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New PSP Placeable project takes broken PSP units and turns them into consoles

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The PlayStation Portable just turned 20 years old. Alarming as that may be to hear, it means the PSP is "retro", and thus features some rather aged hardware. Broken screens, worn out batteries, stuck buttons; all of these issues plague used PSPs, rendering them unusable. However, a new project from two modders has found a new way to repurpose otherwise useless PSP units. Creatively named the PSP Placeable, it's a kit that takes PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 systems and turns them into a home console. The project is open source, and there's detailed documentation that explains how to dissemble PSPs and attach them to the custom-made Bluetooth board and 3D-printed shell, or alternatively, fully-made PSP Placeables are sold through their RetroModWorks website. Designed to look like a mini PlayStation 2, the Placeable plays original UMDs with the pop-up tray, connects to Bluetooth controllers, and has an AV to HDMI converter.

pspsp.png

Currently, the PSP Placeable is sold out, though you can still send in your broken PSP to be turned into a Placeable, or you can order the parts yourself and assemble it on your own.

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seseiSeki said:
This mod uses the official PSP Video Cable as an output, which is unfortunately pretty bad. At first it was just meant for outputting UMD Video to a TV, until the later revision, the component version, added the ability to also output games. I'm not 100% sure on the aspect ratio, but I think it's 3:2 with a resolution of 480p, displaying the game unscaled in the middle. So unless your TV either supports 3:2 or has some advanced zoom options, you'll get some wonky aspect ratio shenanigans on top of a pretty fuzzy output.
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I thought it's doing true digital to digital hdmi and upscaling like retro gem on ps2. If it's just component then not really worth it at $180 imo. Might as well buy a psp go for aorund 100 that has wifi and an ofiicial dock
 
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As I also said in a comment on Macho Nacho's video, this has the potential to be something useful, but right now it's nothing more than a PSP with bluetooth controller support modded in, and put into a 3D printed shell for some reason.
I believe bluetooth controller support could be an internal mod, and the 3D printed shell doesn't serve any purpose, since there isn't even an AV breakout. All it is is a place to put the bluetooth board, which could be miniaturized further to fit internally.
And requiring people to plug in the AV cable internally really isn't ideal, for consolizer project having an AV breakout seems like a bare minimum.
I would recommend for anyone interested in something like this to hold off on it until improved versions are released. We have seen a number of different GBA Consolizer projects since the original and I have no doubt the same will happen with this, future versions will hopefully have more functionality to make it worthwhile.
 
I've had 2 instances where some of the buttons stopped working (PSP 2000 & 3000).. Something like this to spare us looking for no longer being produced OEM parts, that are getting hard to find even now, is certainly very appreciated. The fact is one day your PSP's will stop working, buttons, thumbstick, screen issues etc fundamental stuff in order to use said system, and parts will no longer be available (even Chinese ones, perhaps) even if you know how to fix them. Something like this that's open source is ought to be just the fix to make your unit working again.
Would love to see something like this for the DS systems, specially the 3DS.
 
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Hey so im one the guys behind this project. I built the hardware (my first every hardware related project so probably many mistakes). I also built the web app which allow single click programming via USB and OTA using bluetooth.

All source for the firmware, hardware and web app is fully open on my GitHub. (Unfortunately being a new user i cant post links)

Anyone is free to do what they want with this, modify it, sell it. I dont licence it or anything so dont make anything on it. It's just super cool to me that people are out there using what ive built!

Dan is someone who did just that. He has taken what ive built, designed some really cool shells, built some great guides and is offering various kits and things so people off all skill levels can have one.

His models are also fully open on his GitHub if someone wanted to build their own.

Its incredible how far this project has reached and the generally positive things people have been saying about it!

Looking trhough this thread there appears to be three common questions:

* why use a web app to program
Becuase I'm a web developer and TypeScript is what i enjoy! I wanted to use Web Serial and Web Bluetooth and so this was the perfect opportunity. I wanted to offer once click firmware programming where a user needed zero tools to be installed, just hit the site and click go.

For those worrying about the site going down you can clone the repo and run it locally, its just an Angular app!

