Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels

[Capeman]

Update:

So I'll probably be assembling my next Pi Atari soon (pending life)... But i thought i would share what my panel would look like on my next version. Moved around some buttons, i never used the psx disc switching so im going to move that to the back, also put save and load on the front since i actually use those alot more often than i thought i would. Using yellow / red and black buttons to make it kind of look like those little nes-mini style atari's they've been selling for a while. I think this will look neat!

Im still up in the air about including a coin button, but i didnt have any other functions to fill the space, i might just take it off. I moved the power switch to the back, but i might put it back on the front if i can find a switch style i like (sourcing electronic components can get quite difficult when you want them to look good).

(bottom is what it will look like in color / top is laser cut template - blue lines cut / black areas etch).

[Capeman]

The great thing about prepping for laser cutting is that prototyping is as simple as using a laser printer and an exacto knife, haha. I'm working my my Atari version 2, but i still cant find a power button switch that i'm in love with.

[chubsta]

Looks fantastic - the VCS was always my favourite console and i still find myself playing more demon Attack and H.E.R.O than any other games on my Pi. I only have a bog-standard pi in a case but love the idea of a set up like yours, great to see such ingenuity and imagination in this community! By the way, if you ever feel like making another to sell....

[mediamogul]

@chubsta

i still find myself playing more demon Attack and H.E.R.O than any other games on my Pi.

Those are the same two games I always go to when nothing else will do. I could play either for hours.

[Capeman]

@chubsta said in Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels:

By the way, if you ever feel like making another to sell....

Making these things is a pretty heavy effort, but i was thinking about making a very detailed how-to video with my next build and offer precut/painted laser cut pieces on etsy for anyone who likes to get their hands dirty. If i make it to that point, i'll post it to the forums, haha.

[Capeman]

@chubsta @mediamogul As for Atari Games, me and my buddies like to get beer and challenge each other in Freeway. Its simple, but on game 6-8 with difficulty A, it can get competitive as hell!

[mediamogul]

@Capeman

'Freeway' is a top notch David Crane title. All too often it's unfairly relegated to being a simple 'Frogger' clone, but it has a whole other level of manic energy to it that can be even more infectious. I also love that it riffs off the timeless chicken crossing the road scenario. Definitely a classic in my book.

[Capeman]

@mediamogul I could not have said it better! It's an underrated gem.

[chubsta]

@Capeman said in Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels:

@chubsta said in Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels:

By the way, if you ever feel like making another to sell....

Making these things is a pretty heavy effort, but i was thinking about making a very detailed how-to video with my next build and offer precut/painted laser cut pieces on etsy for anyone who likes to get their hands dirty. If i make it to that point, i'll post it to the forums, haha.

That would be great, even if it may be beyond my skills i would love to see the process, so many creative people out there!

[spruce_m00se]

@Capeman how do you set up buttons to switch tapes? I have some 6 tape long c64 games and I cant work out how to switch......

[Capeman]

@spruce_m00se said in Custom Atari 2600 RetroPie with Laser Cut Panels:

o switch....

I'm not sure if tapes in c-64 work the same as multi disk games on CD based systems, but i set it up using these functions in the retroarch.cfg...

input_disk_eject_toggle =
input_disk_next =
input_disk_prev =

On cd based games, you hit the eject button to open the virtual tray first, then the next or prev button to switch disk, then the eject button again to close the virtual tray.

You would need to have your game setup as a .m3u playlist (or your file as a .pbp for playstation) so retroarch will know that it is a multidisk game. This may work for c-64 multi tape games, assuming that c-64 is a libretro based emulator.

Here is an explanation of .m3u setup
https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/issues/1182

Of course, i really don't have any experience with c-64, so take all of this as speculation.