The wide range of topics we cover demonstrates the versatility of the Raspberry Pi. The app Malinka, a portable project created by maker and developer Leon, alias Leoneq on Reddit, exemplifies this adaptability. This sleek handheld may function as a radio controller or as a RetroPie-powered mobile gaming system.
To Leon, the need for remote control of his headcrab robot was the impetus for starting this project. He’s using an NRF24L01 radio module to control his ghostly robot companion from afar. In addition, a custom PCB with a Raspberry Pi Zero mounted on it will be built for the project. This enables the use of any operating system, such as RetroPie or Lakka, allowing for convenient portability of retro gaming software.
Open source is a great feature of this project. As a result, the code is available for anybody to review at their leisure and implement, in whole or in part, at their own convenience. It’s 160mm in diameter, includes a touchscreen LCD, and can accommodate two analogue joysticks. Users can access the PCB files and a comprehensive assembly manual on GitHub.
The outer casing was custom-made for this endeavour in both design and 3D printing. The shell’s 3D-printable files are also made available to users. ABDS and PET-G filaments are recommended by Leon as the finest options for this endeavour. The portable device can also function as a radio controller, although there is an option to hide the radio antenna hole.
Although Leon showcases the final map Malinka build with RetroPie as the primary operating system, users are not limited to this configuration. It ought to function flawlessly with Raspberry p iOS or Lakka. The fact that custom scripts can be used in conjunction with RetroArch support is RetroPie’s biggest selling point. The entire source code is available for viewing on GitHub.
For more information and visuals on how to replicate this Raspberry Pi project, check out the project thread posted on Reddit. You can stick with Leon to learn about upcoming improvements to the app Malinka mobile device and other exciting endeavours he’s working on.
