All in one Console Game system

[Tokey]

I'm going to build an all-in-one set top console system, has anyone done this yet? 

I've got all the NES/Genesis/SNES/N64/PSX/etc... games on my Mame cab but it just doesn't feel quite right.  So I'm going to build a small shuttle PC or HTPC case and load it up with mamewah and a console game library.  I'll have it connect to my normal TV via S-Videa and have USB controllers for it.  So essentailly it'll be the same as a cab with these library's, but it will play with controllers on a normal TV to capture the authentic feel of these classic systems.  And this way it can just sit on my entertainment system rack.

Now I'm just trying to decide what to use for a case.  If I did something like this I could use it as an "all-in-one" with the DVD rom drive:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811204001

But I think somethink like this would work out better:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101424R

It's very small (looks almost like a gamecube) and has the USB ports right in front.

Now that I think about it it's really no different than an xbox running emulators, but this way you can get the N64/PSX games on there too.  Maybe it would be cheaper and better to get a modded xbox and go that route...

[AlanS17]

Yeah it's been done, but that doesn't mean it's not a good idea.  In fact, I've done it already, myself.

Keep one thing in mind, though. Those cases may be small from the front, but may be deeper than you expect. Make sure it'll slide back into position on your shelf where you want it to go.

I'd recommend a mini-itx board as those things are tiny and can fit into anything (and have TV out), but it may not have the 3d and horsepower for PSX.

If you're taking the "everything" approach, you might end up with a loud, larger-than-expected box or spending more money than you'd like to. (Of course, I don't think price is much of an issue judging by the prices on those cases.) Still, they're probably deeper than you realize.

You could probably get all pre-N64 consoles working flawlessly on a mini-itx machine, and those things can run nearly silent. Depending on which mini-itx board you use, you might even be able to get N64 running.

[Flinkly]

if your seriously looking at those cases, just keep in mind you can only play two player games or be forced to hook up extra controllers in an ugly way.

i've thought about this too, but deemed it too expensive.  getting original controllers that plug into usb is expensive enough to me.  i tried retrozone for that but could probably find a byo solution somewhere online, the problem would be the chip for usb utilization.

my first idea was to make a nintendo (using an old shell) that played all original nintendo games, since any other case would just look dumb.  again, it's all about the money you've got burning a hole in your pocket.

[Hoagie_one]

I'm in the process (i.e. planning stages) of building one inside of an empty SNES case.  Gonna be tight.

[Flinkly]

hmm...if you really wanted to make it look nice, you might think about getting an x-box case or gamecube case and then sticking it all inside fo that.  shouldn't be too bad of a fit into something like that, but it might get hot if you use a nice processor...

hoagie, will you have a cartridge that goes in or will you just leave it a console.  i've gone over the idea many times of actually having the games inside the cartridge on an sd chip or something, but it just seems too difficult and costly to try.  also, will you retain the exterior look or will you hack holes in the case for the appropriate output?

[Hoagie_one]

I've comtemplated using a cartrige, permantly attached to the console and actually storing the laptop harddrive in it.  Ihave to take the measurements first to see if it would work.  I only planned on hacking up the back of the case and maybe a slit on teh side for a cd-rom if I can squeeze it in.  Most likely use wifi adn stream everything. 

Dunno.  I'm just at the measuring stages.  Might wait for the new micro-itx.  they are supposed to be only 12cm x 12cm

[Flinkly]

ah...i was just planing to hack the outputs to the appropriate output plug on the back of the case.  even though this might mean reduced video quality, at least it's reaslistic of the era.  i'm trying to build my nes to look exactly like a nes on the outside.  my main worries are heat and space.  also, wifi is a good idea...i'll have to look into that.

what processor/board are you thinking of useing?  for old school games like nes and snes, i'm sure a via could handle the load.

[Hoagie_one]

1 gig processesor most likely

[AlanS17]

1 gig processesor most likely

Even the most basic VIA mini-itx board should handle NES and SNES emulation just fine.

[Hoagie_one]

im also gonna use it to stream media to the livingroom stereo

[Flinkly]

i don't remember my old snes doing that....






 

[j123vt_99]

I'm in the process (i.e. planning stages) of building one inside of an empty SNES case.

[Frosty]

It's a shame the Mac Mini doesn't come with S-video/NTSC out....it would be perfect for just this application.

http://www.apple.com/macmini/

Still, I'd be curious to see what solutions everyone comes up with, as I've thought about this project a few times, as well...

[Hoagie_one]

hard to fit, but the other definition applies as well

[MajorLag]

I had a similar idea, and built a prototype for it a while back. Origianlly I intended to use SNES controlers interfaced via the paralell port, but that was messy and mostly a waste of time. Next time I get around to working on it I'm going to switch to using a 4 player playstation->usb adaptor and playstation controlers. The obvious advanatge of this is that I can use things like steering wheels and whatnot without changing any configurations.

I also had Atari 2600 on my list (how could you not!?), that is proving the hardest to do right. Originally I planned on using MESS for 2600 emulation, since it would allow me to arbitrarily map analog joystick axis to paddles and the like, a feature stella lacks for no readily aparent reason. But MESS sucks for 2600 emulation, alot. So I decided to use stella in the end, and have found a way to fool the stupid thing into thinking that my controllers are real atari controlers interfaced through a stelladaptor, so now I can play 2600 paddle games with the analog sticks, and with a few hacks I could have specialized paddle controlers, and even driving controlers if I really wanted to do that much work for the 2 games or so that use them. Stella still has the problem of not wanting to fill the entire screen, but its better then the problems I had with MESS.

Instead of using a frontend (I couldn't find one that worked the way I wanted it to), I just setup ye old explorer to act like one. I plan on building a special "remote" to control it, it will have an exit button, the arrow keys, page up and down, backspace, and enter. All those controls are nessesary to navigate the "frontend", but I also use them for the 2600 pannel controls.

Also, it works great for playing video, CDs, ect.

[MinerAl]

It's a shame the Mac Mini doesn't come with S-video/NTSC out....it would be perfect for just this application.

http://www.apple.com/macmini/

Still, I'd be curious to see what solutions everyone comes up with, as I've thought about this project a few times, as well...

For $20 it does.

[Todd H]

It's a shame the Mac Mini doesn't come with S-video/NTSC out....it would be perfect for just this application.

Actually, you can buy an adapter from apple to connect to a TV using s-video.

Edit:

MinerAl beat me to the link. 

[Tokey]

This one looks perfect.  It is 17cmx17cm so it should (?) fit into a nintendo/snes.

It's $100 and comes with a 533MHZ processor/2x AGP/TV-Out.  Should run everything SNES and back just fine.  Even has 2 USB slots.

http://www.iboxpc.com/shopping/product.php?productid=7&cat=23&page=1

[Hoagie_one]

i had a pII 550 that had trouble running some SNES games...FYI

[Timstuff]

Someone showed me some modded case a while ago, I think it was called the "yoshi case" or something like that. It was all the systems inside of one case. It was a pretty crazy machine, it looked like something out of Dr. Frankenstien's lab. Each system had it's own drive installed somewhere on the system, as well as the gameports for each. It even had the Gamecube's top-loading drive on the top of the case. It was weird stuff.

[Flinkly]

you got me interested, so here it is...

http://random6.com/mirror/nec/index.htm