Multi-platform console mod defies practicality, in a good way

We've seen multi-platform console mods before, but none quite like this whimsical creation by one "Bacteria," which effectively turns each console into a cartridge that can be swapped out at will. That was apparently done to make the system portable although, as is often the case, "portable" can be a matter of opinion. It also falls a bit short on the "multi-platform" part of the equation, as Bacteria has so far only managed to turn an N64 into a cartridge, but he promises to create carts for plenty of other systems in the next few months, including the SNES, GameCube, PlayStation and, yes, even the Jaguar. Be sure to hit up the read link below for a video of the system in action, as well as a detailed account of the building process.

[snapa @ Jul 9th 2008 1:40PM]

Hi. I'm here for the party.

[nate @ Jul 9th 2008 1:44PM]

post above me if you suck

honestly...there's better things to do with your life

[Sean @ Jul 9th 2008 2:03PM]

Sucks to be Snapa.

[Sylvanus @ Jul 9th 2008 2:47PM]

hahahahaha...Snapa has the double sucking action going on.

[Towncivilian @ Jul 9th 2008 1:48PM]

LOL NO U

[martin @ Jul 9th 2008 1:50PM]

if your happy and you know it clap your hands

[k_S @ Jul 9th 2008 1:52PM]

Tom's just sad... can anyone give me an actual size on this thing?

[Striker @ Jul 9th 2008 2:12PM]

That's what she said!

[WiiFTW @ Jul 9th 2008 1:54PM]

Post above me if you blow.

Haha gotcha Engadget.

[Aaron @ Jul 9th 2008 1:59PM]

I would like to know the dimensions of the unit as well. Thanks!

[BigD145 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:00PM]

*waits for the "OMG BEZEL" comments*

[Homeboy @ Jul 9th 2008 2:09PM]

soooooooooooo.......it's not a cake?

[Shane @ Jul 9th 2008 2:11PM]

The cake is a lie.

[CtotheD182 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:26PM]

The cake is a lie.

[tha-don @ Jul 9th 2008 2:56PM]

The cake is a lie.

[EricR @ Jul 9th 2008 3:59PM]

The cake is a lie.

[Echo1 @ Jul 9th 2008 5:47PM]

I lived in a cake

[deyanimay @ Jul 9th 2008 8:26PM]

The cake is the truth do not listen to the propaganda.

[Striker @ Jul 9th 2008 2:12PM]

But can it play Crysis?

I'm sorry, I had to do that, it was the perfect setup lol.

[ChrisMizzleInfo @ Jul 9th 2008 2:17PM]

dumb. go die.

[DarCowAlways @ Jul 9th 2008 2:44PM]

"Can it play Doom" is a more appropriate response, in which case, yes.

[Striker @ Jul 9th 2008 4:19PM]

It was on my bucket list, and I couldn't resist.

[redelephantlabel @ Jul 9th 2008 2:17PM]

fug-ly. It looks to me like it might be made of aluminum flashing with off-white house paint. Everyone knows a good carved wood case is in vogue. That or lots of brass a la steam punk.

[Eric @ Jul 9th 2008 2:18PM]

On the website, he says he's going to make a Game Boy Advance cartridge for it...

Wouldn't it be easier to just play a Game Boy Advance?

[BigTeebo @ Jul 9th 2008 2:27PM]

I have a OneStation(like a GB micro) that has the same principle. The CPU for the console is on the cartridge, as well as the games.

[pdilly @ Jul 9th 2008 2:39PM]

All your cake are belong to us!

[Steve Sparkes @ Jul 9th 2008 3:28PM]

All cake is theft

[bacteria @ Jul 9th 2008 2:44PM]

No intelligent comments here so far, pity. Let's work with what we have so far:

Eric - No, a GBA has small screen, tv out option plays it on a bigger and better screen. I incorporated this via a GBA Transverter on a previous project.

BigTeebo - The OneStatoin is just an emulator with restricted games built-in - my system uses original hardware, LEGAL, and the entire catalogue of games.

It takes literally several weeks to make each console system modded and case made; hence only the N64 done so far, however the other systems I have quoted WILL be made into slot-in carts for the system;I have put a lot of research in making it so.

[SteveJ @ Jul 9th 2008 3:02PM]

It is a bit ugly, but this would be pretty nice for road trips with the kids. Are you going to be selling this? What cost for the system, and for the modules? Also will it be able to run off battery and/or will it come with a car power (formerly, cigarette lighter) adaptor?

[Benson @ Jul 9th 2008 3:11PM]

Well, there were some requests for dimensions; any chance of dropping those here? (Though I'd bet they could be found or estimated after a vigorous pursuit through the read-link...)

Kudos for this, it looks like a cool project.

[Jake Tobak @ Jul 9th 2008 3:20PM]

Very cool project and Xtremely kewl that you responded here.
What do you think about modular controls (or what ever you would call them) so you can swap them out for different systems?

[Lloytron @ Jul 9th 2008 3:57PM]

Ignore the idiotic comments above, this looks like an great project. The aesthetics may leave a lot to be desired, but you have to start somewhere. Good luck and keep at it.

[fistpittingnork @ Jul 9th 2008 4:40PM]

I see what controllers all the buttons came from, but the diagonal blue and green buttons between the super famicon buttons and the yellow analog stick.

