ZIP96 Retro Gamer for Raspberry Pi Pico

The ZIP96 Retro Gamer is an all-in-one programmable gaming handheld designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi Pico. It is the perfect introduction to physical computing and coding for young programmers, with pre-written lesson plans that help teachers and students create their first game in a flash. No tools are required; simply slot your Pico into the low-profile pin sockets and you're ready to start building and playing.

The handheld features a retro-styled design with a 96 addressable RGB LED matrix (12x8 display) that brings your games to life with vibrant colours. It is packed with 6 action buttons, a piezo buzzer for sound effects, and a vibration motor for haptic feedback, providing an immersive gaming experience.

Coding is made simple with the Thonny IDE, and sample code is available for download. The device is suitable for classroom use, with detailed lesson plans that can be easily followed. It also offers 8 additional pin breakouts (GP1, GP11, ADC1, ADC2 – with 3.3V and GND – and GP18-GP21) located underneath the Pico, all in the standard 0.1-inch footprint.

Powered by 3x AA batteries (not included), the ZIP96 offers portable fun and learning. Its dimensions are 60 x 141 x 24.6 mm. Please note that the Raspberry Pi Pico is shown for illustration only and is not included; the Pico must have male headers soldered (pins pointing down) for direct connection, as the pins will protrude slightly through the board.