General Category > General Discussion
New Project, looking for input & gauging interest
shenske:
--- Quote from: TyrannicalFascist on May 01, 2012, 08:06:22 PM ---Maybe you could find a way to create the long-lost Sega Neptune... As cool as it is to have a Genesis/CD/32X now (with the wireless controller reciever on the front too), the thing looks like a monstrosity, and takes up a butt-load of room. Maybe you could find a way to combine them into a shell that looks like the Neptune? I know the Sega CD wasn't supposed to be included, but if it were possible, then it would amazing.
--- End quote ---
I remember reading an article a few years ago where someone crammed a 32x in with a genesis into a model 2 shell. It was a super tight fit but it looked just like a genesis model two but had full compatibility with all 32x and Genesis games.
wiggy:
SNES friendly SFC shell would be pretty easy. The best part is that I'd only need to design a top half, which would make it a lot cheaper.
I really don't want to delve into trying to combine systems or anything that demands a lot of electrical engineering and whatnot. It's not something that I have a lot of training in or experience with. The other part about that would be spiraling costs. I could see units like that getting way, way pricey with all the work involved between design, having parts made, all the reconfiguring of the internal hardware, yadda yadda yadda. I could create something that would house the guts from more than one system, but it won't be at all like those little boxes that play different consoles. I would be restricted to the existing hardware, so I would only be able to r-house them next to each other or something to that effect unless you wanted me to do a bunch of re-wiring in order to get the cart ports close to each other.
The Nintendo PS shell would be really easy. The SNES mini internals would fit into something that size with no prob whatsoever. In fact, as much as I don't want to try and do a mash up, squeezing a SNES mini and PSone in a shell that size wouldn't be at all implausible. Or maybe just making it a DVD/CD player instead. The only difficult thing would be the slide out tray. It may need to be a SNES/PS2 in order to get that done without MASSIVE amounts of fabrication and additional hardware.
You guys mind tackling some of my other Qs? I could really use some feedback so I don't go off wasting gobs of time on this if it's not going to be worth it.
Also, keep in mind that I'll be using a rapid prototyping method for creating these. There's no way I'm going to sell enough to warrant having injection molding tools made. These will all be one-off. The plus side is that ANYTHING is possible. There is no concern of undercuts locking up a mold or anything like that. I can have literally ANY shape made using this process. So, custom graphics/logos/whatev can be added to the part itself. Not paint, but embossed, or debossed, or completely cut out. Every unit can be custom tailored to the owner's taste. The downside is cost. The price per unit on an injection molded part is far less, but there are tooling costs. Like I said, I don't imagine selling enough to cover those sorts of costs. Having each one printed individually will cost more per part but it's the only way I can think of to make this endeavor possible. Without 3D printing tech I would not be able to do something like this.
I definitely can't go the stuff a PC in a shell router or anything like that right now. That sort of thing would require some hardware and software engineering, and that is most definitely something that I am simply not capable of on my own. I have friends in those fields, but I'm not going to bother them with something like that unless I can be sure that I/we will be able to make money doing so.
Just way over my head :(
The 32X/Neptune thingamajig would be easy easy if I wasn't constrained by an existing case (like a Genesis model 2). I know I've had at least one or two guys on Cheap Ass Gamer poke me about something like that after I posted some of the modded consoles that I've done. If there's enough interest, I could definitely make that the next thing that I tackle.
irvgotti452:
PSnesOne! The neptune would be cool if you can design the top half of to fit the gen2 case.
As for your other questions here are my suggestions :
•nostalgic but modern looking design
•nes, genesis model 1, Ps1 sliding tray??, sega saturn sliding tray??.
•price range btwn 25-about 60 tops if its major modding
•colora selection yes! Custom lighting on a logo bezel would look good
•doi it myself system with minor instructions
•if its done by some one then yes repositioned switches and heavy modding :)
•highlyt interested
TyrannicalFascist:
Fair enough, I figured what I was talking about was a much bigger project. Though I do have a friend who is an electrical/software engineer, who could probably do combining of systems for me. The reason I brought up the classic PC idea was because a year ago that friend and I were talking about such a thing, and he said he could do it, but the shell was what he couldn't do.
For the Neptune, I'd personally prefer if it wasn't supposed to fit a pre-existing shell like the Genesis Model 2. I'd rather it be a brand new separate device, perhaps designed to look like the unreleased console shell. I'd say if someone else can devise a straight-forward way to combine the innards, you could create a shell design, and like the NintendoPlaystation shell, I think there's a market for it - if nothing else as a part of Sega history.
To answer some of your questions:
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---What consoles would you like to see re-shelled?
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I've not really thought too much about it until you presented the idea, but I think just about any cartridge-based system could stand to be re-shelled. The original NES comes to mind, as does Atari systems. For example, if there was a way to cram an Atari 7800 into a wood-finished shell that felt like the 2600, I'd buy that.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---What price would you be comfortable paying for an item like this?
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As your average person who has no idea what the costs are of making this kind of thing, if it was just for a solid color shell by itself, I'd say less than $60. More features and for you to provide the service should be an extra fee I think.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---Do you want extra features or not? Things like lighting, custom paint, personal logos and whatnot, etc.
