Most original NES controllers remain forgotten relics, collecting dust in storage bins. Yet, their sturdy construction makes them ideal candidates for a modern revival. This innovative mod breathes new life into these classic shells by converting them into functional retro game consoles. The NES-style gamepad’s innards are replaced with a Wemos ESP32-S2 Mini development board, a 1.54-inch 240×240 TFT display, a MicroSD card module, a 500 mAh lithium-polymer battery, a charging board, a speaker, and a power switch. Externally, it retains its nostalgic NES appearance.
Designed by Logic Gate Labs, this conversion addresses spatial constraints by selecting the ESP32-S2 Mini for its perfect balance between size and processing capability. Unlike larger ESP32 models that offer more power but are too bulky, the S2 Mini fits comfortably within the controller’s confines while maintaining decent emulation performance.
Modifying NES Consoles: Surgical Precision in Design
To accommodate the new components, internal modifications were necessary. Plastic supports were removed, and new openings were drilled for the display, USB charging port, MicroSD slot, speaker, and power switch. This transformation requires a bare copper wire to creatively distribute the ground connection, minimizing individual wiring and allowing seamless closure of the controller.
Running on the Retro-Go emulator framework, compiled with ESP-IDF and CMake, this device supports an array of classic 8-bit systems. Impressively, it can also run Doom through PrBoom-Go from a Freedoom WAD file, achieving five to 15 frames per second depending on the scene.
Cost-Effective Nostalgia
The entire build cost hovers around $17 with common suppliers and dips to $8 when sourcing internationally. This price is notably cheaper than a typical modern game, offering a substantial cost benefit. Simply flip the power switch, choose a ROM from the MicroSD card, and the screen loads games previously requiring cumbersome setups.
What elevates this modification beyond mere novelty is its intuitive use of a familiar form factor. The tactile feedback of the D-pad and buttons remains unchanged, yet now, the signals are processed internally instead of being sent to an obsolete console.
With the Retro-Go framework being open source and the required parts readily available, this project is accessible to anyone with a penchant for retro gaming. Upgrading older NES hardware is made easy with controller shells, abundant in secondhand markets, making this modification viable without needing special tools or proprietary parts. The result is a personal arcade experience packed into a familiar piece of gaming history.
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Source: yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build the retro console?
The entire build cost hovers around $17 with common suppliers and dips to $8 when sourcing internationally.
What components are used in the NES controller mod?
The mod uses a Wemos ESP32-S2 Mini development board, a 1.54-inch 240×240 TFT display, a MicroSD card module, a 500 mAh lithium-polymer battery, a charging board, a speaker, and a power switch.
What emulator does the modified controller use?
The device runs on the Retro-Go emulator framework, compiled with ESP-IDF and CMake, supporting an array of classic 8-bit systems.