I Think I Can Do It

[Doramius]

The Ultimate NES console.
I just got an awesome idea from a design I had done long ago for an NES system. The twist is making a console for all 3 mainstream NES consoles.

I've got my sights set on this case for the whole project, but I've got to find a working NES, SNES, and N64 console.

The top 3 bays will be modified to slide the cartridges in. NES on top, then SNES, then N64. The bottom 2 bays will be modified for SNES & N64 controller ports. The floppy bay will be modified for the NES. I think the dimensions are okay for me to fit 2 boards, but the third I may have to make a bracket assembly and mount it in the middle. I will obviously have to create extension cables from the boards to move the cart connectors and controller ports to the bay areas.

The NES carts are the deepest and I think I can use the cart holder from the original console case to make a slide to allign the cart properly. SNES & N64 both have an identical assembly for the composite or RF connectors to plug into. I'll have to mod the NES so I can tie all the video together into one line and mount female Composite ports to the back wall of the case.

I'm also going to gut the USB parts out and replace it with a 3 point rotating switch. I'll connect the reset switches in parallel to the reset switch of the case, and the hot leads of all ther will go to a point on the rotating switch, which in turn will go to the case's power switch. This will allow only one system to be on at once.

I'll also hard wire (solder to mainboard) all of the power supplies. I'll gut them open and put them together in an old ATX PSU shell I have laying around. I'll leave the power cord recepticle, and just have sheilded leads from the consoles' power supplies in parallel to it.

I'm sure it wont need them, but I'll see if I can fit a fan at the newly designed PSU, and one on the back of the case, just to give it the realistic PC HUMM!

Would it be legal to sell units like that on eBay? I might make 2 or 3 units and see if I can sell them if they turn out really well.

[Faustus]

I think I've seen this done somewhere else but they also included the Gamecube

[Doramius]

I wouldn't ming adding a GC, but I wouldn't have enough bays, and I don't know how to turn a regular DVD/CD ROM to work on a console unit. Would be nice though. I'm still trying to find instructions like that for a PS1.

[yoda313]

Hello,

SWEET!

I wouldn't try ebay. I think they might have regs against selling modded consoles.

Got your own website???? Post it there.

Kevin

--keep us updated and post PICS! --

[Doramius]

I'll keep people posted, but I have a few other projects I'm working on and I've got to get the 3 consoles. I have excellent consoles in top condition, that I'm not about to rip apart. I'll probably check out some pawn shops, savers, Salvation Army, and other places. I just need cheap, but working, consoles. I don't even have to worry about cosmetic issues like discoloration, chewmarks, or marks and scrapes.

I know what you're talking about with certain mods, and I only think that's if I add some sort of mod chipping to it or tampering with it's region coding.(something like that) I don't think it applies to custom creating a case. The consoles themselves are still basically the same as they used to be, but we'll find out. It'll be cool to do that and have it look like a PC tower. I could even connect it to my AIW card and play it through my PC. Make it seem like I really am playing it through a PC.

[mrtristan]

Hmm. I wonder about the legality of it. Technically, you're just reselling old consoles, but you will have modded them into something "new."

Oh hell, just rent a small factory and make a ton of them. Make lots of money and hire a good lawyer.

[Doramius]

I'm sure once I get a good method or proceedure down and am able to make really nice looking units, honestly, how many people would buy one though? This is something I'd like to find out on eBay if I can make about 3 of them. But I still have to start out with the first and make sure I got some instruction written down to do it.

Who here would buy one?

[mrtristan]

I would buy one. I can do all of the hardware mounting with no problems, but I know absolutely jack shit about wiring and electrical systems.

Actually, I would buy one from you, not on Ebay. Although we don't really know each other, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't rip me off. However, if I saw something like what you are planning to build on Ebay, I would assume that there's an 80% chance that it's some kind of scam.

[Doramius]

What I will do is take picture of the process on the second one I build. I'll try and take some on the first, but seeing as I don't know exactly how I'm going to set it up, it'll be more of a practice build. The wiring shouldn't be too hard, as I'm only extening the length. I have about 100+ yds. of telephone cable with 32 wires in it. All solid. They should be perfect to use. I'm also thinking of making a plate for the back to make most of it sold looking. Leaving just the PSU and a small spot for the RCA Composite jacks to mount. I'll still think about how I want to do it as I build it. The NES carts will be made to go in without the spring mechanism, similar to the way they go in the top loader systems. I'll also order some new connectors, so they are cleaner and have better contact. I've been writing a small notebook on how I will be going about this, so there's at least a plan in place and I'm not doing it all by mind and whatever feels okay. I want something that will look AWESOME.

I'll probably keep a running list of the parts and how much $$ I put into the whole thing and sell it for about $10 or $20 more for the time building it. I'm guessing a unit like that might go for $150. Maybe I should poll it.