“Block after Block” has designed a dual-display tabletop retro-gaming console using plywood edge grain and a Raspberry Pi 400 keyboard PC that allows players to physically face each other during a fight or other gameplay.
While there’s a galore of projects based on Raspberry Pi SBCs, the Raspberry Pi 400 keyboard PC is more like a consumer product due to its form factor, but Block after Block integrated the PC into its own retro-gaming console which involved a lot of woodworking skills and installing RetroPie on the Pi 400 device.
This DIY project mostly involves spending time in a workshop cutting wood, and once you’re done with this part, it should be pretty straightforward. The following items are required for the project:
- A Raspberry Pi 400 keyboard PC
- Two monitors (second-hand monitors will do)
- An HDMI splitter to mirror the output from the Pi 400 along with a micro HDMI to HDMI adapter
- 2x 8Bitdo Pro 2 gaming controllers
- A USB-C power supply for the Pi 400.
- Some 3/4-inch Radiatta pine plywood from Home Depot or other places
The Raspberry Pi 400 can’t be seen because it is hidden inside the case. A Raspberry Pi 4 or pretty much any alternative that runs RetroPie could have been used for the project, but I assume the maker had a Pi 400 on-hands so he went with what was available.
I had never thought about dual display setups in that way, but that’s a clever idea and besides gaming, it might be used in applications where a user can let another user or customer see the display without sitting side-by-side. If you want to make your own, Block after Block made a video showing how he designed the project in his well-equipped workshop.
You’ll find more photos of the Raspberry Pi 400-based dual display tabletop retro-gaming console on his Instagram account along with photos of his other nice-looking woodworking projects.
Via Raspberry Pi Blog.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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You could just use your old smartphone and a games controller. Every Time you update your smartphone you console gets updated.
Simples 😏💯
Who needs Pi
I’m surprised this did not use dual-output feature to the full extent.