This NES Classic Inside of a Classic NES Is the Ultimate NES

Until the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985 (previously released in 1983 as the Famicom for the Japanese market), Nintendo was little more than just another arcade game design company. The NES not only made Nintendo a household name, it also nearly single-handedly revived the ailing home video game industry in the United States. As such, it was the first video game console that many of us ever owned. That means we’ve got a lot of nostalgia for the quirky old console, and Geeksmithing’s “The NES Project” is the perfect celebration of that nostalgia.

Geeksmithing’s YouTube video about this project is a work of art in its own right. It starts with a faux television commercial featuring The NES Project that looks exactly like the real Nintendo commercials from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Some clever splicing with an actual commercial helps sell the aesthetic. Fortunately The NES Project is more than just a satisfying video, because the console itself is also fantastic. It features real Nintendo hardware—no game emulation here—and has goodies like wireless controllers, battery-powered portability, and even a built-in projector. You could bring The NES Project into any bar in the country and it would be an instant hit.

Geeksmithing built this by shoving an NES Classic Edition inside of an original NES enclosure—don’t worry, that NES was no longer functional, and no consoles were harmed in the making of The NES Project. A custom battery pack was made from a handful of 18650 cells to provide power. A small pocket projector is mounted inside of the enclosure, and shines through a small opening that is normally covered by a removable trim piece. Wireless charging is provided by a coil integrated into the bottom of the enclosure. The controllers are generic wireless models designed to work with the NES Classic Edition. The NES Project even features a “High Definition Kickstand,” so you know the quality is top-notch.