MVSp: The handheld MVS <ACTION SHOTS NOW ADDED ON PAGE 3>

That's right, kids!

Some of you may remember me harping on about controller port voltages and other such tomfoolery a while back.
This is the custom job I was talking about.

A handheld MVS








And it's guts:






Though the concept, funding and a very limited ammount of design are mine, the true credit for this wonderful creation goes to Benjamin J Heckendorn.

Ben has made many a handheld from normal games consoles over the years.

I was checking out his site (www.benheck.com) about 5 or 6 months ago when the idea for a handheld MV-1C hit me.

I contacted Ben with some rough ideas.
A month, a couple of shit drawings (by me ), a trip to the Neo store (motherboard) and some money transfers later, and things started moving nicely.

The system is now complete.

The system is an MV-1C.
UniBIOS 2.1 installed (www.universebios.com)
5" TFT screen.
Stereo speakers (yes, real stereo. www.benheck.com/Games/Game Downloads.htm)
Removable Backup RAM battery.
System is powered by a Sony Infolithium 7.2v battery or a mains power adaptor.

2 Neo joystick or pad ports and an RGB and Stereo SCART output (just like my consolized 6F) mean this unit can be used as a full scale console.


It was completed a couple of days ago but we still haven't sorted out shipping so it's still with Ben.
The wait is killing me.

When it is in my clammy hands, I'll take some more pics (without turf masters)

That fucking rocks. Especially the 70s-porno-ish color aesthetic. Any idea how comfortable it is to actually play for an extended period?

Wow. That's just.... Awesome

OMG, I had to pick up my jaw from the floor.... INCREDIBLE!!

Fuck.

I can't believe how thin he managed to get it.

Holy shit, Ben has done some pretty nuts stuff but I think this tops it all.

Damn... Its way cooooool But at the same time not-so-handy. Anyway... Wish i had one.

you HAVE to tell us....how much? $$$ even a ballpark figure of what you spent. So curious. Very awesome!

edit: did he test battery life on it yet?

fucking impressive. the only tiny thing that i don't like all that much is the purple case. otherwise it's just sick.

supergoose79 said:

fucking impressive. the only tiny thing that i don't like all that much is the purple case. otherwise it's just sick.

Click to expand...

Thanks, goose.

Indeed, we intended the case to be the 2 tone red of an MVS cab.
It did turn out a little purple, but I'm not bothered.

pixeljunkie said:

you HAVE to tell us....how much? $$$ even a ballpark figure of what you spent. So curious. Very awesome!

edit: did he test battery life on it yet?

Click to expand...

It cost..... a lot

I don't think it's had a full-on battery test but I would guess it will be just over an hour.

But, hey! You can complete any Neo game in less than that!
(and it has a mains power jack)

Juggernaut said:

Damn... Its way cooooool But at the same time not-so-handy. Anyway... Wish i had one.

Click to expand...

Thanks, mate. But at the same time, not so thanks.

Try carrying your MVS cabinet with you on the train or in a car.
I think you shall then appreciate the MVSp.


Seriously though. I'm glad you like it.

broken said:

Fuck.

I can't believe how thin he managed to get it.

Click to expand...

Indeed!

It is only 1" thick.

jro said:

That fucking rocks. Especially the 70s-porno-ish color aesthetic. Any idea how comfortable it is to actually play for an extended period?

Click to expand...

Hi, jro.

I'll be able to tell you about that when it actually arrives!
<Please be quick, Fed Ex!>

Very very impressive work by Ben. I have a couple questions that maybe you can answer?

Which RGB amplification did he use? He has a method where he shorts a single resistor on the back, but I found it didn't do much good. MVS is pretty dim otherwise.

How well does the cart stay in the unit? It's very heavy to leave with no support in the back like that.

I'm dying to know what battery life is. That Sony pack on there has very small capacity, though you can readily buy bigger ones. He has a nice LED mod for those screens to really reduce power consumption too.

