This cute mod turns the Sony PSP into a PlayStation 2

Why it matters: Search for PSPs on any second-hand marketplace and you'll find scores with broken screens, but maybe those owners wouldn't let go of such a treasured artifact if they knew about the "PS Placeable." This clever new mod gives those old units an awesome second life as a cute, pint-sized retro gaming console.

The PS Placeable is the brainchild of Retro Mod Works. Essentially, they've taken the guts from a PSP-2000 or PSP-3000 model and transplanted them into a miniature recreation of the classic PlayStation 2 design. Images on the site also show the shell in several colors, including red, blue, white, and silver.

The result is an adorably tiny console that can play all your old PSP games on a TV using the system's original UMD discs. You can even connect a wireless DualShock 4 controller just like you would with a regular PlayStation.

Of course, PSP fans have been able to get their favorite games on TV, PC, and mobile for years through workarounds like emulation. But the PS Placeable is unique in that it provides a true console experience while still taking advantage of the original hardware and game discs.

Perhaps that's why the mod has been a huge hit so far – the site shows it's already out of stock. The creator says they've received over a hundred orders in just 24 hours. That's impressive considering the console doesn't exactly come cheap at $274.99.

Alternatively, you can supply your own PSP and pay $175 for Retro Mod Works via a "custom order" to do the conversion. Or for the ultimate cost savings, you can buy just the components for under $100 and handle the intricate modding process yourself using their instructions.

All said, the PS Placeable is pretty ingenious when you think about it. There are countless old PSPs out there with broken screens or other issues that render them unplayable. This gives them a new purpose.

The PS Placeable isn't a perfect solution, though. You still have to deal with PSP games not being optimized for TV resolutions. Pairing wireless controllers also requires using a separate web app. Still, for retro gamers who have been holding onto their PSP collections, it's undoubtedly a cool way to re-experience those classic games in a whole new way.