This Controller Plays 8-Bit Chiptunes, Not Video Games

As popular as the Game Boy was for portable gaming ages ago, did you know it's still popular as an instrument for those obsessed with the sounds of classic 8-bit gaming? But instead of wasting your Tetris-capable portable console on making music, you can help David Clift-Reaves make his Lo-Fi SES controller a reality and perform your chiptune symphonies with hardware specifically designed for gamers turned musicians.

Bearing a slight resemblance to a Super Nintendo controller that's been stripped of its gray plastic housing, the Lo-Fi SES lets you perform and record a multi-track 8-bit chiptune masterpiece like you were playing a round of Super Mario Kart. Where you'd normally find a directional pad, the Lo-Fi SES features four buttons used for recording, playback, and track selection. And triggering the 8-bit built-in sound effects is accomplished by mashing the four action buttons on the right.

Your performances aren't limited to just the sounds included on the Lo-Fi SES, though. The controller actually supports tiny cartridges that introduce new sounds, effects, and even let you tether the hardware to a computer via USB so you can upload your own samples. Not bad for a $50 donation to this Kickstarter that secures you one of the first Lo-Fi SES units, and hopefully just in time for the holidays. [Kickstarter - Lo-Fi SES]

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