The world of arcade machines has produced all sorts of formats. Some cabinets were so large they needed a special spot in the room, while others could sit on a table without issue. The folks at TinyCircuits decided to make an arcade cabinet very small—so small you can hold it with one hand. The current version features Space Invaders as its main game, but with open source hardware inside, the sky is the limit.
Build Your Own
If you want to build your own arcade, you'll need a hardware platform (Raspberry Pi, old computer, etc.), additional components (buttons, joysticks, power supply), and plans for the cabinet. If you're short on space, a tabletop format might be your best bet, but even that could be a problem. There's an alternative: an arcade smaller than a can of soda.
Tinyduino: The Heart of the Cabinet
That's where TinyCircuits comes in with its Tinyduino platform, a more compact equivalent to the Arduino Uno, with the ability to stack modules on top of each other. Depending on what you need, you can add a microSD card reader, a USB port, or a miniature display, which brings us to the world's smallest arcade cabinet. The cabinet was created with a 3D printer, the power button is hidden in the back, and the best part: you have to insert a coin to start the game.
TinyCircuits has said that the arcade is a very raw prototype, and they need to work more on it to reduce the cost and prepare it as a commercial product. Even so, they estimate the final price will be between $50 and $75, quite good for what is certainly a curiosity that many will want on their desks. TinyCircuits also confirmed that the files for printing the case will be available very soon, opening up a wide range of possibilities for modifications and different hardware.
