Cardboard Mini NES + Nes mini and Famicom mini themes

[ruckage]

Nes Mini and Famicom Mini Themes.

As this is now primarily focussed on the Nes Mini and Famicom Mini Themes I've moved all relevant info into this post - you can still read about my Cardboard mini nes below this info.

Here are the download links for both versions of the theme:

Nes mini v2
Famicom mini v2

The major difference between the 2 themes (other than one being based on the Nes Classic and one being based on the Famicom mini) is that the Nes theme features varied graphics for each system, the Famicom version uses the same background for all systems so is more uniform for those who prefer that.

Layouts and Styles

It's possible to adjust the layout on both themes, additionally for the Famicom mini theme you can now switch between 2 different styles - Famicom or Nes, for those who would like a simpler Nes style theme - check the ## HOW TO CHANGE LAYOUTS ## for instructions.

Folder Icon

If you use subfolders for your roms the themes have the ability to show a folder icon. To do so you need to name the folder with a preceding '#' symbol. Eg. name the folder '# Japan' and the '#' will be displayed as the folder icon followed by the word 'Japan'. It will look something like this:

Here is a list of all currently supported systems .
(* = not released yet):

Arcade
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 7800
Atari Lynx
Colecovision
Commodore 64
Daphne
Famicom
Family Computer Disk System
Final Burn Alpha
Gameboy
Gameboy Advance
Gameboy Color
Genesis
Intellivision
MAME
Megadrive
NES
Neo Geo
NeoGeo Pocket
NeoGeo Pocket Color
Nintendo 64
Nintendo DS
Odyssey 2
PC Engine
Playstation
Ports
PSP
Retropie setup menu
Sega Cd
Sega Game Gear
Sega Master System
Sega SG-1000
Super Famicom
Super Nintendo
TurboGrafx 16
Vectrex
Virtual Boy
Wonderswan
Wonderswan Color
ZX Spectrum
Favourites
All Games
Last Played
Dreamcast
Sega 32x
custom-collections
pc
game & watch
amiga
pc engine cd
msx
msx2

Below is the current todo list:

Amstrad CPC
Atari ST
Kodi
Love
Sega Saturn
ScummVM
Steam
Supergrafx
TG16 CD
Sega Mark III
Capcom Play System
Megadrive Japan

Add more selectable styles to Famicom mini theme
Add 1280x1024 resolution
Add pal resolution

If anyone has any more requests for systems please let me know.

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Cardboard Mini NES

Hello, I thought I'd share some photos of my mini NES that I've made using primarily paper and cardboard. It was quite time consuming to build but I'm happy with the finished result. I had to take some liberties with the design but I think it works, the only thing I'm not entirely happy with is the power button as it sticks out further than I would like but unfortunately there isn't a great range of rectangular panel-mount buttons available.

I also created a theme based on the NES Classic menu as I really like it and the look meshes well with the system and games. It only covers NES and Gameboy as they are the only system I plan to use on this.

[moosepr]

@ruckage wow that is some impressive papercraft!!

[Kischa]

@ruckage

Wow that is amazing!!

Did you use a 3d printer?

Would you like to share that cool theme?? :)

[backstander]

@ruckage Great work on this! I just noticed that you have a working power button!

I agree that is a cool theme!

Did you coat the paper with something?

[lilbud]

@ruckage will you release the theme?

[ruckage]

Thanks for the replies everyone :).

@Kischa said in Cardboard Mini NES:

@ruckage

Wow that is amazing!!

Did you use a 3d printer?

No 3d printer was used. I have cutting machine so I did use that to cut out the 'skin' that covers it and the initial frame as it's quicker (if you have the tools you may as well use them) but the grey board that makes up the bulk of the case is really thick (about 2.4mm) so I had to cut that by hand with a ruler and craft knife which was hard work.

@backstander said in Cardboard Mini NES:

@ruckage Great work on this! I just noticed that you have a working power button!

I agree that is a cool theme!

Did you coat the paper with something?

Yes , the power button works. It's a momentary switch that shuts down the pi via script and then restarts the pi if pressed again. I found out how do it from a video by ETA PRIME on youtube along with the led - you can find it here:

All parts of the case have a 'skin' wrapped around them which was made from paper with the colours/designs laser printed onto them - these were covered with a textured matt self adhesive laminate film to protect them and give it a bit of plasticky look.

I have a few photos of the wip so I'll post those later.

