Keychain-size ‘GameCube’ uses genuine Nintendo silicon — system also includes a dock, design shared to GitHub

Keychain-size ‘GameCube’ uses genuine Nintendo silicon — system also includes a dock, design shared to GitHub

But you will need the dock which is bigger than the ‘console,’ a controller, a power supply, and a TV, of course.

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Watch On In the above video, Tito from retro gaming channel Macho Nacho Productions goes hands-on with an original Nintendo Kawaii as created and fabricated by YveltalGriffin, Wesk and Ding . At the heart of this project is not the Raspberry Pi Zero , or similar, you might typically expect. Instead, the Kawaii relies on original Nintendo-used processors and ICs.

Vintage Nintendo console lovers will be aware that the firm’s Wii retained backward compatibility with the GameCube. Because of the former’s renowned extreme trimmability among the modding community a trimmed Wii motherboard is used in this project. Specifically, the Kawaii packs in the Omega Trim Wii. The GitHub source doesn’t compare the original and Omega motherboards, but the video shows the original GameCube next to the Kawaii.

You may like Nintendo's Game & Watch hacked and turned into retro emulation beast This must-have miniature Macintosh retro dock gives your M4 Mac Mini a 1980s makeover DIY NES-SY2.0 synthesizer plays chip tunes and NES cartridges, too Other tech tweaks to make this a successful project include the NAND Flex mods, to stack certain motherboard features / ICs. Then, the Thundervolt mod is used to undervolt the CPU so it doesn’t boil in the confined case. Thankfully the Wii processors can still handle GameCube titles with aplomb, even when power constrained.

A nice touch in this build is the CNC aluminum shell which elevates the finished look above similar projects, and on one side we’d like to think the organically ribbed metal fins might help a little with the passive cooling. It is still gratifying here to have original silicon to run your GameCube (and some Wii games that work with GC controllers) titles. Users are expected to load games onto a microSD card . One drawback of this neat design is the flash card becomes captive with the case assembled.

(Image credit: Kawaii project on GitHub) (Image credit: Kawaii project on GitHub) Clearly, the Kawaii isn’t a self-contained console. It has an elegant docking method, though, with discrete pogo pins. The dock actually looks larger than the keychain, and then you’ll need the hefty GameCube controller, a USB power brick, two sets of dongles, and a TV to plug it into.

Though the GitHub page is complete with MCAD, ECAD, and BOM files, the team hasn't gotten around to putting together instructions. Those wishing to replicate this meisterwerk are directed to a thread on BitBuilt that follows the assembly of two Kawaiis.

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