PiPlay
A RPI Zero powered thingie with a display to play ROMs and other Retropie thingies.
Created by
Moses Shriver
Tier 3
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0 followers
PiPlay was submitted for review ago
Moses Shriver
added to the journal ago
Made the Github
I made the Github repository for the project, added the KiCad files, added the Gerber ZIP file, and wrote a readme with instructions for building. Also got a quote for my PCB, and I think that I'll just barely fit in budget!!!
Decided on battery too. Gonna use a 5200 MAH Li-ion battery!
Moses Shriver
added to the journal ago
Routed the PCB
I routed the PCB! 4 hours of tedious work and it looks... ok. now I'm sad. it looks meh. it should work tho! the battery is all hooked up, the thingie is connected to the thingie, now I get to set up my github and make the stl for it so I can 3d print the case!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moses Shriver
added to the journal ago
laid out the pcb(finally)
I finally got around to laying out the PCB so it looks nice and so it'll work in my project. It looks like a rectangle, the d-pad and arrow keys are laid out in the correct spots, has start-select, shoulder keys, and a screen spot, header for the Pi, header for the charger, and all the things.
Moses Shriver
added to the journal ago
pivoted, still a game project tho
Big pivot, realized i was being stupid, realized that I cant have everything in one project, swapped the OG idea for a new one. Now building a gameboy style device, with full retropie capabilities and maybe something new(its a surprise!) Will have a dpad as well as arrow keys. Will have a bigger screen cuz the screen was microscopic. also shoulder buttons on back cuz yes and for more game support.
Moses Shriver
added to the journal ago
Decided to do something stupid
I decided that it would be fun to write a schema file for KiCad instead of using the GUI like a normie, and wasted several days of my life. Please never try to do this ever. I also decided on a couple of different things, like screen size, buttons, a full power system, and whether it should be able to access the Pi OS GUI or not.
Moses Shriver
added to the journal ago
wired buttons
I hooked up the buttons to the 40 pin header and started work on the battery system.
I also started to think about code and if I should use rumble motors or not. It should have Bluetooth when I'm done, so ill add a mode switch button later on so you can switch between playing games using the OLED and playing games using the controller on a PC.
Moses Shriver
added to the journal ago
started the schematic
I started work on the schematic and looked at power supplies! 
The parts will be items such as a Pi 0 2 w(I know it's off the shelf and I should be ashamed, but there ain't no way I'm gonna reflow a Pi chip), a LIPO battery, some power things, joysticks and buttons, and other controller things like that.
Moses Shriver
started PiPlay ago
10/7/2025 6 AM - started the schematic
I started work on the schematic and looked at power supplies!
The parts will be items such as a Pi 0 2 w(I know it's off the shelf and I should be ashamed, but there ain't no way I'm gonna reflow a Pi chip), a LIPO battery, some power things, joysticks and buttons, and other controller things like that.
10/7/2025 4 PM - wired buttons
I hooked up the buttons to the 40 pin header and started work on the battery system.
I also started to think about code and if I should use rumble motors or not. It should have Bluetooth when I'm done, so ill add a mode switch button later on so you can switch between playing games using the OLED and playing games using the controller on a PC.
10/11/2025 - Decided to do something stupid
I decided that it would be fun to write a schema file for KiCad instead of using the GUI like a normie, and wasted several days of my life. Please never try to do this ever. I also decided on a couple of different things, like screen size, buttons, a full power system, and whether it should be able to access the Pi OS GUI or not.
10/12/2025 - pivoted, still a game project tho
Big pivot, realized i was being stupid, realized that I cant have everything in one project, swapped the OG idea for a new one. Now building a gameboy style device, with full retropie capabilities and maybe something new(its a surprise!) Will have a dpad as well as arrow keys. Will have a bigger screen cuz the screen was microscopic. also shoulder buttons on back cuz yes and for more game support.
10/13/2025 7:24 AM - laid out the pcb(finally)
I finally got around to laying out the PCB so it looks nice and so it'll work in my project. It looks like a rectangle, the d-pad and arrow keys are laid out in the correct spots, has start-select, shoulder keys, and a screen spot, header for the Pi, header for the charger, and all the things.
10/13/2025 7:50 AM - Routed the PCB
I routed the PCB! 4 hours of tedious work and it looks... ok. now I'm sad. it looks meh. it should work tho! the battery is all hooked up, the thingie is connected to the thingie, now I get to set up my github and make the stl for it so I can 3d print the case!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10/14/2025 - Made the Github
I made the Github repository for the project, added the KiCad files, added the Gerber ZIP file, and wrote a readme with instructions for building. Also got a quote for my PCB, and I think that I'll just barely fit in budget!!!
Decided on battery too. Gonna use a 5200 MAH Li-ion battery!