Introduction: NES Game PDA
This project will show you how to take an old NES game and turn it into a useful, and "gamingly stylish" awesome PDA. This is definitely the thing you want to be able to pull out when your friends are showing off their PDA's.
Step 1: Supplies
You need an old NES game that you don't want to play anymore. I used JAWS. You also need a PDA. I used a Sharp YOP20. I strongly recommend it because of it's size, shape and price. I got mine a few years ago for about $20. You also need a screwdriver, electrical tape, glue and a Dremel Tool or some sort of hobby plastic cutting tool.
Step 2: Prepare the Parts
First, you open the PDA and take out the motherboard with the screen attached. Make sure you have all of the buttons necesary to use the PDA. Next, take apart the game case. Remove the guts. Now, place the PDA motherboard with screen in the area you would like it to be inside the game case. Cut out any extra pieces of plastic so that the PDA fits flat inside the game case.
Step 3: Cutting the Case
Next, measure the PDA screen and trace the area onto the inside of the front of the game case. Then, cut out the traced area. Next, measure where the on/off button and any extra buttons you would like should be placed and trace them onto the case. Then, cut them out too.
Step 4: Putting It All Together
Now, put the buttons, screen and motherboard in place. Make sure they line up with the holes that you cut. Glue the edges of the motherboard and screen in place. Next, the part that took me awhile to figure out how to do...getting the battery in. It looks kind of messy, but all I did was tape the battery into place using electrical tape.
Step 5: Finished
Put the back of the game case in place and screw it all together. Press the "On" button, enter your contacts and appointments and amaze your friends with your totally cool, NES Game PDA.
22 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
Yeah I know I'm 8 years late to the party here; was just looking at a page somewhere else showing fun things to do with old NES stuff and led me here. This thing is so ghetto even for it's time. I love how you put the screen on the front ruining the whole premise of it being a NES game cart. Should have put the screen on the back. That way when you're using it people are looking at you like "WTF, why is he staring at the back of that JAWS NES cart?!"
Could have at least cut the lines straight man.
14 years ago on Introduction
hm, that sharp is an exact clone of thr Royal extreme series
16 years ago
Good choice of games to cut up... well all know that JAWS was about the worst NES game EVER!
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
ET was bad too, from what i've heard
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
In fact it was the worst game ever
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
nope, back to the future was worse
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I'd be willing to say Dr.Jekyl and Mr Hyde was the worst
16 years ago
why would you want this? all this would do is make a pda look like crap
Reply 16 years ago
NON-CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENT ALERT! You would want this because its geeky, duh. I can see YOU aren't a hardcore nerd, or you would see that taking two obsolete electronic devices and sticking them back together is cool.
Reply 16 years ago
Taking apart two obsolete electronic devices is dumb sometimes, but is always cool!
Reply 16 years ago
Never dumb. The obsolete-ness makes it easier because no one cares if something breaks when you dismantle it.
Reply 16 years ago
So true, so many people just don't understand..
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
yep
Reply 16 years ago
the nes cartridge only looks good as something standing on a table top... make an alarm clock or digital photo frame with it
15 years ago on Introduction
I'm considering doing this to an old Clie` I broke (within an hour I accidentally cracked the screen while running down the road -.- oh well.) Is there any other cartridges or cases this would work with?
15 years ago on Step 5
Looks cheesy but its alright!
15 years ago on Introduction
Ooh, I just got an idea! I could put my old Kyrocera PDA cell phone into an NES controller and have a PDA in a controller! It's a touch screen w/ Palm OS, so I won't need the keyboard/case for the phone! MAN, like I really need to give myself more ideas to make things!!
16 years ago on Introduction
Even Better, get one of those uber-pirate nes knockoffs and wire in a palm III to dock in it. Remove the nes bits, solder wires from the cartridge slot to a palm dock, then repeat that in the cartridge itself.
16 years ago on Introduction
I read it, and I didnt understand it. Could somebody please just clarify? Is it a case with the PDA guts inside???
16 years ago
i always agree that taking two pieces of "historical junk" and making one piece of "non historical crap" is always better than not doing it.. i think this PARTICULAR instructable could be made better by A: mounting the PDA screen so that it shows on the BACK of the NES cartridge..that way you preserve the "crappieness" of the NES game label...after all that's why you're doing it B: cutting a straight line couldn't hurt