Project: Raspberry PiNES

[Ristopal]

Hello HF, long time reader of HF and worklogs. I admire all the work that you do, now it's my turn. This is my first modification since I built my PC in 2008 and it's still my everyday PC, so please bear with me if some stuff seems off or wrong, please correct me. This is the current project I'm going to be working on, but it may get put on the back burner once the NIN/HTDA tours start kicking off. Here's the details.

I've had this Raspberry Pi since 2011. The Raspberry Pi is a $25 ARM GNU/Linux box. Besides installing a basic OS I have not been able to do much else, mainly due to the lack of software that was developed at the time. It's now 2013 and there are several options. An OS has been imported for the Pi called "EmulationStation" which is a video game emulator capable of playing NES, SNES, Atari, Neo Geo, and SEGA games (YES, this little computer can play all these systems). I had been looking at similar projects and decided I would put my Pi to good use.

Here's are my goals for this project:

- Build an emulator box to play NES/SNES games
- Disassemble the NES without destroying any components to allow for reassembly if desired
- Keep the exterior of the NES as close to original as possible
- Rewire Power/Reset buttons to power the Pi
- Keep the original Power adpater to power a USB Hub
- Keep the original Audio/Video coaxial cables operational
- Keep the original NES controller ports operational
- Use original NES/SNES controllers and connect them via USB
- Install and configure EmulationStation via SD card.

I found a NES on Ebay in superb condition at a very good price and picked it up. It just arrived last night from Concord, NC. It was sold "as-is" but that didn't bother me, since I would be heavily modding it.

I treated myself to a Canon EOS Rebel T3i a few months back and have been trying to play around with it. Here are the pictures of the NES.

Inside seems clean, not sure if the 72-pin connector is in working order.

Front slots are very clean also.

Original LED works, which is a major plus!

AC plug works.

Not sure if these are working yet, I will find out soon.

Soon...

My next step is to test the NES to see if it works. I need to pick up 2 controllers and a game then purchase an external powered USB Hub that will power the Pi along with USB devices.

Thanks for the read, I would really appreciate any tips or suggestions also!

 

[Ristopal]

Small update since this post. I purchased a used original NES controller to test the port and a copy of Mario Bros/Duck Hunt along with a new RGA cable. After some attempts to open the lid, I finally got it off. I can instantly tell that this case had previously been opened (2 stripped screws and a broken off piece to hold the controller front plate on, pictured below)

Sorry in advance for the blurry pictures, it was quite dark in the room.

Once I had all the needed cables and such I just plugged it in and tried playing my game. Pushing the game into the slot was a bit difficult, but I managed to get it in. This is what appeared. Controls and audio worked, only the video is faulty. I then decided to take everything apart and give it a good cleaning.

Lid off

Power/Reset button internals look great!

Metal plate removed.

This is the 72-PIN connector, which I suspected to be the cause of the glitchy screen.

You can see the piece broken off in the red circle. I took it off anyway and it should be an easy fix.

Cartridge holder out, clear picture of the pins.

72-Pin connector removed.

I think this is the root cause of the glitchy screen. I took this out and cleaned it thoroughly.

I took everything apart and gave everything a good cleaning. I even cleaned the cartridge and pushed the pins up with a very small flat head and still had this glitchy screen. I can always try a different game, but I probably won't get around to it. More to come soon.

 

[cnealjr]

Looks like a good start! I am following this with interest. I've toyed with getting a Pi, but wasn't sure what to do with it. This sounds like a good option.

 

[Ristopal]

Small update. I've been messing around with my camera and new flash. Some of these pictures came out really badly and you really tell they were touched with Photoshop, sorry about that.

This is the inside of the NES with everything but the controller ports and Power/Reset button assembly removed.

This is what the bottom of a NES motherboard looks like.

This is the power block. I will eventually have to take this apart.

This is how it is connected to the board.

These arrived today in the mail a few days early, that's always a good thing!

Taking the adapter apart was a breeze. I thought that it would fit easily into the original NES controller slots like this.

I was able to get it through the front 1 & 2 face plate but to make it smoother I'd need to sand these 2 bevels down and in doing so i'm not damaging anything.

So I ran into my first problem with the original NES case. For some reason the gray plastic is the same shape as the controller port. I think it's to make the inside look smoother as pictured below, there is no other explanation. The gray bit that is showing below is blocking the adapter from fitting snugly. This will be a quick and easy filing but I currently don't have the tools on hand to do so. This will be the first modification to the exterior of the case.

Inside the red lines is what needs to come out.

This is how it looks on the inside. Inside the red lines is what's coming out.