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I could see a use for custom paint and maybe a "powered on" LED for lighting, but other than that I wouldn't be interested in the other features. Others might be though. Again, it wouldn't hurt to have those features as an option at an additional cost.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---Do you want to re-case the console yourself, or have me provide a service?
--- End quote ---
Depends on how easy it would be for me, your average not-mechanically-inclined person.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---Do you want to preserve the original state of the internals? I.e. Do you want to be able to easily slap the guts back into the original shell, or are you interested in something that has been modified to fit into a vastly different casing, or has repositioned switches, or whatever?
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Also depends, mostly on the design. I'd love to see some shells that simply take the place of the old shell with little modification. But there could also be some potential in making smaller shells for big systems to reduce their size.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---Are you even interested in this idea at all?
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Hell yeah I am.
wiggy:
--- Quote from: irvgotti452 on May 01, 2012, 08:45:54 PM ---PSnesOne! The neptune would be cool if you can design the top half of to fit the gen2 case.
As for your other questions here are my suggestions :
•nostalgic but modern looking design
•nes, genesis model 1, Ps1 sliding tray??, sega saturn sliding tray??.
•price range btwn 25-about 60 tops if its major modding
•colora selection yes! Custom lighting on a logo bezel would look good
•doi it myself system with minor instructions
•if its done by some one then yes repositioned switches and heavy modding :)
•highlyt interested
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Do you want the Neptune thing in a GenII case? I mean, it could be in something that looks just like the Neptune proto.
Thanks for the answers!
25-60 is not likely. I can't even give a rough estimate at this point, but I don't think I'll quite be able to hit that sort of price point. I'll get quotes soon and let you guys know.
--- Quote from: TyrannicalFascist on May 01, 2012, 08:47:21 PM ---Fair enough, I figured what I was talking about was a much bigger project. Though I do have a friend who is an electrical/software engineer, who could probably do combining of systems for me. The reason I brought up the classic PC idea was because a year ago that friend and I were talking about such a thing, and he said he could do it, but the shell was what he couldn't do.
For the Neptune, I'd personally prefer if it wasn't supposed to fit a pre-existing shell like the Genesis Model 2. I'd rather it be a brand new separate device, perhaps designed to look like the unreleased console shell. I'd say if someone else can devise a straight-forward way to combine the innards, you could create a shell design, and like the NintendoPlaystation shell, I think there's a market for it - if nothing else as a part of Sega history.
To answer some of your questions:
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---What consoles would you like to see re-shelled?
--- End quote ---
I've not really thought too much about it until you presented the idea, but I think just about any cartridge-based system could stand to be re-shelled. The original NES comes to mind, as does Atari systems. For example, if there was a way to cram an Atari 7800 into a wood-finished shell that felt like the 2600, I'd buy that.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---What price would you be comfortable paying for an item like this?
--- End quote ---
As your average person who has no idea what the costs are of making this kind of thing, if it was just for a solid color shell by itself, I'd say less than $60. More features and for you to provide the service should be an extra fee I think.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---Do you want extra features or not? Things like lighting, custom paint, personal logos and whatnot, etc.
--- End quote ---
I could see a use for custom paint and maybe a "powered on" LED for lighting, but other than that I wouldn't be interested in the other features. Others might be though. Again, it wouldn't hurt to have those features as an option at an additional cost.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---Do you want to re-case the console yourself, or have me provide a service?
--- End quote ---
Depends on how easy it would be for me, your average not-mechanically-inclined person.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---Do you want to preserve the original state of the internals? I.e. Do you want to be able to easily slap the guts back into the original shell, or are you interested in something that has been modified to fit into a vastly different casing, or has repositioned switches, or whatever?
--- End quote ---
Also depends, mostly on the design. I'd love to see some shells that simply take the place of the old shell with little modification. But there could also be some potential in making smaller shells for big systems to reduce their size.
--- Quote from: wiggy on May 01, 2012, 05:48:31 PM ---Are you even interested in this idea at all?
--- End quote ---
Hell yeah I am.
--- End quote ---
If your friend is interested in co-oping that sort of thing, then feel free to have him drop me a line. Send me a pm if you're/he's interested and I'll give you my contact info :)
OK, so I'm not a big Genesis person, is the Neptune just a Genesis/32X in one? If so, does that mean I'd need to gut a Genesis and 32X, (semi)permanently join the two, and case it?
I think it'd be a blast to take design cues from all these old systems and carry them over to a more modern design. Especially something like the 2600 with the wood veneer ;D
As far as DYI, the SNES mini would require that you remove 11 screws, move the board to the new shell, then reinstall those same 11 screws in pretty much the same positions as they started in (and maybe the cartridge bay door spring). I'm trying to make it both easy and devoid of any haxoring. I can't imagine many folks are gonna want to cut their old consoles up too much just to re-case them. I know I don't.
I would like to do some shells that are very different from the originals (like that wacky purple SNES in the 1st post). These would of course require a lot of modification, but I'm totally down for that as long as people are OK with how much work that involves ($$$).
By custom, I mostly mean graphics and whatnot. I don't plan on designing shells from scratch for everyone, unless they want to pay for that sort of thing. There's gonna be dozens of CAD hours in order to make this happen, and there's no way anyone's gonna pay me for those hours just to get there own 100% custom case. I'd have to sell 'em for a couple grand if that were the case :-\
Again, thank you for the replies! Keep 'em coming folks! This helps me out a lot :)