Only slightly larger than an N64 cartridge: that's how big (or small) modder Gunnar Turnquist engineered his handheld N64 that plays actual game cartridges. He managed to fit his portable console into a 8.4 cm x 11.8 cm x 4.50 cm (3.3 in x 4.64 in x 1.77 in) package complete with a 3.5" LCD screen, a headphone jack, speakers and a built-in battery that lasts for around 1.5 hours. In comparison, the original N64 console measures around a height of 2.87” (72.9 mm), width of 10.23” (259.8 mm) and depth of 7.48” (190 mm).

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Even if Gunnar Turnquist completed his project last December, his work officially earned the title of "the world's smallest Nintendo 64 console" by Guinness World Records a couple of days ago. Below you can see Turnquist's video putting the device in action while explaining his design process:

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Do you think Nintendo should release an official version of such an "N64 Mini" that also plays cartridges?

SOURCE

 

[Lostbhoy]

I think we should all note that the guys NOT in Japan or looking to sell it there either so that debate can end!

Either way.... I'd buy one even if I lived in Japan!

You can do that in emulation devices like the "HD" Nintendo 64 clones.

Again tho, I think you failed to watch the video so this is another pointless argument!

The guys done very well with it and i think we can all agree its pretty sweet!

 

[Nerdtendo]

Is portable in the same way the Nes Mini and the Snes Mini are, only without emulation.



It is in Japan since 2019.

My man's really thinks this is emulation

Anyway, my biggest takeaway from this that G-man's name is gunnar. Who knew.

This really reminds me that I need to finish my Handheld Wii....

 

[The Catboy]

...for what? The guy bought an N64, cut the PCB down, and shoved it in an enclosure. Literally nothing about that is illegal in any way whatsoever.

To be fair, Nintendo is no stranger to cease and desisting anything with their name on it. Not to say I think they will do that with this, since everything involved is legal. But Nintendo is no stranger to poopooing on fans.

 

[raxadian]

This really reminds me that I need to finish my Handheld Wii....

Unless you are making something just to break a record, like this portable 64, use a decent sized screen. The Wii has many games that use point and click and that really sucks on a small screen.

A huge problem with making portable versions of consoles that use discs is that including a disc player makes the thing very breakable and battery draining. And if you don't include the option to use discs then is not a real portable version of the console because you can't play official games legally, right?

I think that in the "Include the disc player" way the best option is a Gamecube. The discs are small enough and is possible to use something similar to the PSP disc player. No Wiimote, almost no games use Internet... and the Ethernet adapter is external so you can skip it. Then again I have not seen a portable Gamecube include the disc player...

To be fair, Nintendo is no stranger to cease and desisting anything with their name on it. Not to say I think they will do that with this, since everything involved is legal. But Nintendo is no stranger to poopooing on fans.

Nintendo re-patented Nintendo 64 stuff a few years ago.

 

[Bladexdsl]

he better not try and sell em

 

[Nerdtendo]

Unless you are making something just to break a record, like this portable 64, use a decent sized screen. The Wii has many games that use point and click and that really sucks on a small screen.

A huge problem with making portable versions of consoles that use discs is that including a disc player makes the thing very breakable and battery draining. And if you don't include the option to use discs then is not a real portable version of the console because you can't play official games legally, right?

I think that in the "Include the disc player" way the best option is a Gamecube. The discs are small enough and is possible to use something similar to the PSP disc player. No Wiimote, almost no games use Internet... and the Ethernet adapter is external so you can skip it. Then again I have not seen a portable Gamecube include the disc player...



Nintendo re-patented Nintendo 64 stuff a few years ago.

Please do a little research my guy. Most people make portable wiis to play gamecube games because you cancut them smaller and play games off of usb backups. Aurelio has made a homebrew program that allows you to use standard button controls in wii games which makes most of the Wii games worth playing playable in a convenient form factor.

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@raxidan

This is what a portable gamecube is like:


This is more of a "standard" wii portable (although people have been able to fit one in an altoids tin):


If you're interested in learning about this stuff, go check out Gman Modz, Shank Mods, and Ginger if Mods on YouTube. You can also head to the bitbuilt forums where they have tons of info on custom portables.

 

[raxadian]

play games off of usb backups

No disc player? Then is no real gamecube.

 

[Nerdtendo]

No disc player? Then is no real gamecube.

Why not? It's all officual hardware. Not to mention there are some with disc players

 

[Veho]

Please do a little research my guy. Most people make portable wiis to play gamecube games because you cancut them smaller and play games off of usb backups. Aurelio has made a homebrew program that allows you to use standard button controls in wii games which makes most of the Wii games worth playing playable in a convenient form factor.

