VCSp Rev 5.1 Prototyped At 7 Year Mark
It was 7 years ago (ish) that I completed my first video game portable - the original VCSp. How do I know this? Well I had it sitting in the car, newly done, as I went in to get my taxes done (always at the last minute) and I was worried someone might steal it. And I recall sitting there looking at it and thinking “Damn that thing looks good!” To this date it remains the only portable I’ve ever kept for myself.
Super Bonus Download - Get the original “technical” drawing files I used to create the VCSp Rev 1, and, um, look at them I guess. So primitive, you’ll swear a monkey laid it out! (Hint: view in wireframe mode)
Enough of that sentimental crap - take a look at my latest portable creation - the Atari VCSp Rev 5.1:
The new hotness
On the X-Y this unit is almost as small as the Rev 7 I made a few months back, but it has the added bonus of being just over an inch thick. (1.08″ to be precise) It’s by far the skinniest Atari portable I’ve done yet, and it’s funny to think back to when I was making then 2 inches thick. Ah, the memories…
The first 2 prototypes are already spoken for, but please email me if you’d be interested in getting one of these in the near future. I’m thinking about having some PCB’s made and running 20-30 of these. Price target is $300 with trade-in of an Atari 2600 4-switch. I think this is one of the better portables I’ve made thus far, it’s simple, small and stylish.
More pics and specs follow…
Here’s the rear of the unit. It has screws and takes (4) AA batteries, like the Rev 7. This gets you about 3 hours of playtime, rechargeables are a good idea. These are T-Energy brand, clearly so the unit can be played on cold, lost planets with ease.
End view. The black thing in the foreground is the volume control dial. Yes, I actually put a proper one in for a change. Build me a statue. Though I wish I would have made my “50’s Toaster” speaker slits a little thinner…
The Rev 5.1 sitting next to some “wanna-be” portables,for size reference. I still can’t get over the GBA not being backlit, what a crock. I wonder if I could unload it on eBay for enough to buy a six pack…
The player 2 port is back! The hole just to the right of it is the tint adjust.
Full Specs:
Size: 7″ x 4.381″ x 1.08″
Batteries: x(4) AA
Display: 3.5″ diagonal TFT active matrix LCD, LED backlighting
Color scheme: Saddle shoe
Well, that’s about I have to say about this thing. Please let me know if you’d be interested in having one made.
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March 29th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
secks =)
March 29th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
That’s one of your best-looking portables yet, in my opinion! It’s beautiful!
I assume the second trigger button on the right is for when using the paddle control? Also, may I ask what your setup was for converting to composite video?
March 30th, 2007 at 5:02 am
might there be a chance of selling this as a more or less kit? like just the case and controlls?
March 30th, 2007 at 5:42 am
whoah nice. this thing i way cooler than i thought it would be
March 30th, 2007 at 7:24 am
That thing is beeeee-youtiful!!! I swear man, you know you did it right when it looks like you bought it off a store shelf from 1st party. Really good job man. Pitfall goooooooo!
March 30th, 2007 at 8:31 am
[…] Read more at Ben’s site. […]
March 30th, 2007 at 9:18 am
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March 30th, 2007 at 11:57 am
UCKING FAWESOME!!! Benjamin J Heckendorn is a hardware hacking god!!!
-he who stacks pork
March 30th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
[…] Ben Heckendorn es un tipo que se dedica a crear versiones portátiles de las consolas caseras. El Atari 2600 tuvo su versión llamada VCSp y recientemente estuvo trabajando en una actualización (la de la foto) que tiene un tamaño muy reducido. […]
March 30th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
[…] VCSp Rev 5.1 Prototyped at 7 Year Mark [Via Gadget Lab] […]
March 30th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
[…] VCSp Rev 5.1 Prototyped at 7 Year Mark [Via Gadget Lab] […]
March 30th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
[…] VCSp Rev 5.1 Prototyped at 7 Year Mark [Via Gadget Lab] […]
March 30th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
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March 30th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Hey, that’s really sweet. How can you use the paddle though? It’s so close to the frame, I can’t imagine how you turn it unless you use a screwdriver. Does it pop up?
