Crafting the Ultimate Arcade Machine: The Vision & The Brain Part 1
Remember the thrill of the arcade? That distinctive thwack of the joystick, the satisfying clack of the buttons, the glow of classic pixel art filling the screen? For many South Africans, those memories are etched deep, a vibrant part of our gaming history. It’s a feeling you just can’t replicate on a modern console. We certainly felt that wave of nostalgia recently during a visit to the NAG Magazine HQ, where the sight of their stunning arcade and pinball machines instantly reignited a passion for true retro gaming. Our desktop PiCade, while fun, suddenly felt like it needed a serious upgrade – a full-fledged, custom-built arcade experience.
If you’re a maker, a hobbyist, or simply a gaming enthusiast who dreams of owning a piece of that golden age, you’re in for a treat. This multi-part series will guide you through the exhilarating process of building your very own custom arcade machine, powered by the incredibly versatile Raspberry Pi.
In this first part, “The Vision & The Brain,” we’ll lay the essential groundwork for our build. We’ll delve into why building an arcade machine is such a rewarding project – beyond just the potent hit of nostalgia, it’s about unlocking unparalleled customization, crafting a truly unique gaming experience, and revelling in the pure joy of DIY. You’ll learn about the different types of arcade machines you can build, explore the various Raspberry Pi models best suited for this ambitious project, and get a sneak peek at the crucial components you’ll need to transform your vision into a playable reality. Get ready to embark on an epic quest to bring the arcade home!
Let’s delve into the different forms a custom arcade machine can take. The beauty of a DIY project is that you’re not limited to a single style; you can pick the form factor that best suits your space, budget, and gaming preferences. Here are the most popular types of arcade machines you might consider building:
Bar-top Arcade Machine
- What It Is: A bar-top arcade machine is a compact, self-contained unit featuring a screen, controls, and internal components, all designed to sit comfortably on a desk, counter, or bar. They are essentially miniaturized versions of classic upright cabinets, typically accommodating one or two players.
- Why It Matters: The primary appeal of a bar-top unit is its space efficiency. For those living in smaller homes, apartments, or anyone with limited dedicated gaming space, a bar-top offers the full arcade experience without requiring an entire corner of a room. They are also generally more affordable and easier to build than larger cabinets, requiring less material and simpler construction techniques.
- Use Cases:
- Apartment Dwellers/Limited Space: Perfect for small living rooms, studies, or even a bedroom desk.
- Gaming on the Go (Relatively): While not truly portable, they are much easier to move between rooms or even to a friend’s house for a gaming night than a full-size cabinet.
- “Man Cave” or “She Shed” Complement: An excellent addition to a dedicated entertainment space where a full upright might be overkill.
- Gift Projects: A great size for a significant, personalised gift for a gamer.
Pedestal Arcade Machine
- What It Is: A pedestal arcade machine consists primarily of the control panel and its supporting base, designed to be connected to an external display (like a TV or projector). The “pedestal” houses the Raspberry Pi, power supplies, and other electronics, keeping them out of sight.
- Why It Matters: This design offers maximum flexibility in screen size. You can hook it up to any large TV, from your lounge’s flatscreen to a projector for a truly immersive, room-filling gaming experience. It’s also easier to store than an upright cabinet as the display isn’t integrated, and the control unit itself is relatively compact. It allows for multi-purpose use of your display, transitioning easily from gaming to movies or TV.
- Use Cases:
- Living Room Gaming: Easily integrates with an existing home theatre setup.
- Event/Party Gaming: Highly portable (the control unit, not the screen) for quick setup at gatherings.
- Projection Enthusiasts: For those who want huge, cinematic retro gaming.
- Budget-Conscious Builders: If you already own a large TV, this saves the cost and complexity of sourcing a dedicated display for the cabinet.
Full-size Upright Arcade Machine
- What It Is: This is the iconic, classic arcade cabinet design – a tall, freestanding unit with an integrated screen, controls, and often a marquee (backlit game title display) at the top. It’s designed for players to stand while playing, just like in a traditional arcade.
- Why It Matters: The full-size upright delivers the most authentic arcade experience. It captures the nostalgia perfectly, from the physical presence to the standing gameplay. It provides ample space for a larger screen, a comprehensive control panel (often for two players, sometimes even four), and robust internal components. The imposing stature of an upright machine makes it a powerful statement piece in any gaming room or entertainment area.
- Use Cases:
- Dedicated Game Rooms: The ultimate centrepiece for a “man cave,” “she shed,” or family entertainment room.
