Clockwork Pi Gameshell kit
Need to take your love of retro gaming everywhere you go? Check out the open source handheld Clockworkpi Gameshell, says Christian Cawley.
Christian Cawley keeps this self-build open source handheld in his back pocket.
The retro gaming explosion seems to be centred around two types of device: dedicated, sometimes licensed, revivals of original machines built to modern specifications, and open source SBCS like the Raspberry Pi.
Veering away from this is the Gameshell from Clockworkpi, which despite the similar name has no connection to the Raspberry Pi. It’s a modular device that can be bought in kit form only, but the result is a Nintendo Gameboy-like pocket-sized gaming machine that runs a host of retro emulation software.
A successful Kickstarter campaign got the ball rolling with $290,000 worth of backing in 2017, and the console is now available to buy online. But do you really want a device that you have to build yourself? Of course you do!
Featuring a Gameboy-style case, the Gameshell is available in three colours, and the case can be easily opened to access the microsd card or, potentially, upgrade or replace a component. The modular nature of the Gameshell means that construction can be timeconsuming, but once each component is sitting in its own module, the whole thing can be connected and booted inside five minutes.
The Gameshell’s display, mainboard, speaker, D-pad and battery each sit in their own clear plastic case. These modules are placed into the main case, connected with wires, and the case closed securely. No screws or soldering are needed; instead, the case is secured using a pair of tightening wheels. The mainboard itself features a Quad-core Cortex-a7 CPU, Mali GPU and 1GB of DDR3 RAM. There’s also a GPIO port. The console comes with wireless and Bluetooth support, which is useful as there is no USB OTG.
Booting the Gameshell launches you into Clockwork OS, a Debian-based OS with a compact UI that is reminiscent of some 1990s mobile-phone interfaces. It comes pre-installed on the microsd card, although you download and install the latest version if you prefer. Alternatively, you can update it over Wi-fi. Our review device experienced some problems following this, however, requiring some tinkering via SSH to fix it. Fortunately, the Clockworkpi community forum is a friendly place.
As compact and pocketable as the Gameshell is, you might prefer to play on a larger device. As such, a Micro HDMI port is also included. Note that the resolution of this will depend on the capabilities of the emulator you’re using. In testing, the Gameshell worked effortlessly on a high definition TV, but rather than it stretching or upscaling the picture, it was unobtrusively framed with Gameshell illustrations.
Software controls are included for brightness and sound; a headphone jack is also provided, alongside the Micro HDMI and Micro-usb power connector. An MP3 player is included, and there’s even a version of Kodi available for Clockwork OS. But what about the gaming? Several titles are included to get you started, including
Freedoom. MAME, NES and PC Engine emulators are preinstalled, along with a collection of indie game titles. Adding ROMS to the Gameshell is best done via your desktop web browser (by enabling the Tiny Cloud feature) over Wi-fi, although using the SSH feature of your desktop FTP also works. If you prefer to use SSH via a terminal session, this is also supported.
For fans of retro platforms not included in Clockwork OS, Retroarch is also preinstalled. Note, however, that devices with keyboard controls are less suitable for the Gameshell. While a Bluetooth keyboard might be connected, you’ll find some keymapping is required.