Retro gaming corner
Growing up in 90s and 00s I wanted to play games I've seen in magazines and played by my friends. Over the years I've built a humble collection of gaming hardware to fulfill my childhood dreams.
To avoid clutter and make things accessible, I came up with an idea of a retro gaming corner. Since it's focused on 90s and 00s, a CRT TV is an essential part. I've build the whole thing around an IKEA BESTÅ cabinet.
What's inside
- NTSC-J Sega Mega Drive 2 (HAA-2502) + Mega EverDrive X3
- NTSC-J Sega Saturn (HST-3220) + Terraonion MODE
- NTSC-J Nintendo 64 + EverDrive 64 X7
- PAL Sega Dreamcast (HKT-3030 VA1) + GDEMU
- PAL Sony PlayStation 2 (SCPH-50004) + Network Adapter
- PAL Nintendo Wii (RVL-001)
- MiSTer (Ultimate BlisSTer PRO)
Why Japanese consoles?
Japanese eBay sellers offer gaming hardware in near-perfect condition for pennies, usually Complete In Box. If a box or instruction is missing, it's even cheaper. They also have accessories which are non-existent in the West, like Saturn Twin-Stick or Sega Virtua Gun.
Voltage differences for the imported consoles
Since the Mega Drive and the Nintendo 64 don't have built-in power supplies, I just got European bricks and used them instead of the original ones. For the Saturn I bought an 230/110V 30VA step-down autotransformer. I believe it's dedicated for audio equipment, but it works with the Saturn nonetheless.
Power distribution and cable management
It took me a long time to find a power strip with an option to control each outlet separately, but I finally got one. Only the system I'm playing on at the moment gets the power.
As you may guess, there is a LOT of cables. To keep them organized, I riveted plastic cable trays to the back of the cabinet and made a few holes to get the cables through.
Connecting multiple consoles to a single TV
Initally I got a MINI HYDRA automatic SCART switch. I chose it over a regular Hydra, since I wanted a headphone output. As more consoles came in, I got a Vivanco SBX 84 manual switch and connected it in series to one of the Hydra's inputs. This combo makes the A/V management semi-automatic.