How To Build A Gameboy Pocket With Raspberry Pi A+ And 2.4” PiTFT?

There is hardly any adult who wouldn’t remember dedicating a substantial period of their childhood playing Gameboy. If you can relate yourself with that to some extent you will definitely enjoy this DIY project that teaches to build a completely new gaming device with the help of some Adafruit components, Raspberry Pi A+, and 3D printing. It is a personal product that can be used only for fun and not for any professional purpose. Inclusion of 3D printing simplifies the custom enclosure of such projects. The form and design factors of such projects are inspired very much from Gameboy but are completely different from that in terms of looks and internal connections.

To make this one, you will need to use Raspberry Pi model A+ as well as Adafruit 2.4” PiTFT HAT. Small dimensions of A+ and compactly sized display screen makes it possible to make the smallest possible structure. Building a gaming structure like this can be a little challenging but with little effort you can definitely gain some success. It is recommended to have some prior knowledge of some software components like running OpenGL-based Games, Powerboost 1000c intro, Soldering from Colin’s Lab, Adafruit Pi finder.

The major parts that you would need to assemble for this project include slide switch, mini-metal speaker, 12mm tactile buttons, 6mm tactile switch buttons, 6mm tactile buttons, GPIO Pi Ribbon Cable – 26 pin, Perma-proto half-sized, 2000mAh lithium polymer battery, 2.5W Class D Audio Amplifier – PAM8302, Powerboost 1000C, 2.4”PiTFT touch screen, and Raspberry Pi A+. The tools needed for this would range from rotary cutting power tool, screwdriver, helping third hand, Panavise Jr., wire strippers, flush cutters, soldering iron, and 3D printer. You might also want to avail some specific supplies like Heat shrink tubing, 30AWG silicone cover stranded-core wire, Blue Painters tape, solder rosin-core, 3D printing filament, 12#4-40 flat Phillips machine screws, 2 Neodymium Magnets 1.4 X 1/16 inch Disc N48, and solder rosin-core, and Blue painters tape.

Once you are done with these, you can always check out the video at https://youtu.be/dEdVEQqoIJQ and follow the step-by-step guidance.