Anyone have a Raspberry Pi powered cabinet/bartop ?

[mike boss]

All be it with two little kids projects don't get completed at a rate as fast as I'd like.
But when I found this article it made me really wanna try out a Raspberry Pi powered something.
Be it full size cabinet, bartop, or gaming console. I think someone here did a Pi-based NES ?

Here is the link : http://lifehacker.com/how-to-turn-your- ... -498561192

Just wondering who here has used a Raspberry Pi and in what capacity ?

Also if anyone knows if it is better to order off Amazon, Ali Express, or eBay, or really all the same ?

thanks all

[scoltx]

Not an upright or bar top but search "RasberryPi Fightstick" in the Anything Gaming Goes forum topic. used arcade controls for my RetroPi into my big screen, used an iPac for controls to usb


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[amona]

I rigged up a Defender for a guy at work last week. I had some buttons and a two way joystick so I mounted them onto an old shoebox, stuck a pi inside and he was good to go! No IPAC required!

I play Tempest on occasion on the one I kept.

[TheRealMcMean]

I have a Missile Command cabaret project, a NES console project, and a Game Boy project. In all 3 cases, I have most of the Pi stuff done, it's the installation/console/cabinet stuff I'm still working on. I have a Tempest cabaret project in the wings that will be next.

I look at Amazon for deals... picked up full Pi3 kits (power supply, case, MicroSD, Pi, HDMI) for cheap.. one time $54 brand new Pi2 kit. I've also picked up a full Pi3 kit for $70. Just check every day over a week and you'll find a good deal for sure.

[Rickn]

I have 3 Pi's one is a PI2 with that you need to purchase blue tooth and wireless dongles. Two of them are PI 3's comes wireless and blue tooth.
My preference is Canakit as a source, but you can get them at Sayal. Last one did cost a little more but included power supply, heatsinks, preloaded 32Gig Card. I am having issues cloning the cards as they must be exact size as originals. Use them for Kodi and use Exodus for free movies. Appears to have Mame, Nes etc emulators loaded, have not played with them yet, probably have to add the ROMs. One of the cards was loaded with all the emulators, I managed to screw up that card before I got it cloned. Neat little package!

[mike boss]

Awesome guys, thank you.

I'll keep my eyes peeled online for a Pi3 (seems to be the latest/greatest).

I'll do some additional homework in the meantime, figure out exactly where I wanna use this.

These Pi-tendo projects I see look awesome, housing the Pi in an old NES. So many awesome uses.

I guess I could always get two! One console base, one cabinet base.

[twinotter]

I will be following this topic!

I was just thinking of doing an nes bartop with All the NES games.

[Wailin]

How about a pi-powered Bosconian? Using a pi until a real board drops in my lap

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[mike boss]

@ Wailin
That is super cool man! Awesome!

I'm at a loss as to what I should put where
when it comes to my cabinets.


I picked up a few Pandora's Box 3 Jamma boards.
I want to pull my WWF Wrestlefest out of my Popeye,
and toss in a Pandora's Box 3. I'll need to redo
the control panel to a 2 player, 6 button layout.
But that isn't an issue really.

I'd like to take my 6-in-1 Jamma Switcher and then
put the WWF Wrestlefest, WWF Superstars, POW, and a
138-in-1 board I got into my Final Fight. Only 5 of
the 6 slots work, but that would fill up all 5 and
give my Final Fight cabinet some extra play!

I have my Punch-Out bartop project that I'm working on.
This is where I was thinking to use the Pi.
I'm the most lost when it comes to this project.
I have so many odd's and ends kicking around.
Keyboard encoders, KADE encoders, monitor boards, etc.
I could toss in a Pandora's Box 3, but then in reality
I have a 1 player version and a 2 player version of the same
cabinet.

I could use an existing PC I have, go thru the trouble
of putting MAME and MaLa on it. Adding the ROMS and emulators,
doing all the configuration, etc.

OR................. I could go with the Pi!
This is what I was leaning towards, mostly because it is new to me.
I don't have any cabinet that uses a Pi.
One of the things I thought would be really cool was using
an iPac for the arcade controls, but then having USB versions
of various game pads also available. I have NES, SNES, XBOX 360 and
N64 USB controllers. I figure player 2 (as the bartop is 1 player)
could use the gamepads. Or ever both players could use the gamepads.
My only worry is that using an iPac and USB controllers I'd get some
configuration conflicts ? Not sure !

[Wailin]

Grab a Pi kit and the RetroPie image ..they make it very easy to get going - drag and drop roms over your network to the Pi and it finds them and lists them. Need any help with the code, etc just PM
At the very least, if you don't use it in a cab you have a great retro emulation box for your TV

[mike boss]

Awesome Wailin !

Think the Pi might be the coolest way to go.
It's different........... but sounds like it could be cool.
And I could even try the Pi-Tendo project I was thinking (should I pull it from the bartop).

[mike boss]

A quick trip over to YouTube tonight provided me with some awesome information.
Some truly fantastic videos online providing some great "how to" information.
Seems the Pi really is the way to go, it appears like that hard work is already done.
Simply drag and drop ROMS and your good to go it would appear.

This is what I'm going to do in the Punch-Out bartop project.

However for this project I think I'll scrap the controller idea. I'll use a keyboard encoder
(likely the KADE encoder I have kicking around - http://kadevice.com/). The KADE is
good for a one player application.

A future Pi-Tendo project will be where I attempt to use USB versions of the original console gamepads.
Gotta thank MKPlayer1Start for that idea though......
The idea of playing Punch-Out with the original style NES controller has huge appeal to me.
Likewise Mario 64 with the N64 controller, and Donkey Kong Country with the NES game pad, etc, etc.

[trueno92]

Sounds good, Mike.
Keep us updated in your build!!

[mike boss]

Guys thank you for the info.
I'll be sure to post the updates as progress is made.
I'm going to check out Sayal, might be a little more...but no waiting.
I'll also look into the Canakit. Any specific site I should look for that ?
I saw a video from John's Arcade where he used the Canakit.

I'm going to keep my eyes open, should I find a deal I'll post it here.
I'd like to pick up 3 kits.

[Wailin]

Pick up a couple of extra micro SDHC cards as well - that way you can have a few different setups going for experimentation and just swap cards. I keep one PI on my desk for setting up things and then I transfer the completed card to the actual machine.