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N64 portable modding help

2 points by yays 11y ago

reddit was not providing the answers so I decided to come to good ol' hacker news anyways, For a school tech project im trying to make a portable n64. 2 problems: 1. Im really bad at this kind of stuff and if someone has a page they could direct me to please link it. Also if you can give me a list of parts and where to find them, it would be very very helpful! I dont have any of my old n64 games and dont want to buy any as a few of them are very expensive. Is there a way to make it so that I can download the games onto the portable n64?

angersock 11y ago
There's kind of two ways of going about this, right? One is to think of it as "I have a functioning N64, how to I hack it into a handheld solution?". This is a little rough, because it'll be hard fitting the guts of a system into a handheld controller (see https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Nintendo_64 https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Nintendo_64). If you were to go this route, you're also going to have to figure out how to replace the power supply with a battery (probably some pile of lithium-polymer batteries and maybe some converters), and also some kind of display to pretend to be a TV (something like http://www.amazon.com/LCD-Display-Composite-input-Raspberry/dp/B00ETOCRSG http://www.amazon.com/LCD-Display-Composite-input-Raspberry/... ). The other is "How do I run N64 ROMs in a handheld solution?" In this case, look at an emulator (say, https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6761&p=402363 https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6761&p=40...) and then build the hardware around it. However, you have a bit more flexibility in terms of what you can pull off. You'll still have to solve the display problem though.
- yays 11y ago
  Thnx man! Thing is that I have only found a few sources about these portable home consoles. Mostly they show off the handheld, not how to make it. Checking the prices for some games on ebay, it wouldnt be that bad to just buy them. That would also make it much easier for me. Thanks again!
DanBC 11y ago
What search terms have you tried already to find websites with guides to making a portable N64? How much work have you done already? N64 games, "roms", are very easy to find on the Internet. Watch out for sites that also distribute malware. Once you have the roms you want a "N64 backup unit". These are going to be hard to find. I don't know of anyone providing plans for a DIY backup unit.
- yays 11y ago
  I have searched for generic terms such as "Portable n64" or "how to make a portable n64". As far as progress goes, I have the n64 and controller. I can buy most of the parts except for the soldering tool but ill find a way. One of my neighbors might have one. Ive also decided that i will just buy the cartridges. The thing is that Im really clueless as to this type of stuff. And I dont do to good with wires. If you have a link you can share which has an in depth tutorial on how to make one, it would be much appreciated.

2 points by yays 11y ago

angersock 11y ago

There's kind of two ways of going about this, right? One is to think of it as "I have a functioning N64, how to I hack it into a handheld solution?". This is a little rough, because it'll be hard fitting the guts of a system into a handheld controller (see https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Nintendo_64 https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Nintendo_64). If you were to go this route, you're also going to have to figure out how to replace the power supply with a battery (probably some pile of lithium-polymer batteries and maybe some converters), and also some kind of display to pretend to be a TV (something like http://www.amazon.com/LCD-Display-Composite-input-Raspberry/dp/B00ETOCRSG http://www.amazon.com/LCD-Display-Composite-input-Raspberry/... ). The other is "How do I run N64 ROMs in a handheld solution?" In this case, look at an emulator (say, https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6761&p=402363 https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6761&p=40...) and then build the hardware around it. However, you have a bit more flexibility in terms of what you can pull off. You'll still have to solve the display problem though.

yays 11y ago
Thnx man! Thing is that I have only found a few sources about these portable home consoles. Mostly they show off the handheld, not how to make it. Checking the prices for some games on ebay, it wouldnt be that bad to just buy them. That would also make it much easier for me. Thanks again!

DanBC 11y ago

What search terms have you tried already to find websites with guides to making a portable N64? How much work have you done already? N64 games, "roms", are very easy to find on the Internet. Watch out for sites that also distribute malware. Once you have the roms you want a "N64 backup unit". These are going to be hard to find. I don't know of anyone providing plans for a DIY backup unit.

yays 11y ago
I have searched for generic terms such as "Portable n64" or "how to make a portable n64". As far as progress goes, I have the n64 and controller. I can buy most of the parts except for the soldering tool but ill find a way. One of my neighbors might have one. Ive also decided that i will just buy the cartridges. The thing is that Im really clueless as to this type of stuff. And I dont do to good with wires. If you have a link you can share which has an in depth tutorial on how to make one, it would be much appreciated.