Erc: TV out or no, your GBA is no Frankenstein of controllers like this. I like it.

[Hooterman @ Jul 9th 2008 2:53PM]

Looks interesting, but the video isn't working for me. Could you throw it on youtube or something?

[GenBanks @ Jul 9th 2008 3:08PM]

I'm just going to nag you with a reply email. I can't help it, since I suck.

[Yor1001 @ Jul 9th 2008 3:16PM]

Wow, whats up with these comments, I hope this stuff doesnt take off like the first comments from premature 2 year old.
Anyway for the units, it sounds interesting, making a catridge based multisystem handhled is a great idea, I just wanna know how da hell do u fit the gamcube into a catridge wthout it overheading.

[cDub @ Jul 9th 2008 3:29PM]

My psp plays PSP, PS1, GBA, GBC, NES, SNES, N64 and Genesis games. Best investment ever.

[ShadowKain @ Jul 9th 2008 4:11PM]

Um, use am emulator on your Eee or laptop? I dont know, but this looks a bit fugly to me...

[ShadowKain @ Jul 9th 2008 4:14PM]

I agree, the PSP can do all this and more. Why use that when the PSP is nice , slim , not ugly, and is more ergonomic. Sorry dude...

[Lars @ Jul 9th 2008 6:03PM]

It's not about efficiency... it's about awesomeness.

[Striker @ Jul 10th 2008 12:58AM]

Sorry if I don't agree, but the PSP is just about as ergonomic as a DualShock controller, and those make my fingers feel as if they are going to fall off.

[Hooterman @ Jul 9th 2008 4:42PM]

As much as I like playing all the emu's on my PSP, it is still just emulating them. Some games just plain don't play 100% properly on the PSP. Not saying I'd rather lug this around than deal with some slowdown in my games, but playing games on original hardware is still the best way to play.

[imnotshockslayerbacteria! @ Jul 10th 2008 12:41AM]

Your psp will NEVER be able to emulate and then even play correctly the games this thing can and will. For the record, I'm positive that after playing this awesome creation, you will not want to go back to your psp. Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and thou hath beheld it not. And it can has cheezburger.

[bacteria @ Jul 10th 2008 3:33AM]

Thanks for the comments and queries, guys:

SteveJ - No, not for sale. Took months to make this and will take several days / weeks to add each additional console; mostly for case making of the system half. It all has to be very precise and it is all cut from tough 2mm perspex. My previous systems needed mains, this one is entirely portable. It can be made to work off a 7.5v car adapter of 3amps (most systems will only need half of this though), although there is no point as I should get about 5.5 hours playtime on a set of batteries: I have two sets of batteries!

Benson - Thanks for the comments. Dimensions are 27cms x 21.5cms; handheld area about 3.3cms only. This really isn't large, as you see in the pic it is all in proportion.

Jake Tobak - No need, this system has all the controls needed to run all the systems I mentioned, built in. Some systems need all, some only some.

Lloyton - The aesthetics (definition: "An artistically beautiful or pleasing appearance") are euronomic rather than beautiful. All the components have been placed in their relevant and exact positions as I have taken the time to test where my fingers rest on the case, buttons have been placed in the right places therefore. I think the system is quite attractive; i'm not fickle enough to consider aesthetics to be more important than functionality and practicality. Sure, I have had to make some compromises, as is usual for inventions, isn't it?

I will sand the sides again and re-paint them, and sort out the shoulder buttons to look nicer though.

fistpittingnork - The A and B buttons (blue and green you mention) were from a third party N64 controller. The other parts - joysticks from GameCube, 4 button pad from a serial PC controller, D-pad from SNES.

Hooterman - Sure, I was going to upload it to YouTube today anyway.... Have a look later today!

Yor1001 - Same way as I stopped overheating in the N64 system, using heatsinks and fan to suck out hot air.

cDub - No emulator plays all/many games without slowdowns, audio glitches, graphical glitches or wrongly; anyway, you are circumventing the Sony design by making it work on such emulators and using illegal ROMS on it, I bet. My system is entirely legal as it uses original hardware and game cartridges, and runs 100% of the games as the software houses intended them to be.

ShadowKain - All "fugly" means is that you only value looks and not functionality. A bit like someone who buys a new mobile phone often as it "is no longer cool". Claptrap! By the same token, all the games consoles, new and old, are also "fugly" - they are hardly georgeous to look at (possible exception of the Wii or maybe PS3, at a push).

Lars - Thanks!

Striker - Yes, the PSP gives handcramp after only a few minutes playing it, it is hardly easy to hold or comfortable to use - same as the GP2x - buttons not in right place, easy to press the wrong one, joystick too small, not in right place, too slim to hold nicely, etc: they are built not as functional, but to look "cool" and fit in your back pocket (but don't sit down!!).

Hooterman - Indeed, I will be using the system at work (quiet time) and home; it isn't tiny enough to take everywhere, however I will put it in a case I got for £1 at a car boot sale - for a hairdrier, nice size, I just need to foam pad it to fit my system nicely and protect it.

imnotshockslayerbacteria! - I agree with your sentiments entirely, ShockSlayer; oh yes, "imnotshockslayerbacteria!". As you say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and thou hath beheld it not."