// ENGADGET — LINUX & OPEN SOURCE
You can have a PlayStation arcade machine at home, but there's a huge caveat
Nostalgia can play tricks on our memories. Consider exhibit A: the PlayStation arcade cabinet. This hobbyist build combines the thrill of entering a '90s arcade with the branding and games of Sony's first console. While some of these games did appear in arcades, a PlayStation cabinet was obviously never a thing back in the day.
But just because this Franken-console is novel doesn't mean it's worth spending money on. And the fact that this fan-built cabinet costs over $1,000 is only part of the problem.
Of course, this isn't a Sony product, despite the arcade cabinet's impressive appearance, heavy with PlayStation logos and icons. The hobbyist behind the build says it runs on a Raspberry Pi 4, a small computer that starts at $35 for 128GB of storage. (The seller offers a 512GB upgrade for an extra $100.) The machine runs RetroPie, open-source software that bundles emulators for Raspberry Pi and similar devices.
It also has a 19-inch LCD, Sanwa-clone joysticks and buttons, a pair of 4-inch speakers and LED lighting. At least in pictures, its "high-quality laminated vinyl artwork" is what brings the project to life. The PlayStation logos and button icons on top of the familiar gray base are enough to make you wonder why Sony never made this.
All of that can be yours for the low, low price of — cue spit take — $1,030, plus $120 shipping. While cabinet collectors are accustomed to paying a premium, this machine's limits could make even the most well-heeled hobbyist think twice.
Controls are likely a problem. The original PlayStation controller had a D-pad, four face buttons, four shoulder buttons, Select and Start. Later models added two analog sticks. But the custom arcade cabinet only has a single joystick and six action buttons per player. That discrepancy could make many, if not most, of the platform's tentpole titles unplayable.
This novelty machine is best reserved for simple 2D platform series like Mega Man and fighting franchises like Tekken, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. It won't likely be a good fit for the system's classic 3D titles like Metal Gear Solid or Resident Evil.
The screen is another issue. PS1 games were made for boxy 4:3 TVs. This build's widescreen LCD means games will have black bars on the sides, or, even worse, stretched images. Not to mention, you'll be standing up for your 40-hour Final Fantasy adventure. Perhaps consider ordering a pair of comfortable shoes while you're at it.
I won't moralize about pirating decades-old games, especially in an era of particularly egregious business practices by gaming industry titans. Your relationship with the legal gray areas of ROMs and BIOS files is for you to decide.
But the cabinet seller, who advertises the machine as "ready to plug n' play thousands of games" with "no setup / configuration required," almost certainly isn't in the clear legally. While buyers likely wouldn't have anything to worry about, it's still worth noting: if the seller gets their listing taken down from eBay, that could make it harder for you to get support.