Raspberry Pi handheld emulation console

This is a portable emulation console based on a Raspberry Pi 3 and running with "Retropie".

I always wanted to build myself a raspberry pi console, but I couldn't find any suitable project for my envy: the main interest to build a console is to personalize the project. So, I decided to create mine from scratch!

I personalized various important elements, that I think we're missing on others projects:

• Instead of classical "tactile push buttons" (which are making an horrible sound and are not very convenient to play video games), I used some Adafruit "soft tactile buttons" which are giving an impression of real controller.
• I really wanted to let the HDMI plug accessible to be able to quickly connect it to a TV to appreciate games on widescreen. This element gave me trouble during the designing, and also for choosing a screen.
• With the HDMI plug, I also wanted to have some USB plug in facade, so with this two interfaces it is possible to transform the console in a home console, and to allow multi-payers gaming by plugging in USB controller.

Equipment list (most of my stuff is from Banggood, but you can find them on amazon or ali-express):

• Raspberry pi 3
• composite TFT display, 4.3'' LCD car monitor (https://www.banggood.com/4_3inch-LCD-Car-Rearview-Monitor-Screen-Reverse-Camera-Kit-DVD-VCR-p-75120.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN)
• lithium cell charging and protection circuit (https://www.banggood.com/5Pcs-USB-Lithium-Battery-Charger-Module-With-Charging-And-Protection-p-943768.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN)
• 5V boost step up module (https://www.banggood.com/3pcs-DC-DC-Boost-Step-Up-Module-2_5V-5_5V-Input-5V2A-Output-p-1105591.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN)
• Adafruit "soft tactile buttons" (https://www.amazon.fr/Boutons-tactiles-soft-pack-10/dp/B01JD3H5RK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512728899&sr=8-1&keywords=soft+tactile+switch)
• female USB port (https://www.banggood.com/14-Styles-USB-Male-Female-Mini-SMD-Vertical-Socket-Connector-For-DIY-p-1099042.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN)
• Jack 3.5 female plug (https://www.banggood.com/50pcs-3_5mm-5Pin-Female-Stereo-Audio-Jack-Panel-Mount-p-943651.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN)
• a perfboard
• M3 screws
• lithium cell 18650 (you can salvage them on an old laptop for example)
• instead of building the buttons you can sacrifice an USB SNES controller (https://www.banggood.com/SNES-USB-Famicom-Colored-Super-Nintendo-Controller-for-PCMAC-p-923100.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=UK)

Category: Video Games