PicoSystem is a pocket sized handheld games console, built around Raspberry Pi's RP2040 chip (that's the little fella that's the core of a Raspberry Pi Pico).
We've taken these lucky bits of silicon to the component spa and treated them to the full works: a big chunk of flash memory, a vibrant 240x240 screen and a nice D-pad and buttons picked out by our most particular arcade enthusiasts. There's also a piezo speaker for discreet retro bleeps and chirps and a rechargeable LiPo battery so you can take your homebrew games on the bus.
The finished product looks and feels great - so we couldn't resist going all out on the build quality by adding a custom matt black anodised aluminium case with a handy wrist strap.
We think RP2040 has tons of potential as an experimental gaming platform, and we're really looking forward to seeing what folks create.
Features
- Powered by RP2040 (Dual Arm Cortex M0+ running at up to 133Mhz with 264kB of SRAM)
- 16MB of QSPI flash supporting XiP
- 1.54" colour SPI IPS LCD (240 x 240 pixels)
- D-pad and buttons
- 525mAh LiPo battery (should be good for at least 6 hours of on-time)
- Piezo buzzer/speaker
- On/off power button
- RGB LED
- CNC milled aluminium case *swoon*
- Wrist strap
- Programmable and rechargeable via USB-C (cable not included)
- Comes fully assembled.
- C++/MicroPython API
- Schematic
Software
As PicoSystem is RP2040-powered, you've got an array of options for making your own games. Here's a quick rundown!
- C++/MicroPython - Our official PicoSystem API is designed to be lightweight, easy to use and to not get in the way while you're developing games. You can find a C++ tutorial here and a function cheatsheet here. A MicroPython build is coming soon.
- CircuitPython - You can use the Stage library to make simple games in CircuitPython (thanks deshipu!). Download a PicoSystem flavoured CircuitPython build here.
- 32blit SDK - It's also possible to make PicoSystem games using C++ and the 32blit SDK, thanks to the heroic efforts of the 32blit community. Click here for 32blit x PicoSystem getting started instructions and here for a boilerplate template.
PicoSystem ships flashed with the mighty Super Square Bros. by Scorpion Games - if you like it as much as we do check out their itch.io page and show them some love.
Games
Want to try out some pre-built games while you wait for inspiration to strike? Give these a go!
- Super Square Bros. by Scorpion Games - A bouncy quadrilateral platformer.
- Dots - Dot popping puzzler. Create chains of two or more and race to get the biggest score.
- Rocks and Diamonds - Classic game of dodging rocks and grabbing diamonds.
- Geometry - Smash up space boulders with lasers to make smaller space boulders!
- Rainbow Ascent - The Dark Souls of procedurally generated vertical jumping puzzles. Good luck.
- Super Blit Kart by Daft_Freak - A "Mode7"-based racing game.
To get into bootloader mode so you can flash a new .uf2, turn your PicoSystem on whilst holding down the X button - it should then show up as a drive called RPI-RP2 on your computer.
Notes
- Dimensions: 96.6 x 42.7 x 15.5mm (L x W x H, including buttons)
- There are broken out debug pins on the PCB for if you want to program PicoSystem with an external debugger but you'll have to remove the case (with the screws on the back) to get at them.
- If you want to have a look at PicoSystem's insides without having to take yours apart take a look at HackSpace's dissection report.
- Check out ETA Prime's review for unboxing, teardown and gameplay footage!
About RP2040
Raspberry Pi's RP2040 microcontroller is a dual core ARM Cortex M0+ running at up to 133Mhz. It bundles in 264kB of SRAM, 30 multifunction GPIO pins (including a four channel 12-bit ADC), a heap of standard peripherals (I2C, SPI, UART, PWM, clocks, etc), and USB support.
One very exciting feature of RP2040 is the programmable IOs which allow you to execute custom programs that can manipulate GPIO pins and transfer data between peripherals - they can offload tasks that require high data transfer rates or precise timing that traditionally would have required a lot of heavy lifting from the CPU.
Pi Australia is operated by Little Bird, and we go to great lengths to ship your orders, often within minutes.
You can view shipping options and pricing at checkout without logging in.
For orders over 500g (such as bulky items), shipping may cost more than the initial estimate.
We deliver across Australia, and here are the options (based on your location; view them on the cart page):
- Standard Post: Starting at $7 (6+ business days, with tracking)
- Express Post: Starting at $11 (2+ business days, with tracking)
- Same Day Delivery: Available for Sydney orders.
- Non-metro WA, NT, SA, and TAS: May take an additional 2+ days.
