6 Reuses for Old Video Game Controllers

When the Nintendo Entertainment System came out, my brother and I spent an entire summer working on a farm to buy one. It took us three months, but we were finally able to afford the monstrous $100 dollar price tag. That was the beginning of our love affair with video games. As the years passed, video game systems became more advanced and old systems became outdated quickly. My brother and I found ourselves with a pile of control pads and laser guns that we no longer used. If you are experiencing a similar problem, here are some solutions to keep your old controllers out of the landfill.



1. Trade Them

There are collectors of everything. There are even people who collect vintage video games and their controllers. Although an Atari 2600 joystick may not net you much trade, you can probably find a video game store who will take it off your hands for a couple dollars in store credit.

2.  The NES Belt Buckle

The NES controller is a compact rectangular shape. It is also relatively flat compared to most other controllers. People have started using these controllers as belt buckles. There are a few companies that manufacture these belt buckles and sell them to hip gamers or children of the 80's. You, however, can make your own. Instructables.com has a wonderful article that can teach you to build a belt buckle out of the same controller you used to rescue the princess.

3.  The Duck Hunt Gun

When most people bought the NES, they received a gun with which to play Duck Hunt. This gun, however, has few practical applications. It can be painted black and used as part of a Halloween costume or in plays.

4.  Sell Them

The Super Nintendo had a gun called the Super Scope. It's two and one-half feet long and shaped like a Bazooka. It's not quite appropriate for performing Chekhov. There is a website out there called Gazelle.com. They buy electronic gear. Although they don't have a price listed for the Super Scope, they claim that they will make a personalized offer for any electronic gadget.

5.  Convert them to Work With Your Computer

Computers are going to be around for awhile. I'll bet you six dollars. Some of your video game controllers can be converted to work in the USB ports of your computer. Associated Content has a couple articles on how to do convert old controllers to work with new computers. Not handy with a soldering iron? If there is an electronics fix-it store in your town, you can probably pay someone to convert your old game controllers to work in a USB port.

6.  NES Powerpad

If you purchased one of these thinking that every game would be played on a large, numbered pad, you can cut your losses by converting your pad into a lovely area rug. Perfect for the gamer chic.