NES Zapper Transforms into a Telephone Device
In the 1980s, light guns were a popular video game accessory, with games like Duck Hunt becoming cultural icons. However, their prevalence in the gaming world has waned significantly. Nonetheless, some enthusiasts are finding innovative uses for these once-obsolete peripherals, such as transforming an old Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Zapper light gun into a wireless phone.
This creative concept was brought to life by Nick Bild, who successfully repurposed his old Zapper by converting its light sensor from detecting pixel patterns for games into an analog receiver for audio signals. This was achieved by using a laser beam to transmit and receive calls, bypassing the anti-cheat mechanism designed to prevent users from pointing the light gun at a light bulb [2].
The original Zapper functioned by detecting a specific pattern of pixels that appeared for a fraction of a second when the trigger was pulled. In this modern adaptation, the light sensor was utilized to receive modulated light from the phone's base station, converting light signals into audio. Since the original hardware lacked a microphone, one was added, and its output was connected to another laser that communicated with the base station [3].
When the light gun is pointed directly at the base station, audio is exchanged back and forth through varying the strengths of these small lasers. While this is not an optimal phone solution, due to the requirement of pointing it at the right spot to work effectively, it is a fascinating demonstration of the capabilities of the original hardware, given a few limitations were removed [3].
There are other ways to modernize these devices, with one notable example being a standard laser pointer equipped with additional hardware from a Wiimote, which could also function as a mouse [4]. Despite their diminished gaming role, light guns like the NES Zapper continue to inspire creative projects and show potential for adaptation to modern technology.
[1] MiSTer Addons Adapter: Adapts NES controllers to Famicom[2] Nick Bild’s Zapper Phone: Turns NES Zapper into a laser phone[3] Hackaday Peripherals: Collections of hardware hacks[4] GitHub: Open-source projects modifying or repurposing light guns
- In an innovative twist, the original NES Zapper hardware can be repurposed to control smart-home devices, such as turning lights on or off with a simple pull of the trigger, thus expanding its functionalities beyond gaming.
- The growing popularity of gadgets and technology has led to numerous adaptations of old light guns like the NES Zapper, with one example being their use as modern communication devices, transforming them into smart-home gadgets of sorts.
