NES

It's time to pull that NES out of the box in the closet, dust it off, and put it back into commission! Have you been holding onto your system for the last ten years thinking, "Someday I'll find something to do with this!" Well today is that day!

Sure, I loved my Nintendo Entertainment System when I got it back in 1986. Heck! I still get a little emotional when I think of playing games on it. So the prospect of using it in my everyday life, for some of my everyday needs, was quite intriguing.

Since I'm not playing the games nearly as much anymore, I find I have extra components lying around my house that can be turned into tributes to that 8-Bit experience that makes me so nostalgic.

From MP3 Players to Computers, and wallets to home security systems, I hope you find something on this list that suits your goals. Now go, my fellow gamers, and create awesome!

Build a Nintendo NES PC by hatsuli

Nintendo Lunchbox by fluctifragus

USB NES controller with an arduino! by Prodigity

no sew Nes controller Wallet by zenilorac

NES Controller iPod Remote by Senator Penguin

NES ZAPPER!!! by Darkeru

How to Make a Portable Game System by 1up

NES Controller Cellphone by Neodudeman

Nintendo Portable by Darkeru

Nintendo Keyless Entry System by action_owl

Apple NesRemote by Agurri

NES PAD LED's by Silas

Nintendo Controller MP3, Version 2.0 by ryan97128

NES Cartridge External Hard Drive by cr0ybot

NESblinky - Nintendo Controller Bike Flasher by engineerable

Nintendo Entertainment System Cartridge Clock by BeanGolem

NES Controller Belt Buckle w/ Sound FX! by LMO

69 comments	Add Comment

1-40 of 69

Mar 29, 2009. 11:12 AM8bitprodigy says:

my philosophy is don't mess with it if it isn't broken, because they don't make these anymore. and btw, they make reproduction nes controllers you can use here:
http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopexd.asp?id=785

Feb 15, 2011. 6:46 AM

skittlespider says:

Man, don't ever click on this link or you'll have a heart attack

Dec 27, 2011. 6:12 AMSteampunkManiac says:

while that was freaking awesome, what was the point of posting an XBox mod on an NES guide?

Dec 27, 2011. 7:04 AM

skittlespider says:

I posted it because the person I was responding to said "don't mess with it if it isn't broken, because they don't make these anymore".

I thought this was an awesome mod, but he used an Xbox and an old Star Wars toy. Both of which are no longer made.

Jun 9, 2010. 11:53 PMStickStoneBone says:

Ah... Yes.. Uh...Hmmmmmmm.... why are you on Instructables? Here we take vintage EXCELLENCE and turn it into pure AWESOME. Additionally: why would anyone want to order a replica NES controller for more than they can get an original on Ebay or 2nd hand store?

Sep 29, 2010. 8:00 PMmarkey1979 says:

GroovyPoet, you are awesome...... :)

I was thinking the same thing, but I have demolished a couple of totally cool things that I regret today. Like my Texas Instruments Ti99 personal computer that I got new in like '82.........

Jan 6, 2011. 4:25 PMrawknexstuff says:

I have 2 TI-99s, one off-white and one stainless steel and I LOVE THEM.

Oct 11, 2010. 7:40 PM

Schober says:

And i thought my TI-92 was cool! That thing is awesome! I hope that it was destroyed for a worthy cause.

Mar 21, 2010. 10:10 AMsqeeek says:

Hmmm... I bet if I stuck a computer with a few emulators behind my TV and plugged a couple of those into it, It'd be much like having an original NES :D

Then I could play all my PC games on a TV with an NES controller, too... ooh, i like this idea.

Sep 16, 2010. 4:30 PMshenzer says:

nes emulators take up performance so in my days of that it was slow and glitchy but there might be better emulators out now

Jun 5, 2010. 8:07 AMraja681 says:

i hve 5 neses does anyone hve one of the top loading ones?

Jan 22, 2012. 12:02 PMSteampunkManiac says:

I have a top-loading modern version called the Retro Entertainment System. It's made by Retro-Bit.

May 16, 2010. 11:45 AMdehlome says:

hey, i have a NES that is for sale, only thing ,missing is the two screws under the controller adapters, but that dosent even affect it, also have two games any one intersted?

Dec 27, 2011. 6:13 AMSteampunkManiac says:

how much are the games?

May 18, 2010. 5:56 AM

kcls says:

ME!!! How much are you selling it for?

Sep 27, 2010. 1:33 PMdehlome says:

how much are you willing to pay?

Nov 13, 2011. 12:34 PMSteampunkManiac says:

Someone needs to make an Instructable where they show you how to replace the outside of your NES with concrete.
"The StoneES"

Mar 13, 2009. 9:54 PMDoldrum says:

all amazingly cool projects.. .but am i the only one who could never bring themselves to tear into their beloved NES?

