DIY Gaming, Now is an amazing time for gamers.
DIY Gaming, Now is an amazing time for gamers.
Things like the above Arduboy are why it’s great to be a gamer right now. If you grew up with the retro games like I did, it’s all rose-tinted glasses and nostalgia for days. If not well I’m sorry you’ll have to wait till you’re older or buy the Old Aged DLC pack. There is hope though you can stop paying for broken, half-finished games and join us old timers for another round of Battletoads or FF7. Now you could buy the Oldschool games and systems which I would applaud you for but let’s face it guys like me bought all the good ones and worse than Smaug, so getting them will cost you. With that, I offer the hope and freedom of the DIY Consoles. Above is the Arduboy a credit card size gaming system. It’s an Arduino so it can do more than just play games. If you want a pocket gaming friend That won.t make you use micro transactions to enjoy its games, this is an excellent start and only 35$. Homebrew for days. This is less a DIY system and more a powerful DIY tool so that is why it’s up to bat first.
The Pocket Chip
Next up is the Pocket Chip another mostly finished solution at around 69$. I like this because it offers a lot of possibilities as well as being a game console and the LCD it comes with out of the box looks great. Overall a great buy for someone that wants to game right away and not have to do a lot to get going.
The Raspberry PI
Here is where the fun begins. The new model 3 Pi Is a powerhouse for the Retrogamer. Retropie is super easy to install and with just a couple minutes in the settings and your up and running. Install some Roms and play all the awesomeness while you wait for the next patch that will finally fix the bugs in the last batman game. I didn’t post any builds for the other options. Both of them have some Communities but Arduino is more about building gadgets than games but I will come back to that. Chip is still young so going can be slow. Now the PI has a huge following in the retro scene. I have built a few different retro systems. I hope you will look around and see what they can do but for the rest of the article, we will focus on Retro gaming with the pi and the things it has helped come to market.
The PI’s effect on the market
I wanted to showcase what gaming companies have done because of The RetroPie community first. I love building stuff but you might not. One of the largest gaming companies Nintendo is releasing a Mini Console. This isn’t news at this point but it was definitely influenced by gamers building Pitendos. If we weren’t clambering to get our retro fix they would never have made it. The fact that it is Tiny is proof they have been watching. Go to Thingiverse right now and Search Raspberry pi. Go ahead I’ll wait. No, I’m not going to link you, this time, go search I don’t want you to think I cherry picked a page. Go search I’ll be right here when you get back…………………………. See what I mean Every other line almost has a pi gaming device and funny how the first few are Nintendo’s. Nintendo didn’t miss that either. That’s why it’s a great time to be a gamer. Rom gamers are an untapped market and nintendo caught on. Other companies will see this as well but in the meantime we have nintendo. Ok back to the DIY fun.
RetroPie
There is nothing I can say about setting up RetroPi that hasn’t been said So I am going to leave that in the hands of those who came before me. Starting with Lifehackers How to Build a Raspberry Pi Retro Game Console for $35 . Now I can say RetroPie has made Serious advanced but the basics are right there. You don’t even need a case. Just pick up a PI install Retropie and play. Here’s where I play Inspiration. I’m going to post a few Of my favorite Retro Console builds. And since this is an area I’m immensely familiar with if you guys decide to build your own and don’t already know how to do this I’ll keep an eye on the comments if you need help. With that some Awesome Pi Builds.
SNES Micro
Look if you’re a Gamer with a Girlfriend or visa versa this is the gift. It’s adorable and one hell of a conversation piece.
PiGRRL Zero
You kinda need a 3d printer for this one but if you do Adafruit has a full tutorial on their website on how to build this Pocket Retro system.
Pi SP
Ok this one used an Odroid Pi clone but if you decide this is the way you want to go you can swap the Clone for a 5$ Pi Zero then follow everything else as it is in the video. Or make it better.
Mini Pi SNES 3d Print
This is the last one but more for An Idea than for this project. My Pi Project is a little more involved. Last year I bought me son an SNES but as we all know games are spendy. I have a few Pies laying around and some already in Retro cases or old dead systems. This gave me an idea. With the Pi Zero you can make smaller systems but what I am in the process of doing is installing it in a working SNES The goal of the project is to have the system boot up like normal when a cartridge is installed but switch to the pie when it isn’t. It’s taking me a while because I don’t want to break the system. It’s also not just wire and go job. I’m making it wireless and Bluetooth compatible. When it’s Finished I’ll have a full write up for anyone interested.
