Modifying Nintendo Wiis Taught Me That Packing Takes Longer Than Doing The Work
FishBoink
I started with a used Nintendo Wii, and modifying consoles became a side hustle that helped pay for my hobbies.
The modding process became very fast after the first few times.
Starting with one used Wii
I’m FishBoink, and I modify Nintendo Wii consoles and resell them for profit. I was based in Scotland when I began, and I’ve been doing electronic hardware modifying for more than five years. It’s still a side hustle for me.
I got started as the pandemic was fading. I was working full time, but there never seemed to be enough money. That was my reason for trying this: I wanted some extra money alongside my job.
My first action was to go to the local Cash Converters and buy a used Nintendo Wii. My startup cost was under $100, and that Wii was the one I started with.
It only took me a few days to modify it and get it set up. Then a friend of mine wanted to buy it. That felt amazing. I’d bought a used console, worked through the process, and had someone who wanted it.
What I actually needed
One myth about this kind of work is that it requires soldering, dismantling things, or some deep hardware knowledge. That isn’t what my setup involved.
My tools were a used laptop, a powered external hard drive dock, and Wii Backup Manager. I also had a Raspberry Pi running Bluebomb, which helped me, but it wasn’t essential. It was an optional extra rather than something I needed to get started.
The beauty of this hustle was that the modifying process became very fast after the first few times. The first Wii took me a few days to modify and set up, but that wasn’t how long the process kept taking once I’d done it a few times.
My advice before buying any hardware is to watch a lot of YouTube videos covering the process. Get a feeling for what’s involved first. That’s where I’d tell someone to begin, rather than making the hardware purchase their first step.
The awkward part was shipping
The biggest time-consuming step tended to be preparing packages for shipping and going to the post office. The modifying itself became quick; getting everything packed and sent was the part that took more of my time.
Sourcing handy-sized cardboard boxes was a challenge. So was finding free packing materials to keep costs down. Those were some of the hardest parts for me, even though they had nothing to do with modifying the console.
One mistake I’d tell someone to avoid is selling a whole console bundle with all the cables and Wiimotes. They’re super awkward to pack and create an unnecessary hassle.
I’d rather sell the console plus the added hard drive or other storage. For me, that’s a better approach than including all the cables and controllers. Packing was already the time-consuming part, and the full bundles made it more awkward.
Keeping it as a side hustle
My income from this falls in the $100–$500 a month range. It has given me extra disposable income, which I’ve used to fund my hobbies and even treat myself.
That’s the difference it has made in my life. I started because money felt tight despite working full time, and the extra income gave me money for those things.
It remains a side hustle. Looking back, the modifying process wasn’t the biggest ongoing challenge. Once I’d done it a few times, it became fast. The boxes, packing materials, and trips to the post office were what took the time.