* I want it portable
I'm working on that now. I have designed custom FPC's to replace the PSP's which allow be to tap into the signals. This allows original buttons to be used and for me to control the PSP. The hardware right now is shaped the way it is to fit where the UMD drive fits. There's a few tweaks to do then that will be ready soon.
bannerImage.png

You can see a prototype of it working on my YT (sorry for the terrible quality) (Unfortunately being a new user i cant post links)


* its a bit pricey
Now this is on Dan, like i say i don't make money on these. However i can say that it takes allot of effort on his part not just to design the shells and everythign but to piece it all together. Find working PSP's build the entire thing. As well as managing the logistics of it all. So i think the price is fair.

But yea just wanted to say thanks for all the positive comments on what ive built. Its fantastic to see something ive made for fun being talked about and used out there in the wild.

Any questions please give me a shout!

EDIT: One final thing im currently at the "Lets ponder this for a while untill i stop being lazy and prototype it" stage is having the ESP32 and the PSP actually talk. So homebrew on the PSP can comms with the ESP.

If that can happen this thing could be reduced down to just the ESP potentially, meaning you could keep the UMD.

The PSP has an internal I2c bus i believe. If i can get them to talk on it it would open up so much cools stuff. Currently playing with some PSP hombrew hello world and going from there.
 
Last edited by Stephen Cooper,
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Honestly this is a kick ass way to reboot interest in the PSP and curb e-waste at the same time! Are the shells 3D printed?
 
Stephen Cooper said:
Hey so im one the guys behind this project. I built the hardware (my first every hardware related project so probably many mistakes). I also built the web app which allow single click programming via USB and OTA using bluetooth.

All source for the firmware, hardware and web app is fully open on my GitHub. (Unfortunately being a new user i cant post links)

Anyone is free to do what they want with this, modify it, sell it. I dont licence it or anything so dont make anything on it. It's just super cool to me that people are out there using what ive built!

Dan is someone who did just that. He has taken what ive built, designed some really cool shells, built some great guides and is offering various kits and things so people off all skill levels can have one.

His models are also fully open on his GitHub if someone wanted to build their own.

Its incredible how far this project has reached and the generally positive things people have been saying about it!

Looking trhough this thread there appears to be three common questions:

* why use a web app to program
Becuase I'm a web developer and TypeScript is what i enjoy! I wanted to use Web Serial and Web Bluetooth and so this was the perfect opportunity. I wanted to offer once click firmware programming where a user needed zero tools to be installed, just hit the site and click go.

For those worrying about the site going down you can clone the repo and run it locally, its just an Angular app!

* I want it portable
I'm working on that now. I have designed custom FPC's to replace the PSP's which allow be to tap into the signals. This allows original buttons to be used and for me to control the PSP. The hardware right now is shaped the way it is to fit where the UMD drive fits. There's a few tweaks to do then that will be ready soon.
View attachment 476702
You can see a prototype of it working on my YT (sorry for the terrible quality) (Unfortunately being a new user i cant post links)


* its a bit pricey
Now this is on Dan, like i say i don't make money on these. However i can say that it takes allot of effort on his part not just to design the shells and everythign but to piece it all together. Find working PSP's build the entire thing. As well as managing the logistics of it all. So i think the price is fair.

But yea just wanted to say thanks for all the positive comments on what ive built. Its fantastic to see something ive made for fun being talked about and used out there in the wild.

Any questions please give me a shout!

EDIT: One final thing im currently at the "Lets ponder this for a while untill i stop being lazy and prototype it" stage is having the ESP32 and the PSP actually talk. So homebrew on the PSP can comms with the ESP.

If that can happen this thing could be reduced down to just the ESP potentially, meaning you could keep the UMD.

The PSP has an internal I2c bus i believe. If i can get them to talk on it it would open up so much cools stuff. Currently playing with some PSP hombrew hello world and going from there.
Click to expand...
Thanks to reply here.

Talk to Dan to have less plastic and lower the components bluetooth module in the prototype. Because $180 dòllars its too much for plastic and bluetooth module adapter.

About the webapp you said this:

For those worrying about the site going down you can clone the repo and run it locally, its just an Angular app!
Click to expand...

