There's nothing like rejuvenating an old game console with a flashy hack. And if the process involves converting it into a portable console, all the better. That's what he has achieved YveltalGriffin, an extremely handy engineer who previously surprised the world with the minituarization of the portable Nintendo Wii, and who now does the same with the Original playstation.
A homemade portable PlayStation
While Sony revolutionized its fans with the release of the PSP in 2004, there was still someone who wanted to do things their own way. And if the original PSP offered us the opportunity to play PlayStation quality games (and even a little more) on a portable device with a 4,3-inch screen, now, the PS Hanami, proposes a new format.
That is the result of cutting an original PlayStation PU-18 motherboard in half and use a large number of soldered cables. Because yes, the hardware hidden inside this 3D printing casing is the original console, so it technically runs games with the same fidelity of the original platform.
Portable PlayStation, but without discs
The peculiarity is that its tiny size has forced the presence of the CD player to be removed, so its creator has needed the help of a well-known accessory in the world of scene. Its about XStation, a motherboard in charge of emulating an optical drive from which backup copies in ISO format can be loaded. This allows this portable console to play PlayStation games as if it had a disc inserted.
This is the PS Hanami, my handmade Playstation 1 portable that I designed and built in one month! It uses a REAL PS1 motherboard that I cut in half, folded like a book, and rewired. NOT emulation! Details in淋https://t.co/WF8F8KgAiw pic.twitter.com/yajk4sB0o3
— YveltalGriffin (@YveltalGriffin) April 14, 2024
He has also used the PicoMemCard+ board so as not to lose the functionality of a memory card, with the advantage of having a more compact and moldable format.
The result is great, although as you can see from the photos of the interior of the invention, the insides are on par with a Frankenstein project. According to its creator, it still plans to include the analog sticks (it does include vibration), and aspects such as the power button, which does not have the appropriate design, remain to be polished, or controlling the heat it generates, which is quite high shortly after starting to play.
No limits to creativity
As we have already mentioned, this intrepid engineer already carried out another previous project that was equally interesting with very surprising results, since he managed to miniaturize a Nintendo Wii with an integrated screen in a format as compact as that of a Game Boy Advance.
What will be next? Will you dare with a Dreamcast?