Modders @WeskMods and @YveltalGriffin, have created a fully functional, keychain sized Wii console. The Kawaii project is a replacement Wii shell that measures just 60 x 60mm (2.3 x 2.3 inches) and is built in a sleek, machined metal unibody case. You will need to sacrifice your own Wii console to use with the Kawaii which may not be for the faint of heart due to the precise cutting and trimming required.

The project, which has been worked on for some time now, initially started as a discussion between Wesk and Yveltal when the two explored just how compact they could make the console, even aiming to surpass the already ridiculously small GC Nano in size.

Planned specs:

• 60x60x16mm CNC'd aluminum chassis (passively-cooled) with laser etched artwork
• Undervolted OMEGA trim with Thundervolt
• 12-pin magnetic pogo pin connector (MagSafe-like)
• Internal breakout PCB for SD-USB, input protection, and video muxing
• Dock with USB-C power input, x4 GCC controller ports, composite/component video output, & stereo audio output
• Six acrylic windows with RGB LEDs for peak aesthetics
• Keychain loop

After experimenting with different designs and ideas, they decided on a machined metal unibody and replaced traditional ports with magnetic pogo pin connectors. They also figured out how to undervolt the Wii for passive cooling, making the Kawaii even more compact and reducing the need for an active cooling fan. The pogo pin connectors provide power, AV out, controller support as well as docking support for GameCube controller support.

@YveltalGriffin and I have been cooking up something special over the past year or so and we are now happy to show it off.

A Wii console the size of a keychain!

CNC'd, anodized, laser marked, and passively cooled

Follow the link for more details: https://t.co/MgZT0ZBV6V pic.twitter.com/3trRBqoNiU

— Wesk Mods (@WeskMods) July 21, 2024

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While not yet available, the team are registering interest in order to get the first batch built which would require a minimum order of 30 units. If successful, the price is expected to be around $55 per shell, which would include the shell in your chosen colours along with the necessary fixings plus shipping.

Source

 

[emigre]

I remember whacking my niece in the head whilst playing wii sports with the wiimote when she was younger.

I'm tempted to buy this for her when she turns 18 later this year.

Then I'll whack her with a wiimote.

 

[The_Monado_Satyr]

Hate being broke

 

[Andy2001]

any perfomance compromises due to the undervolting of the cpu/gpu? And also was there some system stability testing?

 

[Veho]

. If successful, the price is expected to be around $55 per console, which would include a shell in your chosen color.​

$55 is surprisingly low, I was expecting it to be $200 at the lowest.

 

[Mayo1990]

Keeping an eye on this.

 

[lordelan]

Is there no video showing it in action yet?

 

[eriols]

So is this like a modification of the original hardware?

 

[CoolMe]

So it's a plug & play device? Something tells me they had to make some serious compromises due to the sheer size alone. What about the sensor bar? If it can even use one, even if not, games simply have to.

 

[WiiHomebrew+Snes]

$55 is surprisingly low, I was expecting it to be $200 at the lowest.

I’m fairly certain the $55 is just for the shells screws and shipping; I thought it was $55 for the console at first too but I’m pretty sure that was just the wording. Either way it definitely isn’t going to be assembled and most likely isn’t going to include a Wii

Post automatically merged: Jul 28, 2024

So it's a plug & play device? Something tells me they had to make some serious compromises due to the sheer size alone. What about the sensor bar? If it can even use one, even if not, games simply have to.

Even without a sensor bar port you should be able to use a wireless one (assuming it supports Wii controllers). The sensor bar is just infrared leds after all. Also I think the major compromise is needing a dock to be able to use the thing lol

 

[Taleweaver]

I've seen it before, but it sounds like a joke. Besides: with no usb or method to read discs... How are you going to play anything?
(also: just how portable is it if you've got to find an electric sensor bar replacement to go with it? Heck... Are those still being sold?).

 

[x65943]

I’m fairly certain the $55 is just for the shells screws and shipping; I thought it was $55 for the console at first too but I’m pretty sure that was just the wording. Either way it definitely isn’t going to be assembled and most likely isn’t going to include a Wii

Post automatically merged: Jul 28, 2024

Even without a sensor bar port you should be able to use a wireless one (assuming it supports Wii controllers). The sensor bar is just infrared leds after all. Also I think the major compromise is needing a dock to be able to use the thing lol

Right, you are expected to trim and assemble your own Wii by yourself

If you look into assembling that gc nano, you'll see the kind of skills and time and other bits you're gonna need to buy to make this a reality

https://bitbuilt.net/forums/index.php?threads/final-destination-omega-trim.5718/

 

[Marc_LFD]

I'm interested, but this looks too thin and small for all that.

 

[chrisrlink]

maybe their trying to fake out nintendo on a fake product to waste their time (wouldn't that be fun?)

 

[Veho]

I’m fairly certain the $55 is just for the shells screws and shipping; I thought it was $55 for the console at first too but I’m pretty sure that was just the wording. Either way it definitely isn’t going to be assembled and most likely isn’t going to include a Wii

Yes it's just the case, no electronics, but I hear "machined alumin(i)um" and "choice of color" and "30 unit run" and I see dollar signs. I've seen acrylic cases for the Raspberry Pi go for more than that.

 

[Bladexdsl]

nintendo needs to hire this guy although they'll probably be more likely to dmaca him

 

[gaga941021]

I remember whacking my niece in the head whilst playing wii sports with the wiimote when she was younger.

I'm tempted to buy this for her when she turns 18 later this year.

Then I'll whack her with a wiimote.

This is not for sale.

 

[BeanMKW]

This is not for sale.

not for sale YET

 

[SecureBoot]

maybe their trying to fake out nintendo on a fake product to waste their time (wouldn't that be fun?)

I assure you these guys are legit. It will not be a fake product.

Post automatically merged: Jul 28, 2024

I've seen it before, but it sounds like a joke. Besides: with no usb or method to read discs... How are you going to play anything?
(also: just how portable is it if you've got to find an electric sensor bar replacement to go with it? Heck... Are those still being sold?).

It's common (or at least was) for these projects to use internal usb-micro sd adapters for storage. There are still plenty of battery operated or USB sensor bars being sold for dirt cheap that can be plugged into most TVs. The sensor bar sends no data to the console at all. The Wii remote simply reads the position of two ir LEDs

 

[Quore]

It would be funny to have a little cute decoration in your room, but actually being a fully functional Wii.

I'm very veery interesting to see how ut works and what they had to sacrifice to achieve this - if not sacrifice exactly, how much steps to make to do the same things