If i want to sell this kit to my noob friend that doesnt have knowledge to make a repo how you approach to sell the kit with this type of people?

For me making a repo using linux its not a issue but others doesnt have that type of knowledge.
 
JaNDeRPeiCH said:
Thanks to reply here.

Talk to Dan to have less plastic and lower the components bluetooth module in the prototype. Because $180 dòllars its too much for plastic and bluetooth module adapter.

About the webapp you said this:



If i want to sell this kit to my noob friend that doesnt have knowledge to make a repo how you approach to sell the kit with this type of people?

For me making a repo using linux its not an issue but others doesnt have that type of knowledge.
Click to expand...
I would say for your noob friends use the web app, that’s why it exists. It’s hosted via GitHub pages so it won’t be going anywhere unless they nuke that service in which case there are alternatives.

I’m am surprised by the pushback to using the web app some people have expressed. I wonder if they have the same issue with the web app for the BlueRetro project?

For the price I have zero say. Like I said I open source all my stuff so you or anyone else can build or remix and sell as you wish. All I do say is I feel his pricing is fair. But that’s a discussion you need to have with him.

I can’t help but feel some people undervalue the amount of time and effort it took me to develop this, I know that shouldn’t equate to how much some one else charges for it. Still I see some comments like “it’s just a Bluetooth adapter”. It’s a shame some people can’t see it for the amount of effort it took to come into existence.
Post automatically merged:

dbnet182 said:
Honestly this is a kick ass way to reboot interest in the PSP and curb e-waste at the same time! Are the shells 3D printed?
Click to expand...
Missed this reply sorry. Yes they are. Someone else, Dan, has designed them. His designs are also open sourced if you have the means to print it yourself.

I don’t think I can post links yet but in the OP the video has links to his GitHub.
 
Last edited by Stephen Cooper,
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20 years ago.. man I feel old and I missed that era so damn much. no amount of drugs can bring me back to that special time.
 
I saw the video that nacho did and it was really cool. I definitely like the idea of making my PSP play as a console. There are some fantastic PSP games that look great on the TV.

I am going to hold out for a revision that uses injection plastic moulding. I will definitely pay more for the quality :)
 
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simbin said:
It looks great, but I think it's important for people to understand that 3D printing is best suited for prototypes rather than final products.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. If you want a nicer finish, print in resin and it looks flawless. For any internal structural parts or parts that will not be visible, FDM prints are ideal. And there's a lot you can do to make FDM prints look good.
 
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Chary said:

The PlayStation Portable just turned 20 years old. Alarming as that may be to hear, it means the PSP is "retro", and thus features some rather aged hardware. Broken screens, worn out batteries, stuck buttons; all of these issues plague used PSPs, rendering them unusable. However, a new project from two modders has found a new way to repurpose otherwise useless PSP units. Creatively named the PSP Placeable, it's a kit that takes PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 systems and turns them into a home console. The project is open source, and there's detailed documentation that explains how to dissemble PSPs and attach them to the custom-made Bluetooth board and 3D-printed shell, or alternatively, fully-made PSP Placeables are sold through their RetroModWorks website. Designed to look like a mini PlayStation 2, the Placeable plays original UMDs with the pop-up tray, connects to Bluetooth controllers, and has an AV to HDMI converter.


Currently, the PSP Placeable is sold out, though you can still send in your broken PSP to be turned into a Placeable, or you can order the parts yourself and assemble it on your own.

:arrow: Source
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大佬6666
 
I don't know much about PSP, but 'retro' isn't a synonym for 'old'.

Retro essentially means "of a style of the past". Maybe that's true for PSP, maybe not.

A quick google image search shows the games look like 3rd party N64 games, so I'll give you 'retro' but not because it's turned 20. It's been retro for a long time.
 
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retrospect said:
I don't know much about PSP, but 'retro' isn't a synonym for 'old'.

Retro essentially means "of a style of the past". Maybe that's true for PSP, maybe not.

A quick google image search shows the games look like 3rd party N64 games, so I'll give you 'retro' but not because it's turned 20. It's been retro for a long time.
Click to expand...
22 years old console IS RETRO.
 
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