Introduction: Tiny Retro Game Console

By gubutek.wordpress.com/
About: I am mechanical engineer and I work on robotic mechanical design. I am running my startup and sometime working on my design hobby.

This is the DIY pocket-sized game console that you can take with you anywhere you go. It is cheap and simple to make. I used common components from aliexpress. Everything is design with KiCAD and FreeCAD.

Supplies

You will need a Raspberry Pi Zero for this project. You also need the following materials and tools

Materials:

  1. Game controller PCB
  2. 6x 8mm buttons these are very soft and good for game controller
  3. 2x SMD buttons (you can use the same 8mm buttons if you want)
  4. jumper wires
  5. 2x20 pin header

Tool:

  1. soldering iron
  2. lead

Step 1: Hardware

The game controller is designed with KiCAD. You can download the geber files or order it directly from my PCBWay project page. You can get the PCB and all the components and solder them. You need to be careful with the SMD buttons but the rest should be easy

I designed the support so there will be no pressure on the Raspberry Pi Zero when we play it. If you need the CAD file, it is here. If you don't have a 3D printer you can ask near by service. It should not be so difficult to get them.

Step 2: Software

This step has a lot of tutorial on internet, I just sum up the important steps

First, you can install RetroPie on the Raspberry Pi Zero using this link

https://retropie.org.uk/docs/First-Installation/


Then you can install GPIOnext following the instruction here

https://github.com/mholgatem/GPIOnext


Finally, you can config the game controller that you made in step 1 with the command

gpionext config

You will have the result like in the photo at the end of the process.

After configuration, you can restart the Raspberry Pi Zero and you can control your game console with the game pad you just made.


If you use the Raspberry Pi Zero W, you can set up the wifi inside the RetroPie emulator

Step 3: Assemble

You can mount the game controller (red) on the Raspberry Pi Zero header. The supports can be added on two sides of the Raspberry Pi Zero. There are holes for M2 screws and nuts to fix them all together.

Step 4: Have Fun

You can use this game console with any kind of display. I tried it with 5-inch LCD, computer's monitor and TV. All you have to do is connecting the HDMI cable and power supply.

If you have any problems, let me know in the comment and I will try my best to help.

Happy making!