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

eli.lipsitz.net

31–40 of 70 posts

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

#31
I have an Analogue Pocket, which works really well, but the fact that it uses an FPGA is essentially meaningless to me. Is there really any significant difference compared to software emulation?

I know how they're different, I understand the mechanics of it, I just don't understand why it's not possible to make a software emulation that is as good as FPGA emulation. Or maybe it is possible. I always felt like doing it in software would be a lot more flexible.

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

#32

I have an Analogue Pocket, which works really well, but the fact that it uses an FPGA is essentially meaningless to me. Is there really any significant difference compared to software emulation? I know how they're different, I understand the mechanics of it, I just don't understand why it's not possible to make a software emulation that is as good as FPGA emulation. Or maybe it is possible. I always felt like doing i…

I agree, and wrote a rant about this as part of the post: https://eli.lipsitz.net/posts/introducing-gamebub/#a-brief-r...

IMO: the only real advantage is that it allows you to meet the precise timing needed to interface with physical hardware, like cartridges and other consoles (with link cables).

I think they're also really fun to write, because you think more like a hardware designer than a software engineer.

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

#33

I have an Analogue Pocket, which works really well, but the fact that it uses an FPGA is essentially meaningless to me. Is there really any significant difference compared to software emulation? I know how they're different, I understand the mechanics of it, I just don't understand why it's not possible to make a software emulation that is as good as FPGA emulation. Or maybe it is possible. I always felt like doing i…

[deleted]

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

#34

I have an Analogue Pocket, which works really well, but the fact that it uses an FPGA is essentially meaningless to me. Is there really any significant difference compared to software emulation? I know how they're different, I understand the mechanics of it, I just don't understand why it's not possible to make a software emulation that is as good as FPGA emulation. Or maybe it is possible. I always felt like doing i…

Consider that you can emulate an FPGA on a CPU, just much slower.

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

#36

I have an Analogue Pocket, which works really well, but the fact that it uses an FPGA is essentially meaningless to me. Is there really any significant difference compared to software emulation? I know how they're different, I understand the mechanics of it, I just don't understand why it's not possible to make a software emulation that is as good as FPGA emulation. Or maybe it is possible. I always felt like doing i…

[deleted]

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

#38
post #35

Damn what a great post, I hope to have similar skills one day (specifically about designing my own PCB and working with FPGAs) Anyway feedback for the site, I think it could help if the active tab on the index is colored vs. bold

Thanks for the feedback! Do you mean have it be an entirely different color (e.g. blue), or dim the other inactive headers to make the active one stand out more?

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

#39
post #35

Damn what a great post, I hope to have similar skills one day (specifically about designing my own PCB and working with FPGAs) Anyway feedback for the site, I think it could help if the active tab on the index is colored vs. bold

Thanks for the feedback! Do you mean have it be an entirely different color (e.g. blue), or dim the other inactive headers to make the active one stand out more?

Yeah a different color so it immediately sticks out it could even be grey/dark.
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