Bacteria's "Make a portable Nintendo N64 handheld" video log

[MrPopo]

The multi-plug sounds like it'll be fairly complicated to make.

[bacteria]

No, should be easy. On the PSone screen, when you take it apart, you see the male plug that was designed to connect to the PSone console, and next to it the female plug. I'm going to use a small plastic box to hold the wiring to connect the switches and N64 controller plug into, have my eyes on a tiny tupperware box that's about 70 x 37 x 32mm, it looks about the right size.

Thing is, having lots of buttons and jacks on a case does make it look rather cluttered, this is a way to reduce it - after all, if you don't often need to adjust the volume and contrast on the screen, why have 4 buttons on the case dedicated to it? You only recharge the batteries when not playing (you could harm your cells by recharging whilst playing as the recharge rate is less than the portable uses), so better in my view to use the external box for that too. Other advantage, is that future systems I make in the cases can use the same box too.

[bacteria]

Video 9 is uploaded

It deals with the case backing, securing the case halves together, spray painting, finishing. Hope you like it!

[bacteria]

Here we go for your delectation - Video 10!

This is where things get interesting!

This video shows preparation and installation of game cart holder; installing "Z" button and speakers. You also see the "Z" button being installed "live" and afterwards it being demonstrated along wtih the game cart insert and removal.

Hope you like it!

[bacteria]

Video 11 done - controllers, memory packs, rumble packs, dual memory/rumble packs; wiring them to a controller, what to use, flatten boards; also a video of Doom 64 running on an 8" TFT screen - image is not sharp as normal as had to dim the lights to stop screen reflection.

Anyway,

Are the videos running at about the right pace??

Before the end of the video log guide, i'm going to also make a series of short videos into one video (under 10 mins) showing some tips and tricks i've picked up, learnt and also developed myself.

[MrPopo]

That analog stick you can't identify... it looks like one from the Saturn 3D pad.

[bacteria]

Ok, here we go again, video 12

This is about making the multi-function plug port.

The video was taken in many snippits and stages.

Hope you like it!

[bacteria]

Video 13 uploaded - the first part of installing the innards for the screen front - the screen itself. The video covers opening up the screen to smoothen out the metal sides, installing the metal surround centrally, securing it and installing the screen firmly in place.



The next video(s) will contain details about installing and making the assemblies for the buttons, d-pad and joystick into the case too.

[bacteria]

Video 14 uploaded now!

It shows installing a d-pad and joystick, and more importantly, how to build their assemblies.

These are techniques I have developed, which I find work very effectively.



The next video will show how to install the "C" buttons and stop them rotating in the case, also installation of the other buttons too.

[bacteria]

Anyone inspired here to make a handheld console? This thread doesn't seem to have as much interest here as it did initially - I was hoping others here might "have a go"? ...