That's still using ISOs and not exactly legal.
But aside from that. There are two (well, more, but let's focus on this divide) schools of thought in console modding. One is to get them portable at any cost, the other is to preserve the aspects of the original hardware as much as possible.
The purist school of console modders want to run games from the original media, on the original hardware. The N64 project up there could have used an N64 flashcart to make it even smaller, the limiting factor in the project is the dimensions of the original cartridge because the point was to use the original game medium. That's the challenge.

Look at this mod for example:

https://technabob.com/blog/2010/05/03/gamecube-portable-perfection/

 

[raxadian]

Why not? It's all officual hardware. Not to mention there are some with disc players

Because if it can't play the game discs/cardridges then is not really a portable version in my book.

That's still using ISOs and not exactly legal.
But aside from that. There are two (well, more, but let's focus on this divide) schools of thought in console modding. One is to get them portable at any cost, the other is to preserve the aspects of the original hardware as much as possible.
The purist school of console modders want to run games from the original media, on the original hardware. The N64 project up there could have used an N64 flashcart to make it even smaller, the limiting factor in the project is the dimensions of the original cartridge because the point was to use the original game medium. That's the challenge.

I didn't get any official licensed portable Sega Genesis because of that... well that and they sucked without hardmodding.

Overall I prefer a mix of portability, playability and confort..That's why I hate the Gamegear Mini even if it is an official sega console and why I hate the GBA micro.

Nowadays you can make a portable with a screen the size of a Switch Lite, is still portable but the screen is big enough, and you have a decent mix of comfort and being able to carry it in your pocket.

Yes I have a Gameboy Pocket but unlike the Gamegear Mini and the GBA Micro the thing is actually decent to play with.

 

[Nerdtendo]

That's still using ISOs and not exactly legal.
But aside from that. There are two (well, more, but let's focus on this divide) schools of thought in console modding. One is to get them portable at any cost, the other is to preserve the aspects of the original hardware as much as possible.
The purist school of console modders want to run games from the original media, on the original hardware. The N64 project up there could have used an N64 flashcart to make it even smaller, the limiting factor in the project is the dimensions of the original cartridge because the point was to use the original game medium. That's the challenge.

Look at this mod for example:

https://technabob.com/blog/2010/05/03/gamecube-portable-perfection/

If you're that much of a purist, you'll play the console at home. If you want as portable as possible you'll get an emulator. This is for the specific subset of people who want 100% accuracy and compatibly.

That's not the point being argued though. The other person is saying that this isn't a real portable because it doesn't have a disc drive. That's not a point you can a argue though. These are console mods. They use the original hardware and change some aspect of the design. If I took the cart slot off of my switch, it would still be a switch.

Because if it can't play the game discs/cardridges then is not really a portable version in my book.



I didn't get any official licensed portable Sega Genesis because of that... well that and they sucked without hardmodding.

Overall I prefer a mix of portability, playability and confort..That's why I hate the Gamegear Mini even if it is an official sega console and why I hate the GBA micro.

Nowadays you can make a portable with a screen the size of a Switch Lite, is still portable but the screen is big enough, and you have a decent mix of comfort and being able to carry it in your pocket.

Yes I have a Gameboy Pocket but unlike the Gamegear Mini and the GBA Micro the thing is actually decent to play with.

You don't have to call it portable, although most people would disagree with you, but you do have to call it a gamecube still.

 

[1B51004]

Very nice! always love seeing large consoles being packed into a small handheld. I always kind of hope to make one myself but I'm not really that good at construction or wiring so I would most likely mess something up.

 

[HideoKojima]

Man that is so awesome

I feel like people always got these crazy ideas for if they got rich - like they would travel the world or buy an expensive car. But I would be sitting in a room filled with these hacked together portable consoles.

Lol sometimes I think the same, if I'm surper rich I'd ask for a team if developers to make exclusive sequels to my favorite games (then leak them)

 

[raxadian]

There are portable PS2s out there but while some use real PS2 hardware they work using roms.

 

[smf]

My man's really thinks this is emulation

When deciding whether something is something or if it's emulating something else then you need start with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

Taking the chips out of a real N64 is not emulation. Using a CPU or an FPGA to recreate their functionality is emulation.

 

[gnmmarechal]

The first line of this article says it plays actual cartridges.

That... doesn't actually mean it isn't emulated. That just means it plays real carts. Now, in this case, it is just a Nintendo 64 that's been cut down and put in a case but it playing carts by itself doesn't mean it isn't emulation.

 

[Bagel Le Stinky]

It seems to be missing the dpad

 

[Nerdtendo]

It seems to be missing the dpad

There a button combo that toggles the left stick between stick and dpad modes. It was done to keep the whole thing small

 

[PatrickD85]

Very cool Love to see such projects.
Would never be able to do that myself ... but the sheer skill level is of the charts

 

[Xzi]

Portables that utilize original carts/discs are so impractical...but I love them so much!