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Comment by Neywiny | Hacker News Reader

I'm thinking similarly. But you don't need GameCube controllers to use a wii. I think that's all the dock adds.

The discussion in the forum points out that the Kawaii doesn't come with any wireless capabilities (they're all trimmed off the board), so unless the console is docked, you seemingly can't control it at all. Perhaps you could come up with a separate controller connector that mates with the plugs on the console without the rest of the dock.

That's fair. So then yeah I guess the dock is needed. Considering it didn't look that big, if I bought one of these I'd probably want it integrated instead.

The point of this project is more about squeezing the Wii into the smallest possible footprint rather than making it convenient to use. If you wanted something similar with ports integrated though, check out the GC Nano (which despite looking like a Gamecube has Wii internals), or Short Stack.

GC Nano: https://bitbuilt.net/forums/index.php?threads/gc-nano-the-wo...

Short Stack: https://bitbuilt.net/forums/index.php?threads/short-stack-th...

I think if you could give the unit power, get a video signal out, and control it somehow, it would feel more complete. It's an amazing little device but if it really can't be used at all without the dock... does it count as the smallest?

As someone who is absolutely not part of that scene, I obviously don't get a say in that.

Because it works on its own, I consider the Short Stack the more impressive project.

Both are super exciting though. Maybe a few years down the line, we get some 2" LCDs integrated or something for truly portable play.

The "dock" could just be a 7" display, controllers, and a power input. Not fully wireless but certainly handheld. Could even give it a catchy name, like "Wii You".

You can't use the base unit by itself - according to the specs from the link, the dock has the actual power input and A/V output connectors.

Basically they cheated.

Dock with USB-C power input, x4 GCC controller ports, composite/component video output, & stereo audio output

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