New Life Games Tech Forums

WOOHOO!

The first gaming console mod kit has just hit my website for sale! It has taken a few months from start to finish but is now DONE.

It's a composite video and audio kit for an old Colecovision game console. Instead of trying to hook it up using RF cables you can now hook it up using composite video. In other words, you can use it with your current A/V gear!

This whole process was time consuming:

• Build a prototype and install it
• Create a PC board
• Have the PC board made
• Assemble the board and take LOTS of pictures while installing it
• Create documentation
• Get feedback from some console gaming forum members
• Incorporate changes based on feedback
• Order all the components to make the kits
• Package the kits
• Convert documentation to .pdf and upload it
• Add the kit to the website

I've learned A LOT through this process. I downloaded the EAGLE software to do the PC Board. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get the hang of it. Create the schematic, use the schematic to do the board layout, upload it to the PC board maker, pay them, and wait.

The hard part was finding my PC boards as FedEx delivered them to the wrong house!

I used http://www.batchpcb.com for the boards. They do custom boards at $2.50 per square inch. I designed this board to be 1 square inch. ;) It took a bit but I got the layout done.

If anyone wants more details on this whole process just let me know and I'd be happy to share what I've learned.

Raymond