The legendary Nintendo PlayStation console was never released. A single prototype is worth a lot of money today. Its unique design inspired a YouTuber to build his own version of the game console.
33 years ago, Nintendo and Sony presented a joint game console. The Nintendo PlayStation was never sold and was scrapped before its release. This simultaneously marked the launch of Sony’s own game consoles.
At least one prototype of the hybrid console from that time still exists and was auctioned for a high sum in 2020. This piece of video game history was recently taken as a model by a YouTuber for his own version of this unique game console.
YouTuber recreates a piece of video game history
What kind of game console is this? YouTuber James demonstrates the construction of his own Nintendo PlayStation console in a video. He creates a new game console step by step from parts of a PlayStation and the Super Nintendo (known as Super Famicom in Japan).
The interior consists of the electronic components from the PlayStation, while the outer appearance is shaped by the case of the SNES (Super Nintendo). Throughout the video, viewers witness several successful test runs of his creation.
What were his first steps? Initially, James had to repair a capacitor on a PS1 circuit board to get the game console to start again. Since his unit was missing the disc drive for the game discs, he also had to use a different laser. Alternatively, he could have used the laser from a special PS1 if he had had access to one.
Once he verified that the electronics of the PS1 were functioning again, he could begin the modification. However, the YouTuber quickly realized that he could not install the mainboard and other components without significant adjustments.
What modifications were necessary? Since the dimensions of the SNES case were not large enough for Sony’s hardware, James had to make some changes to the case and the electronics. A grinder was used to modify both the case and the electronics.
After the YouTuber had trimmed some of the components to a suitable size, they had to be rearranged and resoldered. Wires, connectors (for example, for the PS controllers), and switches were also made “compatible” with each other.
Suitable tools and a console model as inspiration
What tools were used? In addition to the aforementioned grinder, a soldering iron, a pair of pliers for heavy work, and a hot glue gun were used. With the latter, he fixed all the components that he had already placed in the SNES case at that time.
After some technical issues and resulting additional work with the soldering iron, he was able to successfully test the modified hardware. James now faced the difficult task of combining the disc drive with the cartridge slot of the Nintendo games.
How did he proceed with the disc drive? The initial tests with the new laser caused scratched discs in a horizontal position. Therefore, the disc drive had to be installed vertically. The deep cartridge slot in the SNES case was perfect for this.
James secured the laser with hot glue above the cartridge slot on the top of the case. This way, a game disc would partially “disappear” into the slot when inserted. After a final use of the soldering iron, thankfully, the connected controller also worked.
Where did his idea for the hybrid console come from? At CES 1991, Sony and Nintendo introduced their joint game console. The SNES (Super Nintendo) with a cartridge slot was intended to be expanded with a CD-ROM drive. The name for the expansion was PlayStation at the time.
A legal dispute over contractual matters ended the project before its release. Nintendo then worked with Philips on a CD console. Meanwhile, Sony began developing its own PlayStation, which was now almost 30 years ago.
After the project ended, all prototypes of the Nintendo PlayStation were to be destroyed. A single unit escaped destruction and was later rediscovered by chance. In 2020, this piece of video game history changed hands in an auction for 274,000 euros. For that amount, one could also buy well over 100 PS5s, which are currently very popular among thieves.
With the certainty that the final result of his newly created game console worked flawlessly, the YouTuber secured the top and bottom of his own Nintendo PlayStation with a large amount of hot glue. A significantly lesser amount of glue was used by another maker for his own console creation, who ultimately preferred using zip ties: Makers invest 1,500 euros and months of their lives to create the strongest Xbox in the world – They want to sell it now
