Billybobmoscow
- Nov 21, 2012
- 6
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2012
- Messages
- 6
This may not be the right forum for posting, but because this will be more an electronics project than anything else, I'm sure I'll get plenty of help here.
I've got an idea for a (likely large) project of which the goal is to create a fairly simple game console. It will have at least 16 bits, and pinouts to handle different types of cartridges (or alternatively usb ports to handle ROM images... but this is probably just a complication.) What I'm focusing is SNES, but if it's not too much of a problem, I may also adapt it to lower bit games like NES, Genesis, and even A2600 cartridges as well. I know that things like this can be bought much more easily, but I'm sure that 90% of the people on this forum appreciate the value of making something sweet with your own hands.
As to the somewhat more technical aspects, I've looked at the arduino, but it quickly became obvious that no version is anywhere near powerful enough to run graphics and sound alongside being the main CPU, and using separate arduinos for these functions would be something of a minor nightmare in making them communicate well. So: does anyone have any idea as to how to get this kind of thing to work? I know enough about working with analogue electronics and technique, but this is my first real CPU-powered project. Schematics (and my own prodding) reveal that the analogue circuitry in these original consoles is a little complex to work with, but if it turns out that the pre-made board option is worse, I guess it's time for a little (read: TONS) of soldering...
Am I getting in over my head here? Or is this a manageable project, and if so, some ideas? Thanks, and sorry for the word-wall...
I've got an idea for a (likely large) project of which the goal is to create a fairly simple game console. It will have at least 16 bits, and pinouts to handle different types of cartridges (or alternatively usb ports to handle ROM images... but this is probably just a complication.) What I'm focusing is SNES, but if it's not too much of a problem, I may also adapt it to lower bit games like NES, Genesis, and even A2600 cartridges as well. I know that things like this can be bought much more easily, but I'm sure that 90% of the people on this forum appreciate the value of making something sweet with your own hands.
As to the somewhat more technical aspects, I've looked at the arduino, but it quickly became obvious that no version is anywhere near powerful enough to run graphics and sound alongside being the main CPU, and using separate arduinos for these functions would be something of a minor nightmare in making them communicate well. So: does anyone have any idea as to how to get this kind of thing to work? I know enough about working with analogue electronics and technique, but this is my first real CPU-powered project. Schematics (and my own prodding) reveal that the analogue circuitry in these original consoles is a little complex to work with, but if it turns out that the pre-made board option is worse, I guess it's time for a little (read: TONS) of soldering...
Am I getting in over my head here? Or is this a manageable project, and if so, some ideas? Thanks, and sorry for the word-wall...