Atari 2600 4-switch woodgrain housing for RetroPie

etheling

Hi. I'd like to share my Atari 2600 build that I completed recently. Atari 2600 is the first game console I ever played, so it has a fond place in my heart. At the risk of being slightly biased, I also believe it's one of the coolest looking consoles ever created. Below are some pics of the project and a link to GitHub where you'll find more pictures and additional details.

This build features no external modification to Atari 2600 case, all original switches working in RetroPie providing their original functionality when emulating Atari 2600, USB access through Atari joystick ports, safe power switch, access to Raspberry Pi SD-card slot without opening the case, ability use original Atari 2600 joysticks, LED power light, and game cartridge USB passthrough modifications. I hope you'll enjoy it.

URL: https://github.com/etheling/rpie2600

Completed build
Finished case

New ports fitted to the case top
HDMI, USB3 and microUSB (for power) ports fitted to the Atari 2600 case top.

Game cartridge with USB2 ports for use with keyboard, game controllers, USB flash drives, ...

Original Atari joystick connected using Retronic Design adapter

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SD-card slot and power led in Atari 2600 TV cable opening

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Case almost ready to be closed

In order to complete the built, I also modified ControlBlock driver and did some configuration changes for RetroPie. ControlBlock driver modifications are required because Atari 2600 switches are not simple on/off switches, but instead both switch positions indicate state (e.g. TV-Type 'off' state indicates 'black and white TV', and on-state indicates 'color TV' and stock ControlBlock driver (as of 06/2020) does not support this kind of switches where on and off states would send a different key press. I'll put these up to GitHub at some later date.

ecto

@etheling Very, very cool build! The 2600 was also my first console, so I too have a soft spot for it!

Impman66

This is awesome, I too started with the Atari VCS, then moved on to the Atari 400 ( membrame keyboard, took ages to type and didn't always register a keypress - good but frustrating times) Then it was Atari 800XL, and Atari ST, before I switched to an Amiga 1200.
How on earth did you get the console AND Combat game? Like hens teeth to get hold of both. Plus I am sure that an original River Raid game in it's box was sold recently for about £500!!!!
Seriously though, this is one of the best retro builds I have seen. Nice job!

Dandelion

Way cool @etheling !! I've been thinking about doing this same exact thing. I've been perusing for Atari 2600s that are non-functioning because I can't bring myself to 'descrate' a working one. LOL. Doesn't seem like anyone held on to a non-functioning unit. (or at least I can't find one)