The Cover Project
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: shenske on July 04, 2010, 02:48:18 PM
-
FYI: Totally not cover related ... ;D
So I've been playing around with the idea to create my own portable NES for a few years now. I have a few famiclones already as well as a mass produced portable NES called the FC-Mobile II. While i like my FC-Mobile its pretty clunky and huge. All the chips used inside famiclones (including the FC-Mobile II) are VERY small and would fit nicely into an NES cart. I have next to all the parts i need to make my portable (only missing batteries). I just wanted to see what you guys thought about the idea.
Here are my mock ups i made last night to see how i would want the console to look. Just letting you know this little project of mine will be going on for a long time (i'm busy as hell). If you guys want any info on how to make your own portable i'd recommend visiting www.modretro.com and/or www.benheck.com.
Also I'm not just making some mock-up designs that look pretty. I've already measured and tested to make sure that everything will fit as seen in the mock up designs. When i start construction on this i plan on using a 2.5" intec screen, the original nes controller board and of coarse a NOAC (Nintendo On A Chip) board. Please don't ask if i'm going to sell this, i havent even started yet. ::)
Portable Nintendo Entertainment System (mock-up wip)
(http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/431/portablenes.jpg) (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/portablenes.jpg/)
Portable Family Computer (mock-up wip)
(http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/5865/portablefamicom.jpg) (http://img594.imageshack.us/i/portablefamicom.jpg/)
Well i guess just tell me what you think :)
-
So instead of doing the Aladdin deck enhancer covers you have been doing this :D (Are the new scans better/usable?)
Interesting idea anyways, wouldn't mind having portable NES and SNES and Mega Drive/Genesis (I know Nomad exist, just don't own one) and Master System.
-
So instead of doing the Aladdin deck enhancer covers you have been doing this :D (Are the new scans better/usable?)
There are new scans? I must have missed that, i'll check them out now
-
That looks AWESOME. I've been wanting to do that with an N64 because I might be getting a second one for free, but replica NES units are definitely easier to find and designed smaller, probably a better place to start. I've also been thinking of doing an original Xbox or PS2 laptop with our ancient IBM thinkpad. (Totally got the idea from ben heck :P )
I think the cartridge shape and integrated controller are excellent and it's not something I've seen before. Of course sticking the cartridge out at a 90 degree angle is kind of awkward, but I couldn't think of another way to do it other than sticking it in the top or bottom of the unit (which may or may not be even more silly). Also this might be just because this is a mockup, but where are the power/brightness/volume switches going to go? A headphone jack would be nice too.
Definitely post some WIP pictures of this. I'd love to try it myself someday :D
-
Nice design skenske! I too have an FC Mobile 2 but am hoping something better comes out as there are a good few games that dont play. Your portable NES would be pretty kick ass!
-
You've done well making it look like a NES, but you're meant to be doing a handheld here. Imagine how uncomfortable it would be with the heavy cartridge sticking out several inches from the back? I'd try and have the socket at the top/bottom.
-
It looks like a great design, I'm not sure if the location for the cartridges is very practical especially for an NES cartridge.
-
are you gonna make it as a skin? or paint? vinyl dye would work great for the base coat.
-
Jup I also like the idea and the design! The only thing which could be a problem maybe is that the screen will be a tad small. Weren't those NES games made for the "big screen"? ;)
-
Those look better then the ones out there !
maybe these pics can help ya out
(http://cdn.gadgetvenue.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/nesP-cartridge.jpg)
(http://www.walyou.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/portable-nes-mod.jpg)
(http://gadgets.boingboing.net/portableNEScart.jpg)
found a cool vid too!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJXPfznWLPU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJXPfznWLPU)
i think there were also a few pics on the inside for wiring and stuff like that :D
-
First off, thanks for all the praise. I really hope i can find all the time to make this portable and do it right! I don't want to half-a$$ this and have it look bad. The world of a perfectionist ...
Also this might be just because this is a mockup, but where are the power/brightness/volume switches going to go? A headphone jack would be nice too.
