Zach’s Raspberry Pi RetroPie

Overview

Do you ever wish you didn’t sell that old Game Boy at your moms garage sale? Or maybe you let your Nintendo64 collect so much dust that it won’t run now? Sure, there are plenty of new gaming devices out, but no matter the complexity and technology put into them, they will never compare to the original gaming devices that have become so obsolete. The RetroPie takes you back in time in the gaming world, allowing you to indulge in some of the most classic video games ever produced.

Necessary Resources

• Raspberry Pi CanaKit – components needed include:
  • Raspberry Pi computer
  • Raspberry Pi case
  • HDMI cable
  • Micro-USB power supply
  • Pi on/off switch
  • MicroSD card
  • USB MicroSD card reader
• Monitor/TV (HDMI input)
• Gaming controller (I used an Xbox One controller and a Micro-USB cable to connect it to the Raspberry Pi)
• Additional PC/laptop
  • Need to download the following
    • RetroPie software – https://retropie.org.uk/
    • Etcher – https://www.balena.io/etcher/
    • 7Zip – https://www.7-zip.org/ (or app store)
• WiFi or wired internet availability
• I found this YouTube tutorial to be very beneficial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QcC2GmV9Ew

What does the RetroPie do?

The RetroPie offers the availability to easily run retro game ROMs on one device. Perhaps your top five retro games were all on different gaming systems, RetroPie gives you the availability to play all of those games without having to even own a single one of those consoles. A few of my favorites that I have on my RetroPie are Crash Bandicoot from Game Boy Advance, Mortal Kombat and Sonice from Sega and Super Smash Bros from Nintendo.

In Conclusion

Whether you’re 85 years old or 25, a tech genius or amateur, the RetroPie project can be for you. That alone, makes this project so unique. My favorite part about it was playing some games I haven’t played in probably 15 years and reminiscing on memories from previous times I had played these games. Aside from that, the whole project can be completed at minimal costs. For anybody looking for a school project or even just something to do in their free time, the RetroPie could easily be for you!