Oct 17, 2011. 11:50 AMMr. Thirty6 says:

No. I am with you (except maybe a controller conversion, in which case I would go buy another one).

Mar 18, 2010. 9:45 AMhellstudios says:

I took apart my bro's NES when I was about 11.

I regret it even today.

Mar 4, 2010. 3:51 PMdsv101 says:

i dont wan to tear my nes apart either, even though i have a really nice emulator on my laptop.

Feb 6, 2010. 8:36 AMthe_burrito_master says:

I totally agree with you if only I kept the 2 other NES's we had the first one we had dint have a reset button ,we enhereted my grandmas wen she moved in with us ,and then there after we bought one at a flee market. (still have that one)

Oct 27, 2009. 7:13 PMRide4jesus says:

You aren't alone. The NES is magic in a box. It may be a HUGE box, but it's powers are too great for me to mess with.

Oct 12, 2009. 10:52 PMzepsblackdog says:

i want to do several of these, but, like you said, it would break my heart. ive had my NES since i was 5. everything i have for it is original and it still works. but i think im going to try and find some controllers on ebay. i really wanna put my cell phone inside one. and possibly try it with my mp3 player.

Apr 8, 2009. 3:40 PMdeadman747 says:

no ur not i used to have a nes but when i got older it broke so i had to get rid of it im only 12 and i still use my N64 its like my favorite machine i OWN(hint hint) but i would never be able to kill one of my machines unless they were broken and nothing could fix them...or id put them in a display case

Oct 25, 2009. 4:31 PMandrewl232003 says:

yeah me too i could never destroy my n64

Apr 8, 2009. 3:44 PMdeadman747 says:

i also hve a wii(fun),ds(fun-ish), ps2(fun for certain games),N64(fun),computer(nocrap)(vista),psp(fun),busted sega and ps1(maybe i could use those...),gamecube(fun-ish),gameboy adv. sp(meh),and i cant think of the others...

Oct 1, 2009. 6:40 PMmatstermind says:

most of that (and more)

Feb 21, 2010. 9:43 PMlilwitteck says:

almost anything you could think of (and more)

Jun 27, 2009. 11:32 PMmg0930mg says:

sega what? gamegear, cd, nomad, genisis?

Jul 6, 2011. 2:19 PMcompaqxp123 says:

I own them all if it counts.

Sep 2, 2009. 1:40 AMCeiling cat says:

Saturn?

Mar 14, 2009. 12:59 AM

StumpChunkman (author) says:

If you're still using it, I fully agree. Sadly mine doesn't get played any more. With all the new games I have for newer systems, I just don't have time for those amazing 8-bit graphics. It's hard to tear into it, but when doing so makes for a permanent centrepiece to home decor, I find it more of a homage to my past and a kind of moment to how I got where I am.

Apr 9, 2009. 1:36 PMrabbitkillrun says:

sell it! there are people like me who, for some reason, don't own one, and want to, but there are fewer and fewer available, and the price keeps going up on ebay and such like... :(

Dec 27, 2011. 6:10 AMSteampunkManiac says:

I just got a modern version called the "Retro Entertainment System" for Christmas

I laugh when I put a game in, because the thing is the size of the cartridge it loads.

Aug 25, 2009. 4:12 PMcantrell8 says:

Look at thrift stores! I got a NES for less than $1 USD.

Mar 30, 2009. 9:11 AMwperry1 says:

10 years from now you'll miss it. I regretted for years having sold my NES to buy an SNES until I found a discarded NES recently. I don't play often but I love the nostalgia. It makes me feel 10 again!

Apr 9, 2009. 1:49 PMDoldrum says:

Yeah, I don't think anything could stand up to the classics! I still play Castlevania and Mega Man (I don't remember them being that hard! lol)

Apr 15, 2009. 7:23 AMbrewtendo says:

yeah, they seem harder now for some reason, probably because the characters that are still in games didnt have all these cool stuf back then, and were so used to those, that we think the clasics are harder then they used to be. and like in sonic the hedgehog(ahh, memories) where u have to restart each time u looze all ur lives(ugh! that boss killed me and now i have to do the whole game over again!)

Oct 9, 2011. 10:08 PM

Penolopy Bulnick says:

Another good craft about the NES Controller is this DS case.
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=127932.0

I didn't design it, but I made it for my little brother and I think it looks pretty cool.
There is also this one
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/01/needlepoint_nintendo_ds_case_m.html
That uses a more common plastic canvas size for those of you that might want to make it.

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