turning your NES into a PC?

[imported_Anonymous]

I was browsing around looking for sites that had info about ROB when I found this site http://www.junkmachine.com. In it shows you how to (gasp) gut your NES and turn it into a housing for a PC. While I admire the technincal aspect, I'm not quite sure I grasp the point of doing this. I know one thing - I would never do this to a working NES.

[Gaming guru]

:shock: hhmm... i see your point, why would you want to?

[imported_Anonymous]

I dunno! :?: I mean I don't want to make fun of this guy, I really don't, but it just seems to be sorta ....pointless.

It just seems like a NES should be appreciated for what it is, and not turned into something which is going to make it worthless to 99% of those that are interested in it. After all , the system is going to be 20 years old soon, and though still quite common now, they won't be forever!

[Froggerman]

While I wouldn't do this to a working NES I do have a few that no longer work...

What is the point? Well there isn't really one... But it will surprise your friends if you bring your "NES" to a LAN party.

I would imagine it took a lot of planning to fit everything in an NES box... One could rip apart a shuttle for small components I guess...

[imported_Anonymous]

Well, true! :) But I would have to say some people have wayyyyyyyyyy to much time on their hands.

[Froggerman]

Since there have been toys (and Video games) there have been people wanting to put computers into them!

Another reason someone might have wanted to do this was to run an emulator so he/she doesn't have to switch cartridges all the time while still having that NES feel.

http://www.techtv.com/graphics/thescreensavers/3358804.jpghttp://www.techtv.com/graphics/thescreensavers/3614990.jpg
http://www.techtv.com/graphics/thescreensavers/3614993.jpghttp://www.techtv.com/graphics/thescreensavers/3614996.jpg

http://www.xkill.net/rcaslis/computers/Falcon-making/cables.jpg
http://www.xkill.net/rcaslis/computers/Falcon-making/fin1.jpg
http://www.xkill.net/rcaslis/computers/Falcon-making/fin4.jpg
http://www.xkill.net/rcaslis/computers/Falcon-making/fin6.jpg

[imported_Anonymous]

Now those are cool!!! Are they yours?

[imported_Anonymous]

BTW I didn't even think of the emulator possibility. I guess I 'm just old school, hence my name!

[Froggerman]

No those aren't mind although I wish they were. http://mysmilies.ipbfree.com/s/contrib/geno/wink.gif

I myself wouldn't feel comfortable ruining a piece of my video game collection even if it still didn't work I still like to keep it in the best condition possible (dispite the fact that it is not working :D)

[imported_Anonymous]

I agree. What if someday you dropped (perish the thought) your trusty NES on the floor and cracked the case, and you hacked up your spare non-working NES to make it into something else?


I collect Victrolas and it always makes me mad to see one with its guts removed to make a wine or stereo cabinet. I do like your examples alot more, though. Especially the Micro Machines? Carrier. My hat is off to whoever built those two.! 8)

[Froggerman]

Luckily the NES is a sturdy little box... If you drop it it will [probably] still work... Sure the plastic casing would probably be cracked... You could use the case of a dead NES system... Anyways...

http://www.classicgaming.com/vcsp/

This guy has been doing this for a while... While it seems interesting I still don't like the idea of ripping apart video game systems to make portable versions of them.

Another thing I fear is Earthquakes and Tornadoes... Not really for my own safety... I can move but I would hate if a Tornado tore through my house and took my games and consoles with it. Luckily I live in a location where there are virtually no tornadoes or earthquakes. I would love to live on the west-coast again but I have some crazy thought that an earthquake is going to destroy my collection.

I also hate second-hand stores putting price-tags on everything... Sometimes they are easy to get off but other times they can ruin an otherwise perfect item...

Bah!! I have wandered off topic again :D

[johnlmooney]

This is very interesting! :D I will say that some Atari 2600 VCS collectors have modified there 2600 consoles to have audio/video inputs to use there systems on modern TVs to get better picture and sound quality. That makes more since to me that gutting out a game system to put a PC into. To paint your NES gold or drill holls in it to put Christmas lights in is totally pointless to me. I saw those pictures on that website you put the link into this thread. The whole idea to ruin a classic game system is not good. I'm not kicking these guys either. I just want to keep my systems the way they were meant to be.