- Commercial/Public Spaces: If you’re building for a small business, a community centre, or a school in Meyerton, the upright provides durability and classic appeal.
- True Arcade Enthusiasts: For those who want to recreate the exact feeling of their favourite arcade from childhood.
- Advanced DIYers: Offers the most complex and rewarding build challenge.
Cocktail Table Arcade Machine
- What It Is: Shaped like a low coffee table, a cocktail table arcade machine has its screen laid flat, facing upwards, typically beneath a glass top. Controls are usually mounted on the short ends of the table, allowing two players to sit opposite each other and play head-to-head. The screen often flips orientation depending on which player’s turn it is.
- Why It Matters: The cocktail table offers a unique social gaming experience, perfect for competitive two-player games like Pac-Man or Space Invaders. Its design blends into a living room environment as a functional coffee table when not in use, making it a space-saving yet highly interactive option. It encourages a more relaxed, seated playing style.
- Use Cases:
- Living Room/Lounge Areas: Blends seamlessly with existing furniture.
- Casual Gaming Gatherings: Ideal for friends or family sitting around and taking turns.
- Multi-purpose Furniture: Serves as a table and an entertainment device.
- Classic Game Focus: Particularly suited for early arcade games designed for head-to-head play on this form factor.
Choosing the right type is the first crucial step in your arcade building journey. Consider your available space, your budget, and the kind of gaming experience you want to create. Each type offers a distinct flavour of arcade nostalgia, and your Raspberry Pi is capable of powering them all!
Arcade Core and Software Overview
For this project, I’ll be employing the help of a Raspberry Pi 5 8GB. While a Raspberry Pi 4 is a solid entry point, capable of handling most of the retro emulation with ease. I’m going for something that can handle more demanding systems and for future proofing the arcade so a Raspberry pi 5 would be the better choice. As for the amount of RAM, 4GB should be enough, but getting more will help for smoother operation. I wont be using a case and will instead opt for adding an active cooler for some robust cooling.
RetroPie vs Lakka
RetroPie is pretty much the most popular option. Using Raspbian as a base, along with EmulationStation and RetroArch. It’s built upon a full-fledged Linux distribution (distro), or can be installed over Raspbian for a traditional Linux OS desktop environment with RetroPie for gaming. The EmulationStation frontend give RetroPie a pretty interface for gaming, and RetroArch, a Libretro API frontend, ensures proper controls. Kodi and a number of themes are available as well. RetroPie is essentially a full operating system in and of itself
Between RetroPie and Lakka, Lakka stands out the most. Rather than EmulationStation, Lakka uses RetroArch and the Libretro frontend with an interface mimicking the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar (XMB). It’s the most robust option you’ll find, with a bevy of options for shaders, audio, and video tweaks. At times, it’s almost too much. Definitely for the more experienced crowd due to its customizability.
Key Components and Overview
So now that we’ve chosen the board and the system our arcade is going to be running on, it’s time to discuss the shopping list of everything else that we need to get a functioning setup. We’ll be needing a few things:
- Display: I need a decently sized monitor because I want to be able to play coop so I’ll be using a 10-inch Wave share display
- Arcade Controls: I need a bunch of buttons and Joysticks if I want 2 players, so I’m going to use this Arcade DIY Kit that comes with:
- 2 x Encoder Board
- 2 x USB Cable
- 2 x 5 pin Cable for Joystick
- 2 x 5 Pin Joystick
- 16 x 30mm Push Buttons
- 4 x 24mm Push Buttons
- 20 x Cables for Buttons
- Sound: We could go 2 directions here:
- Power Supply: Raspberry Pi Official 45W USB-C PD power supply (Type EU)
- SD Card: Raspberry Pi A2-Class 64GB SD Cards – Blank
Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or just starting your journey into the world of custom electronics and retro-gaming, building a wall-mounted arcade machine powered by a Raspberry Pi offers an incredibly rewarding experience. This project not only delivers a cost-effective and surprisingly powerful platform for reliving classic arcade and console games but also allows for immense versatility in design and functionality. With the right Raspberry Pi model and the robust emulation capabilities of RetroPie, you’re equipped to transform a simple board into a portal to gaming’s golden age. Embrace the challenge, customize your setup, and prepare to immerse yourself in the nostalgic glow of pixelated adventures, all from your very own, hand-crafted arcade.
If you’re interested the visuals that we might go for then have a look at our Pinterest board where we’ve assembled some inspiration! Don’t forget to check out the rest of our socials and blog articles either!
