2026 Retrocomputing Challenge: Retro Terminal Bartop Arcade Topper

Retrocomputing is extra than simply {hardware}. It’s additionally a really feel, a vibe, and [valkyrie0528]’s Retro Terminal Bartop Arcade Topper has it in spades.

Here’s the way it occurred. The attractive system you see within the picture above in actual fact began out as a bartop arcade cupboard construct. The entrance part — with arcade buttons and joystick — is a detachable panel. While constructing it, the panel was uninstalled and [valkyrie0528] positioned a keyboard within the empty recess to do some configuration. Sitting on the machine like that felt like being proper again within the 80s, perched at an 8-bit house laptop. Cue a go to from the Good Ideas Fairy.

Now, along with being an arcade cupboard, one can swap the arcade controls panel for a one which has a keyboard (clicky and mechanical, after all), touchpad, and small USB breakout. The outcome appears superb both approach. As an arcade machine it’s stunning, and in retro terminal mode it’s merely attractive.

The icing on the cake is [valkyrie0528]’s use of cool-retro-term as the terminal emulator, and there’s even a widescreen wallpaper accompanying it that places a picture of two 5.25″ floppy drives to the facet. If you want that concept, you may obtain the wallpaper file from the undertaking web page in your personal use.

There’s nonetheless time to enter our 2026 Retrocomputing Challenge, so if you end up impressed and wish to exhibit your individual take of issues, there’s no time to lose!