NES Controller Cellphone Mod
Relive the glory days with this NES Controller that has been modified into a cellphone. Everything is original - the buttons and casing. This modification uses a Nokia 3200 radio and electronics because it's so easy to get the casing off and get to the good stuff. This is probably the only phone I'd ever wear on one of those nerdy hip-holsters.
Read on for instructions on making your own NES Controller phone.
Last night I was contemplating other strange form-factors to use as cellphone handsets. We've already tackled wired retro handsets as well as bluetooth handsets, so I wanted to do something a bit different. It struck me that a Nintendo controller would make the ultimate handset.
As the night went on and the idea evolved, I thought to myself; "Self, why not make the controller into the actual phone?" Self thought this was a great idea and we set to work. My first idea was to use an actual GSM radio and build the other electronics and antenna. I ditched the idea when I remembered my old Nokia 3200 which I had sitting around.
The Nokia 3200 was advertised as the "American Idol" phone or some such nonsense. Because it has interchangeable face plates, the case was removable. In addition, each button actually has two digits on it, so there are half as many buttons as normal. These two facts make this the perfect phone for modifying - easy to get to electronics, and less buttons = less cutting.
I first grabbed the current faceplate out of my phone and used it as a stencil to guide my cuts. I would need to cut out the screen and each of the buttons (9 total). I put a lot of thought into where to put the phone - the orientation, and everything. The screen is opposite of the A and B buttons on the controller because that is the side that says "Nintendo" on it. I wanted that to be the visible part when I was making a call.
Also left out is a hole for the power button and a way to charge the phone. These would also be simple modifications but I will leave them for version 2.0.
So after tracing my buttons it was time to open up the controller. Everything was removed. All the mounts and female screw ports and everything were twisted off with a pair of pliers. For a few of them I had to use a dremel to get it completely flat. The idea here is that you want as much space inside the controller as possible to accept our fat phone without noticeable bulge.
Once this was accomplished I set to work with the dremel on the cuts for the buttons and screens. I drilled holes in each of the areas to be removed and worked with a sanding dremel tip to sand all the way to the edge of where I had marked. If you try this, remember the friction will produce molten plastic. Wear safety goggles if you value your eyes, and make small cuts to avoid burning the plastic and turning it black.
There was a little trial and error in getting the buttons exactly right, but after a second round of dremeling everything fits pretty good. The one complaint I had is that the top right button hits one of the controller's original screw holes, making it look like I did a worse job than I did. Also, the controller I used was actually cracked in the back which didn't help the overall looks, either.
Now for the moment of truth. I fitted the phone into the controller. The side tabs were left in the controller and actually help the phone fit tightly into place. Also, a but of plastic around the directional pad was left to form a little housing for the phone so it can't slide down in the controller.
Blast! My estimations on the thickness of the phone were a bit off. Turns out the phone is too thick for this project by maybe 0.5cm. No matter though, this is version 1.0 and will still get the desired reaction if we close the gap with a little electrical tape.
The buttons were a special challenge. Each button has to be dremeled down so it fits flush inside the controller case. This involves cutting the red buttons off at the tab, and cutting the entire back off the directional buttons (the biggest pain of the whole project). I used a dremel here as well.
The select and start buttons were easy, and I simply cut them into the shape I needed with a pair of scissors. The buttons can the be glued or taped into place. Just make sure they do not intrude into the inside space of the controller.
The last step is drilling a hole for the microphone and speaker. This is important how it is done. Both are designed to have sort of a funnel over them to direct the sound. I did it perfectly on the microphone but the earpiece needs some work - a lot of noise escapes and the caller sounds far away.
Again, the faceplate can be used to mark the hole for the speaker, but you'll have to eyeball the hole for the microphone. Once you get this done you can assemble the whole phone and you're ready to go. Don't forget to put your sim card in the new phone or you'll end up having to tape up the phone twice.
Here is a video of the final product.
RSS Feed
also did you cut the red
also did you cut the red buttons in half? and what did you glue them to the phone its self?
Hey i am about 90% through
Hey i am about 90% through doing this to my blackberry and just wondering if you could help me out i was wondering how you shaved down the directional buttons? ive started to attempt this but it seems to be taking forever with the dremel and not very accurate
Really very nice small
Really very nice small handset.
Thats a sweet little
Thats a sweet little handset, let me know when you start selling them and we will feature it ou our online shopping site!
dosent it get old sometimes?
dosent it get old sometimes? what about upgrades?
unlimited iPhone
unlimited iPhone downloads...
I am able to find some helpful information here to prepare some nice content. Any idea where can I find similar posts?...
Shitty NES. There are more
Shitty NES. There are more stylish controllers out there.
Shame the Nokia 3205i got
Shame the Nokia 3205i got discontinued, anyone know of any other phones that work?
french money [43] In the
french money
[43] In the secular domain the Palace of Versailles has many baroque features. In contrast, the four overseas regions used the French
french money There are
french money
There are approximately 478 airports in France, including landing fields. However, in practical terms, French law comprises three principal
THIS IS AWESOME I am
THIS IS AWESOME
I am definately going to make this, this is the best idea I have ever heard of and I hope that I can still get a nokia 3200 because they are quite old.
every one who does not find
every one who does not find this as amazing as us gamers, you need to look at something YOU like as for us we love old game systems and this cell phone mod out of an NES controller is the most amazing thing ive seen, im going to construct an NES wallet and cell phone to match my NES shirt and belt buckle.
Dude have you figured out
Dude have you figured out how to make the phone thinner? I have the exact same phone basically(3250i - it has a camera) and I really want to make this work :)
i made one of these 3 years
i made one of these 3 years ago ha ha ha i win you suck NERDWAR
GAY AS HELL!!!
