# World's Smallest MAME Arcade Cabinet ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/035/716/medium800/gaming_pi-inside.jpg?1473830583) **HEADS UP: This is NOT a kit that we sell. Nor is it a complete step-by-step guide.**  It’s lessons learned during an impromptu weekend hacking session which, to be honest, was a _lot_ of trouble to build and only marginally fun to play, aside from the incredible _“gee whiz that’s tiny!”_ factor. But it may provide insights for others looking to build small gadgets… https://youtu.be/0O0DeRL7P-w A practical and satisfying gaming project for intermediate builders is our **[PiGRRL Zero](../../../pigrrl-zero/overview)**; better controls, better display, runs off a battery. Beginners may want to start with running **[RetroPie](https://retropie.org.uk)** on a full-size Raspberry Pi and regular monitor, then you can incrementally learn about adding arcade controls or a [small LCD screen](../../../running-opengl-based-games-and-emulators-on-adafruit-pitft-displays/overview). ![gaming_raspberry_pi_pigrrlzero-table-double.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/035/715/medium640/gaming_raspberry_pi_pigrrlzero-table-double.jpg?1473830359) Just trying to temper expectations…this is an unrefined “sketch” of a project and lacks the finish of our other guides. The idea came about while discussing a gaming “bonnet” — a small accessory board precisely fitted to the Raspberry Pi Zero form-factor — which would include a few basic controls and a tiny monochrome OLED display. The question was whether a color OLED might be workable, that we might run RetroPie and all those cool old games. **The short answer is _no!_ ** The color display is just too small and coarse, requiring major graphics downsampling that render existing games just barely recognizable. But it’s also a matter of cost. We’re talking about an accessory board for a $5 computer; the RGB OLED alone can cost several times that! A mono OLED is more “to scale” with the system cost and the idea of writing small bespoke games in a high-level language like Python. They’ll look great and sharp, and it’ll be affordable. Seeing these arcade games though…like, the actual quarter chompers of my youth, not cheap ports…running on this tiny screen _is_ pretty hilarious. Wrapping it up in a little case and badging it “world’s smallest” seemed a nice way to cap off the study…though I fully expect to be upstaged by someone else’s _even smaller_ build before the week is out, then repeat _ad nauseum._ Small MAME builds are a big thing! https://vine.co/v/5JLgPiEYQ6V - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/worlds-smallest-mame-arcade-cabinet/hardware.md) ## Featured Products ### Raspberry Pi Zero - Version 1.3 [Raspberry Pi Zero - Version 1.3](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2885) At first glance, the Pi Zero isn't much.  It just looks like a slimmed down version of the Raspberry Pi we know and love.  But when we started to think of the possibilities - [and what a well-chosen set of accessories could add](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2816) -... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2885) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2885/guides) ### OLED Breakout Board - 16-bit Color 0.96" w/microSD holder [OLED Breakout Board - 16-bit Color 0.96" w/microSD holder](https://www.adafruit.com/product/684) We love our black and white monochrome displays but we also like to dabble with some color now and then. Our new 0.96" color OLED displays are perfect when you need an ultra-small display with vivid, high-contrast 16-bit color. The visible portion of the OLED measures 0.96" diagonal... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/684) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/684/guides) ### Adafruit I2S 3W Class D Amplifier Breakout - MAX98357A [Adafruit I2S 3W Class D Amplifier Breakout - MAX98357A](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3006) Listen to this good news - we now have an all in one digital audio amp breakout board that works incredibly well with the [Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/category/105)! If you're looking for an easy and low cost way to get your digital sound files... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3006) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3006/guides) ### Mini Metal Speaker w/ Wires - 8 ohm 0.5W [Mini Metal Speaker w/ Wires - 8 ohm 0.5W](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1890) Listen up! This tiny 1" diameter speaker cone is the perfect addition to any small audio project where you need an 8 Ω impedance and will be using 0.5W or less of power. We particularly like this cone as it's very simple and its metal body is extremely lightweight. In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1890) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1890/guides) ### Thru-hole 5-way Navigation switch [Thru-hole 5-way Navigation switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/504) This navigation switch is an intuitive way to add 5 button's worth of interfacing with a single component. Inside is 5 switches: left, right, up, down and 'select' (pressing down), all with a common ground pin. The package isn't exactly on a 0.1" grid, but we found that... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/504) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/504/guides) ### Tactile Button switch (6mm) x 20 pack [Tactile Button switch (6mm) x 20 pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/367) Little clicky switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work best in a PCB but [can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-arduino-lesson-6-digital-inputs?view=all). The pins are normally... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/367) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/367/guides) ### Adafruit Perma-Proto Half-sized Breadboard PCB - Single [Adafruit Perma-Proto Half-sized Breadboard PCB - Single](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1609) Customers have asked us to carry basic perf-board, but we never liked the look of most basic perf: it's always crummy quality, with pads that flake off and no labeling. Then we thought about how people **actually** prototype - usually starting with a solderless breadboard and... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1609) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1609/guides) ### Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 30AWG in Various Colors [Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 30AWG in Various Colors](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2051) Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire for being extremely supple and flexible, so it is great for wearables or projects where the wire-harness has to... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2051) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2051/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit MAX98357 I2S Class-D Mono Amp](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-max98357-i2s-class-d-mono-amp.md) - [Audio Prank Gift Box](https://learn.adafruit.com/shake-up-a-gift-box.md) - [Adafruit LED Sequins](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-led-sequins.md) - [Bluetooth Restroom Key Proximity Tracker](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluetooth-restroom-key-proximity-tracker.md) - [DIY Rechargeable LED Makeup Compact](https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-rechargeable-led-makeup-compact.md) - [Glowing Viking Rune wayFinder](https://learn.adafruit.com/glowing-viking-rune-artifact.md) - [LED Friendship Bracelet](https://learn.adafruit.com/nautical-led-bracelet.md) - [RGB & HSV NeoPixel Dialer](https://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-hsv-neopixel-dialer.md) - [Overwatch Prop Gun: Lucio's Blaster Pt. 3](https://learn.adafruit.com/overwatch-prop-gun-lucios-blaster-pt-3.md) - [ Analog IC Insights On-the-Go by Maxim Integrated](https://learn.adafruit.com/maxim-app.md) - [Chilled Drinkibot](https://learn.adafruit.com/chilled-drinkibot.md) - [Blinka Says Tabletop Arcade Game](https://learn.adafruit.com/blinka-says-tabletop-arcade-game.md) - [Convert your Model M Keyboard to Bluetooth with Bluefruit EZ-Key HID](https://learn.adafruit.com/convert-your-model-m-keyboard-to-bluetooth-with-bluefruit-ez-key-hid.md) - [Computer Perfection Synthesizer](https://learn.adafruit.com/computer-perfection-synthesizer.md) - [Walkmp3rson: Personal MP3 'Tape' Player](https://learn.adafruit.com/walkmp3rson-personal-mp3-tape-player.md) - [Adafruit Feather RP2040 with DVI Output Port](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-rp2040-dvi.md)