I'm undecided on where to put those controls. I'm thinking either on the side opposite to the video out or under the cart slot on the back. Where the fingers rest when holding the cart/console it wouldn't hit the controls accidentally.
Nice design skenske! I too have an FC Mobile 2 but am hoping something better comes out as there are a good few games that dont play. Your portable NES would be pretty kick ass!
Unfortunately we are kind of stuck with compatibility of the NOAC board. All the famiclones use the same board, it hasnt changed in years and likely will not change.
You've done well making it look like a NES, but you're meant to be doing a handheld here. Imagine how uncomfortable it would be with the heavy cartridge sticking out several inches from the back? I'd try and have the socket at the top/bottom.
It looks like a great design, I'm not sure if the location for the cartridges is very practical especially for an NES cartridge.
There isn't really a whole lot of options of the cart location. I know its kind of awkward to have the cart stick out at 90 degrees but any other place for it to stick out would feel & look really weird. The cart is only a few ounces so i don't think the weight will really through me off too much, especially since i plan on putting the batteries on the bottom part of the cart. The weight distribution should balance pretty well that way.
are you gonna make it as a skin? or paint? vinyl dye would work great for the base coat.
For the NES portable i would be using the original NES. pad for the front design and paint the top half of the cart. I would create a sticker/label for the back legal info part that has the NES logo.
For the Famicom portable the gold & red controller i would use a label/sticker. I would paint both parts of the cart red & white. I would create label/sticker for the Famicom Family logo parts.
Jup I also like the idea and the design! The only thing which could be a problem maybe is that the screen will be a tad small. Weren't those NES games made for the "big screen"? ;)
I was debating between a 3" & 2.5" screen but since i already have a 2.5" screen i decided to go with that. A small screen for NES games isn't really a problem considering the graphics are very basic and the text had to be pretty large to be legible. The FC Mobile II i have uses a 2.5" screen and it works great for all the games i play. If the first portable works out well (probably starting with the Famicom version) then i may upgrade the screen size to 3" for the 2nd portable.
Those look better then the ones out there !
maybe these pics can help ya out
i think there were also a few pics on the inside for wiring and stuff like that :D
Yeah i have seen those before too but i was kind of displeased with them. Don't get me wrong, their portable are up, working and finished but I just really felt compelled to take a similar idea and do it my way. The first portable you pictured is an emulation machine and i wanted to be able to use actual NES carts with mine. The 2nd one the screen feels awfully low, the start and select buttons aren't visible and without any designs or color it looks kind of bland. Like i said before they are both very nice portables i just wanted to have my take on it. :)
-
any reason the cartridge slot can't be designed so that it's parallel to the system?
-
any reason the cartridge slot can't be designed so that it's parallel to the system?
The system would have to be expanded in size and i really don't want to expand beyond the case of the NES cart. It would have to be expanded because the cart slot would have to protrude outside of the shell in order for the cart to be parallel with the system. Also lets just say that i want to line the game up perfectly next to the console in the cart (it would look like two games resting next to one another)... The bottom of the console/cart would have to be extended further down so there would be a slot for the game to plug into. Also if the cart was parallel to the system then your hands would be resting on the game while you're playing. If your hands are on the cart then it would likely short out constantly because the cart is being bumped around. The further away the game is from your hands the better. I will create a stable way for the cart to not move around a lot at the top of the console/cart.
-
yeah that last pic has the cart slot on the back to play the actual games.
haha thats awesome, i'd just end up buying the last one, gutting it, and just redoing the case work and screen lol, im lazy
-
I really like the designs of these but I'm debating the functionality of having a NEs cartridge protruding out of another NES cartridge. for portability purposes of course.
-
I really like the designs of these but I'm debating the functionality of having a NEs cartridge protruding out of another NES cartridge. for portability purposes of course.
Like i was saying before, without making the console/cart larger there really aren't any other options for the cart location. As for portability the cartridge doesn't need to be in the console when you are carrying it around. When the game is not being played it should be the same size as any of the games it plays.
-
Nice idea I've already though of doing my own portable console, the only probleme IMO is that with the game slot on the back would look odd when loaded. The game slot should be on top or bottom. Just a suggestion.