GamePi43

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GamePi43
GamePi43

A portable retro video game console based on Raspberry Pi
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Overview

The GamePi43 is a portable retro video game console based on Raspberry Pi 3B+ with 4.3inch IPS display, 800x480 pixels.

Features

  • Raspberry Pi 3B+ inside, 64-bit 1.4G frequency quad-core CPU, 1G RAM
  • 4.3inch IPS display, 800×480 pixels
  • 60 fps smooth gaming experience
  • Compatible with Raspberry Pi B+/2B/3B/3B+
  • Integrates battery charge circuitry, powered from 18650 lithium batteries (NOT included), plays anywhere anytime
  • Battery life indicator
  • Onboard speaker and earphone jack, listen to the familiar BGM from the old days
  • Volume and backlight adjustment keys, adjust the device status according to specific game, better experience

Layout

GamePi43-intro.jpg

User Guides

【Note】Please make sure you mount the batteries in correct direction, otherwise it may damage charging circuity

Hardware connection

  • Insert GPIo of Raspberry Pi to GamePi43
  • Connect HDMI interface of GamePi43 to Raspberry Pi by HDMI connector
    If you use Raspberry Pi Zero/Raspberry Pi Zero W, you should use HDMI cable
  • Turn power switch into OFF and mount 18650 batteries

To use GamePi43, you can install driver manually or directly use pre-configured image

Method 1: Use pre-configured Image

1) Pre-configured images

OS Revision Raspberry Pi User name/Password Link
Retropie v4.4 Raspberry Pi 2/3/3B+ Pi / raspberry Google Drive
Retropie v4.4 Raspberry Pi 1/Zero/Zero W Pi / raspberry Google Drive
Recalbox 6.0-DragonBlaze Raspberry Pi 2/3/3B+ root / recalboxroot Google Drive
Recalbox 6.0-DragonBlaze Raspberry Pi 1/Zero/Zero W Pi / recalboxroot Google Drive

2) Write image to SD card. Then insert the SD card to Raspberry Pi. Turning Power switch into ON to start Raspberry Pi

If batteries are low, Raspberry Pi is failed to booting. In this case, you can connect 5V 3A power adapter to Power interface for charging. Indicators are flashing when charging.(You can playing when charging, however, Raspberry Pi will reboot when inserting/disconnecting power adapter)
If batteries are enough, Raspberry Pi is started and indicators are on

3)After booting, you can select emulators. In Retropie, button "A" is OK and "B" is return. In Recalbox, button "B" is OK and "A" is return

4)You can press "Start" to start games

5)If you want to exit games, press "HK" and "Select" at the same time

6) To adjust volume and backlight of LCD, you can use buttons on the bottom of GamePi43

Method 2: Install driver manually

Download Retropie image from Retropie website

Game-HAT-Manual01.jpg

  • Write the image to SD card
  • Copy the driver (Do not unzip it) to root directory of the SD card (BOOT directory of the Raspbian)
  • Connect SD card, keyboard and a HDMI display to Raspberry Pi, Turn the switch into ON side to power on Raspberry Pi. Press F4 (Keyboard) after booting
  • Install driver with commands below:
tar xzvf /boot/GamePi43-*.tar.gz
cd GamePi43/
./GamePi43
  • Long-press "A" button (GamePi43) to enter the configuration page, configure by pressing related buttons (GamePi43), you can also long-press to skip any button

After configuring, you can press "A" (GamePi43) to save configured and exit, or press "B" or "Start" (GamePi43) to exit without saving.

Install driver on Recalbox

Download the latest image from Recalbox website

GamePi15-Manual-02.jpg

  • Unzip the files download to get the .img file
  • Write the .img file to SD card
  • Copy driver to root directory of SD card
  • Connect SD card, keyboard and a HDMI display to Raspberry Pi, Turn the switch into ON side to power on Raspberry Pi. Press F4 then Alt+F2(Keyboard) after booting. (user: root; password: recalboxroot)
  • Install driver with commands:
tar xzvf /boot/GamePi43-*.tar.gz
cd GamePi43/
./GamePi43
  • Reboot Raspberry Pi

Maybe default games in test image are not those you want, you can also add games as you like.

  • Size of most games are always large, so we need to expand filesystem fist. Choose RASPI-CONFIG on configure page and press enter

600px-Game-HAT-Manual03.jpg

600px-Game-HAT-Manual04.jpg

  • Choose 7 Advanced Options -> A1 Expand Filesystem, Enter->Finish, (physical keyboard is required)

600px-Game-HAT-Manual05.jpg

  • Choose OK, and reboot.
  • Download ROMS of games you like

600px-Game-HAT-Manual08.png

  • Connect your Raspberry Pi to network (Make sure the network you connect is in the same LAN as your PC). Find SHOW IP in Retropie list, press “A” to query current IP address of your Raspberry Pi.

600px-Game-HAT-Manual09.jpg

  • Open it with the IP address on your PC

800px-Game-HAT-Manual10.png

600px-Game-HAT-Manual11.png

  • Then on emulator choose page, you can press “Start”->QUIT->RESTART EMULATIONSTAION, press “A” to confirm. Then restart emulator, you can find the game added.

For more operations, you can read Retropie Instructions

Interface

【Note】 NC: not connected

PIN Symbol Description
1 3.3V 3.3V power input
2 5V 5V Power input
3 HOTKEY BCM=2, WPI=8
4 5V 5V Power input
5 NC NC
6 GND Ground
7 UP BCM=4,WPI=7
8 TL BCM=14, WPI=15
9 GND Ground
10 X BCM=15, WPI=16
11 DOWN BCM=17, WPI=0
12 Y BCM=18, WPI=1
13 LEFT BCM=27, WPI=2
14 GND Ground
15 RIGHT BCM=22, WPI=3
16 TR BCM=23, WPI=4
17 3.3V Power input
18 B BCM=24, WPI=5
19 START BCM=10, WPI=12
20 GND Ground
21 SELECT BCM=9, WPI=13
22 A BCM=25, WPI=6
23 NC NC
24 NC NC
25 GND Ground
26 NC NC
27 NC NC
28 NC NC
29 NC NC
30 GND Ground
31 NC NC
32 NC NC
33 NC NC
34 GND Ground
35 NC NC
36 NC NC
37 NC NC
38 NC NC
39 GND Ground
40 NC NC

Resources

FAQ

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Support

Support

If you require technical support, please go to the Support page and open a ticket.