The ideal modern-retro video game console
My goal is to build a video game console for (my) kids. I want to teach them programming in a fun way: fun for them… and also fun for me. The video-game console features are:
- Modern components, with a retro “spirit”.
- Easy to program, a must.
- Chosen: Python, in particular CircuitPython
- Gamepad support: Multiple gamepads at the same time (multiplayer is a must).
- Chosen: Bluepad32 firmware since it supports all modern Bluetooth gamepads (see my previous post)
- “Retro” sound:
- Chosen: SN76489 (more info down below)
- “Retro” screen:
- Chosen: 64×32 LED matrix. Let’s see what we can do in this extremely low-resolution screen.
- A powerful enough micro-controller:
- Chosen: Matrix Portal M4, mostly for convenience since it comes with an ARM Cortex M4, ESP32, “expansion port” + header to connect to the matrix LED. It already supports CircuitPython. As a bonus it has an accelerometer.
- Portability: It should be portable, no need to use an external power supply.
In other words, I’m building a Nintendo Switch killer. What will happen next is that Nintendo will run out of business. If this happens, my 7-year-old kid will kill me, since his dream is to be a video game designer at Nintendo… so probably I shouldn’t be that aggressive in my marketing campaign.
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