Introduction: Retro Game Console With ATMEGA644
This is a retro-minimalist open source video game console design. It is based on an AVR 8-bit general-purpose microcontroller made by Atmel. It based on the Uzebox project.
Features:
- Low parts count and cost: The system is made of only two chips and discrete components.
- Interrupt-driven kernel: No cycle counting required, sound mixing and video generation are all made in the background.
- 256 simultaneous colors: Accomplished by using a R-2R resistor ladder DAC.
- 4 channels sound engine: The sound subsystem is composed of 3 wavetable channels and 1 noise or PCM channel.
- MIDI In: With a music sequencer, allows the creation of music directly on the console.
- Retro controllers: The joypad inputs uses standard NES/SNES controllers interface.
- SNES Mouse Support.
- SD/MicroSD card interface.
- Expandable: I/O lines and peripherals are still available, like the UART and SPI port for one to experiment.
- breadboard area for own hardware extensions
- Gameloader (beta): Load and flash games stored on SD cards.
- API: Develop games using an API that provides multiple video modes, sound driver and more.
- Open source: The software and hardware design are totally free and licensed under the GPL.
- more as 80 free games and demos available
A detailed construction manual, DIY kits and circuit diagrams are also available here.
Features:
- Low parts count and cost: The system is made of only two chips and discrete components.
- Interrupt-driven kernel: No cycle counting required, sound mixing and video generation are all made in the background.
- 256 simultaneous colors: Accomplished by using a R-2R resistor ladder DAC.
- 4 channels sound engine: The sound subsystem is composed of 3 wavetable channels and 1 noise or PCM channel.
- MIDI In: With a music sequencer, allows the creation of music directly on the console.
- Retro controllers: The joypad inputs uses standard NES/SNES controllers interface.
- SNES Mouse Support.
- SD/MicroSD card interface.
- Expandable: I/O lines and peripherals are still available, like the UART and SPI port for one to experiment.
- breadboard area for own hardware extensions
- Gameloader (beta): Load and flash games stored on SD cards.
- API: Develop games using an API that provides multiple video modes, sound driver and more.
- Open source: The software and hardware design are totally free and licensed under the GPL.
- more as 80 free games and demos available
A detailed construction manual, DIY kits and circuit diagrams are also available here.
