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Kawaii – A Keychain-Sized Nintendo Wii (bitbuilt.net)

749 points by realslimjd · 749 days ago · 215 comments on HN

Article summary

A custom-built, keychain-sized Nintendo Wii console, called Kawaii, has been created with a 60x60x16mm CNC'd aluminum chassis and features a passively-cooled design, undervolted OMEGA trim with Thundervolt, and a magnetic pogo pin connector. The console is fully functional and can run games with the help of a dock that provides power, controller ports, and video output. The project is planned to be open-source once it's complete. The Kawaii's small size is made possible by the use of a custom breakout PCB and a Thundervolt-enabled OMEGA trim.

Main themes

  • Miniaturized consoles
  • Custom hardware builds
  • Nintendo Wii modifications
  • Open-source projects
  • Console design and engineering

What commenters say

  • The creation of miniaturized consoles like Kawaii showcases the potential for reducing the size of older consoles while maintaining full hardware compatibility.
  • The use of FPGA's can allow for the creation of highly compact consoles that can emulate multiple systems, but may not be considered 'true' hardware compatibility.
  • The Wii's sensor bar is not actually a sensor, but rather a simple infrared light source that the Wiimote uses for positioning, and can be replaced with other infrared light sources.
  • Some commenters believe that the pursuit of smaller and more powerful consoles is not necessary, and that fun and engaging games can be created with less advanced hardware.
  • Others argue that the Switch's hardware is outdated and that more powerful consoles are needed to provide a superior gaming experience.
  • The use of 4K texture packs can improve the visual quality of games, but some commenters are unimpressed with the results and believe that simply rendering at higher resolutions is enough to improve the graphics.
  • Nintendo's approach to console design has shifted over the years, with some commenters noting that they used to prioritize performance but now focus more on innovative features and fun gameplay.
  • The creation of custom consoles like Kawaii highlights the importance of open-source projects and community-driven innovation in the world of console design and engineering.