First Post, Some new Ideas and a quick intro

hand_held · Post by **hand_held** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:35 am

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post, I have been looking at the furum for a few months now and have been very interested in the numbers of people re-designing production systems into portables. I started hacking up electronics many years ago, I now work as an electronics engineer and have just started hacking game systems into portable systems.
I just wanted to share my two current prototype systems -

The first is based on a 'remote handheld system', this differs from most of the systems on this forum because it uses a standard system (Gamecube at the moment) and a number of 2.4Ghz video and controller systems to make the system 'remote'. I designed this system because I wanted to play my Gamecube on a handheld system in bed, but didnt want a really big heavy system. The system is currently built of the following components -

A hacked PS2 Logitech Netplay controller (I only really use the case and buttons out of this) - http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/produ ... ENTID=6635

With the Netplay controller, you can slide out the keyboard section, cut it up a bit, and insert a nice Gamecube 5" LCD monitor (With speakers)where the keyboard used to be.

Next I cut up a Nintendo Wavebird controller, and replaced the electronics inside the Netplay controller with the hacked wavebird.

Finally I hacked up a standard TV 2.4Ghz Receiver and fitted this on to the back of the unit, and installed a Sony 7.2V lithium camcorder battery on the back.

The unit was finished off with plenty of filler, sanded down and re-painted, what I ended up with was a lightweight system that can receive 2.4Ghz video (and sound) signals and the wavebird controller that sends 2.4Ghz controller signals to my gamecube downstairs. The whole thing works very well and I can use the unit anywhere around my home and in the garden. The battery life is about 4 hours, My only problem is having to go downstairs to change the game

.

Well this message is getting way too long, so I will start another discussion about my second portable system, this is a PC based system, and I really want to know what you guys think about this !

Cheers,

hand_held.

sam · Post by **sam** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 10:05 am

Wow, another member an electionics engineer no less, that sounds really cool, and a pc based handheld would be awesome, which operating system are you thinking?

Post by **gannon** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 10:28 am

Also, that wireless basestation idea has been tossed around a bit before. Mainly as the easiest way to make a semi xbox portable. I guess I'd say that if you don't want to play outside it's a good idea

tappan · Post by **tappan** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:55 pm

Very nicely thought out.
It's kind of an idea I played around with for adding multiplayer capability to a portable. Instead of having a whole 'nother unit, you could just have a slave.
One that is just a controller, screen and batteries.
Of course... it'd be just as nice to actually have two units.

hand_held · Post by **hand_held** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:05 pm

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback, it's great to talk to others about this stuff, I am working on another remote handheld based on the netplay controller again, but this time I am trying to make the wireless controller work with the Gamecube, Dreamcast and PS2, it's also got a 7" screen this time.
I would reccomend them to anyone, they are quite easy to build and lots of fun.

My Other BIG project is the handheld PC, I have been working on this for about 6 months, and this one is a serious build, I have even designed 3 PCB's for it.
It's based on the same type of concept as the MoMA Eve - http://www.ministrymobile.com/ but now they have stopped development of their system, I'm even more determined to finish it.

I have the PC side of things up and running for the prototype on Win98, but I do intend to get Windows XP embedded running on the system when I have it fully finished. The case design is almost finished, this looks like a larger scaled version of the PSP, based on the same type of case design as ben, but with rounded edges; it has a 7" widescreen Touchscreen TFT and game controls a bit like the dreamcast configuration.
The overall dimensions are 250mm x 123mm x 40mm.
These dimensions include the 40GB 2.5" hard drive and the lith Poly battery.

Now this portable PC is not designed to run up-to-date PC software, My intention is to run PC emulators of other systems, so you can enjoy a spot of SNES fun or a whole load of fun with MAME.
I see a handheld PC as the ultimate portable game system, because you can run so many systems and so many games.
With a high resolution screen (800 x 600) you can also use it as mini PC for other non game tasks.

I would really like to know if anyone out there would be interested in a system like this, and in part kit form or as a finished unit ? I guess most of you will be able to work out that this thing is not going to be anywhere neer the cost of a PSP, and the more I think about it I do wonder if MoMA discontinued it's development due to the production cost of such a PC based unit. What do you think ? would you pay Â£350 ($630 US) for a system like this ??

For the time being I am going to finish my prototype units, and let a few close friends play them for a while.

Cheers,

hand_held

sam · Post by **sam** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:13 pm

where did you get your 7" screen? and how much did you get it for?, btw im getting my ps1 screen for about 32-40$ CAN right now.

hand_held · Post by **hand_held** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:24 pm

Hi Sam,

The 7" screen is quite expensive here in the UK, I got mine from here -
http://linitx.com/product_info.php?cPat ... cts_id=553

This screen is Â£148 ($273 US) although you can get them for Â£118 without the touchscreen. This sound expensive, but remember this is a VGA based screen not just a TV input.

I do know a few places to get them from in the US, as I have imported a few over the last year or so, this supplier is very good -
http://www.digitalww.com/

These screens are very easy to use, just crack open the case, and you will be able to work out the VGA signals from buzzing out the VGA lead they come with, the touchscreen is USB so can be directly connected to the motherboard.

Like I said in my last post, my portable PC is not going to be low cost, but it will be high quality.

Cheers,

hand_held.

sam · Post by **sam** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:32 pm

Pretty cool, (insert your name here)

Yeah im going to be in the process of creating a portable N64.

Also with that screen the whole touch screen is quite intreging.

Dema · Post by **Dema** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:13 pm

I think it's a great idea to build a PC-based portable, because using MAME to run the emulators would be ideal. I'd definitely be interested in something like this. The fact that this setup allows you to have every game stored on the hard drive and swap instantaneously between them, without needing to carry around a bag full of cartriges or CD-Roms is a much more preferable mode of transport, in my mind.

I'd love to do something like this for the older games. The newer systems would still need to be portablized, since there aren't really any emulators for them at the moment.

hand_held · Post by **hand_held** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:22 pm

Hi,

For me a PC based design has been a ideal hand held for some time, My main driving forces are all the emulators you can get for the PC, and most of them run on a resonable spec, I am really looking forward to running old Amiga games on a hand held for example.
I am also trying to make this into a production design, (Well kit form I expect) it will be expensive as the SFF SBC I'm using is quite new and not fully released yet.

Cheers,

hand_held

Dema · Post by **Dema** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 1:36 pm

If you're doing a kit, I'd be interested.