game console

[Sim]

I wish to build a small game console that can play flash games and will use previous game controllers as the controller. maybe nintendo controllers.

where would I start?

 

[Hero999]

Use an old PC, either that or you can get mini motherboards so you can put it into your own case. You can install a SNES emulator I don't know what minimum specification you need though. For the controllers just buy some modern ones, I don't see the point in reverse engineering old Nintendo controllers.

 

[Sim]

Where can I get mini mother boards. Id rather make the console system a hand held instead of a reg console. Then after buying a mini motherboard, would have to buy HD, cables, ect.

 

[Hero999]

Google's a good place to start.
https://www.google.com/search?num=1...=result&cd=1&q=miniature+motherboards&spell=1

Some of these mothereboards don't have hard disks, they strore the data on flash media.

Personally I wouldn't bother though, it's probably much cheaper to buy a handheld games console or PC, some can even play old games.

 

[Sim]

I know it would be cheaper but i want to build a hand held device that can play flash games. something similar to these:

**broken link removed**

is what i want to build. it doesn't have to play flash games, but i would like it if it could, if i have to write my own games for it, then that would also be fine.

 

[Hero999]

Sorry but I don't think you understand just how hard/damn near impossible it is for you to build yourself a portable games console. Even writing a game would probably be a big enough challenge for you.

 

[Sim]

I've written plenty of games. How about you be a little bit more nicer. from my research. it seems that **broken link removed**
games use some sort of LED Screen. Now to figure out how to communicate and change the things on the screen and to purchase right equipment.


My handheld game doesn't have to play flash games. it can be a simple game like pong or poker for all i care as long as its something to keep me occupied to make a handheld system.

 

[Hero999]

Sorry, I did think you meant flash games, yes you could eailly build a game using an LED display or something. Perhapps you could use a PIC microcontroller. I don't normally do this sort of thing though so I'm probably not the best person to help you. Hopefully someone else here can.

 

[Sim]

Anybody got any ideas?

 

[Marks256]

Hmm, this sounds like a fun project! You could use a microcontroller, and an LCD display?

 

[Sim]

you asking me or telling me? where can i get a good microcontroller at a cheap price as well as a good lcd display at a cheap price.

 

[Marks256]

www.jameco.com <- Used it MANY times, and never disappointed!

 

[Sim]

i see no microcontrollers on there?

 

[Marks256]

Their site is messed up. There are three kinds of searches. Catalogue#, Part#, and keyword. Just type in "Microcontroller", and then click on the "Keyword" search. Here is the link to the PIC series microcontrollers:

https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/s...searchValue=microcontroller&categoryId=106050

and for the ATMEL series;

https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/s...searchValue=microcontroller&categoryId=106010

 

[HiTech]

unless you're bent on the need to build one yourself, there are plenty of used gameboy advanced and similar portable game consoles available for cheap. When I say cheap, 2 weeks ago a guy had one selling for $25 and it came with 3 game cartridges. You'll never build one as good as a factory can.

 

[Sim]

they take me to semiconductors... i thought i needed microcontrollers.

 

[Sim]

aight, i think there the same so im double posting.

how would i end up putting my code on the chip. just solder the chip to any board?

i also heard for the button keys you just solder a wire to each pin on the chip. is that true?

https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/s...&catalogId=10001&productId=168911&pa=168911PS

 

[Marks256]

You'll never build one as good as a factory can.

Not true. Where do you think the factories get the designs? Just randomly? No. Just your average engineers playing around in the shop. It is 100% possible. It will just take time for debugging.

how would i end up putting my code on the chip. just solder the chip to any board?

Get a programmer. They are fairly spendy, but you could make one for about $25us

i also heard for the button keys you just solder a wire to each pin on the chip. is that true?

Well, yes, it is true, but you may want to make it a little more complex than that. That way you can have more stuff connected.

 

[Sim]

I"ll wait till a purchase a chip to ask any more questions. What else would I need to purchase? a LED Screen? Got any good sources for one? What about a circuit board? Got any good sources for them?

 

[Hero999]

Not true. Where do you think the factories get the designs? Just randomly? No. Just your average engineers playing around in the shop. It is 100% possible. It will just take time for debugging.

I haven't been involved in desining something at this level but normally they're designed on computers and the first prototype doesn't resemble the final design that much. It's really messy and probably far from compact, it probably used many programmable chips and an LCD module, it was also a lot more expensive too!