GAY AS HELL!!!
g7ti
g7ti
TOTALLY TOTALLY cool
TOTALLY TOTALLY cool dude!
You've inspired me!
We manufacturer the products
We manufacturer the products of mobilephone accessories, like the holster, phone shields, leather case, silicone case, swivel belt clips, mobilephone metal stick, charger, bluetooth handsfree, memory card, etc.
If someone are interested in them, pls contact me asap. Our website is www.mbcwirelessproducts.com
MSN: blackhorse_522@hotmail.com
SKYPE: henry_mbc
TEL: 86-769-86248516-19
FAX: 86-7669-85840337
ADD: 12th Zhenlang Road, Caiwu 2nd Industry Zone, ChangAn Town, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
I just got back from vintage
I just got back from vintage stock... with my new (new?) NES controller...
to find out that my phone is to big...
*half hearted cry*
So you just stuck a phone
So you just stuck a phone into an empty NES controller. Too bad my phone isn't one piece that can just fit into an NES controller. I'll actually have to take apart my phone and rebuild it inside the NES controller.
I think it's an awesome idea
I think it's an awesome idea but everyone's going crazy about how the nes buttons do nothing. That would make no sense because they're on the different sides of the phone and there is no phone with buttons on two sides of it. Great idea, I like the ghetto tape too :) :)
ohhh!! nice phone and game
ohhh!! nice phone and game controller very nice good job :)
I have to say, this is
I have to say, this is genius! I'm trying to think up what I want to throw my phone into when I get one. I'd like to see someone come out with a DS that works as a Blackberry. That's be sweet. The black electrical tape looks sweet.
Looks like a fun project for
Looks like a fun project for my kids on a rainy weekend! Thank you!
no more digital camera for
no more digital camera for you... lol
Nice mod. Too bad that that cellphone really sucks... :/
meh... Sloppy as hell.
meh...
Sloppy as hell. Seriously, my 11 year old daughter builds better flower pots than this.
Though.... the idea of a NES cell is appealing.
@RonGiuntini "This case
@RonGiuntini
"This case does not seem interesting at all. What am I missing?"
A sense of humour.
OMG. I love this phone. Can
OMG. I love this phone. Can you like make me one.?
OMG. I
OMG. I
hand it over !!!! ^^
hand it over !!!! ^^
nice. i've always been a fan
nice. i've always been a fan of those old skool nintendos and this is pretty cool. nice job
try magic sculpt to fill in
try magic sculpt to fill in the gaps, it is a two part epoxy clay. works great for mods, can be used as an adhesive, and it dries HARD.
seriously cool I have a
seriously cool I have a question can you or anybody for that matter mod a cellphone screen into a P.C case please write me and let me know thank you for your time.
Morintari
Dear Madam or Sir, We are a
Dear Madam or Sir,
We are a manufacture which explode game accessories, computer peripheral. Our company provide:
Novel psp accessories(psp shell includes electroplate ,chrome and UV processing etc )
Novel xbox360 accessories(faceplate have electroplate golden,silver,copperized,chrome etc )
Varied computer mouse
Novel computer peripheral
Note:http://www.xhotsummer.com
MSN: baojinquan318@hotmail.com
TEL:(+86)755-29975439
29975773
FAX:(+86)755-81469127
ADD:shenzhen,China.
Hey, I did this mod using a
Hey,
I did this mod using a Nokia 3220 and it probably turned out a little better as the phone is slimmer so it fits in the original casing without the use of tape. The money part of it is I have it set up so that the camera goes through the hole for the B-button so it is still functional.
Thanks for the idea!
SO F-in PIMP I gotta go
SO F-in PIMP
I gotta go and make one now !
hi there mate where can i
hi there mate where can i get one of those i want one sale me one on ebay or summin plz reply :]
well nice idea ;-}goner make
well nice idea ;-}goner make me self one dude enjoy
Ron Giuntini == NUT
Ron Giuntini == NUT FUCKER.
You jackass Ron, you're a fucking tool! TOOL I SAY, TOOL.
I hope you get hit by a bus.
THIS CASE RULES!
For the next one, keep the
For the next one, keep the black tape. I don't know why, but it looks so much better that way.
the only nes button I agree
the only nes button I agree should do something is the start button which should turn on the phone. But I can understand if the outer casing is too full, btw this guy probably did it the exact way I would have done it, I wouldn't have been to good at doing something like making the start button turn it on though. I would also make a custom skin for the front so it doesn't look to ugly in the front.
the only nes button I agree
the only nes button I agree should do something is the start button which should turn on the phone. But I can understand if the outer casing is too full, btw this guy probably did it the exact way I would have done it, I wouldn't have been to good at doing something like making the start button turn it on though. I would also make a custom skin for the front so it doesn't look to ugly in the front.
hey. i really like this! i
hey. i really like this! i wanna do something like this to, but i got no nes controller :( do you know other cool objects?
please make a V2.0 :P
jonas
lol! awesome! how many does
lol! awesome! how many does a such cheap phone cost? i wanna make myself one to :P
This is the most ingenious
This is the most ingenious idea I've ever heard of.
Congrats on making this awesome phone. XD
Woo old school nintendo forever =)
can you translate your
can you translate your method in french? please!
yo sam i am gettin the one
yo sam i am gettin the one wih the camera any suggestions to still let the camera wrk???
Those who once played with a
Those who once played with a NES understand the emotional level of this projetc , great job man , i'm going to find a NES controller to try this mod.
it looks so sweet. I don't
it looks so sweet. I don't think that i can pull myself together to put even a sratch on my good-old NES or it's controllers
mi a f@sz ertelme van
mi a f@sz ertelme van ennek??????