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Because he can: User converts a Wii to the size of a deck of playing cards

19.4.2024

Translation: machine translated

Why go big when you can go small? On Github, user loopj presents his Wii, which he has minimised to a fraction of its original size. And it should work.

Hobbies don't necessarily have to be useful. The "Short Stack" project by Github user loopj also falls into this category. loopj has modified a Nintendo Wii console and shrunk it to a size of less than ten per cent of the original. To do this, he made two new circuit boards himself. loopj claims that his "Short Stack" is, to his knowledge, the smallest functioning Wii in the world.

However, he doesn't know for sure whether this is true. His project is not the only one to miniaturise a Wii. There is already a Wii with an integrated screen in a tin can of sweets as well as a very small Wii in its original form. Given the size of a pack of playing cards, however, it is conceivable that the "Short Stack" is actually the smallest in the world. loopj states that it would fit 13.5 times into an original Wii. He presented the result of his project on Github on Thursday.

Features of the shrunken Wii

Although the housing differs from the shape of the original, the front is modelled on it: There are buttons for switching on, resetting and synchronising as well as a green status LED. The blue illuminated disc slot is also included. However, the original Wii data carriers cannot be used because they are too large. loopj has instead installed a microSD slot that can be used to load games.

Rendered size comparison between the original and shrink Wii
Source: loopj, Github

The Wii from loopj is equipped with an HDMI connection, Bluetooth and connections for four GameCube controllers. The controller connections are designed as 3.5 millimetre sockets, so adapters are required to use the controllers. The device is powered via USB-C.

How do you get the hardware so small?

The original circuit board is far too large for such a project. loopj cut it down to 62 × 62 millimetres and inserted other circuit board fragments into corresponding cut-outs like a jigsaw puzzle. He made some of these himself. For example, a tiny circuit board on which the USB, GameCube and Bluetooth connections are combined. loopj also considered the cooling of the console and made an aluminium heat sink, which is cooled by a 20 × 20 × 8 millimetre fan. The housing and buttons were designed by loopj on the computer and created using a 3D printer.

On Github, loopj describes exactly how you can rebuild his "Short Stack". However, you need more than a pair of scissors and a 3D printer for such a conversion: it would not be possible without in-depth hardware knowledge and the appropriate tools.
Theoretically, according to loopj, the Wii could be reduced in size by a further 25 to 30 per cent - but that would be quite difficult. <p

Header image: loopj/Github

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Debora Pape

Editor

Debora.Pape@galaxus.de

Feels just as comfortable in front of a gaming PC as she does in a hammock in the garden. Likes the Roman Empire, container ships and science fiction books. Focuses mostly on unearthing news stories about IT and smart products.

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