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

​

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

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Not sure what you're basing this on, but there is no Bluetooth in this particular build. The Omega trim doesn't "include" the BT chip, you have to relocate it when you trim the board...which they're most likely not doing, in this case, as there physically isn't enough room in that case for it to fit without further modification. And even if they did, it's a fully enclosed aluminum shell, you'd need to route external antenna's to get it to work well which I suspect isn't going to look great/ideal for the kind of build they're going for.

But I do agree with your overall idea, people are clearly missing the point with a build like this. It's not supposed to be practical, this is pushing the already insane limits for a console board and it's crazy that someone has managed to get something smaller than the Altoid's tin "KillMii" Wii in a workable state. I've got a couple Wii's at work with various issues that I'm considering trying this on, just for shits and giggles.

People complaining about "butchering a Wii" clearly have no idea just how many Wii's are out there sitting around as unrecycled ewaste. You can pick up fully working Wii's for like $20 at a thrift store, and broken ones most people just give away for free at this point. "Just fix it!!"? With what replacement parts? Nobody makes them anymore, at this point the only parts available are pulled from other butchered systems, so the point is moot. Either way a "perfectly good Wii!" is being taken apart and trashed, so why not do it for something cool for the sake of cool instead of taking a part or two and junking the rest?

"Just fix it!!"? With what replacement parts? Nobody makes them anymore, at this point the only parts available are pulled from other butchered systems, so the point is moot..."

Yet we seem to have no issues recreating circuit boards, make additions to existing hardware, and get it to the point we not only clone the hardware entirely, but can recreate it from scratch as its own unit, usually only needing the original processor and maybe a couple other components to get the ball rolling for it. Yet people want to throw the point of "don't make the parts anymore." Yea, they sure don't, they haven't for many of the devices that get new community made components and such all the damn time. I think it's a "moot" point to say "they don't make parts for it anymore" when the community has plenty of times for different platforms, and in some cases, even extended on top of the existing foundation. So what's stopping anyone from doing the same for the Wii? Nobody and nothing? Yea I figured.

 

[WiiHomebrew+Snes]

usually only needing the original processor and maybe a couple other components to get the ball rolling for it.

where do those original processors come from? By your logic you would still need to canabalize a board to do that; hell if such a thing were to ever exist for wii you could pull the processor out of this and put it in a clone board.

The reason it hasn’t been done is because there are literally millions of wiis out there. An infinitely small number of them are used for projects like this, even if they massed produced this (which they aren’t) there would still be millions of wiis in perfect untouched condition and many more are probably rotting in landfills. It’s not like they’re making it into an aquarium or something stupid either, it’s still going to play the same games at the end of the day.

 

[dh3lix-pooch]

Omg... Just stfu and take my money!

 

[NinStar]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[SecureBoot]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Excellent lesson in the difference of perceived vs. actual value

 

[HarveyHouston]

I'm basing this on the fact that I have never seen a Wii build that doesn't relocate the BT module. Even the OMGWTF trim doesn't include the BT module. It's just so small and simple to relocate that it might as well be relocated. I said "includes" for short hand that it is often included with no problem. Unless I'm mistaken, the KillMii included the Bluetooth module and still had room for a screen, a battery, and built in buttons. This is a larger form factor. I'm certain they could fit the very small Bluetooth module to pair a wiimote. Otherwise, it couldn't play Wii games well at all.

EDIT: while my foot is down my throat right now. I looked it up and you are absolutely correct. They did not relocate the BT module. I didn't see that part in the original post and assumed it wasn't mentioned. My bad! I guess this thing really is *that* compact

As for the rest of it, yeah. It just seems people like to complain for the sake of complaining.

1) Define essential. A Wii loads games just fine without a disc drive. Unless I'm misremembering, you can dump discs with dolphin so you aren't somehow reducing the number of viable options for preservation.

2) There may not be unlimited Wiis, but that number is pretty damn close. Also this can be made out of an already broken Wii. What do you suggest we do with broken consoles? Repair them? With what parts? They don't manufacture Wiis anymore so you have to cannibalize parts from another, working Wii.

3) that may be technically correct, but the Raspberry Pi, even the most recent one, has not been optimized, not does it have the GPU power, for emulation. GameCube and Wii emulation on the Pi might as well not even exist. Every console generation before that, the Wii can emulate handily, so in reality, the Wii is much better for retro gaming. In addition to all of that, a case for a SBC like the raspberry pi is *BORING*. "Look at me. I put this ring computer in a box". Maybe that's practical, but there's nothing fun about it. "look at this, I spent hundreds of hours softmodding, trimming, and relocating parts of this console so it can fit in a custom shell that can fit in a keychain" took some actual engineering skill.

1. Yes, but not all disc drives can read Wii discs. It's a real problem.
2. True, if the Wiis are already broken, then I guess that's a way to salvage it. I was worried about chopping up one that still works perfectly.
3. I did allow for a board with FPGa, though. Those things exist, but I'm not sure if they'd fit in the Kawaii.

 

[MrBlizzard]

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.

you can just buy a battery powered sensor bar because ironically the real sensor is IN the wii remotes

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Yknow what'd be cool is if the main unit could plug into a handheld unit with batteries, screen & controls to make this a Wii Switch.
Maybe they have something like that in mind since otherwise the pogo pins don't serve much purpose.

 

[BingusMcgee]

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.

I know there are some funny work around a with the sensor bar because all the processing is done in the remote not the Wii itself.

For example in a pinch I have used two candles to trick the infrared sensor in the remote.

 

[kijetesantakalu042]

If you need a dock for it then whats the point?

 

[zeusdeegoose]

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?).

WiiFlow and USB Loader GX support SD Cards now, so maybe if they include a SD Slot on the console itself?

Anyways, looks cool and that's about it. I'm not potentially sacrificing my childhood just for a smaller size lol

 

[Psionic Roshambo]

Nah. I've got a 5 and it leaves much to be desired on GameCube and Wii emulation. The Wii handily emulates everything up until N64 and plays GC and Wii natively.

Yeah but Saturn, Dreamcast alone. Wii is great at what it is, emulators are awesome on it for what they have but a properly configured Pi 5 can do HD resolutions.... rewind, fast forward, latency reduction, the list just goes on and on, it's not even funny. Truly no comparison.

 

[CrimsonMaple]

That board trim seems miserable to try and make… super freaking cool, I’ll just stick to dolphin though.

 

[SylverReZ]

The files have finally been released on GitHub. https://github.com/mackieks/Kawaii

 

[raxadian]

Again while this is neat you need ports, sd card slots and so enjoy using the Wii.

 

[Jayro]

Could be even smaller without the GameCube ports tbh. I avoid that controller like the plague.