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Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

eli.lipsitz.net

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Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#1

Post by elipsitz »

Hey HN,

Over the past ~1.5 years, I built an open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld that can play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges. To my knowledge, there isn't an existing open-source FPGA emulator that can play physical cartridges like this.

One of my main goals was to do all of the pieces myself, and be able to understand every component of it, so I designed my own PCB, wrote the firmware, wrote a Game Boy and Game Boy Advance emulator for the FPGA (using the Chisel HDL), and designed a 3D-printed case.

I detailed the design and development process in the linked post. It's quite long, but there are a lot of pictures and videos.

Code and design files available on GitHub: https://github.com/elipsitz/gamebub, and an overview of the architecture: https://github.com/elipsitz/gamebub/blob/handheld/docs/archi...

Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld
eli.lipsitz.net

Re: Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#2

Post by giancarlostoro »

If Nintendo wouldn't sue you for selling these, I'd say shut up and take my money. I do wonder if they'll definitely try to sue? Its really a shame, I never thought I'd see a project like this in my lifetime in all honesty. I would love to have something that lets me just keep playing my physical gameboy games indefinitely, so even if a truck crushes my gameboy, its nice knowing I can always print a new one.

I would love to see this done with the Super Nintendo.

Re: Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#3

Post by wwwtyro »

I love the idea of open source hardware, but one issue I struggle with is - what happens when one or more components go out of production?

I suppose one solution is that the maintainers could update their component list (which might involve more than one component because of compatibility issues?). But what if I'm in the middle of purchasing the components only to discover I can't get them all? Maybe the maintainers could sell component kits? That might be a nice way to fund their work. Not sure if that would run into issues with IP laws, though.

Re: Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#5

Post by evanwalsh »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #2

If Nintendo wouldn't sue you for selling these, I'd say shut up and take my money. I do wonder if they'll definitely try to sue? Its really a shame, I never thought I'd see a project like this in my lifetime in all honesty. I would love to have something that lets me just keep playing my physical gameboy games indefinitely, so even if a truck crushes my gameboy, its nice knowing I can always print a new one. I would…

You're literally describing a product and a company that already exists (Analogue Super Nt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nt)

Re: Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#6

Post by elipsitz »

wwwtyro wrote: post #3

I love the idea of open source hardware, but one issue I struggle with is - what happens when one or more components go out of production? I suppose one solution is that the maintainers could update their component list (which might involve more than one component because of compatibility issues?). But what if I'm in the middle of purchasing the components only to discover I can't get them all? Maybe the maintainers…

Yep, that’s definitely a concern with hardware projects. I guess mass produced hardware doesn’t run into the problem as much because there’s funding for upfront bulk component purchases.

At least with open source hardware you could theoretically modify the hardware to use an alternative component, even if it’s no longer commercially viable.

For a lot of open source projects you can pretty much just source everything from DigiKey or Mouser, so you can buy them all atomically.

Re: Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#7

Post by Joel_Mckay »

elipsitz wrote: post #6
wwwtyro wrote: post #3

I love the idea of open source hardware, but one issue I struggle with is - what happens when one or more components go out of production? I suppose one solution is that the maintainers could update their component list (which might involve more than one component because of compatibility issues?). But what if I'm in the middle of purchasing the components only to discover I can't get them all? Maybe the maintainers…

Yep, that’s definitely a concern with hardware projects. I guess mass produced hardware doesn’t run into the problem as much because there’s funding for upfront bulk component purchases. At least with open source hardware you could theoretically modify the hardware to use an alternative component, even if it’s no longer commercially viable. For a lot of open source projects you can pretty much just source everything…

"mass produced hardware doesn’t run into the problem"

Happens all the time, as a production model may take a long time to make it through development and lab certification.

In general, large firms will try to warehouse spools for some bespoke design, but the 3 year contact-oxidation garbage-clock starts the second the component spool/tray leaves the manufacturer.

Thus, one may try to mitigate supply chain instability, but in the end you are still just better off avoiding unicorn parts in your work to begin with... Longer chip lot runs with multiple suppliers having identical packages is usually safer. YMMV =3

Re: Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#8

Post by ConanRus »

Why only GB/GBA? Mister FPGA support lot's of cores which can use the same Screen and controls: NES, SNES, various Sega consoles, C64, MSX etc.

And any cheap Chinese retro-console of the same sort support even more of them. So from a practical standpoint I don't see any advantage of this (no doubt cool) project.

Re: Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#9

Post by bsimpson »

Designing your own boards and writing the emulator is super impressive! I like the clear case too! :)

It's a good week for homebrew handhelds. Someone posted a cool one on reddit yesterday built with a Raspberry Pi:

https://old.reddit.com/r/Handhelds/comments/1in0svx/my_pi_5_...

Re: Show HN: Game Bub – open-source FPGA retro emulation handheld

#10

Post by ecshafer »

I don't really know if this is a stupid idea or not, I don't really have hardware experience. But the older systems, say NES, SNES, Genesis etc are pretty simple systems. Patents also have a lifetime. Why aren't we getting recreations of the hardware via a SOC sold that near-perfectly emulates the system? The FPGA projects are as close as I see this happening, but FPGAs are pretty expensive I imagine compared to some 40 year old cpu design and 1kb of ram.
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