I'm really interested in crafting my own handheld gaming device, kind of like those cheap portable ones from the 90s that had simple games like Tetris. I have software skills, but I'm not as confident with hardware components. I'm looking for advice on where to start: what materials I'd need, how to get the software loaded onto it, and any resources or guides that could help me through this process.
3 Answers
For classic handhelds, many used custom LCDs and simple CPUs that only needed to detect which segments were lit. You might want to look for a graphic LCD with a built-in parallel controller and a powerfully enough CPU or MCU to handle basic graphics. You can even create a simple graphics library to help with your coding!
I actually built one a few years back using an Arduino, a few buttons, and a color screen. If you’re willing to invest some time learning Fusion 360 for 3D printing a case, it's definitely doable. I programmed several games in C, and my favorite was an Asteroids clone! It was a fun project that really let me flex my coding skills.
Check out some YouTube videos; there are tons of tutorials on building custom handhelds, and it's more straightforward than you might think! You'll need a microcontroller that can handle your games, a way to read data (like an SD card reader), some buttons, and either an OLED or another compatible screen. A 3D printer is super handy for creating a case, but even without one, you can get the parts for about $20 on AliExpress.