How to convert your Nexus 7 into a Retro Gaming Console?

We have had the Google's Nexus 7 for quite a while now. The 2012 Model is now replaced by the Nexus 2013 which has a 2GB RAM and 323 ppi full HD screen. 

Having said that, the 2012 Nexus is equally impressive in terms of performance. We have played all sorts of games on it, ranging from Rovio's Angry Birds GO! to  Rockstar's GTA SanAndreas and we were very impressed with it's capability. Also to note is the price of the Tablet, we got it for 25% of the price of an IPad.

The Nexus 7, out of the box supports USB OTG. In a non rooted state we can connect gaming controllers to it. If we root it, the nexus can read flash drives for external storage. We even Managed to connect an external Hard drive via a powered USB Hub.

On a lazy Sunday morning we had an epiphany. If the Nexus 7 supports USB controllers, why not convert it into a portable Retro console. That's Exactly what we did. We love the classic Nintendo NES, this tutorial will covers the NES emulator , but there are emulators available for all the retro consoles like Gameboy, N64 etc.

This tutorial can be tried with any device that supports USB OTG.

Hardware: One Nexus 7(Or any other Tablet which supports OTG ), One USB OTG Cable, One USB Game Controller.

Software: Nostalgia NES Lite - PlayStore Link, Download Game ROMs from -  NES ROMs. ROMs are basically the software version of the game cartridges.

Lets get started: 

• Install the Nostalgia NES Lite from the google play store link given above.
• Download any ROM file from the freeroms link given above. We will download our favorite game "Super Mario" for this tutorial.
• Unzip the Archive and place the .nes file on your tablet.

  

  Place NES file on Nexus 7

  
  
• Connect the game controller to the tablet via the USB OTG cable.

USB OTG Cable

• Check the controller by navigating the Android homescreen using it.

USB Game Controller

• Start the NES Lite app.  

• Tap the refresh button, it will recognize the ROM that you copied to your device.

  

  Nostalgia NES App

  
  
  

• Go to preference and scroll down to keyboard/GamePad preference.

Preference Menu

• Click on edit profile and map the controller as shown in the screenshot.

Controller Mapping

• Go back to the ROM List and click on the ROM.
• The Game will start, Check the controllers.

Play On!!

• If everything works fine, enjoy the journey to your childhood! 

Our Retro Gaming Setup