@lilbud said in Cardboard Mini NES:

@ruckage will you release the theme?

I'm more than happy to share it but just bear in mind it only has NES and Gameboy supported and doesn't have a dedicated 'basic' view.

[Dochartaigh]

Very nice! Do you work for a package design company? I'm a Graphic Designer and whenever I do a layout for a package the prototype comes to us exactly like these! I wonder if my company would ever find out if I switched in a Nintendo version to get a prototype sent to me....lol

[klachow]

[Stuart2773]

@ruckage

where can i download that theme? that is amazing work :)

[ruckage]

@Dochartaigh said in Cardboard Mini NES:

Very nice! Do you work for a package design company? I'm a Graphic Designer and whenever I do a layout for a package the prototype comes to us exactly like these! I wonder if my company would ever find out if I switched in a Nintendo version to get a prototype sent to me....lol

Thanks :). No, I don't work for a package design company, I just like to make things. I'm sure your employer would never suspect if you were to start having prototypes of retro systems made :D

@Stuart2773 said in Cardboard Mini NES:

@ruckage

where can i download that theme? that is amazing work :)

I've just tidied a few things up with the theme and will upload it somewhere so anyone who would like it can get it. I'll post again once it's ready.

[Kischa]

@ruckage King!! 😉

[Capeman]

This is awesome! Mad paper skills!

How exactly is your power button connected and how does it function? It looks like it's connected to the gpio and the power looks like it goes right from the barrel jack to the micro usb port... I don't quite get it, do you have some software running to control power on/off or do you have it wired to return to menu?

Also... where did you get that rectangular power button, i like the shape.

[ruckage]

@Capeman said in Cardboard Mini NES:

This is awesome! Mad paper skills!

How exactly is your power button connected and how does it function? It looks like it's connected to the gpio and the power looks like it goes right from the barrel jack to the micro usb port... I don't quite get it, do you have some software running to control power on/off or do you have it wired to return to menu?

Also... where did you get that rectangular power button, i like the shape.

I posted a youtube video a few posts up which shows you how to setup the power button step by step (the video was made by ETA PRIME). Basically a script is running in the background which checks the gpio pin that the button is connected to and when pressed it shuts down the system. The pin used is the default pin that can be used to restart the pi so when you press the button again the system comes back on.

To connect the barrel connector on the back to the raspberry pi I cut off the end of the lead of an official raspberry pi power supply this then plugs into the pi and the cut end is soldered to the barrel socket. On the lead of the now cut power supply I soldered a corresponding barrel plug - just be careful not to reverse the wires, they are marked but it's an easy mistake to make, in my case I soldered the positive wire to the centre pin on both the barrel and socket but definitely double check before plugging it into the pi (not sure what would happen if you accidentally reversed the polarity but I can't imagine it would be good).

The button came from CPC, you can find it Here.
It also comes in red. Make sure though if you plan to follow the tutorial that you get the Momentary version of the switch.

[PokeEngineer]

@ruckage

One day I was going to try to make a NES Classic Edition theme, but looks like you beat me to it!

[ruckage]

I've uploaded the theme to mega. Here is the link: Nesmini ES theme

I still may work on it some more yet as it could maybe be streamlined a bit to make it easier to add more systems. I'd also like to add some sound effects so that will be next.
Currently it supports NES, Gameboy, and the Retropie setup menu.

[Stuart2773]

@ruckage

Thank you, very much appreciated :)

[lilbud]

@ruckage Did you make the logos yourself?

[ruckage]

@lilbud said in Cardboard Mini NES:

@ruckage Did you make the logos yourself?

I copied the NES logo from pictures of the NES classic menu. I rearranged it for the system select screen and converted it into an SVG. The Gameboy logo was copied from the real gameboy color loading screen and converted to SVG. I did though have to redraw the gameboy logo a bit for when it appears in the top bar as it was too tall.

[mattrixk]

@ruckage This looks awesome. I've downloaded the theme so I can have a play with it.

Off-topic, but are you the same Ruckage from the old blog that made the NewGen Theme? If so, thank you. It was a big inspiration for when I made my MetaPixel Theme (along with Pixel obviously).

[Kischa]

@ruckage Many thanks for sharing this super theme!! 😜

@mattrixk If you or someone else skillfull thememaker will do some more systems to it plz share to the noobs 😊

Im really consider to learn skinning so I also can contribute...