In a new installment of "I want to install a Raspberry Pi in the air conditioner", we come across the Raspi Boy project, developed by Pierre-Louis Boyer. It's not the first time we've seen the Raspberry Pi Zero turned into a portable console, and we're sure it won't be the last, but Raspi Boy manages to carve out its own identity by drawing inspiration from platforms as iconic as the Game Boy and Super Nintendo.
A retro console for every Raspberry Pi
The "retro console" has become the go-to role for any Raspberry Pi model. It doesn't matter if it's the first generation or the latest, or whether it has one or four cores, the truth is that with a copy of RetroPie and some games, the most recognized classic systems on the market can easily come back to life. One of my big pending tasks is the original Game Boy console. In the past I've played many of its titles with the help of emulators, but for once I'd like to have that console. The prices of existing units have skyrocketed, and deep down we dream of a special edition similar to the one Nintendo released with its NES Classic. Until then, we must build our own alternative, and the Raspi Boy project is shaping up to be an excellent candidate.
Easy to assemble and portable
Depending on how much time and money each user wants to invest, Raspi Boy can be a simple shell compatible with the Raspberry Pi Zero, or a nearly ready-to-use portable console. Why "nearly"? The reason is none other than the difficulty in finding the Raspberry Pi Zero. Those who sell it only deliver one per person, and the few available units tend to disappear quickly. Raspi Boy is very easy to assemble, and to tell the truth, it doesn't even require a soldering iron. Its internal 2,000 mAh battery guarantees portability, while the HDMI output on the Pi Zero makes it easy to connect to a larger external screen.
Price and availability
Raspi Boy has already received the necessary funding through Kickstarter to move to its next phase, but you can still get one if you wish. The price for the shell alone is 25 euros, however, most interested parties decided to make the jump to the complete kit, whose price is 69 euros. There is also a series of extra upgrades, and the possibility of adding gamepads to the configuration. If all goes well, the first deliveries will be made in March.
