Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Step-by-step guide to making a portable DreamCast console

  1. #1
    Retro game console modder bacteria's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hampshire, UK
    Posts
    189
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default Step-by-step guide to making a portable DreamCast console

    Apart from finishing some ancillary things like a couple of switches, some quick wiring, screen controls, installing the prepared A/V port, etc (which are really more cosmetic things), I finished a guide for making a portable DreamCast handheld and published it on Instructables in their "Battery powered contest".

    The guide is designed to show someone how to make a portable from scratch, and is a detailed and easy to follow guide.

    The guide is here:
    http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...into-a-batter/

    If you would like to vote for it on their site in the next day or two that would be awesome (i'd love to win a prize!), but obviously up to you if you want to or not:
    http://www.instructables.com/contest.../?show=ENTRIES

    Anyway, here is a pic of the system, more pics on the guide of course; loads in fact:



    I'll be interested in your comments too.

  2. #2
    Insert Coin (Level 0) CatTehBus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    70
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    awesome guide, enjoyed reading it. I really need to work on my solder skills

  3. #3
    Cherry (Level 1)
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    From Parts Unknown
    Posts
    378
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I love these types of consoles! Ive seen everything from a N64 in a GBA carrying case, a PS2 in some weird thing that made it look futuristic. All kinds of stuff. Im glad people are making these and can show it to people on youtube.

  4. #4
    Cherry (Level 1) Custom rank graphic
    Gunstar Hero's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Pennsylvania, United States of America
    Posts
    362
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    Drumfreak8

    Default

    Awesome work! I've seen a lot of your portables and I check around the benheck forums from time to time to check out portables but your portables always are best. One day I would like to try to portabalize a console but I need some more experience first haha.
    I am known as Theretrogamer12345 on Youtube and Sega-16. I am known as Gunstar Hero on Digital Press. My eBay account is Theretrogamer

    [YouTube Link] [eBay Link] [Digital Press Link] [Sega-16 Link]

  5. #5
    Retro game console modder bacteria's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hampshire, UK
    Posts
    189
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Thanks!

    The guides on my site are made easy to follow, and guides like this one should hopefully allow someone with little experience in modding to tackle a project.

  6. #6
    Peach (Level 3) PreZZ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Montreal
    Posts
    642
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    PreZZ
    PSN
    PreZZ

    Default

    Cool stuff, but making cd based consoles into portables must drain the batteries very quickly!

  7. #7
    Retro game console modder bacteria's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hampshire, UK
    Posts
    189
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    The DreamCast is certainly a hungry beast for batteries, however using 7.4v on the 12v line uses a fair less amperage (no idea why), got the console and screen (about 0.8 amps I think it is rated at) off a 2 amp 7.4v transformer, so 2 amps is pretty good on a DreamCast - using 6.3 amps across the battery packs, enough to have a good play session before changing the cells.

  8. #8
    Get Ready! SpaceHarrier's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    The Fantasy Zone, California
    Posts
    1,661
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post

    Default

    I have no soldering skills but I'm still really tempted to make this as a practice project. Might make one modification though.. instead of the 3 camcorder batteries, I'm thinking of some sort of a backpack-sized particle accelerator so I can get more gaming time in. I'm not sure if you could advise on how to properly shield against the radiation, but any tips would be welcome, Bacteria.

    Great guide, I'll be hunting for a DC at the swap meet now!

  9. #9
    Retro game console modder bacteria's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hampshire, UK
    Posts
    189
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    How about a small nuclear reactor? lol

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-19-2010, 06:19 PM
  2. Replies: 8
    Last Post: 01-31-2009, 07:51 PM
  3. Is 3D gaming the next step?
    By Rob2600 in forum Modern Gaming
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 08-18-2007, 02:01 PM
  4. One More Step to Go
    By Nature Boy in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-10-2003, 03:24 PM
  5. CGE Rollcall...step right up!!
    By thekeepr in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-02-2002, 03:28 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •