We've seen someone add 30 more games to the NES Classic Edition's stock software recently via hacking, but a new hack, partnered with a feat of intricate modification and skillful engineering, has birthed a device people will surely wish Nintendo had released in the first place.
It comes as further proof that the world is in munificent supply of crafty little mavericks all too dexterous in their commitment to tinker with tech playthings. This time, the target is the Famicom Mini, the miniature version of the original Family Computer.
Folks in the West might be more familiar with the NES Classic Edition than the Famicom Mini, but the two devices are almost practically the same. Anyhow, the point being the Famicom Mini is, in the main, identical to the NES Classic Edition, and someone has a found a way to cram it into a much tinier handheld device, the Game Boy, and has called it the Famicom Pocket.
Famicom Pocket
Imagine playing Famicom titles handheld, and not just those titles alone, but the whole nine yards, with the nifty experience of the Famicom Mini user interface also in tow. Kei Studio didn't shy away from elaborating how the modifications were done — explaining it all in detail in a lengthy video.
Those who want to try their hand at attempting to mimic the studio's Famicom Pocket can watch the video and see where it gets them, but by the looks of things, it's not exactly an easy affair. Luckily, the step-by-step process includes English subtitles, though the video still doesn't seem to be an amateurish endeavor. But hey, what's to stop you?
Famicom Pocket Wired Multiplayer
The result, after having rewired the boards and redesigned the case, is nostalgic eye candy, bearing similar color schemes as its larger home consoles. Amazingly, one Famicom Pocket can even link to another Famicom Pocket, paving the way for multiplayer mode of the olden days, where people used wires to play against each other.
There's not much to judge based on the emulation performance, but the video did showcase, albeit briefly, Super Mario Bros., which seemingly ran fine without any snags at all. The multiplayer mode was also showcased, depicting Dr. Mario in two-player mode.
Kei Studio
This is not the first time Kei Studio had managed to cram a home console into something as little as a handheld device. Back in November, it was able to modify the PlayStation 2's guts into a compact form factor similar to the Famicom Pocket. Granted, the thing was as thick as a textbook in the end, though it nonetheless qualified as a portable device.
Even more impressive is the fact that Kei Studio opts to base the design around the original hardware instead of using a Raspberry Pi, so it had to work with the constraints and size of the original guts. If Nintendo or other gaming companies continue to release miniature versions of their own proprietary home consoles, then Kei Studio would probably be more than glad to labor inside its workshop and cram these devices into handheld versions once more.
What do you think of the Famicom Pocket? Should Nintendo release handheld versions of its past home consoles instead? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
