Summary
A gamer shows off how they built their own custom Nintendo PlayStation system, using the shell of an old Super Nintendo and the hardware of aPlayStation 1. This custom-built system is shown to be able to play PlayStation 1 and some Nintendo games, which is an incredible engineering feat. This was built by YouTuber James Channel, who had previously built other weird custom gaming hardware, such asa version ofSuper Smash Bros.playable on a TI-83 Calculator. His latest video was inspired by the Nintendo PlayStation, a once-in-development system that was a collaboration between Nintendo and Sony.
The Nintendo PlayStation was first developed back in 1988, developed as a hybrid console that could support playing Nintendo’s SNES cartridges as well as Sony’s CDs. While there were prototypes for this console made, it ultimately went unreleased, due to Nintendo striking up a partnership with Philips and publishing disc-based games on the Phillips CD-i. With Nintendo cutting ties between it and Sony,the PlayStation 1 consolewas reworked and eventually released in 1994.
Whileprototypes of the Nintendo PlayStation consolestill exist (200 were reportedly produced by Sony), the last known working one sold went for $360,000, James quipping that it costs more than his house. With this in mind, it gave James the idea of building his own version of the prototype using the hardware he had at home. He used the inside half of a PS1, along with the shell of a Japanese Nintendo Super Famicom system from a previous video where he created a portable SNES. From there, through a combination of some third-party tools and some sawing of the interior and exterior of the SNES shell, he was able to get the system working.
Some notable problems that James had to solve through the video include fitting the architecture of thePS1inside the SNES, relocating certain parts in order to make it function properly, and even reworking the buttons to power on, eject, and reset the system. The most incredible part that made this system work was the placement of the disk drive in order to play PS1 games. Due to the shell only being able to fit most of the PS1’s architecture, the disks had to be placed on top in order for it to spin. While that is usually where SNES cartridge games go, it leaves the disks spinning out in the open.
Despite the rather chaotic build of this custom-built Nintendo PlayStation console, it functions properly, being able to play the originalGrand Theft Auto. The custom console is even able to play games that were originally region-locked, likePepsiman, though it required extra work to force it to run. James also showed how the console is able to emulate Nintendo games, though ironically not SNES games, due to the PS1 not being powerful enough to emulate them. He caps off the video by noting he doesn’t have topay an exorbitant amount of money to own a Nintendo PlayStation, cheekily asking his viewers if they’d like to trade a house for it.
PS1
The PlayStation, sometimes known as the PS1 or PS One was Sony’s first formal foray into the console wars with Nintendo. It belonged to the fifth generation of video game consoles and locked horns with the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn.
