xBot dictates Xbox 360 controller, racks up gamer points

We've heard of using a Wiimote to handle home automation tasks, but building a device in order to create an automated Xbox 360 controller is another animal entirely. An intrigued and efficiency-minded individual set out to to achieve an additional 60 Xbox Live gamer points by trudging through 1,000 Death Matches and 1,000 Dark Ops rounds, all without him actually being there. Thus the xBot automator was born -- a robotic dictator that was programmed to simply hit the start and B buttons on a timed interval in order to progress through all the matches needed in order to snag the oh-so-coveted points. Essentially, the completely non-intrusive machine utilizes two rotational solenoids driven by a TTL (Transistor to Transistor Logic) controller, and while the actual programming steps were indeed a bit more in-depth, the creator isn't divulging all of his secrets just yet. So if you think you've got the DIY skills necessary to concoct one of these yourself, and would rather spend "around 10 hours" piecing together an automating machine rather than 40 (or more) hours in Perfect Dark: Zero, be sure to hit the read link for a few more deets on the whole process, and click on through for a live demonstration.

[Via Digg]

[SporkRocker @ Feb 18th 2007 3:07PM]

Real world macros on a console very very nice. Although I'm opposed to macros on the pc's especially in MMO's.

Very nice though betting the system on xbox live.

[regomodo @ Feb 18th 2007 7:13PM]

grr, i hate people who do this on AA. They take up a valuable spot and do sod all

[craig @ Feb 18th 2007 3:16PM]

a perfect candidate for the Rube Goldberg section of Engadget

[akijikan @ Feb 18th 2007 3:48PM]

I like to call them "Loser Points" because I don't have a lot of them.

[Castle @ Feb 18th 2007 4:01PM]

I wouldn't want to play a deathmatch with some bot trying to get stupid gamer points, kinda is obtrusive to people that actually want to play and have fun.

But it does remind me of those old SNES/PS1 controllers where you could program movements in, used for people primarily wanting to level up in RPGs and folks who couldn't do the fireball motion is street fighter.

[Damogran @ Feb 18th 2007 5:00PM]

The humble beginnings of Zeke ... This guy must've read CTRL+ALT+DEL :)

[blah @ Feb 18th 2007 5:01PM]

I rate this the dumbest invention of the month.

If this guy had any brains, he would have wired a mcu or similar directly to the buttons and interfaces them electronically.

This is a pinnacle of inefficiency, especially as a hack. It's almost a joke-a rube goldberg machine.

A mechanical interface, under no circumstances be considered reliable. This hack could be infinitely more elegant, intelligent, and practical if it were wired directly to the controller's innards. Not to mention the fact that it would certainly be more responsive (and this can be dumbed down in software if its too much of a problem in-game), easier to build, and logically a ton more practically.

The excuse of "saving an x360 controller" simple won't fly. I would trade 10 hours for 2, and maybe $30-35 dollars of equipment shipped for a single $5 attiny2313 and some passives interfaced directly to the x360 controller. Chances are you won't have to salvage the controller either, if its built clean enough to be modular/not-permanent.

I don't understand how people can be so stupid these days. How come the above never crossed this dude's mind? I'm sure it's not a question of experience, this guy has demonstrated a substantial grasp of electronics (including digital) to implement the above.

[turtlesoup @ Feb 18th 2007 5:20PM]

Like watching paint dry.

[Uninvisible @ Feb 18th 2007 6:39PM]

This reminds me of the days when I'd tape a coin over the X button on my PS2 controller, and tape the analog stick in just the right way so I could get the 1,000 laps on the oval track without actually being there.

[mitch @ Feb 18th 2007 6:47PM]

All this for Gamer points??
I find it sad he had nothing better to do.

[Mac Filmmaking @ Feb 18th 2007 7:13PM]

Why would you do this?
---
http://www.macfilmmaking.blogspot.com

[Thecompkid @ Feb 19th 2007 4:48AM]

Everyone, bow your heads in shame. We have reached quite a critical turning point: we are now too lazy for video games. I would type more, but, you know...

[Grant @ Feb 18th 2007 10:37PM]

all that work for gamer points... when he could just go rent some game for $5 like NHL2k6 and then get 1000 points instead of 60.
clever none the less.

"grr, i hate people who do this on AA. They take up a valuable spot and do sod all"
well, he's playing with bots, and probably hosting, so if you enter a game thats obviously set up like this, leave.
Besides, who plays PD anymore anyways?

And he has now become one of 5 people who actually played 1000 matches of any type in PD.

[regomodo @ Feb 19th 2007 4:28AM]

Ok, cheers for the info. Didn't know it was with bots plus i've never played the game. That makes it even more lame.

I'm talking about people who are at the spawn and just rack up the points if he's on the winning team. Just some servers won't let you start a kick vote and some only kick afk's after a few rounds.

Bit like stat-padding in BF2

[Jeff D @ Feb 19th 2007 1:05AM]

I guess if I had absolutely no life, I could spend 10 hours building something to earn me extra Xbox live points.

Fortunately, however, I do have a life.

[Joey @ Feb 21st 2007 6:38PM]

I actually did this using knex about 9 months ago and got the achivements. wasnt very tough for me it took about 2 maybe 3 hours to put togeter. it uses the knew motor and some gears that rotar a piece with 2 pins one comes doen on the start button and one comes down on the back button one after the other. i took it apart a while ago though.

[Nathan @ Feb 21st 2007 10:32PM]

Rock the Mecano!!!