A Tale of 2 Halo Controllers

The first one was easy, the second one, not so much

They match: They're a pair.

When all the Halo 3 hoopla started in 2007 Microsoft announced a set of Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Halo 3” Wireless Controllers.

These were pretty cool controllers:

• Designed with original artwork by legendary Spawn artist Todd McFarlane, they will be available in either the Covenant Brute or Master Chief themes. Each controller will be packaged with a limited edition “Halo 3” collectible figurine created by McFarlane Toys will sell for an estimated retail price $59.99 (U.S.).
• Halo 3 Spartan "Limited Edition" controller
• Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller

Todd McFarlane artwork. That was pretty cool, particularly coming from Microsoft who doesn't really understand cool.

Too bad they cost $59 USD. Total pass. No regrets.

Master Chief!But early last year I found a Halo 3 Spartan "Limited Edition" controller in bin of white controllers at the discount/surplus/used store Whatever You Want Canada. Only surprisingly fast reflexes allowed my hand to close on it an instant before Coxxorz's. And, lo and behold, I was now a proud owner of a Halo 3 Spartan "Limited Edition" controller. Oh yeah, at $25 CAD. I tested it and it worked well. It was clean, in great shape and everything worked. It was immediately consigned to my Halo 3 Sling Bag and became my designated LAN party controller.

And all was well.

Except...

There was a void. The Halo 3 Sling Bag was, after all, designed to hold two Xbox 360 controllers and one of the spots was empty.

So, since then I have been keeping one eye out for a copy of the matching Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller without much luck. Until last week that is. During the HoC Lan party that time forgot shopping portion we stopped in a Microplay/Jumbo Video and while patiently waiting (NOT) for Coxxorz to finish with the "Buy one Used Game, Get Another for Half Price Sale" I amused myself by scouting out the rest of the store.

What did I spy hanging up on one of the shelves? Yes! A Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller! With a play and charge cable which I didn't want or need. So I asked about it. "Well there's no empty battery case so we have the rechargeable battery in it along with the cable." I didn't care about that and asked if he would sell it without the cable and battery. And he would. So I eventualy bought the Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller for $35 despite it being fairly scratched up and a little dirty. The Xbox Live button was particularly scratched up.

So I brought the Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller into work and borrowed the Torx Security screwdrivers and opened it up for a proper cleaning.

The Covenant!After cleaning and reassembling I took the Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller home for testing. And it passed!

For one day.

Then it started sticking on some buttons. I wanted the matching pair but I didn't want one that was broken. What to do? What to do?

Coxxorz suggested I dissemble one of my working controllers and install those parts under the shell of the Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller. Hmmm... A good idea but I would be out a controller. Something in the math of paying for a new controller and then having one less didn't seem to work for me. I guess I will be returning it.

Too bad I was so close to having both controllers. I wasn't expecting to see another Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller soon.

And then... and then... Coxxorz and I went back to Whatever You Want Canada just for a look around. We were actually checking for Microsoft Wireless Racing Wheel V2s. We even took Greg a Timmies' coffee as we like to keep on his good side.

Anyway, as we were leaving I mentioned that I was having controller problems and asked if he had any older, damaged ones that he might sell me cheap for parts. We knew that he normal pieced together broken items to make working ones so it wasn't that much of a longshot. He disappeared upstairs and spent ten minutes digging loudly through what sounded like earthquake rubble with numerous thumping and banging. He then came back down the stairs and before he reappeared was already asking if I "cared what it looked like?"

I didn't as long as I there was a chance at working parts. He then handed me a black controller (I had asked for black) that was duct taped together. Duct taped. Together. The duct tape was structural filling in for the base end that was half missing. It looked like it had been snapped off with a large screw driver.

In fact, as well as the duct tape and the half missing base piece only three of the six main screws were still connected, the bottom half was cracked, the rubber button pad was torn and one of the rumble motors had been jammed. However, we noted that the Xbox Live button was pristine.

We laughed at the sight of the Red Green controller and wondered at the difficulty some previous owner had had opening up the controller. Whoever he was, his home repair experiment had gone poorly.

My own Secure Torx screwdriver setIt may have been the coffee but Greg handed the controller to me and wished me luck with my repairs. No charge. Not too bad. I guess it pays to be regular customers. We then had a conversation about secure torx screwdriver sets. The type that are required to open up Xbox 360 controllers and, as I use a set from work, Greg suggested I visit Brafasco and pick up a set of my own. He showed me his set purchased there and gave us directions.

Ten minutes and $15 later I had my own set of secure torx screwdrivers and was ready to disassemble Xbox 360 controllers in the comfort of my own basement. Which I did.

So the reconstruction odyssey began

You know I was going to try it. Just as I know you wanted me to try it. Yes, I tried the duct taped controller and, yes, it worked. As is. A bit of force required to get the battery case in but it synced up with my Xbox 360 and all the buttons worked and worked well.

I completely disassembled the Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller and saved the shell and joysticks and D-pad. Everything else went out.
Parts!I then went back through the pile for the rumble motors, the screws and the rubber button pad which I also needed. Now everything else went out.

This wasn't the first time I had disassembled a controller and I am sure it won't be the last.

I then sliced off the duct tape and disassembled the duct taped controller. It contributed the circuit board (with triggers) all 7 buttons and the rubber d-pad pad (yes I know).

I then cleaned everything and pieced it all back together. To my extreme amazement it worked first try.

I had replaced all the scratched buttons and faulty pieces and my new frankensteined Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller worked like a charm. I have been using it as my primary Borderlands controller for the last week and I haven't missed a shot or button press. In all its Todd McFarlane's artwork glory it is one fine looking controller. The perfect match with my Halo 3 Covenant "Limited Edition" controller.

The Halo 3 Sling Bag void is now filled and it holds a complete set of two (working) Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Halo 3” Wireless Controllers. The void has been filled.