Hacker Creates Portable Halo 3 Xbox 360 Laptop Hybrid

Benjamin J. Heckendorn, expert video game console modder/hacker and author of "Hacking Video Game Consoles: Turn Your Old Video Game Systems into Awesome Portables," has built a portable one-of-a-kind Halo3-themed X-Box 360/laptop hybrid game system. You can see the laptop at Ben's web site.

Custom built for an unnamed client, the unique game system, which it's creator dubbed the "Xbox Elite Laptop" , features a Halo 3 themed laptop body, a 120 GB hard drive, HDMI-to-DVI video connection, the Xbox Ring of Light, adaptations for wireless controllers, a full keyboard, and even a built-in web cam.

This talented modder/hacker's web site includes a a step-by-step diary of the laptop's creation, including excellent pictures, diagrams and details of the work as it progressed.

Heckendorn, otherwise known as Ben Heck, is an expert at creating hybrid, portable game systems. Besides the Halo 3 laptop, he has built many other unique systems for himself, clients and friends. He creates the portables by dismantling new and used game systems. Then he alters the circuit board, cutting and resoldering parts until the unit can fit in his hand for hand-held portables, or a laptop case for laptop hybrids.Then he designs and builds a custom case.

Heckendorn has built other Xbox portables and laptops in the past, as well as modding other various game systems. He has designed and built portable Playstation and PS2and Wii systems, as well as older game systems including Sega, Colecovision, and Atari portable models. He even made a Nintendo/Atari 2600 hybrid portable.

Modified single-handed controllers are another of Heckendorn's specialties. One he built for a wounded soldier in Iraq.

Heckendorn has been modding and hacking video game systems for years. One of his first systems he created was a "somewhat" portable PC in an empty MGD beer box, which he decided to build when he lacked funds for a real laptop. This system is no longer funtioning, however, as Heckendorn stripped it for wires and other parts.