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The Art of Miniaturizing Retro Technology
Modders have long been fascinated with the challenge of miniaturizing retro tech. One of the standout examples of this growing niche is the “Short Stack,” a remarkable recreation of the Nintendo Wii in a compact scale.
Unveiling the Short Stack
The brainchild of James Smith, known as loopj in the modding community, the Short Stack is a marvel of engineering. It houses the internal hardware of the 2006 Nintendo Wii within a 3D-printed enclosure similar in size to a deck of playing cards.
Technical Insights into the Short Stack
The essence of the Short Stack is in utilizing a scaled-down version of the original Wii’s PCB. By strategically placing and altering the console’s CPU, GPU, RAM, and NAND flash chip, Smith managed to preserve the core functionality of the Wii in a drastically reduced form factor.
In addition to these modifications, the Short Stack features custom-designed PCBs to house components like power delivery, USB, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, and GameCube controller ports. Notably, Smith incorporated HDMI output and a microSD card slot for enhanced connectivity and convenience.
Innovative Features of the Short Stack
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The Short Stack cleverly conceals its GameCube controller ports behind a sliding panel, optimizing space utilization.
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A headphone jack-to-GameCube dongle extends GameCube controller compatibility while saving internal space within the console.
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The truncated Wii PCB contains vital components such as the CPU, GPU, RAM, and NAND flash, ensuring operational integrity.
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Comparing the Short Stack to a regular deck of playing cards highlights its compact and efficient design.
Challenges and Solutions
Despite the impressive miniaturization achieved with the Short Stack, sacrifices had to be made. The absence of a disc drive necessitates game loading from a microSD card, while the headphone jacks replace traditional GameCube controller ports requiring adapter dongles for compatibility.
To address these challenges, Smith meticulously designed front and rear PCBs to manage features like the power button and the decorative blue light surrounding the (non-functional) DVD slot. Furthermore, a custom heatsink paired with a small fan ensures optimal thermal management.
Comparison with Official Alternatives
While Nintendo introduced the Wii Mini in 2012 as a compact iteration of the original Wii, it lacked several key features such as online connectivity, GameCube controller compatibility, and an SD card slot. In contrast, the Short Stack maintains the essence of the Wii while enhancing its form factor.
Future Prospects
Smith speculates that the Short Stack could be further reduced by 20 to 30 percent without compromising its functionality. However, the primary objective behind the project was to create a faithful scale model of the original Wii. Thus, any significant size reduction might pose intricate assembly challenges.
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