Customer Reviews

Hacking Video Game Consoles: Turn your old video game systems into awesome new portables (ExtremeTech)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is simply incredible! If you have ever wondered what to do with your old systems that are around your house, this book provides the answer.

The book is extremly easy to follow, ever for people like me who have never soldered anything in my life. The book describes step by step how to take apart a screen from either a portable tv or a portable PSOne screen. He also gives two different portable ideas for each of the four different systems featured in the book (PSOne, Atari 2600 - 4 switch, NES, and SNES Mini).

Just by showing how to take apart the units and describing what is being done, this book opens up posibilities for making any system you own portable (Check his website for proof).

The only complaints that I have about this book is that there are a couple of misprints for some diagrams. All of this is fixed in erratas on his site. Other than that, I wished he would have shown more systems and how to make them portable.

I just couldn't get enough! And I bet you'll love it as well!

I've been following Ben for almost 2 years now since I found his website for the original PSp (PlayStation Portable). The humor on his site is great and he did an excellent job of carrying over his writing style for the new book. It's a good light read, and doesn't require a whole lot of previous knowledge. Specifically in the department of understanding electronics. I can personally recommend this book if you love tinkering with electronics or if you actually plan on building one of these portables, it's clear and the pictures corresponded amazingly well to the descriptions. Great Book, Great Work.

This book surpassed my expectations. If you are a tinkerer this book will be great for you...if you also like retro-gaming, this book becomes a must have. He is so thorough in his descriptions of the projects, that even if you aren't already handy with electronics you will have no problem completing these projects. I also liked the fact that for each project he has two versions: one full-scale project; and one that can be accomplished without any expensive tools. Highly recommended!

This book has a lot of great information. It's easy to understand and gives good cookbook recipes for different types of handhelds. It's mostly geared toward novices, which I don't think is a negative. It has a very conversational style and feels like Ben Heckendorn is there coaching you through the process.

The big complaint I have is that the book only addresses one specific version of each game console. For example Ben only uses the SNES mini and says little about the original SNES. He only uses the toaster style NES for his projects and says nothing about the later top-loading machine (which I have). It would be nice to have more/some discussion on the differences in layout between the various console versions and how they impact potential use in portables.

That complaint aside this is a good primer to get you on your way to chopping and soldering on your game system. If you have any interest in turning an old console into a portable system this book is where I'd start. Also Ben has a website with forums for folks that do this kind of thing which is handy as well.

Benjamin Heckendorn put his heart into this book. The love I have for my NES and SNES playing days (which still occur about every weekend) is felt from Ben's words, and it makes the in depth details even clearer. Written with a passion and understanding for all things video games, this book is just about all one would need to build a game creation of their own. Fallowing the book step by step is made easy and shameless, but even making your own creation can be easily supported by this book. With photos showing you each step, tips & tricks to get you by, and even corny jokes now and again that lighten the mood (Sorry Ben, but I did laugh at some of them!), this book is inspiration and information at their best.

this isnt just some book that puts all the weight on your shoulders to make sense of it and track down hard to find parts and make this some kind of impossible task. its the real deal!! you really can do this yourself with only basic electronics skill. the best skill probably is a love of video games, which will pretty easily overcome any challenges for technical expertise you might not have...tho little of that is necessary anyways. stop by his web site asap!!! the real thing!

I've been watching Ben Heckendorn do this since his old Atari 2600 Portables site launched almost 6 years ago. It'll be awesome to finally know how to do everything he does yourself!

The seller was very swift with the shipping of this product. it was in great condition and got here really fast. highly recommended.

This book an artefact for everyone, who is interested in modding and oldtime consoles.
Pros: The guide is pretty good, covering all stuff, even soldering skills and working with different materials. You don't have to be a certified electric engineer to reproduce all tasks.
Cons: If you read first 4 chapters of book - you read it all. Expirenece with different consoles does not really differs from each other.
Wishes: Color pictures :-) and all glory to Ben Heck!

Ben Heckendorn definitely knows what he is doing, and he is quite good at explaining the necessary steps. He writes the instructions so well, that anyone can do these projects, with a little bit of effort.

The book gives instructions on how to build a portable Atari 2600, NES, SNES, and PSone. The nice thing is, it illustrates how to build the consoles by hand, or with the aid of a CNC machine.

The only reason that I didn't give the book 5 stars is because it would be better if the pictures were in color. In black and white, it can be difficult to see all of the detail.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to try out some fun electronics projects, or anyone who wants to be able to make their favorite classic gaming consoles portable. If you want to know more about the author and his incredible work, I would also suggest you go to his website at www.benheck.com.