RetroGaming

Overview

I want to do a class at HeatSync in which you make a retro gaming device. I want it to scale, from a single-player desktop controller up to a four person cabinet, I'm hoping we can support it all.

I'm imagining a combination of existing tool qualification classes, new classes for developing specific skills, and lab time where you can come in and use the tools with a lab TA who can answer questions.

Hardware

Brain

BYOB: Bring your own brain.

Raspberry Pi: Pi 3 or higher supports quite a bit. Earlier Pi's can do the really old 2D stuff. Pi 4 is the best choice.

Old laptop: Keep it as a laptop, or tear it down for parts.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jeLCQ62vFk
• https://www.instructables.com/Laptop-to-Desktop-Conversion/

Old desktop.

Other SBC

MiniComputer

Controls

Cheap buttons and sticks from Amazon.

Nice buttons and sticks from Amazon / Happ / other.

USB Encoder

Wireless console controllers.

Software

Linux

https://itsfoss.com/retro-gaming-console-linux-distros/

Lakka

Lakka works really nicely for NES and SNES, which are pretty big draws in retro gaming.

It is not good at MAME. It can't run Frogger. Can you imagine that? A MAME cabinet that can't play Frogger?!?

Next I'm going to try a dual boot, Lakka / Debian 10, with a shared drive for the ROMs.

Lakka does not support dual boot, so they say. Seems kind of like a challenge to me, but not one I have much desire to surmount.

Windows

But... why?