I went to test the Raspberry Pi and configure the software before modding anything further. Upon booting I discovered my USB wifi adapter doesn't work on the pi (even with a AC powered hub). EmulationStation requires an internet connection to download and install. I had to order an Edimax Wireless Nano USB Adapter which works nicely with the pi. Once it arrives and I successfully install all the software, everything should pick up quicker. That's all for now.

 

[jackofalltrades]

cool

 

[Red Squirrel]

Haha this is awesome. I miss the NES, so much fun times.

Also one of those chips seems to have the AMD logo on it, interesting.

 

[Ristopal]

Not a whole lot to update on and sorry for the grainy cell phone photo. This is how far I am after 2 days of tinkering and lots of coffee. I can play ROMs but I still have no controller input or sound. My USB NES controller can control the game selection but as soon as I start a ROM the input goes back to keyboard, weird. My HDMI does not play sound for some odd reason. I plugged a headset into the 3.5mm and had game audio very faintly. It's not a big issue, but I will have to figure out why the HDMI audio isn't working. The other issue is the Pi does not recognize my NES to USB controller (The OS won't even boot and hangs on some weird error). So close, yet so far!

 

[Ristopal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXh5jGsmvpA

Here's a Video update! After several days of configuring, I finally got everything working correctly! The video shows the Pi booting and playing Super Mario Bros. 3 and Tetris. I only added 2 ROMs at the time, but since then I have added several more.

The only shortfall is I still cannot get the NES to USB adapter to work. The Pi won't boot when I plug it in. I had a NES USB controller already on hand but the buttons and the D-pad did not feel smooth or authentic. What I ended up doing was taking the internals from the USB NES controller and fit them into the original NES controller and that worked beautifully. What I will probably do now is just leave the front controller ports alone and move the USB hub close to the game hood so I can just plug and play controllers.

What took the longest with the configuring was getting the controller to work and getting audio over HDMI. After much tinkering and asking around I finally got both working successfully. I ended up having to overclock my Pi up to 900 to get graphics and audio to work and sound properly. Right now I plan on drilling a small slit on the back between the channel selection and AF switch and place a HDMI slot.



Updates are to follow soon.

 

[Ristopal]

Two updates in one day, I'm on a roll.

There have been a few changes since the start. The most heart crushing one is the NES motherboard snapped when I was trying to take the power block off, which means the NES is officially dead. This is a pretty big tragedy and I'm sure the original NES had much game play in it's day. Luckily for this NES there is life after death. Onto the pictures.

Sadly this was my first dremeling work since high school. I was originally planning on putting my F>F HDMI control where the channel selection/AV out was, but the bit of plastic separating the two would have broken off. Then I was going to place it vertically in the AC slot but once the MoBo broke off from the power block I then planned on just leaving the block in and screwing it in place which led to adding this HDMI slot on the side. It isn't very pretty but it will do.

As you can tell I was a bit rusty with the dremel. That top error isn't visable once the lid is on. I hot glued the control in place since it would be easy to remove in the future.

This is how the inside of the case looks cleaned out.

This is all that remains of the MoBo. I planned on saving it but the block is now screwed in place to make the outside slots look authentic.

The next few pictures go in layer order. The red circle is a piece that is going to have to be cut off. I plan on placing the Pi where the arrow is.

I haven't cut it off yet, this is just the Pi sitting where it will be placed.

Once the Pi is place I am going to secure the USB hub where it is pictured above. The game tray is in the up position so the hub will sit flush with the door.

This is what it will look like when it is finished. The controller ports are removed but will be placed in upon completion. Once I am able to find drivers for my NES to USB adapter I plan on making full use of those slots. For now the USB controller will have to suffice.

Programming and modding all day calls for a cold one. Raspberry Wheat, Cheers!

Things to come in the future include figuring out the wiring for the LED/Power/Reset button. If anyone has ANY guide on how to wire those, I would love to read it (wiring is going to be the hardest part for me). Lastly the USB hub has 2 BRIGHT blue LED's on each side and I am debating whether to remove them or not. That's a minor step but up next is the wiring. Stay tuned.

 

[Ristopal]

I decided to dremel out the guts of the NES controller ports. First on to the other updates.

My power adapter. This goes to the USB hub.

My original NES controller converted to USB.

This is the male to female USB wire connected to the front controller port.

I haven't done the second controller yet, I'll get around to it when I get more controllers.

I put the lid on and roughly tidied the wires. I still have to tuck and hide a lot of wires to get the game slot back in. This was just a test run. I plan on eventually leaving a game in the slot for an authentic look.

So close to finished. All that is left is to wire the Power/Reset/LED to the Pi. I'm currently waiting on the pins to arrive in the mail. That will probably be the next update.