how to make a modded xbox controllerOk, I’ve got a really cool video for you today on how to mod your Xbox 360 controller–this covers a completely new way to do the rapid fire mod by using only a momentary switch and a wire to hook it up. You just wire in the switch between the middle pin on the trigger and the ground on the controller LED. The only warning I’ll give you is that since it’s connected to the LED, you can only use this mod through the specific port that you’re using the controller on.

Although this particular mod can not be detected by Xbox Live, it does create what could be considered an unfair advantage in multiplayer gaming, therefore it could potentially result in you having your account banned. Warm up your soldering iron and have a look at this:

I’ve also got another video here of someone who has done this mod and shows you what they did, good if you need another perspective:

how to system link xboxAlright, I’ve got an awesome video here for you that’s about 9 minutes long and shows you exactly how to system link two Xbox’s with only one disc. You will need at least one system link cable which you can get from Amazon: Xbox X System Link Cable by Microsoft. With the NXE update it’s possible to run games from the hard drive without the disc–the trick is that the Xbox has to read the disc to initialize. The disc is used to start the game and then removed via an opened DVD drive (how is shown in the video below). Note that this is not a new way to pirate games, it requires a legitimate copy of a game. It also won’t get you free games from your friends, unless you seriously want to leave your 360 torn apart and call your friend every time you want to play the game. I think it is a good way to play System Link on new games though. If you need help with how to open your Xbox, I’ve already done an article on that you can see here: How to Open a Xbox 360 Console (without breaking it). Here’s the video:

how to record xbox gameplayToday I’m going to show you how to record gameplay from your Xbox 360 (or any other system you like, for that matter–PS3, etc.) to your computer for sharing with friends, uploading to YouTube, whatever. This can not be done for free unless you’re going to use a video recorder alone to record it by just pointing it at the screen (you can do this, but the quality will inevitably be poor). I’ve got a video here that’s excellent and shows you exactly what you need to do and how to do it, every single step, it’s very well done. I’ve put a list of all the stuff you’ll need for both the low-cost option and the expensive option he uses in the video just below it, here it is:

Low-Cost Option Required Equipment:

  1. Dazzle Video Creator Plus (the “Platinum” version he mentioned is the old version they don’t make anymore, this is the new one)
  2. Xbox 360 S-Video A/V Cable by Microsoft

Expensive Option Required Equipment

  1. Dazzle Video Creator Plus (the “Platinum” version he mentioned is the old version they don’t make anymore, this is the new one)
  2. Xbox 360 S-Video A/V Cable by Microsoft
  3. CE LABS AV 400SV Prograde S-Video Distribution Amplifier
  4. Belkin PureAV AV21000-06 6-Foot Component (A/V) Video Cable (you need 2 of these–if you need longer than 6 feet, they also have 15 and 25 feet A/V cables that I saw that aren’t that much more expensive).
  5. Belkin F8V308-06 6-Feet Gold Plated S-Video Cable (you need 2 of these)

In addition to the video above I also found a nice graphic that illustrates what the whole setup should look like:
how to record xbox 360 gameplay

how to open xboxKeep in mind the fact that as soon as you do this you void your warranty and if you do open your Xbox and send it into Microsoft at any point in the future they are going to know about it because there’s no way (that I know of–if you do, leave a comment) of doing this without breaking the seal. You need to be careful because the power supply has some exposed capacitors that can retain a charge after the Xbox is unplugged and can give you a nasty shock if you touch them (just pay close attention to the video I’ve got for you below, it shows you exactly what to do and what not to do). Don’t delude yourself into thinking you can just do this with a screwdriver or Allen wrench instead of a proper Torx tool–it won’t work and you’ll end up stripping the screws. Any local hardware store should have them for a few dollars. If you’re doing this to repair your Xbox due to the Red Ring of Death (RROD), the best guide to doing this properly, hands down, is The 3 Red Light Xbox 360 Repair Guide, I highly recommend you get that and follow it so you know what you’re doing. Here’s the video:

buy xbox 360 onlineI want to tell you three good reasons why you should buy online instead of from an actual brick-and-mortar store:



1. It’s generally cheaper: not only can you usually find coupons and discounts that only apply when ordering online from retailers like BestBuy and Toys ‘R Us, but you also won’t usually pay sales tax–if you buy from physical retail location you definitely will pay sales tax unless you live in a state without it(there are 5: Alaska, Montana, Delaware, Oregon, and New Hampshire)–this will usually make an appreciable difference in the price: if you’re paying $249 for an Xbox (that’s about the minimum you’ll get a new one for right at this moment) plus a 5% sales tax (relatively low–it’s higher than this in most states) that’s an additional $12.45 you’re paying that you wouldn’t have if you just would’ve ordered online. Also, you won’t have to pay for shipping a lot of the time because it will be free/included.



2. You won’t have pushy salespeople trying to sell you warranties and extras that you don’t want.



3. You can find console packages and deals online that you wouldn’t be able to get in the store.

If you’d like to see a list of the best places to buy an Xbox from, check out the front page: Where to buy an Xbox 360