Note: Some items, such as LiPo batteries, cannot be shipped by air. Express Post and international shipping won’t be available if these are included in your cart.
For international orders, here are rates for shipping to New Zealand (rates differ for other countries):
- Pack and Track: Starting at $12 (3+ days, with tracking)
- Express International: Starting at $16 (2-5 days, with tracking)
Shipping for heavier orders will depend on their weight.
Our address:
Little Bird
Unit 13,
8-12 Leighton Place
Hornsby, NSW 2077,
Australia
1300 240 817
For queries like whether we accept purchase orders (yes we sure do!) or if our prices include GST (they all do!), please hit us up via phone on 1300 240 817 or email us team@littlebird.com.au . We’re happy to assist with any product questions!
Sherpa Delivery Estimates
| Location | Estimated Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| Sydney Metro | Same Day |
Auspost Express Post Delivery Estimates
| Location | Estimated Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| Canberra | 1 Day |
| Sydney Metro | 1 Day |
| NSW Outer Metro | 1 Day |
| NSW VIC Border | 2 Days |
| NSW Rural | 2-3 Days |
| Melbourne Metro | 1 Day |
| VIC Other | 2-3 Days |
| VIC Rural | 2-3 Days |
| Brisbane Metro | 1 Day |
| QLD Gold Coast | 1 Day |
| QLD Outer Metro | 1-2 Days |
| QLD Other | 2-3 Days |
| QLD Rural | 3-4 Days |
| Adelaide Metro | 1 Day |
| SA Other | 2-3 Days |
| SA Rural | 3-4 Days |
| Perth CBD | 1 Day |
| Perth Metro | 2 Days |
| WA Other | 3-4 Days |
| WA Rural | 4-6 Days |
| Tas Metro | 1 Day |
| Tas Devonport | 1-2 Days |
| Tas Country | 2-3 Days |
| Tas Remote | 4 Days |
| Darwin & Katherine | 3-4 Days |
| Alice Springs | 4 Days |
| NT Rural | 4-5 Days |
Auspost Parcel Post Delivery Estimates
| Location | Estimated Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| Sydney Metro | 2 Days |
| NSW Country | 3-4 Days |
| Canberra | 2 Days |
| Melbourne Metro | 2-3 Days |
| VIC Country | 3-5 Days |
| Brisbane Metro | 2-3 Days |
| QLD Near Country | 2-4 Days |
| QLD Far Country | 3-5 Days |
| Far North QLD | 5-7 Days |
| Far North QLD Remote | 7-12 Days |
| Adelaide Metro | 2-4 Days |
| SA Country | 2-5 Days |
| Perth Metro | 4-5 Days |
| WA Country | 5-8 Days |
| WA Country Far | 7-10 Days |
| Tasmania | 3-5 Days |
| Tasmania Remote | 4-8 Days |
| Darwin | 4-7 Days |
| Alice Springs | 6-9 Days |
| NT Other | 12-13 Days |
Buy with Confidence
We're Australia's only Raspberry Pi approved reseller in Sydney, Australia.
How do you Ship your Raspberry Pis?
We ship via Australia Post eParcel from our Sydney warehouse.
Australia Post picks up from us daily.
All shipping methods we use have tracking.
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All our products ship from our warehouse in Sydney, Australia.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal.
We also accept purchase orders from educational and government institutions on 30-day terms.
You're automatically approved if you're a school, university, or state or federal government department or agency.
What is your return, exchange and warranty policy?
Returns
We accept returns for faulty products, but will first work with you to help get your Raspberry Pi working again.
99% of the time there it is not the Raspberry Pi that is faulty.
If you need help, reach out to us on help@littlebird.com.au.
Change of Mind
We are happy to accept a return for a "change of mind", however, you will need to cover the cost of any merchant fees associated with the return. Goods need to be in an "as new" state.
What's the warranty on your Raspberry Pis?
You can have peace of mind knowing that Raspberry Pi is backed by a 1-year warranty, and thanks to rigorous quality assurance testing in the UK factory, you can be sure that your Raspberry Pi will stay in good working condition.
How long does shipping and delivery take?
At our Sydney, Australia warehouse, we provide fast and reliable shipping. To go even further, we have created our own Raspberry Pi powered Robot called Bishop.
How long does delivery take?
Australia Post picks up from us daily. If you're within the Australia Post next day network you can usually expect your order to arrive the next day if ordered with Express Post before 2pm.
80% of Australian addresses covered and you probably already know if you're in the network.
How can I track my order?
When we ship your order (which we do daily), we send you a tracking link.
If you haven't received a tracking link, please email us on help@littlebird.com.au .
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