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New SNES portable is heavy on the SNES, light on the portable
The SNES has certainly proven to be one of the most popular consoles to get the portable treatment among those go-getter console modders out there, and it looks like it's not showing any signs of losing that status, with this so-called SNEP (Super Nintendo Entertainment Portable) only the latest to pop up on our radar. As you can see above, this one is a tad less portable than some other handheld SNES mods we've seen (it also apparently needs to be plugged in), but it does at least do better job than most at staying true to the SNES's (or, more accurately, the Super Famicom's) instantly-recognizable appearance. There's no plans available for building your own, unfortunately, but you can check it out in action in the video after the break.[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Custom Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 back on eBay
A few moment's hesitation prevent you from placing the winning bid on that sweet, customized Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 a few weeks back? It's okay, we've all been there -- sitting at the screen, cursor hovering over the "Bid Now" button, wracked with indecision, finally saying "Why not?" just as the timer hits 0. Usually that's cause for a lifetime of bitter regret, but this time you're in luck. The winning bid of $17,000 turned out to be bogus, so the creators have placed the machine on eBay again, ready for you to ponder anew. Now, before you make some snide remarks about $17k being way too much for a tarted up PS3, take a look at the attention to detail here, and remember that 15 percent of the proceeds are going straight to the Child's Play charity -- a factor that should hopefully reduce the vehemence of those remarks by roughly a fifth.
Custom-made Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 puts Sony and Konami's to shame
Konami and Sony's limited edition Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 may have been enough to satisfy a few fans of the game willing to pay a premium for their console of choice but, for sheer excess, it has nothing on this custom-made system built by the folks at Morpheon Mods, which is now up for auction on eBay. Among the many details adorning this shiny creation is a laser-cut, stainless steel MGS4 marquee, a laser-etched image of Solid Snake, a carbon fiber Fox Hound logo on the rear, and 14 white micro LEDs to light everything up just right. They even got Hideo Kojima himself to autograph the console and, perhaps best of all, they wrapped everything around a fully backwards compatible 60GB PS3. Just don't expect any of that to come cheap, as bidding is already topping the $1,500 mark with six days left, though you do also get pretty impressive collection of Metal Gear swag with it, and 15% of the proceeds will go to help the Child's Play charity.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Bacteria's "Mini-Platform" gets GBA'd
British modder Bacteria really likes cartridges. The bigger the better. He turned an entire N64 console into a gigantic, beige cart, then took a slew of cheap plug 'n play games and did the same -- though smaller and minus the neutral tones. He dubbed that latest creation the Mini-Platform Plug'n'Play Console System, and promised that Game Boy Advance integration was coming soon. Two weeks later it's here courtesy of a little solder and hot glue, opening up the massive library of Game Boy and Advance titles. Yeah, the system isn't much to look at, and with an entire GBA hanging off the back it's pushing the limits of the word "mini." But, it is an intrepid hack and, like his others, he's more than happy to tell you how he did it. Video of this meaty portable in action after the break.
Nintoaster mod makes NES games tastier than ever
This toaster may only have one setting, but that setting is NES, and that's good enough for us. Created by the same console modder behind the monstrous Super Genintari, this project is certainly a good deal less ambitious than that endeavor, but it hits all the right marks nonetheless, including a functional front lever that acts as a power switch, and some red LEDs that light up your cart but probably won't do much for your toast. Be sure to hit up the link below for plenty more pics and a look at the complete build process.
Bacteria returns with "Mini-Platform" console mod
Console modder "Bacteria" sure managed to turn a few heads with his previous multi-platform console mod, and he's now done it again with his new so-called Mini-Platform Plug 'n' Play Console System, which boasts the same, uh, distinct look we've come to expect. At the moment, this one relies solely on a variety of TV plug 'n' play game systems for its gaming options, which Bacteria converted into a more convenient cart form, although he also promises to make a GBA add-on for the system "in due course." As you can see in the video after the break, despite appearances, the system appears to work quite well, and you can even find step-by-step plans for building your own by hitting up the read link below.
Pac-Man Mini handheld does boxy right
Console modder Sam Thornley actually built this Pac-Man Mini handheld way back in 2007, but he only recently shared it with the members of Ben Heck's forums, and we're sure glad he did. There's nothing too special at the heart of this one, just a Jakks Pacific Namco Arcade Classic system, but Sam hit all the right marks with the little details, from the red buttons that are just itching to be pressed to the old school flip switch to the bigger-than-it-has-to-be casing. If you think you're up to the task of building your own, you can find all the details you need an plenty of pics to guide you on your way by hitting up the read link below.[Via Technabob]
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.
PS3 gets cooled-down, dumbed-up
We've seen plenty of unnecessary mods in the past, but this latest creation from PlayStation.com forum member Dragonpower certainly ranks among the more superfluous, with it boasting just enough excess to make up for its lack of common sense. Apparently, Dragonpower found that his PS3 just wasn't cool enough for his taste, so he got drilling and strung some tubes filled with liquid coolant through the console, with a couple of extra fans thrown in for good measure. That seems to have resulted in a temperature of just 32ºC (or 90ºF) under a heavy load, with the console itself said to be "almost dead silent." Dragonpower apparently still sees more room for "improvement," however, as he says this mod is still in progress.[Via Joystiq]
Dreaming of a White PS3?
Thanks to experience picked up at his dad's car dealership and bodyshop in Montreal, Michal Birecki knows how to handle a paint nozzle, skills that he puts to good use as he disassembles and paints a PS3 glossy white, just in time for Festivus. If you lack the coin to acquire Michal's modified PS3 on eBay, fear not. An official white PlayStation 3 is inevitable, and you won't have to void your warranty or huff dangerous fumes to get one.
