Here’s an interview I just did, since some of you have expressed interest in hearing about these.
It’s for “Portable Video Gamer”, appropriate I’d say! Enjoy…
Category Archives: Video Games
New Atari 2600 concept
Since it’s an odd numbered year I have an urge to build some Atari 2600 portables again. For some reason I always do fairly difficult projects on even years, so I guess this is my go-between.
Paper mockup of the Rev 5.1, with size reference items around it.
The idea I came up with is a VCSp Revision 5.1. It’s styled somewhat on the old classic Rev 5, which was the model I believe I built the most of (even slightly more than the Phoenix). Here are the specs on this concept unit:
- 7″ x 4.2″ x 1″ in size.
- Runs off (4) AA batteries.
- 3.5″ color TFT screen, like the Phoenix.
- Player 2 port, headphone jack and wall power adapter.
- Left and right difficulty switches.
- Paddle controller.
So my question is, would anyone be interested in one of these? I’d be willing to make a decent number of them, say 50, if there was sufficient demand. I’ve done up a few numbers and now believe I could sell this for $300, if a person traded in or sent me an Atari 2600 4-switch.
Let me know so I can consider it, thanks!
N64p and PS2p files released
Here are two things I’m asked for quite a bit – plans for the N64 and PS2 portables! Since I am washing my hands of these systems, I figured there was no harm in making the files public.
They’re not plans per se, rather just the Adobe Illustrator art files I used for my designs, but if you can make like Dan Brown and decode it everything’s there to build your own case. No help or tech support is expressed or implied for these files, so please don’t email me asking for any. Check the forums for general-purpose hacking information.
Projects I Would Do in a Heartbeat (Time permitting)
Some of you may have seen my last post and thought it meant I was sick of building everything. Not true, I’m just sick of being asked for the same 3 things over and over. As far as not doing any more movies, I should clarify – not making any more with my own money. I’m glad many of you enjoyed Port Washington but I’d really enjoy having the money it cost back in my pocket.
As a counterpoint, here’s a list of project ideas I would enjoy trying:
- Custom pinball machine – I’ve been planning one for 2 years but have never had the time or money, at the same time. Problem is I’d want to keep it. If you listen to our podcasts you’ve probably heard about this project.
- Domestic automatic can crusher – Would be the coolest thing ever.
- Alternative fuel car of the future – I’ve always wanted to build a car, I think that would be quite the challenge. It would have to be sporty and have a cool stereo however. (No Sparkomatics) The Tesla thing is cool but it’s not really a “people’s car”.
- Hub-based main house PC / Xbox 360 / PS3 / furnace – Hey, those things put out a lot of heat!
- Mass-produced single-handed game controllers – As mentioned before.
- A robot.
- Lead singer in a country music band – Much more interesting than an N64 portable.
- Apple ][ portable – It’s shocking that I’ve only been asked about this maybe once in 7 years.
- Design consultation work -If your company is working on a product, especially game related, and would like my input, please contact me to discuss.
So there you go – the kinds of projects I am interested in these days. Now I must get back to this new laptop…
Pricing for Xbox 360, PS2 and N64 portables!
Amazingly enough, even though I have repeatedly said I am not making any more Xbox 360, PS2 or N64 portables, people keep asking for them! It kind of reminds me of all the times I’ve emailed CNN.com and ordered a cheeseburger – it never comes but I keep asking.
That said, here is the official price list for these always-popular requests, in US dollars:
Xbox 360 Laptop – $10,000
PS2 Portable – $5000
N64 Portable – $5000
Dreamcast Portable – $8000
Create and send you plans to build [insert project here] – $3000
These are the absolute minimum prices I will accept for these projects. If it’s too much (which is the point) then by all means build it yourself, read my Engadget how-tos, or buy my book. Not trying to be rude (but fully aware I sound that way) I just want to drive the point home. Perhaps someone on our forums might build one for you? They have the skills.
I enjoy making prototype projects but sometimes they just become so difficult I don’t want to duplicate them or it’s not worth my time. Which is exactly the same reason there won’t be a Port Washington 2 or probably any more films at all.
Doesn’t anyone care about the old Atari 2600 anymore?
Another interview for you all
Recently I did an interview for a magazine, and there’s a full version of it here.
Sometimes people have noted that I don’t have links to every interview I do. Is this something people would like to see? Honestly I only post about half of them, I figure they have their own channels for distribution. Discuss!
What I’d really like to do is get some interviews for my podcast… Anyone famous out there read my site and want to come on over Skype for 2o minutes or so? I promise to ask interesting questions since I am fully aware of what it feels like to be asked the same 8 things over and over again. Email me!
In other news, I’ll have a new How-To on Engadget this week and, if all goes well, there should be a new portable before the end of February (the most stylish one yet, I promise)
I shall save the bandwidth of mail servers the world over…
…by announcing that I plan to build no more XBox 360 laptops. I have been working on a second one and I’ll show it on the site when it’s finished, but with the time required and considering other projects in the works the 360 laptop is just not something I’m interested in these days. To be honest I’m getting… hm… weary of laptops in general and when I finished the new ones I have coming it’ll be time to move onto something else.
Making multiple copies of something is better suited to something simple (and cheaper) like an Atari VCS, or perhaps a NES-on-a-chip based unit.
On this same token I also do not have, nor plan to do/make any of the following:
- N64 portables or plans. That system breaks if you look at it wrong, very hacker-unfriendly. Just buy a DS.
- PS2 portables or plans. Much like the Xbox 360, too difficult to make worth repeating.
Remember there’s plenty of instructions and plans in my book and I sell kits for them as well. This is doable since it’s all been standardized, if I had to create custom kits for every person who emailed they price would be substantially more.
If you’d like me to take a stab at a project you’ve suggested the rule of thumb is to think of something really far out there that might peak my interest. Slogging out more PS2 / 360 portables… not interesting.