Portable Dreamcast

[danny_galaga]

Good luck with the page...

http://pachimon.tv/goods.php?code=438310&menu=&kind=NEW&keyword=&shop_id=aqsASsrSx

[Howard_Casto]

I saw that... 

It seems like a good idea, until you realize that the DC is a disc based system and thus it just won't work as a portable. 

And then you actually take a look at some of the photos of the device and realize that it's chocked full of that "chineese quality". 

So yeah, I'll pass

[Vigo]

Too bad it the cost is almost $470 in USD. A little spendy. 

[danny_galaga]

For all the reasons you guys mentioned, it's not something I would buy. But it looks cool in that 'Ben Heck' way...

[Vigo]

For all the reasons you guys mentioned, it's not something I would buy. But it looks cool in that 'Ben Heck' way...

I agree, I love the Ben Heck portables. I checked Ben's prices on his webpage, and it sounds like he could build a custom one for $750-$1000 (probably on the higher end of that though). I think at that point, I would just spring for a Ben Heck original. 

[SavannahLion]

I'm sorry but....

Ben Heck sucks. I used to admire his work, especially his earlier stuff because he was literally blazing new trails. But his later stuff is just well... lame.

[danny_galaga]

I'm sorry but....

Ben Heck sucks. I used to admire his work, especially his earlier stuff because he was literally blazing new trails. But his later stuff is just well... lame.

True. His most impressive ones to me was the 2600 (might have been his first?) and the C64 laptop

[BurgerKingDiamond]

I'm sorry but....

Ben Heck sucks. I used to admire his work, especially his earlier stuff because he was literally blazing new trails. But his later stuff is just well... lame.

you have no idea what you're talking about. Have you seen his Bill Paxton Pinball?

[Howard_Casto]

Nah man, I've got to agree.  His stuff is pretty hit and miss.  For every cool thing he makes, there are 9 or 10 "mehs".

I admire his dedication, but many of his conversions seem either pointless or impractical. 

[Malenko]

you have no idea what you're talking about. Have you seen his Bill Paxton Pinball?

I think PBJ put it best:

Not knocking his talent but I rarely like anything he makes.  That Bill Paxton machine was beyond weird.   

Other then the Portable Atari and the 360 laptop.....meh

[Dartful Dodger]

I thought this was for Portal on the Dreamcast.

[Howard_Casto]

you have no idea what you're talking about. Have you seen his Bill Paxton Pinball?

I think PBJ put it best:

Not knocking his talent but I rarely like anything he makes.  That Bill Paxton machine was beyond weird.   

Other then the Portable Atari and the 360 laptop.....meh

Plus you've got to remember that dreamcast and 360 aside, I have a ultra sleek portable that will play all of these home console games... it's called a DS.  I also hear that it comes in another model, namely the PSP. 

The problem about making portables that run the consoles actual media is that no matter how small you make the device, you've still got this giant cart/disc to deal with.  This is evident from his very first portable and it is also the major issue with this DC portable.  For portable consoles it's solid state or GTFO. 

[danny_galaga]

you have no idea what you're talking about. Have you seen his Bill Paxton Pinball?

I think PBJ put it best:

Not knocking his talent but I rarely like anything he makes.  That Bill Paxton machine was beyond weird.  

Other then the Portable Atari and the 360 laptop.....meh

Plus you've got to remember that dreamcast and 360 aside, I have a ultra sleek portable that will play all of these home console games... it's called a DS.  I also hear that it comes in another model, namely the PSP.  

The problem about making portables that run the consoles actual media is that no matter how small you make the device, you've still got this giant cart/disc to deal with.  This is evident from his very first portable and it is also the major issue with this DC portable.  For portable consoles it's solid state or GTFO.  

Yes and no. Disks you don't have much choice with, and I can't see the point in doing it. But inside a lot of carts is a lot of space. No one seems to be modding the cart cases themselves. A lot of N64 carts for instance can be halved in size without even doing anything to the PCB. Open one up, and you can see that the top half could be cut right off! That doesn't even touch on then figuring out how to thin the cart or trimming fat off the PCB. Granted, it's still not practical. I look at the whole exercise as a more artistic one. Just with my small experience with hacking controllers I know there is joy in finding a nice solution to a problem. It's a bit like building plastic models I guess- the fun is in building it. When it's done, it's not as much fun...

I just have to add this pic of one of the heck projects that I think worked well



That there is a work of art! No horrible bulges for giant batteries, no cart sticking out at crazy angles like his SNES...

[Howard_Casto]

Well yeah, but if you mod the cart then you've ruined the cart.  Unless it's a non-rare piece of crap third party controller or something I am not a fan of hacking up vintage electronics.  Hacking up the console, which probably sold in the millions, is excusable, hacking up rare controllers or carts, isn't.  

Aside from that, modding the carts would make the whole ordeal even more impractical.  You are telling me you are going to break open your three dozen+ cart collection just so you can play them on your custom portable?  And if you are just going to play a single game then what would be the point?


I'm not a fan of the c64 laptop... it's built back-asswards.  With the keyboard keys that far back it would be a pain to type on.  Not to mention the fact that due to the vintage clicky keys, there is a HUGE gap between the two halves when it is closed.  Sadly, this guy can do form OR function on any given project, but not both.

[danny_galaga]

Well yeah, but if you mod the cart then you've ruined the cart.  

and if you hack a console, you've ruined the console!

Aside from that, modding the carts would make the whole ordeal even more impractical.  You are telling me you are going to break open your three dozen+ cart collection just so you can play them on your custom portable?  And if you are just going to play a single game then what would be the point?

I agree with you where you look at it in practical way. But the point is not about practicality. And no, if I were to do it (which I wouldn't. The console mods are a bit techy for me) it indeed would be a lot of work to hack a whole bunch of carts. But using the N64 example, to answer two points you raise, IF I were to do it, 3 carts would be sufficient- Goldeneye, Ocarnina of time, and Mario64. Maybe also Mario kart 64. That's all you would need to have a presentable system. If you include a fourth, isn't that TWICE as many games as what the N64 had on launch?

My choices answers another point. Rarity. Yes you would indeed be retarded to mod Sin and Punishment. But how many millions of the above titles were made? Are the same number of millions still being played? I don't think hacking 4 carts is going to impinge much. It's not going to swing the balance the other way, unlike say Model T Fords. I bet there are more T-buckets out there, than actual T models nowadays...

You are right, none of it is really practical. Hobbies needn't be. All the consoles Ben has hacked, for me, demands a lounge chair   In which case it's better that it just sits on the floor connected to a telly.

Oh, and by the way, I hack Atari Jaguar controllers. That would definitely fit in the rare category. And despite my argument, they are hacked for practical reasons (although I would to think I have incorporated form and function). However, just one supplier of vintage atari stuff has over 4000 new ones in stock. So rare doesn't necessarily mean valuable...