Fantasy360 Console Shells in the Works (Part III)

Xtreme Enterprise posted Part3 of their series about their upcoming Fantasy360 Console Replacement Cases:

In Part II, we talked in detail about the overall shape of the 360 and how it did not support the inclusion of jewels, dualfan and cooling issues. We had some really good feedback on the second article such as the part about pouring water on the 360 shells to test the water pooling effect. Another excellent suggestion (if you did not want to take apart your 360) is to lay the 360 on its side, and roll a marble on it and you will find it settling down quite nicely in the center.

By now, we presume that everyone who owns a 360 will have completed its 3 month warranty and is familiar enough with 360 casemods that involve not only faceplate replacements, but also the full console case dismantling process. Various tools can be used, as long as it is slim and sharp enough to contact the clips that hold both the top/bottom vents as well as the rear of the console. Fortunately, the original 360 case is made from durable composite plastic that flexes without breaking when one attempts to snap open the console shells. The same cannot be said for aftermarket replacements (faceplate and console shells alike).

Casemodding on the original 360 case is easy enough once you get the hang of it. It is common for users to open up their cases more than once during the casemod process. What we don't like is the 360's tricky design which makes it difficult and sometimes frustrating to do just that. This is even more so when using copy cases of inferior quality that either does not fit correctly or snaps/breaks when a slight pressure is applied on it.

If you take a closer look at the interior structure of the screw-less console case, you will find that the rear clip-on points follows the curved shape of the console and becomes excessively difficult to enable a tight fit. This explains the multiple clip-on points created to ensure that both sides of the console case snap tight, a sore point for many casemod enthusiasts. Moreover, the RF cage does not follow the curvature of the rear, thus creating a space in-between that resists airflow, thus lowering the cooling effectiveness of the dualfans. As modders place a high premium on ease of dismantling/assembling, as well as space utilisation, we found that such a design did little to assist in those departments.

We have already talked about how removing the bottom cage will be impossible based on the present design of the stock console case. Is there a way the motherboard can be removed and attached to the console case direct, as was the case in the first Xbox? How would it affect the installation of the rest of the required components? Will the alignment of the rear end wire attachments and the front end faceplate/DVD drive be drastically affected? Will the top/bottom vents have any attachment problems? To put it simply, once all these issues have been solved, one can retain/remove the RF cage freely. Why do we harp so much on this? The answer lies in space.

Anyone who has taken apart the 360 will know that space is a luxury in that tight little box. Keeping all stock parts intact will mean little to no space being available for other add-ons like additional fans or lighting options. Hence the fury in the modding community to push for more space within the 360. We understand the constraints and as such, are working hard to get around the present stock console case and transform it into a mod-friendly console case that will give users all the possibilities for innovation.

The easiest way to release space is achieved by simply removing the RF cage cover. The second way is to remove the fans and heatsinks in exchange for a watercooling solution. All other solutions require some kind of drastic structural change with the stock case. The kind that requires a total redesign of the inner space usage while retaining its functionality and external look. Yes, after the Fantasy360 console facelift, your neighbors and friends will still know that the game console sitting in your living room is an Xbox360. A 360 that is more spacious, better ventilated and full of mod options.

Official-Site: http://www.e-linksoft.com and http://www.xbox-central.com