DIY mini retro gaming console
Missed out on a new Mini Classic NES? Darren Yates shows how recycled laptops and single-board computers can create your own slice of retro-gaming goodness.
Well, that didn’t take long. No sooner had Nintendo launched the Mini Classic NES (MCN) in Australia, the sold-out sign was flashing (or crashing) on websites across the country. No matter. If you hanker for retro-gaming, you can always build your own system. We can’t make a Mini Classic NES clone, but thanks to the truckload of open-source and free games, along with low-cost singleboard computers (SBCs) and mountains of retired tech, we’ve come up with several options for scratching the classic-gaming itch.
MCN SPECS
Building your own MCN alternative begins with the hardware. The MCN itself is powered by a 1.2GHz Allwinner R16 SoC (System on a Chip) with dual-core Mali400MP2 GPU, 256MB of RAM, 512MB of on-board flash storage, HDMI port and two controller ports. They’re the key specs, but what’s important is that Allwinner R16 chip is a quad-core ARM Cortex A7 design, so think entry-level Android phone from 2014. But you can also think of something similar — single-board computers. Almost everyone has heard of the Raspberry Pi, but it’s just one of dozens of SBCs to have landed siMCN 2012. They’re generally powered by some form of ARM Cortex A-series SoC with up to 2GB of RAM and, in many cases, bring-your-own flash storage. But what’s really impressed over the last year or so has been the fall in price of entry-level low-RAM models.
THREE OPTIONS
To cater for every budget, we’ve come up with different ways to get classic gaming happening at your place at three separate price points — under $70, under $20 and spending nothing at all. But a word of warning — if you’re looking for a simple no-setup, plug-itin, turn-it-on solution, wait for an MCN. When you’re paying as little as US$9.99 for a quad-core SBC, what you’re largely not paying for is ongoing software support and not all SBC software is ‘top-drawer’. Our take is what you don’t spend in cash, you could spend in time getting software working. Then again, half the fun is getting things to work. Still, there are ways through the Linux distro maze that simplify the process.
RECYCLE YOUR OLD TECH
If you already have suitable retired tech, there’s a good chaMCN you could build a classic gaming system without spending a cent. The MCN’s performaMCN is relatively modest in PC terms, so even a laptop from 2010 has more than enough grunt to handle side-scrollers, platformers and general 8-bit gaming.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
We’ll explain in more detail as we go, but oMCN you decide on a platform, you’ll typically need a fast 8GB USB flash drive, SD card or microSD card as appropriate, operating system ROMs and two utilities — Win32DiskImager for IMG files ( tinyurl.com/ apc437-win32) and UNetbootin for ISO images ( unetbootin.github.io).
These work similarly — you plug your flash device into your PC, format the device, launch the right utility, select the OS image file, write it to the flash device, plug it into your SBC or old laptop and boot.
The process wipes these flash devices, so back up any important files before you begin. For sure, this won’t build you a Mini Classic NES — but we reckon you’ll learn a lot more building your own classic gaming system and still have some fun along the way.