Downing's Basement

I wish I could say that it hasn’t been two years since this project was commissioned…I also wish I could say this wasn’t the second time the job was completed…but if I didn’t have too, this beauty would have never existed. Kinda funny how that works.

But that said, after two years since the original agreement and a total remake of the original failure, Project 15 has come to light in the most beautiful portable console I’ve ever made. But not only has this been a technical achievement for me in many respects, but I’m very proud of the video I’ve made to accompany it.

You don’t have to scroll down very far in past posts to see what prompted this rebuild but at this point I can honestly say I’m glad it happened!

But being able to use the Form 3 in a way to really bring custom ideas through has been a huge asset to the basement and fine details like this even 5 years ago was not possible. I mean the D-Pad is even 3D printed and just looking at it you’d really think that it came out of a stock controller. But since it doesn’t, it means that it all just fits perfect to the design which has lead to the huge reliability improvements of modern portables.

And on the subject of reliability, low volume FFC PCB’s have become available through services like OSH Park which have allowed some very time and space saving options that do wonders for the assembly.

All in all this is without a doubt my best portable console I’ve made to date as far as N64’s go, though I’d say that it’s probably pretty close to the best I’ve done ever overall.

I’ve still got one more commission to finish off that was started about the same time this one was, but after that is complete, I’ll be done with taking commissions for awhile. These two have been in the works for nearly 2 years and that’s just not fair to my clients regardless of how patient they are. I’ll still be building and making but it’ll only be as a hobby. Now that the “Stay-at-home” orders are lifting, I’ll be going back to a regular work schedule soon which is really the only reason I’ve been able to put the kind of time into this project and the video.

But that said, I hope you enjoy the video as it’s been the biggest effort I’ve ever put into one and I very much wish everyone to stay safe and sane through this cluster F we call reality right now. Maybe this will take your mind off it for a few minutes anyway!

Take care!