Making Clone Consoles

[LightyKD]

Anyone here tried making their own clone console? I ran a Reddit post this week that's sparking all sorts of imagination...

https://www.reddit.com/r/dreamcast/comments/1j1o9mf/dreamcast_shell_running_flycast_with_original/

user/InitiativeNeat7128 essentially made a clone Dreamcast with a OEM shell and OEM controller board plus a Raspberry Pi 6, a Pi Pico and a ribbon cable breakout board. Here is a video of the thing in action...



I was trying to figure out a way to make the thing a bit more cost efficient. The best I could get was this...

Dreamcast Shell - 25.83 - https://tinyurl.com/yzk5xav4

Raspberry Pi 4b - 44.99 - https://tinyurl.com/mrxmanss

Raspberry Pi Pico - 3.99 - https://tinyurl.com/4tp8a9ym (may need a few of these for each controller port)

512 GB SD Card - 28.97 - https://tinyurl.com/2w3vam33

Dreamcast Extension cable - 3.01 (per cable) - https://tinyurl.com/ykd9238r

This does not include the price of a USB hub, HDMI adapter and cable, USB-C power adapter or any additional wiring you may need to connect the Pico to the Pi 4b. The controller ports would need to be hot glued to the front of the case. Considering that the OEM controller board goes for as much as 100 USD, this is the better option. Also keep in mind the average "tested" Dreamcast with one controller on eBay goes for 70 USD. At least with the Pi 4, you would have HD Dreamcast (or at least 2x resolution) as well as the ability to emulate all the other Sega consoles all in one box.

Furthermore, something similar could be done with a N64 Shell to make clone N64 consoles. Cartridge to USB adapters are a thing that can be purchased or just like the Dreamcast, you could keep all the games on a SD card. All of that said, I just wanted to share a neat project I ran across.

 

[Tofu_mommy]

This could be turned into a fan made mini console.

 

[LightyKD]

I now have a Dreamcast and a N64 shell and the question is still in the back of my head. "Should I try to turn one of these into a functioning console?"

 

[emigre]

I would love to do something like this but honestly, really can't be arsed.

 

[Taleweaver]

Okay... This thread was necrobumped, but still a cool project. It's beyond my capabilities, but i love how this sort of tinkering gets some great results.

I now have a Dreamcast and a N64 shell and the question is still in the back of my head. "Should I try to turn one of these into a functioning console?"

Well... What can you do? This isn't a "i know nothing but want to get what someone built on YouTube" thing, but like something to build toward.

To answer the original question... I would say: two times.

One was with my second wii. I modded it so much that not only does it play pretty much anything up to a few dos games, but it is neatly organized. But okay... Since it's all softmodding, it doesn't count as much.

Somewhat cooler (i think) is how i refurbished a few hp small form factor (G4 and a G5) that I've turned into a self built stream machine. Blog post:
https://gbatemp.net/blogs/why-buy-a-steam-machine-when-you-can-build-one.20173/
I'm now building one for a friend, just for funzies. But how insane is it that you can just say "here... Have a console I've created from a garbage office pc that can smoothly play roughly wii-level graphic games"?
Edit.. Forgot to add: yes, you need to pair controllers. But that's about it.

 

[Flame]

I want to do something like this. But I have so much modded consoles and consoles in general. Just feels long. It's like play SNES for the billionth different way.