Modder creates Dreamcast portable from mom's plastic jewelry box

Dreamcast fans are doing what they can to keep the final Sega console alive in handheld fashion. This latest one certainly isn't the most elegant mod in the world -- in fact, it's a boxy Frankenstein that looks pretty uncomfortable and crampy after a long game session. That said, the clean, straight lines and generous 5-inch screen are an impressive step up from some rough versions we've seen elsewhere. Taking an entire Dreamcast's guts, adding an LCD screen, forging a portable power supply, and fitting it all in one portable box is no easy task -- so we salute you, modders. And we confess, we totally dig the brass hinges. Video after the break.

[fanthem @ May 13th 2008 6:29PM]

I bet it's better on the batteris than the Game Gear was.

[stefan @ May 13th 2008 7:24PM]

Argh... what was that? 6 AA in like 4-5 hours? But one could play it under the blanket and hide from checking parents..... 4 hours of Sonic sure were worth the 2 weeks of allowance invested in batteries.

[JohnTitor @ May 13th 2008 7:43PM]

I was smarter than you guys, I used my Genesis AC adapter which some of us know to be compatible with the Game Gear. Never got enough Sonic 2, even now I'm eagerly waiting for that Sonic 2 HD fan project

[alex kessaris @ May 14th 2008 5:50AM]

It's so true. With wireless devices, you can feel the electromagnetism in the air all around you. That HDTV signal is literally going through your body as it emanates from the base station. It's a palpable feeling. I have read of studies that attempt to link wireless radiation with mood disorders. Personally I feel quite calmer when the devices in the house are turned off. It's like a high-pitched whining is gone from my central cortex.

[alex @ May 14th 2008 5:53AM]

woa that's totally an the wrong comment.
I wanted to say that the game gear's battery life was more like 4.5 minutes, not hours.

ALso, this thing is neat, but does the CD skip?

the above post is a totally unrelated reply to another post, crazy browser glitch.. sorry. :)

[Tom @ May 13th 2008 6:33PM]

Hmm, a box from the credit cards?
Or seconded without a diamond core, for the pleasure of joy!
Hehe, sounds just as expected (without expected something).

[zomg0t @ May 13th 2008 6:37PM]

WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?!

[CraigJ @ May 13th 2008 6:47PM]

failed haiku?

[JohnTitor @ May 13th 2008 7:04PM]

failed translate.google?

[Aguiluz @ May 13th 2008 8:20PM]

Or just plain fail.

[UKNigel @ May 14th 2008 1:30AM]

If you read his older comments, you'll find that he abruptly changed from being able to speak intelligibly to writing random stupid stuff. Seems a little odd.

[Ridgecity @ May 14th 2008 2:28AM]

he's probably writing from his Apple Newton on a really bad day...

[naz @ May 13th 2008 6:52PM]

ben heck look out

[riggs @ May 13th 2008 11:37PM]

seriously, cause if ben gets hits with that he would DIE

[JohnTitor @ May 13th 2008 7:04PM]

Sega really should have done a dreamcast portable. It's graphics can keep up with a PSP and for once they can focus on one product at a time!

[Bellerophon @ May 13th 2008 7:12PM]

Man I haven't seen that startup sequence in a long time.

Good memories... good memories...

[grant @ May 13th 2008 7:18PM]

9/9/99, what a great day.

[Brian @ May 13th 2008 7:38PM]

videos busted...

[Azrael @ May 13th 2008 8:42PM]

Does anybody else thinks this guy sounds a bit like Milton, from "Space Office"?

[Jarhead2012 @ May 13th 2008 8:48PM]

Nice work, but I bet Ben Heck could take that base mod and make it look much nicer and be easier to hold. However, i give props to the guy who did this!

[pixelator @ May 13th 2008 9:43PM]

Bah. Been there, done that.

Go find a Treamcast. Yes, that's with a 'T'.

[Zorque @ May 13th 2008 10:57PM]

I want to build one of these. I keep thinking of cool ways to mod my Dreamcast, but I'm way too lazy.

[Bob @ May 14th 2008 12:52AM]

Dang, thats some crazy modding. The dreamcast had some nice games, like power stone.