Based off the response to my NES Micro, and the interest of old Nintendo consoles in general, I’d really like to make sort of cartridge-based NES portable to sell in the near future. Consider it a “sequel” endeavor to my Atari Phoenix earlier this year.

The basic idea is to make a “TV games” version, with built-in controls and battery but no screen. (Hooks to TV) This would keep the price down. Then I’d offer a “screen module add-on” that can be plugged into it to create a fully portable device. This module could also be used with future portables I build, thus keeping their cost down as well. Since the LCD display is always at least 50% of the cost when I build these things it’d be a big help if “one screen fits all”.

The big thing holding me up is finding the NES-on-a-chip (NOAC) to use. Many existing “TV games” units use these (which is why the “emulation” of their old games isn’t always accurate) but those are always non-reusable “glop top” versions.

However there’s a Novatek version called the NT6578, plus a Sino Wealth model called the SH6578. Both are the more typical, surface-mount style IC’s that would be easier to work with. They appear to be discontinued but there’s got to be some overstock floating around someplace. If I can find some I plan to design custom PCB’s around them for the portable.

If anyone has information on where to find a good supply (50-100 units) of these IC’s at a reasonable price, please let me know. A finder’s fee, likely consisting of a free prototype unit if the project comes to fruition, is definitely in the cards.

Hello everyone out there in videogame hacking land! Ben here to announce the companion website for my book “Hacking Videogame Consoles” has now been overhauled and updated!

Included now are online parts list (for Radio Shack and Mouser) better navigation, more eBay automatic searches for parts and basically more information in general. So if you’re working on any of the projects or just wondering what the book is all about why not check it out?

Notes of Interest:

• Stay tuned later this week for my article “The Future of Videogames – Part 3” (2005 edition), plus hopefully some cool announcements.
• I have officially stopped taking new Phoenix orders, and will be finishing up what orders remain ongoing. Not to worry – I’m already planning a successor! Even better of course, and I’m considered a “recycling” program to let you trade in a Phoenix to be “reconfigured” to the new format.

Hey do you have a videogame-loving tinkerer/experimenter/computer nut  on your holiday shopping list? You do? Well then, why not surprise them with a copy of my book “Hacking Videogame Consoles”?

It’ll keep them busy all winter and then in the summer they’ll have a cool portable game system to play on the school bus, airplane or during all those road trips to see the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota. Along the way they’ll learn interesting facts about the systems, refine their soldering and hot-glue techniques and maybe even have a laugh or two.

The “Hacking Videogame Consoles” book.

There’s even a website for the book that contains files, links, updates and tips, plus a forum where people working on the projects can share their information and help each other out.

So why wait? Visit a fine bookseller today and grab yourself a copy. Or order one online if it’s snowing real bad and you’d rather just be cozy with your hot cocoa.  Either way you’ll get a full 553 pages of videogaming goodness to share with a loved one or just use yourself for that manner!

Of all the portable videogame devices I’ve ever built over the years one system has always been my “Holy Grail” to make – my “dream portable” if you will. (Yes, even more so than my Neo Geo arcade machine) And now after a couple years of tinkering it is complete!

Without further ado – the Atari 800 XE Laptop!

Click photo for full-resolution version in new window!

Measuring 11 3/8″ x 7 1/2″ x 2″ my Atari 800 laptop kicks major butt and includes the following features:

	Uses (what’s left of 😉 an Atari XE GS (Game System) the last model Atari 800 type computer from 1987.
	8″ TFT active matrix display
	Compact Flash “hard disk drive” utilizing MyDOS 4.53 for maximum drive size of 16 megabytes. Card is removable for swapping.
	Built-in NiMH battery pack and charger (uses external plug like a normal laptop) Also battery is removable from base as with most laptops.
	Full (Atari 800) sized keyboard
	Built-in Player 1 & 2 controls, plus joystick ports. Built-in joypads great for playing Robotron 2084!
	Brushed aluminum and wood grain everywhere! A weird combo style, sure, but I like it!
	Cursor control knob – Allows you to move the cursor around the screen without pressing control+arrow keys. That’s awesome if you’re an old-school Atari programmer “from the day”
	Slim (compared to an original SIO port) DB25 printer-style port for connecting to disk drives, printers or PC’s using an SIO2PC cable.

Top of closed laptop, and rear ports, including Compact Flash card.

If you’d like to read the whole story of how I managed to knock this thing together click here: WHOLE STORY
(about a 15 minute read, I promise it won’t be too boring)

If you’d just like to skip ahead to more photos of the detail click here: JUST PHOTOS
(if you’re in a rush)