Techknott's Dreamcast Portable inspires musings on art, life, and Bomberman Online
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted August 16th 2010 11:27AM
posted August 16th 2010 11:27AM
A portable game console mod is like a still life: sure, it's been done before, but it's very satisfying when it's done well. Or, to take the analogy further: where a still life lets the artist arrange the design elements with in a composition any way he wants, the modder works with elements necessary for game play, but is free to arrange them in the manner of his choosing. Our man Techknott, who once thrilled us with his Wireless Visual Interface for the PS3, is back on the scene with the third iteration of his very own Dreamcast Portable -- and it just might be a work of art in its own right. This bad boy features: a PSone LCD display, both a built in VMU and a removable VMU slot, CD drive, SD card slot, A/V out, and original Dreamcast controls -- all in a custom CNC acrylic case. You want one, right? Peep the video after the break to see it in action. And be sure to check back next week, when we'll trace the origin of the Bomblympics back to the worship of Zeus in Ancient Greece.
Wow, incorporating the VMU is just pure win.
What does the SD card slot do?
@Engrudget I was wondering the same thing.
@Engrudget if you use the homw brew app DreamCell you can load dreamcast isos
@angelwolf There is no such thing as DreamCell. Maybe you mean DreamShell, which is an OS replacement?
And how well can you play ISOs when the SD reader's speed is limited by Dreamcast's serial interface? The loading must be worse than playing discs from the original GD-ROM, which was pretty GD slow.
Awesome! I would pay 200 Dollars for it!
@Frasier
I bet it costs a lot more than that to make.
@dustinface Sure, because its an individual item. But you could mass-produce it and lower the costs. Seriously, the Technology has shrinked enough. Why the hell doesnt Sega make a portable Dreamcast?!
@Frasier Because it's an 11 year old system that didn't do well in the market and got canned a couple years into its life? Don't get me wrong, I like the DC but you're kidding yourself if you think anyone would bring it back
This is beautiful. Soul Calibur was such an amazing game.
@angelusp No one - they make them. I don't care how "fat" this is, it's still pretty badass, and quite an impressive bit of nerdery.
@the bandit
Visual Memory Unit, dude. :)
They were a kind of neat feature of the Dreamcast, some games had mini games you could play on them.
What? No mention of rumble?
@coolman13355
Whack it in the VMU slot??
@maty There is so a joke there, but I'll leave it alone.
Outrageously well crafted, good job! These little TFT screens are being crammed into everything now, presumably because they are cheap. Where can you pick them up cheaply from?
@JDawg Search for the PSone screen on ebay
@the bandit Well, this comment makes me feel "old" lol
@the bandit
It was cool when we fought our little pokemon like animals from sonic adventure on our vmu's. Y didn't the industry make it a standard to stick with something like this??
Shenmue.
@BigKing Shenmue II.
@BigKing Shenmue III plz.
i loved the dreamcast! but this, while it is a nice feat, is too bulky lol. great job to the maker!
DC > PS2
vintage flaming go!
@shishi PS2 has like 10 times the games, voice chat in certain games. Speedier internetz and SOCOM
@Awall1987 and PS2 is more powerful, supports HD and an HDD
I have a vast array of VMUs, of different colors. :D
CRAZY TAXI
SOUL CALIBUR
SHENMUE
ahhhhh ...
I'd pay like 250 for that
I wish I could get my hands on this.
Dat ain't dreamcast or game cube, dats gamecast