Life After MayA: 2026

02 October 2026

Playstation

A big complaint I've had with previous console-like builds is that the Odroid H4 and Raspberry Pi 5 is the storage drive is at the very bottom of the build, so making updates or backups of the storage drive requires taking apart the entire console. The new Odroid H5 device has a storage slot at the top and that inspired me to design a new device based on the Playstation that had the opening CD tray lid. This would allow for access to the storage device through the opening lid, but as the RAM is still at the bottom of the board I also designed an opening at the bottom.

During fitting testing I found out that the H5 and H4 boards have the same bolt pattern, so the opening I designed at the bottom for the RAM card also allows for access to the storage card for the H4.

Getting the CD lid to push-button open and spring-lock shut I had to study the actual hardware and make several designs, but the end result turned out pretty decent for 3d printed PLA.

I've shared my build of the model on:

Maker World:

https://makerworld.com/en/models/3259063-playstation-1

Thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7408884

03 January 2026

BMO H4

Having physical media is one of the peak retro gaming experiences. Seeing your game boxes on the shelf and being able to look through game manuals with all of the fun art those have on them was a big part of the gaming experience that sadly no longer exists. Similarly the game disc or game cartridge being slotted into the console is almost completely gone now in the age of the downloadable games with no boxes and no manuals.

The last console models I made I felt that lacking and wanted to make something that was designed around having a cartridge experience, and after watching some Adventure Time I realized what I needed to do.