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Students create custom slingshot controller for Angry Birds

Pull and release

Students create custom slingshot controller for Angry Birds
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| Angry Birds

Students have created a custom USB controller specifically designed to give fans of Rovio's feather-flinging franchise the most authentic Angry Birds experience ever.

As you can see from the video below, two technically-minded chaps called Hideaki Matsui and Andrew Spitz took a motorised fader from an audio mixing desk, mounted it inside a wooden 'slingshot', and christened it the Super Angry Birds controller.

Coupled with some clever programming (and a little hacking) the slider provides force feedback designed to simulate the feeling of pulling on an actual slingshot. The angle can also be adjusted by pivoting the wooden sling.

There's even a natty TNT plunger for activating your bird's special power mid-flight.

Feel the force

Given the Super Angry Birds controller is the result of a Haptics class project at CIID, it's unlikely to be turning up on store shelves any time soon.

However, if you've got the will, some spare time, and a broken mixing desk, do let us know how you get on.

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James Gilmour
James Gilmour
James pivoted to video so hard that he permanently damaged his spine, which now doubles as a Cronenbergian mic stand. If the pictures are moving, he's the one to blame.