That brings to mind another question. What did he do to step down the 7.2V in for the Neo board?

Very sweet work.

Thats as cool as it gets!

D-Lite said:

Very very impressive work by Ben. I have a couple questions that maybe you can answer?

Which RGB amplification did he use? He has a method where he shorts a single resistor on the back, but I found it didn't do much good. MVS is pretty dim otherwise.

How well does the cart stay in the unit? It's very heavy to leave with no support in the back like that.

I'm dying to know what battery life is. That Sony pack on there has very small capacity, though you can readily buy bigger ones. He has a nice LED mod for those screens to really reduce power consumption too.

That brings to mind another question. What did he do to step down the 7.2V in for the Neo board?

Very sweet work.

Click to expand...

Hi D-Lite.

I don't think any RGB amplification is present or needed.
It wasn't needed for my 6F or my previous MV-1C.
Perhaps you've been cursed with 'dim' MVS boards.

The cart will be fine as long as the system isn't jolted around too violently.

The screen is LED modded. As I previously said, the system hasn't been given a proper battery 'road test' yet, we're just guessing from milliamp draw and battery capacity.

2 switching power regulators were used: One to step up to 12v and one to step down to 5v.


And thanks. Glad you approve. (can't wait for a bit of WW7 on it)

neogeocollector said:

Thats as cool as it gets!

Click to expand...

Thanks, pal.

Just some questions:

1. Why not try to use a NGPC stick for the controls?
2. Would it be possible to run the MV1-C with sound with only 5V, like some other MVS boards?
3. Did you consider using a MV1B? I think it is around the same size, and that would be better to use horizontally-inserted carts as they would be parallel to the screen.

Cheers

looks like the cart itself is bigger and heavier than the system

Gummy Bear said:

I don't think any RGB amplification is present or needed.
It wasn't needed for my 6F or my previous MV-1C.
Perhaps you've been cursed with 'dim' MVS boards.

Click to expand...

I think the 1C is probably fine. I found it worked well for the PSOne screen consistently. But 1FZ boards seldom gave good output. 2F boards haven't been a problem either, but the issue is the screen, not a TV/monitor. I've found the PSOne screen is quite dim with PC Engine/Turbo Grafx as well.

Really looking forward to true use test results from you!

Amano Jacu said:

Just some questions:

1. Why not try to use a NGPC stick for the controls?
2. Would it be possible to run the MV1-C with sound with only 5V, like some other MVS boards?
3. Did you consider using a MV1B? I think it is around the same size, and that would be better to use horizontally-inserted carts as they would be parallel to the screen.

Cheers

Click to expand...

1. Didn't want to. I considered it and I considered the Neo CD pad but decided against them both. Too complex, too many switches. Too much to go wrong. Too much friction of multiple plastic parts leading to plastic dust buildup and eventual switch failure. Too much BAD!
We went nice and simple. The buttons and d-pad are from a Super Famicom controller.

2. Possibly. Not really an issue though as the system runs fine with the regulators.

3. I did consider the 1B. Again, decided against it. The case would have to be more complex and it would be a great deal thicker.
Also, with the current configuration, the system can be sat on it's bottom edge (and joypad plugs, Ben ) and the edge of the cart with 2 pads plugged in: 'Coffee table mode' The system sits at roughly 45degrees and two people can play without the system being held by anyone.

Nice!

Celes said:

looks like the cart itself is bigger and heavier than the system

Click to expand...

The cart is definately thicker.

Don't know about the weight though.

Cool stuff

Gummy Bear said:

The system sits at roughly 45degrees and two people can play without the system being held by anyone.

Click to expand...

Seems like a perfect plan, but one problem with that is the joystick ports are on that bottom edge. You wouldn't be able to plug them in and have it rest on the bottom edge unfortunately. One other thing I worry about there is strain on the cart slot with the weight on it at an angle.

Not saying anything here to detract from the awesome setup, just noting that I'd be careful playing it without more support or you may damage it!