Attention those nostalgic for the Nintendo Wii and fans of DIY! An electronics enthusiast has managed to miniaturize the famous games console, reducing it to the size of a deck of cards. A technical feat, which will undoubtedly delight collectors and lovers of retro gadgets.
Nearly 20 years after its release, the Wii seems more than ever to fascinate fans of new technologies, particularly those with skills in electronic DIY. Remember, last November, we discovered a video in which a YouTuber had simply transformed his Nintendo Wii into a perfectly functional Mac M1 Mini. A few weeks later, a tinkering expert has just taken on a new challenge: that of bringing to life the smallest Wii console ever created!
A miniature Wii: a collector’s dream come true!
If you are at all intrigued by technological prowess, particularly in terms of miniaturization, this is an object that will certainly not leave you indifferent. On GitHub, a certain James Smith, also known under the pseudonym “loopj”, recently shared his latest work on the platform. A personalized Nintendo Wii, which humbly presents itself as “ the smallest in the world », and whose total volume represents only 7.4% of that of the original console.
To our delight, James shared the creation process online, revealing the key stages of this impressive miniaturization. The most talented among you will therefore be able to arm themselves with their best tools, as well as their soldering iron, to try to reproduce the experience from home.
Named “Short Stack” by its creator, this miniature Wii is undoubtedly the result of meticulous work and remarkable ingenuity. The key to this success lies in the miniaturization of the motherboard to the bare minimum (62 x 62 mm) and the use of custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) carefully stacked to form a compact assembly. This modular approach not only reduces the size of the console, but also facilitates its assembly and maintenance.
A feat of miniaturization (that you can reproduce at home)
Despite its reduced size, the “Short Stack” retains most of the functionality of the original Wii. The four GameCube ports, the microSD card reader, the USB connectors and the various power and reset buttons are present, allowing you to enjoy an authentic gaming experience. We also find the emblematic blue light, present all around the disc player, as well as the various Bluetooth functionalities for connecting accessories, including the famous Wiimote.
To meet today’s standards, this custom Wii is powered via a USB-C port and has an HDMI input for audio and video.
Anyone wishing to venture into this minute operation can follow the instructions kindly provided by James Smith on GitHub, if only to know the list of parts you will need. There is no need to remind you that such manipulation requires real skills in the fields of soldering and assembly of printed circuits. Therefore, this is not aimed at beginners. You have been warned…
Source : GitHub
A fan of series, cinema and new technologies, it was my penchant for video games that got the better of me. Getting lost between Libertalia, the seas of Sea of Thieves and Kaer Morhen, such is the life I decided to lead between writing two articles.
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