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by jaster 2044 days ago
If you're looking for a fun use for your shelved rpi, I can recommand installing a retro-gaming distro such as recalbox (https://www.recalbox.com/) or retropie (https://retropie.org.uk/).

I installed recalbox on a rpi3, and it runs nes/snes fine, and even some n64 games. On occasions I brought it along when visiting friends, and plugged it into the TV/projector with a couple of joysticks. It has been a blast!

All in all I'm very happy with my small on-the-go arcade machine.

1 comments

thats always the suggestion, but every computer and laptop can easily emaulate all those things+ more.. I see no reason to use a rasp for that
Sure you can indeed. For me the compactness of the rpi was a plus however. Since you don't need a dedicated screen or a keyboard (recalbox interface is tailored for controllers), having only to carry the small rpi makes it more convenient and more suited to this use in my view.

Of course, if it's to play at mainly at home then I agree it's not as interesting.

This is always where I struggle as well.

I can bring two old corded Xbox 360 controllers with my Surface Book 3 and play pretty much any console game on an emulator. My SB3 has an HDMI dongle that I got with my SB2, so I just struggle to see the point.

I bought an SNES Classic, and it sits in the box because I can emulate all those games, plus more, with better graphical quality and more features on SNES9x.

Other usable ideas could be as an "Internet Radio" listening device if you can cobble together a descent front panel display and software stack.

Another could be some type of a Twitter ticker tape display for your front room.