A YouTuber and inventor has revealed mintyPi 2.0, a project that transforms a regular mint tin box into a portable video game console.
MintyPi 2.0, powered by the Raspberry Pi mini-computer, is the second attempt at the project, bringing with it several improvements compared to the original mintyPi.
MintyPi 2.0: RetroPie-Powered Emulator In A Tin Box
The project, created by a gamer who goes by the handle of Sudomod, was shown off through a blog post.
MintyPi 2.0 functions and looks like a traditional portable video game console, with the mint tin box containing the device opening up to reveal a screen and sets of buttons. For the project, Sudomod used Altoids tin boxes, and since they came in different colors for their flavors, he created mintyPi 2.0 portable consoles that match the colors of the tin boxes.
According to Sudomod, the various improvements that have been applied to his second stab at the project include an integrated hinge that will be able to hold up the device's screen while playing, a much bigger and crisper display, clearer sound by replacing PWM audio in the first version with USB sound, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Adding Wi-Fi connectivity to mintyPi 2.0 was made possible through the usage of the Raspberry Pi Zero W, a new version of the Raspberry Pi mini-computer that comes with built-in wireless LAN capabilities.
Sudomod said that the components of mintyPi 2.0 were created through 3D printing, so that the comfort and look of the device would be better compared to the first iteration. Also, similar to most other video game emulation projects powered by the Raspberry Pi, mintyPi 2.0 uses the RetroPie software.
One of the mintyPi 2.0 units that Sudomod created was shown to be running The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which was originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992. However, with the capabilities of RetroPie, gamers will be able to emulate any retro console that they would want for the project.
For interested gamers who have knowledge or are willing to learn about using RaspBerry Pi for projects such as mintyPi 2.0, Sudomod said that he will be putting up a guide over the coming weeks to help others create their own mini video game emulator.
Video Game Emulators On The Rise
Video game emulators have been on the rise recently, beginning with Nintendo's release of the NES Classic Edition.
The NES Classic Edition, however, is always sold out in retailers. For those who are always failing in snapping up one of Nintendo's retro consoles, there is a project that similarly uses RetroPie to create a mini NES.
Hackers who were able to grab their own NES Classic Edition were also previously reported to have tinkered with the device to make the retro console able to play any game from any of the classic consoles.
A recent report, meanwhile, revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S8 is capable of flawlessly emulating GameCube titles, leapfrogging the Nintendo Switch as the portable device for GameCube emulation due to Nintendo still not yet releasing the Virtual Console for it.
