Portable Wii consoles aren't a new thing – we've seen one that fits inside a coat, lest we forget – but few fan-made mods come as elegantly packaged as this one.
The PiiWii Pocket is the creation of YouTuber Shank Mods, and uses actual Wii internals rather than emulation. It comes with a suite of controls, internal cooling and a rechargeable battery that offers around 4 hours of play – you can even use your Wii Remote with it to play motion-based titles.
Given the size of the unit, the optical media drive has had to go, and the PiiWii instead boots games from a USB thumb drive. The project is the culmination of three years of work, and while it's a shame that we won't be seeing this thing turn up on Amazon in the near future, you have to admire this guy's craft.
It's not the first time he's modded a Wii, either – check out the Kill Mii below.
[source comicbook.com]
Comments (15)
Imagine being able to play the whole Wii U Virtual Console library on your Switch...
This is actually pretty close to how my idea for the Switch (or NX as it was known at the time) would have worked:
https://inceptionalnews.wordpress.com/2015/06/26/heres-the-gist-of-my-idea-for-nintendos-nx/
It would have even had the sensor bar built in just like the system above and let you use Wiimotes to play older Wii games properly.
It'd be great having a way to reliably play Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn. My modded 3DS can play all the GBA, DS, NES, and SNES ones, and I have the 3DS ones as well. I've tried emulating PoR and RD, but they just don't work very well for me (runs slow and no music). I'm a big Fire Emblem fan, and Ike is my main in Smash, yet I've never actually been able to play his games.
Where's Soulja Boy when you need him?
@Dr_Corndog Probably either in a courtroom or in jail. 😂
For those who want to play GameCube games on the go: get an Android phone (preferably one with a Snapdragon 835 or close), and you can emulate most GameCube and Wii games just fine. Then I recommend using something like the iPega 9087 as a controller.
And they called this soulja wiicube a cheap knockoff...
Now all we need is a portable n64
@rushiosan This was literally one of the things that had me most hyped for the Switch at launch and remains my biggest disappointment with the otherwise fabulous console. I bloodly love my Switch, I don't think more than 48 hours have gone by without my playing something on it since launch. I play almost daily.
But the fact that we're rolling into 2019 and what you suggested hasn't happened yet... it is my biggest let down with the console. Not only did I expect and hope for the entire library of VC titles from Wii U and 3DS to come to Switch, but I also expected the addition of Gamecube titles. I was and still am prepared to throw hundreds of dollars at Nintendo for them as the Switch is a dream come true to have all those games on a device like it!
Nice - but I wouldn't buy it.
He is very clever for creating them but I hate the analogue sliders. The altoids one looks particularly uncomfortable for playing games with those awkward buttons.
By the way, does anyone know which game is being played on the first video at 3:06? I'm guessing it's Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg.
@wazlon I think the Altoids one was mostly for bragging rights than for actual playability. Either way it is an impressive bit of modding.
I do wish that my Gamecube had never been stolen, so many good games on that console. But the Wii was no slouch either. My past few months have taught me that in the right hands, the Wii could really shine too.
@Darknyht Both Gamecube and Wii are awesome consoles. Wii did have a lot of unique gaming experiences too, Metroid Prime felt much better with motion controls.
Now if it could also play the Wii U games, I'd be very inclined to get myself one.
I want this so much.
I don't even want to know if it has Photo channel too: I already want it so much that I am really envious... :°(
I would give away my Switch anytime for something like this
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