RetroPie Zero NES Controller

thingiverse

This is my custom design for a replacement back for an original Nintendo gamepad, perfect for use with a Raspberry Pi Zero V1.2, Raspberry Pi Zero V1.3 (camera), or Raspberry Pi Zero W V1.1 (wireless) running RetroPie. I've crafted this specifically for genuine NES-004 controllers, so it's probably incompatible with the modern 'retro' hardware from China. This isn't strictly a remix, but I like to give credit where credit is due. Print with support inside the recesses for case screws, and depending on how well your printer handles bridging, inside port openings too. I recommend printing with PLA at 0.4mm extrusion, 0.18mm layers, two perimeters, and 25% infill. Taking the outermost perimeter slowly will reduce ringing artifacts on most printers, resulting in cleaner port labels and a better look. My go-to cables to use with this are: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00DIGCBQY/ and https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B018RAW642/. Post-Printing Zach from howchoo has written an excellent project guide: GamePad Zero: a Raspberry Pi Retro Gaming Rig inside an Original NES Controller. Thanks, Zach! If the audio isn't coming through to your TV, run this command: sudo sed -i '/hdmi_drive=2/s/^#//' /boot/config.txt How I Designed This I designed this from scratch in TinkerCad, and you can modify it here: https://tinkercad.com/things/1mLws3kjBLr. There's also a Fusion 360 version at http://a360.co/2i62ytA. Some of my design considerations (not exhaustive): * simplicity * rigidity * comfort * HDMI output near center to avoid an awkward weight imbalance * proper support for PCB under buttons gives the best tactile feel and durability * assembles without modification to original case top * compatibility with either revision of the Pi Zero * thicker than original controller; more comfortable for adult hands * edge and corner radii matched to original case * precise off-the-print-bed fit to top-half with no trimming, sanding, etc. * stainless Torx screws; not inferior Phillips drive [original screws are JIS, not Phillips] * clearly labeled ports for friends and family who aren't RasPi-holics * 'Mushberry' RetroPie logo, because it was perfect and the new one sucks * durable enough for my 3 and 4-year-old nephews Legal Notice ROMs & Emulation The boneheads at Nintendo consider any duplication of their ROMs to be illegal, so what you do with this thing is up to you. Check out https://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal.jsp#roms for more info. This thing is compatible with NES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color games — those requiring only two buttons and a D-pad. Some free (legal) NES games to get you started are available at http://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=nes&data=neshomebrew_bestof [my favorite is Alter Ego]. Model & Design File Licensing I've released this model and the design files under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license. Please respect the license; I've put countless hours of work into refining these models. Also, if you happen to see this thing for sale anywhere, please let me know in the comments.