"Military Grade" PS3 Built

Ben Heck is a heck of a handyman. He has modded all sorts of gaming devices such as a Dreamcast handheld, a laptop Xbox 360, a laptop Atari 800, and even a pair of "Portal" shirts that displays what the other shirt sees. He has an Internet video series that chronicles his modifications through various steps, tools, tests, and revealing of the finished product.

A recent challenge came from the married couple Erica and Kris Kokkeby. Both are civilian UAV pilots working in Afghanistan and both are really into gaming. The downtime between missions gives them time to play a video game or two but the constant redeployment and relocation combined with their combative environment makes lugging a typical gaming console, television, controls, and wiring impractical. And handheld gaming consoles like the PSP or Nintendo DS simply do not provide the same feel of playing a full sized gaming console among friends in the room or connected around the world. Besides, I have yet to see a good port of "Call of Duty" on any handheld device.

So what was Ben Heck's task? Create a PS3 gaming system that can be housed inside a Pelican Storm iM2600 case. Unlike the other portable projects, the iM2600 is a huge, heavy, durable, and watertight container that withstands temperature from -20 to 140 degrees.

Ben Heck works his magic during the approximately 20 minute show as he analyzes the electronics, the design, and the precision needed to put the project together. You can see the hard work and determination as he crafts his way through his creations. He uses a variety of tools and even some handy double sided tape. It is more than just a PS3 in the Pelican case. The entire unit encases the PS3, 22-inch LCD screen with built in speakers, TV tuner, network switch for multiplayer gaming, and a handy compartment to store games and controllers. The result is a self-contained entertainment system that is tough and easy to transport whether between combat duties or a gaming party in a rather rough neighborhood.

While it is a pity we do not see Ben test the case's durability by dropping it down a flight of stairs or shooting it, you have to admire the hard work and love that goes into such a project. Who knows whether Sony will begin thinking like Ben and creating their own military PS3s.