“I got this as a present for my kids, my gift was building it. I have to say I really enjoyed the build, very straightforward and easy to follow. I already had the pi ready to go with Recalbox so just plugged that in at the end and it all worked. I remapped the buttons on Retroarch with some help from Ai and it's all perfect. Kids had a few friends visit over Xmas and they all had a go. The 19" screen is perfect too. Great to have built it and know it's all repairable in the future. Highly recommend this machine. Top notch Customer Service from Pimoroni too.”
“I purchased and upgraded from the Picade 10. I have owned both the 8 and the 10 versions and moving to the Max is a big upgrade.
Firstly the size is perfect. You get to choose single player or 2 player builds and it is easy to swap between them. The build took me around 3 hours and wasn't too complicated. I used existing Sanwa buttons and stick that i already had so the fittings are standard.
Volume is easier to control on this model as there is an external knob. There are also screen buttons for brightness etc. The power turns on but so far I haven't figured how to make it shut down like the 8 and 10 models.
The software preinstalled was desktop so I sourced Retropie etc elsewhere on a different card, using the online PI Installer tool.
The only negative is that the max Micro SD i could use was 256gb. Note, this is the fault of windows and not this device - a fat 32 format is required and Windows just doesn't like anything above 256gb. Once I sussed this, adding roms was easy.
I have added a Bluetooth controller and keyboard and can now choose how I play depending on the type of game.
Fantastic system and a great build quality with a powerful pi5 under the bonnet. Note you need a Raspberry PI5 for this one.”
“Great kit. Arrived very well packed inside, all safe and sound. Went with Pi 5 and active cooler, and SD card (didn't take the nVME storage route). The build process described on-line was easy to follow. Took me about three to four hours to build. When finally constructed it is as solid as a rock. A few small panel gaps in places which are not that noticeable, but then again one needs to remember that it is a kit. The included games and demos are great for proving that the machoine actually works. Then begins the real task of acquiring content, which has taken me about 20 man hours of sifting all manner on nonsense on-line just to get a couple of good old games installed. No doubt that other people will be quicker at it than me, but what a slog for the uninitiated - but that's life and does not detract from the quality of this kit. Great work Pimoroni Team!”
“It comes with components for both a single-player joystick layout and a two-player joystick layout, allowing you to choose your preferred setup during assembly. I opted for the two-player configuration.
I used a Raspberry Pi 5 with an NVMe Base Duo, but the design also accommodates mini PCs. The bottom of the enclosure features multiple screw holes for secure mounting, and The bottom of the enclosure features multiple screw holes for secure mounting, and the rear panel has designated cutouts to accommodate external ports. To further support mini PCs, a specially designed panel is included for optimal port access.
When playing retro games with a vertical screen layout via an emulator, the game screen is typically trimmed to fit within a widescreen display. However, the 19-inch display on the PICADE MAX is large enough that even in this trimmed state, the arcade gaming experience remains fully immersive.
The two speakers, combined with the large enclosure, deliver excellent stereo audio with great sound quality.
The tutorial is clear, detailed, and precise, ensuring a smooth assembly process. By following the instructions step by step, you can complete the build in about five hours, without any confusion or issues.”
“Let me count the ways I love this awesome kit:
1. No soldering required
2. Easy to follow online instructions
3. Solid and sturdy build all around
4. Beautiful screen
5. Literally oozes retrogaming nostalgia
Like a good homecooked meal, it's really nothing short of a complete joy to make and then enjoy!
Some suggestions to the folks at Pimoroni though:
1. Add a spinner and/or trackball control, even if only as an option pack. Some of the best golden age arcade games used those do-dads.
2. Have builders mount the RPi to a 'tray piece' which then attaches to the cabinet with a single screw, thus facilitating easy removal of without disassmbly of the RPI stack.
As always, thanks Pimoroni for just being you! ;-)”
“It is a great kit and you see the strong dedication put into the build in so many useful details. For me there is nothing missing and I‘m super happy that I made the decision to import it. All the best to the team and I wish you great success going on with such great stuff.”
