cable for A/V Hook-up
-12V AC Adapter for the BOB.

Asking $250 +Shipping & Insurance

I offer a full 30 day warranty from date of shipment against any defects or issues that arise from a craftsmanship standpoint. Basically if it breaks because I screwed something up than I’ll fix it for free, minus the shipping charge. If however it is a part that fails (which really they shouldn’t) or if it’s after the 30 day mark, we can discuss new terms of repair depending on the situation.

Please feel free to contact me via this site, email, you tube or any of the forums if you’re interested! Thanks and here is a video below to showcase it a bit more.

Cross Plane Commission Update

Posted: 12/21/2013 in Current Project, General News
Tags: 3D Printing, CNC, Cross Plane, Downing, MBB, Project Updates

Hey Everyone! Sorry it’s been such a long time between posts. I’ve been up to my ears in projects as well as finally getting a new job that I should hopefully start at the end of the month!

Anyway, here’s just a quick example of what I’ve been up to, still plucking away at this Cross Plane commission I took on for an enthusiastic KickStarter backer that really just had to have one of these! It’s flattering and I do appreciate the gesture, but man these things are a lot of work! hehe. Not that I’m complaining as this is by far the prettiest work I’ve done to date as I’ve been able to utilize a lot of the skills I learned about 3D printing, CNC machining, case finishing and wireless/HDMI technology. But again, this particular unit is trying to be better in every way to the prototype and in doing so, has made changes that have needed to be tested and troubleshot.

HDMI is a sensitive little bitch that will cause headaches for the simplest reasons. However, these headaches will be totally worth it once the final product is functional.

Still, have quite a bit of work to do on this, the next process being the most time consuming part, the control paks. However, RDC helped me out with these last month so we can actually utilize them the way they were intended to be used back when we did the first prototype, and not the hack job we ended up with.

In any case, I’ll try to be a bit more on top of the postings, as well as looking into maybe bringing on another writer to Downing’s Basement Blog so the down time won’t be so boring and you can have something to read more than once a month! But anyway, I’ll be making more updates soon and hope you have a happy holiday next week!

California Follow-Up

Posted: 11/27/2013 in General News
Tags: Oculus

Well, unfortunately it turns out that I won’t be joining the Oculus team that I was really hoping to do. And of course it’s nothing personal, I just didn’t have the amount of experience they were looking for for the intended position. Such is life and I hold nothing against them for the decision even though it did kind of bum me out a bit at first.

But! The trip may have bore some unexpected fruit which I shall find out next Monday after the holiday as I’ve been contacted by another company out in CA who has a great deal of interest in my Cross Plane project! Now I don’t want to reveal too much at this point as it may very well just turn into a conversation with the guys and that’s it, but the fact one of my projects had an impact on this company enough to reach out to me via an intro from Oculus is pretty cool!

So I’m looking forward to that and this could be quite the large opportunity as well should something come of it. I’ll keep everyone in the loop when Monday gets here!

I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and would greatly encourage everyone to “NOT” go shopping Thanksgiving night! That’s not what this is about and I’m surprised at retailers for making this decision. But that’s a rant for another day!

Oculus & The California Life Style

Posted: 11/16/2013 in General News

Yesterday was an amazing experience. Aside from the delays and otherwise ill feelings toward the Newark airport who delayed every flight I had, I had my interview at Oculus and got a chance to see first hand what my old modding buddies were up to.

And let me tell you, the experience was nothing less than amazing!

I’d never in my life used any sort of VR equipment, unless you count that one Wolf 3D experience they had at Fun Spot back in 1995…which means…yeah, I’ve never tried VR before. On top of getting to meet the founder Palmer Lucky and getting to hang out with him and my old pals from the DB meet-up back in April, I got to check out the 1080p Rift first hand and finally got to see what all they hype was about.

It’s a very new and very unique type of platform. The real-time feel and the ability to explore all around you simply by using natural movement was a pretty crazy experience and even that wasn’t the best thing that I saw while there. Unfortunately I can’t tell you what the best thing I saw was but I can say that it will take VR to the highest level it’s ever been and it was humbling to be able to try out cutting-edge technology that is the best in the world and only a few have experienced first hand.

So with that said, what’s next? The interview went very well. Not quite the type of interview I’m used coming from the uptight East coast business practice, as the California lifestyle here pretty much requires everyone to be laid back but with a strong case of ADD. “…and that’s what we’re going for ya know, a nice even work flow and….woah man…it’s my wife’s birthday tomorrow…” You get the idea.

But that aside, it feels like I’d fit in quite nicely here, though I may need to learn to chill out a bit…yeah, me. haha!

So today, I’m going to take a bit of a walk down Bristol Ave and get a feel for the area a bit. I don’t have a car so I’ll be limited in my travels, but tonight we’re planning on going to Beta and Aux’s new place that’s not too far from here for a video game night and just a chill relaxing evening…probably drunken evening, but either/or works for me.

There is a lot to still consider though if a position is offered as I will be not doubt having to relocate and do a lot of back and forth travel from here to NH. But the sad reality is that there is nothing on the East Coast that will let me do what I really want to do. If I was here when we released the Cross Plane, with the contacts I already now know about, I have no doubt it would have been a different story. It’s just a shame it has to come with such a price tag, more lifestyle and location than money. But everyone I’ve talked with says I’d be stupid not to at least give it a try and I agree…I just always thought my life would be in NH, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt to actually get out of it for a little while.

So, I’ll be updating more about this weekend should anything actually worth writing about comes up. Gonna go take my walk and see what I can see!

Travel Day!

Posted: 11/14/2013 in Current Project

Thankfully it’s not the kind of trip that Google maps gave me for driving directions! It’ll be more along the lines of my “drawn in” flight line. Should be an awesome time though and I’m really excited to see where this leads! I’ll be posting pics and updates probably on Saturday but most definitely by Sunday!

Downing and Oculus?

Posted: 11/07/2013 in General News
Tags: CA, Downing, New Career, Oculus VR

We shall soon see! It’s now official that I will be hopping a plane to the Gold Coast a week from today to have an interview with the team at Oculus VR!

Now most people in the tech sector know full well what Oculus is and what it’s doing to change not just the face of video games, but change the way we interact in a virtual environment. I encourage you to click the logo above to get a glimpse of what this company is about and how they were founded. I never thought that my hacker/maker hobby would hold such professional potential, especially after a few failed attempts to give it a go on my own. But we’ll put a bit of perspective to this as well. As most of you who read this blog know, I held a meet-up back in April that brought 6 amazing modders to my little corner of Concord, NH. This in itself was awesome because of both the caliber of the modders invited and distance everyone traveled to attend. It meant a great deal to me to have them willing to make the trip and was all the more amazing when it actually played out the way it did!

Now, 3 of those 6 that came to the meet-up are now employed at Oculus, sooo yeah…that says something about the company I keep in terms of the hacker/maker circles I’m a part of. And that’s not an arrogant remark, it just states that maybe this hobby of mine has grown a bit more than I thought it was and suddenly I have a chance to be a part of the big league!

I don’t know where this will end up. I’m scared shitless to be all honest with you. I’ve never been to CA, never left NH, no idea if I’ll like the life style, no idea what kind of pressures it will bring having to be on both sides of the country for a time as well. But I do know that good opportunities are seldom given, great opportunities are seldom available and life changing opportunities are only earned. I hope I’ve earned this one.