I wouldn't even dare consider doing anything like that to ROB, the Nintendo Robotic Operating Buddy! ROB is so rare. That would be a terrible thing to do! :x

Nice pictures Froggerman! Han Solo would be so proud! He was ALWAYS modifying his Millennium Falcon in Star Wars! :D

What info were you looking for on ROB, Anntiques? When I take apart ROB, I'll post the results in a new thread under Nintendo.(for those of you who DON'T know this, My ROB doesn't work and I want to fix it, if possible. I am not going to do anything like those guys did.) :wink:

Back on topic: I wonder if anyone has done such a thing to a Super NES or some other classic system :?:

[imported_Anonymous]

I was just trying to get a little more familiar with ROB and what he is all about, since I never had one with my system. I'll keep my eye out for one because I would like to find one to add to my collection.

As far a modifying your vintage console to get better picture, sound, etc., I totally approve of that if it can be done cleanly to a point of where it looks like it came that way. I saw a site where a guy made a "Coleco Jr. " by cutting out the controller storage area and using the end of it to make a more compact Coleco system. It looked pretty cool.

As far as painting your NES gold or some other custom color, well, as long as you can still play NES carts on it, if that's what you wanna do, fine.
I prefer to keep my NES in its traditional colors!


BTW, Froggerman, that's exactly what I meant. If you hacked up an extra machine and then damaged your #1 machine, you would'nt be able to use the extra for parts anymore.

[johnlmooney]

Newcoleco mentions the "ColecoVision Jr." in the Super Game Module Media thread under the ColecoVision subject line. Is this "Coleco Jr." the same thing? :? I would like to see it. Can you provide a link to it?

[imported_Anonymous]

http://users.erols.com/tiltonj/games/museum/cvjr.html

There you go!

[johnlmooney]

Thanks! I can imagine Coleco doing something like that themselves back in '84. :wink:

[imported_Anonymous]

Yeah, this guy did a good job. He also added Rca jacks to a Coleco so it can be more easily hooked up to a TV.

[johnlmooney]

Anntiques, I have opened up the Nintendo ROB and posted the results in the Nintendo thread titled "Nintendo ROB troubleshooting attempt." Check out what I have posted in it. Also, 4Jays is selling Nintendo ROBs. If you still want to buy one for your collection, link on to:

http://www.4jays.com/pongs.html

Scroll down to bottem of the page. ROB is listed under "Others." But you could try Ebutt if you want to.

[imported_Anonymous]

Thanks for the tip, John. I'm probably going to wait and see what I can find locally, though. It tends to be alot cheaper and also the search can be half the fun! It's finally above zero in my neck of the woods, so its time to hit the garage sales and see what I can find.

[imported_Anonymous]

Oops! Forgot to log in again!^^^^^

[imported_Anonymous]

Although I gotta admit $15 for a ROB is a pretty good deal!

[johnlmooney]

Anntiques, I posted the "Turn Your NES Into A PC" subject into the Video Game Deals Forum under the Nintendo subject line and I credited it to you. It has generated alot of discussion. Link on to http://www.videogamedeals.com/index.php
You should join the forum like Gaming Guru and I did. I would like you to join in on the fun on that subject over there! :D

[imported_Anonymous]

Thanks, John. I actually already joined yesterday. My only question is why don't they combine the 2 forums, since the new one appears to be alot more active?

[imported_Anonymous]

http://www.sealiecomputing.com/retrozone/ check out this page if you build one cause here you can get a nes controller that can be plugged into a usb port. I have seen a lot of things turned into a computer so people can run emulators on them atari nintendo snes segs colecovision. I myself am going to build a home arcade machine with a 30inch monitor and have it be able to play mame nes sega you name it. If anybody is interested in building their own arcade check out this web site. http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm