Atari 2600 RetroPie Gaming Console Project Build LogConverting an old, non-functioning Atari 2600 to a RetroPie Gaming Console using a Raspberry Pi micro controller and some nifty electronics.
Several years ago, we came across some interesting retro gaming equipment during a clear-out of a neighbour's garage. While he was unimpressed with the computers, I was excited about the find.
However, that excitement was premature. Upon closer inspection, we found that the consoles had been exposed to the elements for a few years and were in a bad state. Water damage, spiders, insects and other life forms had made their way into them. They were in a bad way.
With an optimistic head, I decided to open up the case and see what was inside and, more importantly, its condition.
What I found was disappointing but not unexpected. The elements trashed the insides. Metal contacts corroded through, physical switches rusted solid, and capacitors burst. Not good. Rather disappointed, I put the pieces back into a new box and up in the attic, where they lay for several years.
Recently, while clearing out my attic, I found these again and thought, "Wouldn't it make a great Raspberry Pi project!". And here we are.
This is my RetroPie Gaming Console build log using a Raspberry Pi.
I will be using a Raspberry Pi 3 with a PowerBlock power switch as well as a few other bits and bobs I have lying around.
The plan is to mount the Raspberry Pi inside the Atari 2600, replace the switches and link the power and reset switches on the case to the PowerBlock. I'll run extenders from the Pi to the rear of the case for Power and HDMI and two USB extenders to the front for the controllers to plug into. I plan on using my old USB SNES controllers for this.
I will be using RetroPie to run the emulation.
I have removed all the insides from the Atari 2600, given the case a good cleaning, and refurbished the wood effect panel. I was surprised at how well the plastics came out with a little soap and elbow grease.
Having removed the insides and cleaned up the interior, I set about installing the various cables that the Pi needs and extension leads for power, USB and HDMI. I cut out some old plastic to make a new back panel, which I glued to the inside of the case, allowing the USB cables to be mounted in the position of the old controller ports. I cut a new hole for the HDMI port to sit. I also cut a hole in the underside where the channel select switch used to be. This will allow me to plug in a USB flash drive for updates.
I was able to clean up and restore a couple of the switches and have hooked up the original power and reset switches to be power reset for the PowerBlock.
After the trial fitting, I realised I needed to re-adjust the position slightly. I used another HDMI extension cable from the new port on the back to the Raspberry Pi. Once all the components were in, it was just a case of putting the pieces back together. I glued an old cartridge into the slot as a final finishing touch.
Installing RetroPie
RetroPie installs like most other Raspberry Pi firmware. You can find some instructions at the link below.
Once installed, you can power up the Raspberry Pi, and EmulationStation will load, prompting you to configure controllers. Follow the onscreen instructions to configure your gamepads and controllers.
The next step is to install some ROMS. There are various ways of transferring ROMS to the RetroPie Gaming Console. However, I found the quickest and easiest method via a USB thumb drive.
Format the drive to FAT32 or exFAT and create a folder called retropie. Plug it into the RetroPie system and wait for the activity light to stop flashing, then remove the drive and plug it back into a computer or laptop. RetroPie has created all the folders it needs within the Retropie folder. Copy your ROMS into the appropriate /retropie/roms/{emulator} folder. Unplug the USB drive, plug it back into the RetroPie gaming console and wait for the activity light to stop flashing. RetroPie has now copied all the new ROMs onto the internal storage; all that is needed now is to refresh the ROM list and start playing. You can refresh the ROMs list in EmulationStation by pressing F4 or Start on your controller > Quit > Restart EmulationStation.