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I am surprised that Nintendo has not banned the sale of the SNES mini…
Holy crow! Things have come a long long way since Nintendo 64 and Gameboy!
Still remember these times as well 😀
This is so helpful
I love Nintendo!
love it! just got an android tablet with hdmi out, need to see if I can make that work as a retro gaming console
Can’t wait to get this
No matter how old you get, or how hi-fi the games become, lure of Super Mario and contra can be outdone.
is a beautiful time to be a gamer, with little hands but a gamer.
very interesting times indeed and so much more to come in the future
It amazes me every day where gaming is at and where it has come from. I love being a gamer
Me too ^_^
this reminds me of old school gaming
It is amazing what all has come about in the gaming world. So much to do! Great post.
Nintendo’s fault for not capitalizing on selling something like these sooner.
Building something like this to remember good old times playing Nintendo is really awesome.
Great budget DIY project without any doubt 🙂
These bring back so many memories of the 80’s and early 90’s!
Its amazing and a great welcome to the gaming world
Oh how technology have evolved.
never thought i’d be able to play pokemon on my phone
Just love new technology.
Love this! It’s amazing all the DIY gaming fun that can be had now.
Those look pretty cool.
I am planning an arcade console with retropie and two bluetooth controllers for my tv
Nintendo might crack down on this at some point. Given their recent streak of extreme legal actions.
It would be handy to have miniature versions
I wonder if we’ll see publishers of older games rereleasing their games on Android and IOS, or even if they’re able.
The mini snes is adorable…
That mini SNES looks dope!
thankyou soo much for your help
That’s pretty cool. I’ve been wanting to build a retropi set for a while now.
These look so cool I wish I had a 3d printer to make a case for my pi.
The SNES pi is all hand made you don’t need a 3d printer to make a cool case. A Dremal and some acrylic can get you some awesome cases.
Now that everything is smaller and more powerful with less electronic power, small custom projects are not only possible, but cheap and easy to obtain parts make home projects simple.
So many wonderful projects incl. 3D prinitnig, so little time…
that mini NES system is so cool!
I love Nintendo!
The art is so cool!
I’m happy that the retro scene continually keeps getting these kinds of boosts; there are many gems which are not very easy to find and play these days.
So cool! <3 I love nintendo. Those were good times
The SNES Micro looks awesome. 🙂
seems to be a good product. This thing from nintendo looks retro but is awesomely new.
Wow and to think we started with an Atari which we still have. My husband was the champion Yar’s Revenge player. Would love a new gaming computer.
memories….., lol!
looks cool
Ok, the idea of installing a Pi in a working SNES is pretty much genius. The Super Nintendo was always my favorite – spent more time than I care to admit playing. Adding wireless and Bluetooth too would pretty much make it a retro/modern dream machine. Really hope that one works out well and can’t wait to see what becomes of it.
Does it run Tetris? 🙂
I’m going to need a better 3D printer!
Someday I will try to do a portable console with a DualShock or a Nintedo 64 gamepad… Maybe the easiest will be to do that with a XBOX gamepad… that was enormous xD
Retro!
Amazing devlopment in technology
reminds me of a time long passed when I used to play snes games 🙂
My old snes isnt working anymore a true lost.
I’ve installed retro pi on a raspberry pi 3 and gave to my sister on her birthday, they have had a lot of fun playing mario kart and super smash brothers. DIY gaming is making a big splash!
I want people to start putting consoles/pcs in “hidden” form factors, like a wallet and pen 😛
So excited to try my own raspberry pi retro gaming setup.
Love to play Nintendo the best gaming system.
Very good thing
How cool!! I definitely want to get this! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
It’s been so long since I’ve opened up something electronic and worked on it. But this is making me want to do just that! But I’m not one much for old retro games…But I did love playing Legend of Zelda back in the day. The very first one! I would almost overheat my Nintendo by handing off the controller to my friend and nextdoor neighbor Toby when I needed sleep and he would play his turn. I like the idea that it’s there if I ever wanted to go back and play the old games. And I think it’s super neat to grab a Pi or Chip and make my own stuff! I’m into 3D printing and would like to make my own crazy looking console to go with my own personal game one day. It sounds like it would be some fun.
Lots of ways to game now, so nice. I like these builds.
I like the Original Nintendo. Brings back memories from my childhood.
I like these classic gaming consoles from the past. Bring back great memories from when I was a kid.
Information I know many gamers will enjoy to hear.