Porta-Pi: Build Your Own Mini Arcade Cabinet Using A Raspberry Pi

In my earlier article about how to build a Raspberry Pi Laptop, we took a closer look at the components that you can salvage from a range of old devices and use them as Raspberry Pi accessories. In this article, we’re going to check out a new product called Porta-Pi, which is a DIY mini arcade cabinet building kit that incorporates the Raspberry Pi to power it. As I said in my previous article, the Raspberry Pi can be used as a brain in pretty much any custom build.

The Porta-Pi comes from a guy named Ryan Bates and is a geek’s dream come true. I know I might “over glorify” a few things here and there, but this mini arcade cabinet is really something that you need to check out.

The idea behind the project is to give everyone a chance to own an arcade cabinet as we all know arcade cabinets are pretty darn awesome. This DIY set, however, is a desk-sized mini arcade cabinet that comes with all necessary components. You can even buy decals to customize it the way you want it to look. The whole build is powered by a Raspberry Pi and is definitely worthy of any geek’s attention.

If you’re looking for a weekend project, then this is the thing to go for. Full sized arcade cabinets can cost upwards of several thousands of dollars. However, if you’re quick and jump over to the creator’s Kickstarter page you will be able to pledge and receive your own mini arcade cabinet (all components included) for just $150. Now that’s not just cheap, it’s a steal!

In order for this product to be profitable and worth creating for you guys, the founder is looking to raise $36,000 in order to complete the project and expand the product accessory line in order to get it ready for market. So far, after just a couple of days, the crowdfunding campaign has raised a little north of $2,000. This is great news as with just a little bit more spotlight on this campaign could very well make it a successful one. If you’re a real geek and need a desk-sized mini arcade cabinet in your office, then don’t hesitate! Hop on over to the Kickstarter page and pledge now!