Project NES Side Loader Complete.

[ps2emotions]

I built this using original hardware & used a game genie connector which I desoldered from gg board and onto the NES motherboard. Works 1st try & eliminated the bulky tray loading mechanism which allowed for a much lower profile system akin to the famicom.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5A4C6814

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5A501F1C

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5A41ABE4

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5A889387

[marurun]

That's pretty cool. I'm wondering why you made it the shape you did and made it a side-loader, though. It actually looks like it would take up a lot more space under someone's TV.

[Tanooki]

I think it's a nice idea, but I have to agree with maru. What was the motivation of a bulky side loading setup with a very elongated system that's going to be tricky to find a place for it. I found it hard when I had a Retron5 to leave enough space for the side cabling on that for controllers, same with even the AV jacks out of the side of the old NES and this is much wider given cart heights.

[marurun]

Just to be clear, I have no intention of knocking the hard work that went into this. And I think some of the aesthetic choices are pretty cool. But I do think the physical layout is a bit wonky. That said, I imagine you designed it that way for a reason. Care to share with us some of your thoughts on how you arrived at that design?

[ps2emotions]

To be honest when I started the project it was originally going to be a top loading design. I worked my butt off getting a ide cable soldered to the game genie connector and for the life of me could not get it to work. I tested each point for continuity & each adjacent to make sure no pins were connecting. Someone on NA recommended that I shorten the wires because it might have been getting radio interference so I made wires short as possible probably 5 or 6 inches to no avail. I think the gauge wiring was just too small so I ended up desoldering all that and soldering the game genie connector directly to the board & J.B. weld over it so it would be nice and sturdy. Actually at the end I was happy I went the side loader route because it's something different for sure and the functioning is so much better than the front loader. With the side loader no worries about dust getting in there (plus I made a dust cover) Also the top I was able to keep sleek looking without a big cartridge slot. The drawbacks of course are as you said that the right side has to be clear to load games & you have to hold the left side of the console to insert the game. Anyways, here's a link to a detailed look of how I made it & a video is at the end too.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Ninten ... -Genie-Co/