Are you getting an idea about just how small of a handheld game we are talking about here? The Pirakeet, designed by Paris-based Alister Savage (aka “Ampersands“) and posted on Thingiverse, can be 3D printed on a small bed. We are talking 80 x 104 mm: that’s how small. The Pirakeet is designed as a remix from Adafruit’s Pocket PiGRRL, and the intention is to make it easy to print, assemble, and play. For example, the console’s front and back are 3D printed as two pieces that will remain separate until you close the case; this separation allows you to be able to work separately on “one half at a time and keep everything neat.”
Savage explains the design differences between the Pocket PiGRRL and the Pirakeet here:
“This build pretty much follows the Adafruit PiGRRL Pocket one, but the image doesn’t work on the Pi Zero (for me anyway) so you’ll have to manually set up the screen and buttons after installing a Retropie image for the Pi Zero. This build does not have any audio.”
If you are planning on making a Pirakeet, it is also quite helpful that Savage includes PDF files for console start and build guides in addition to eleven different STL files. Both PDF files are very straightforward and take you through all assembly steps — with plenty of photos. You are advised to make the electronics parts first and check to see if everything works before adding them into your 3D printed case.
Before you know it, you’ll be able to play games on a portable console that’s even smaller than its Game Boy and PiGRRL predecessors. How’s that for some 3D printed progress? Is this something you’d be interested in using? Discuss in the 3D Printed Pirakeet Gaming Console forum over at 3DPB.com.