Shrinking classic gaming consoles into handheld versions has long been a favorite pastime of electronics hobbyists. It is appealing on a number of fronts. First, there is the challenge of reengineering the system such that the hardware can fit into a much smaller space than was originally intended. Moreover, the novelty of carrying a Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, or similar console in the palm of your hand is appealing to many — not to mention the confused looks you are sure to get from people that cannot recall that particular portable device ever being released.
YouTuber LukeMods has a long history of shrinking consoles into handheld systems, starting with a very slick Nintendo 64 build. But that is old news now, so when LukeMods got the urge to build a new handheld, a different path was chosen. In this case, the target was an arcade game called Sound Voltex. For those unfamiliar with the title, it is a rhythm game something like Beatmania IIDX or Arcaea. Players have to hit buttons that represent the notes approaching on-screen at just the right time to rack up big points.
A look at the hardware during assembly (📷: LukeMods)
This project was made infinitely easier by ignoring all of the hardware inside the actual arcade cabinet, and instead choosing to use Unnamed SDVX clone, which recreates the Sound Voltex experience on any Linux, macOS, or Windows machine. With the software sorted out, a Raspberry Pi 4 single-board computer was selected to run it. A 3.5-inch touchscreen display was attached to the Raspberry Pi, and the majority of the system’s functionality was figured out.
A Teensy 3.2 development board was included to assist with handling the inputs and serving as a controller. Seven large arcade-style buttons (with LED backlighting) and a pair of rotary encoders were selected for use as inputs. A speaker and custom audio amplifier were installed to support sound output. The device runs off of a pair of 18650 rechargeable batteries.
The hardware was all fitted into a custom, 3D-printed case that looks somewhat like an oversized Game Boy. It may not fool anyone into thinking it is a commercial system, but it looks quite nice all the same.
Sound Voltex may be something of a niche game, but the platform developed by LukeMods is quite flexible, so it should not be too much trouble to run other games if it is not your cup of tea. With a Raspberry Pi 4 at the heart of the device, running RetroPie on it, for example, would likely be pretty simple. But even if you do not plan to build your own, LukeMods’ project is well worth a look for the attention to detail that went into it.
