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Retro Gaming Builds

Family era, son's interest

Built for my son: RetroPie and Batocera machines, a custom arcade controller built from parts with a 3D printed housing of my own design, LED fixtures wired to a surround sound system with a JL Audio 10" enclosed subwoofer, and - at one point - a full-size upright arcade cabinet modeled in Fusion 360, complete with a marquee panel and glass holders. Not every session needs dedicated hardware, either - plenty of nights are just PS2 emulation on the PC together.

The controller and setup kept evolving: an early 3D printed prototype hooked up to a Raspberry Pi, a WLED lighting setup added to the cabinet, and eventually upgraded speakers wired through an audio amp for real sound. The finished corner of the room even has a couple of my oil paintings from high school hanging behind the monitor, lit up by the RGB.

My grandpa holding hands with my cousin Nick and me as kids, walking through an arcade full of cabinets in the 1980s
My grandpa taking my cousin Nick and me to the arcade, 1980s.
A Fusion 360 model of a full-size upright arcade cabinet, with marquee panel, glass holders, and doors
A full upright arcade cabinet, modeled in Fusion 360.
An early 3D printed arcade controller prototype with a joystick and lit buttons, wired to a Raspberry Pi, with Ms. Pac-Man running on the monitor behind it
An early controller prototype, wired to a Raspberry Pi - Ms. Pac-Man on screen.
The arcade game Scramble projected large on a wall and door
Scramble, projected big on the wall for a change of pace.
Video: my son playing a PS2 emulator on the PC.
Video: the Batocera setup with the custom controller and WLED lighting - my oil paintings visible in the background.
The finished Batocera setup - a white 3D printed arcade controller with color-lit buttons, RGB lighting, and framed oil paintings behind the monitor showing the Batocera menu
The finished setup - RGB lighting, and my oil paintings hanging behind the monitor.
Video: the same setup with upgraded speakers wired through an audio amp.