March 30th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
[…] comemorar os sete anos de existência de seu site, Ben resolveu produzir uma edição limitada do Atari VCSp Rev 5.1. Um Atari 2600, completo com tela, um oystick embutido, porta para segundo jogador, baterias e slot […]
March 30th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Would like to buy one. How much and when will they be created. thanks
Vijay
March 30th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
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March 30th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Ben,
Chris Hansen from NBC Dateline… Have you been inappropriately touching consoles again? Portablizing…hmm, is that what they call it now?
March 31st, 2007 at 1:31 am
It looks like it´s an official VCS-Portable, Ben. Are you shure that you wasn´t a case designer from atari in a preverous live??? It looks so damned beautiful, that i might steal it from you ;-)
Well, you might could move to japan and work for nintendo as a case designer.
March 31st, 2007 at 10:26 am
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March 31st, 2007 at 10:30 am
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April 1st, 2007 at 4:39 am
[…] Ben Heck unveils his latest project, the VCSp Rev. 5.1. This portable Atari 2600 features a 3.5-inch LED backlit display, a custom-built case, 2P controller port, and a built-in speaker. In honor of the sevenyeariversary of console modding he created a new revision to his Atari-playing VCSp portable, but it is a bit different this time around because you can actually buy it! Ben will be creating between 20 and 30 of these devices and selling them for around $300 each […]
April 1st, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Are you the real chris hansen or a guy with that nickname
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:50 am
[…] Seine erste portable Kosole hat er vor 7 Jahren gebaut. In Massenproduktion möchte er nicht gehen, baut aber gerne für jedermann auf Bestellung. Also einfach kontaktieren. […]
April 2nd, 2007 at 3:19 am
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April 2nd, 2007 at 6:30 am
[…] portable handheld device, there are others who prefer to live in the past as evidenced by the portable Atari console. It offers everything you need for your nostalgia gaming fix in a handheld package. Of course, […]
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 am
I want one!!
April 4th, 2007 at 8:31 am
[…] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments […]
April 4th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
[…] The Official Site of Benjamin J Heckendorn - [via] Link. […]
April 4th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
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April 5th, 2007 at 6:50 am
[…] If you got the bug to hack stuff or build things from scratch, check out the folks over at Make. You’ll find a posting about the Altoids pinhole cameras there but also wild things you can make like this or this. […]
April 5th, 2007 at 10:16 am
[…] VCSp Rev 5.1 Prototyped at 7 Year Mark [Via Gadget Lab] […]
April 6th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
This is awesome. But what about the charge jack Ben? I suppose every owner will somewhat use rechargeable batteries so taking out the batteries everytime they finish is not a good idea. Consider this.
April 7th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
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April 11th, 2007 at 9:31 am
[…] Check out more info on this great little piece of nostalgic gadgetry here! […]
April 11th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Hey if possible I would like one of these made.
April 21st, 2007 at 1:04 am
[…] multi-billion polygon/sec gaming world. But when something a sweet as Ben Heck’s VCSp Rev 5.1 Portable Atari System comes along, old school becomes way cool [via […]
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:09 am
[…] It’s been 7 years since Ben completed his first video game portable, the original VCSp, and now he’s finished the Atari VCSp Rev 5.1. […]
May 6th, 2007 at 8:50 am
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October 22nd, 2007 at 5:07 pm
ben,
hi would like to know if you work on the red ring of death on x-box 360…my x-box360 got the the red ring 2 days ago…i can only hope that you still handle this problem….i leave in new jersey close to new york…..i got this x-box360 as rehabilitation for nuerological disorder from serving in iraq…i alreay miss my x-box360…please me know if you can fix this ring of death a give it life again…if not where do i get this situation fixed….
mark…2nd acr..combat vet…..
November 4th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I’ll take one. Let me know. Very, very, cool.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
dear ben heckendorn
i want you make me a 360laptop or can i buy your xbox360laptop. i want one so bad. its hard to find one rigth now. e-mail me back soon at kyo_lo@live.com
from leo lord
April 6th, 2008 at 7:31 am
If anyone has one of Ben’s Atari 2600 VCSp for sale (preferrably V5.1 or V7.1), I am VERY INTERESTED in purchasing it.
Thank you.
John