The PlayStation 2 is a great console, but has one annoying flaw: it is not portable. So a YouTuber, IngwerOfOz, decided to fix this blatant design deficit, creating a handsome handheld console he called the PS2 Eclipse.
Yesterday Ginger uploaded a video presentation all the work that went into making a portable PS2. As he emphasizes several times, he is by no means the first to “portabilize” a PS2. In fact, some of the ideas that were used to make the Eclipse came straight from the likes of GmanModz
For example, to build the smallest portable device possible, Ginger had to cut up the PS2 motherboard so it could fit into a smaller 3D-printed case. And in 2017, GmanModz figured out the best way to disassemble a PS2 motherboard without destroying it.
With this smaller motherboard and some additional custom parts attached to it, Ginger was able to tie it all together in one surprisingly clean looking handheld package. The PS2 Eclipse looks almost like a nicely made copy of an official product that I would buy from Sony. (Also Sony: Make a portable PS2, please.)
Since it contains real PS2 hardware, the Eclipse does not emulate games. As a result, games run at full speed like on one real PS2 console. (However, some games will not work with this particular setup due to a problem with the controller parts inside the device.)
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Continue reading: What is your favorite portable game console?
The only major downside to this homebrew console is the use of USB to charge games. To keep the console small, Ginger, like most other console modders, opted for solid-state USB storage ra ther than keeping the PS2’s typical DVD drive. An optical drive would have consumed a lot of space and battery power, resulting in a bulky, battery-guzzling monster. But relying on USB also brings problems, as the PS2 only supports the slow, outdated USB 1.1. Default. So some games like Grand Theft Auto III
For those who are wondering, the Eclipse can be used forr about two and a half hours on a single charge. Not incredible, but not bad for something put together by a person at home with hacked together old parts and homebrew technology.
Unfortunately, this thing can’t be bought for as Ginger decided to stop taking portable commissions after the process began to leave him tired and exhausted. It’s not surprising to hear that he wants a break, as he has developed exactly 50 different portable console mods over the past two years. However, if you’d like to try making one yourself, Ginger has several links to get exactly the information you need. Much luck.
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