Bluepad32 on RETRO.MOE

Bluepad32 v4.0

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 01:32:54 +0000

Bluepad32 v4.0-beta.0 is released and contains many new features:

Raspberry Pi Pico W support.
BLE Service that allows a BLE client (mobile application) to configure Bluepad32. (BLE Client is still WIP).
More polished documentation, hosted in readthedocs.
Better directory structure (easier to find files).
Easier way to create your own platform.
Examples for raw ESP-IDF, Pico W and Linux, which use the new way of creating platform.
Github is not the official repo, and Gitlab is the backup (before it was the other way round).
Some minor improvements in different places, and many bug fixes, that were discovered by just switching to CLion IDE.

The complete changelog can be found here:

Bluepad32 v3.7.0 released with Arduino IDE support

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 01:54:18 +0000

I’ve just released Bluepad32 v3.7.0 with two important features:

Arduino IDE support
In addition to ESP32, it also supports ESP32-S3 and ESP32-C3 (only BLE gamepads supported.)

Details and more here: https://github.com/ricardoquesada/bluepad32

Bluepad32 v3.5 released!

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:52:50 +0000

TL;DR: Support for Amiga and Atari ST mice, USB console, and re-connect improvements.

I ’m happy to announce that Bluepad32 v3.5 has been released. It contains two new big features:

Mouse support
Console

and many fixes & improvements here and there.

Mouse support

Some of the supported mice.

Mouse support has been added both at the “core” level, and at a “platform” level.

By “core” level, I mean that all platforms (Unijoysticle, NINA/AirLift, Arduino, etc.) receive the mouse information: x & y movement and the Left, Middle and Right buttons.

Bluepad32 support for Arduino and CircuitPython

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 04:47:39 +0000

It is now possible to use Bluetooth gamepads both in Arduino and CircuitPython projects.

This means that you can use your PlayStation (PS3, PS4, PS5), Nintendo (Wii, Wii U, Switch) and Xbox One S gamepads in your electronics project: control a robot, home-automation, video games, etc… everything controlled from your favorite gamepad.

The catch is that not every Arduino or CircuitPython boards are supported. In fact, only a few of them are supported.

Designing a modern retro console for (my) kids: Adding chiptune music

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 16:30:49 +0000

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: 64x32 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.

Bluepad32: Gamepad support for ESP32

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 15:23:42 +0000

I’m happy to announce the release of Bluepad32: gamepad support for the ESP32.

Bluepad32 is a firmware that runs in the ESP32 microcontroller. It supports all the modern Bluetooth gamepads like Sony (PS5, PS4, PS3), Microsoft (Xbox One S) and Nintendo (Switch, Wii) gamepads.

Who is this for?

This is for: