μRetro game console with CPU on fake μSD cards

Details

Hackaday article handheld-game-console-puts-processing-power-in-the-cartridge/

Hackster.io article this-tiny-retro-handheld-console-stores-games-on-fake-sd-card-cartridges

For years I searching any purpose for OSH park 0.8mm board service, finally I GOT IT !!!!
You can make fake micro SD cards

Main board carry speaker, display, power and switches,
CPU (attiny85) with game is on Fake micro SD card.

Dimensions: 2.4063 sq in (2.2127in x 1.0875in) / 1552.45 sq/mm (56.2mm x 27.62mm)

For more fun I have card with atmega328 or attiny85+DS3231 ... or DS18b20 (coming soon)
Working on SD card with STM32 and SAMD21

All game device have usually only one game, for change you need computer, now you can have unlimited games or apps, 1$/game.

Now you can found more than 20 games for attiny85
with 328 card you can play DOOM https://github.com/daveruiz/doom-nano
Or you can play games for ARDUBOY (working on compatible library)

Also you can use it as development platform micro SD interface can access to 8 wires.

GND
VCC
SDA
SCL
SPEAKER
ADC 0
ADC 1
ADC 2

Games come from genius Daniel Champagne

Project inspired with https://hackaday.io/project/159741-tiny-joypad

TODO:

2x micro SD slot
port Arduboy games to Atmega328 card
direct display connection
suport for Lion battery and charging.

Project Logs

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Design files ...
bobricius • 05/07/2019 at 13:13 • 0 comments

All is now on github https://github.com/bobricius/uRetro enjoy ;)
Raspberry PI card :-D
bobricius • 05/04/2019 at 20:31 • 0 comments

It is small joke ;) on card is also ADS1015 as ADC to read buttons ;)
Project name
bobricius • 04/22/2019 at 19:00 • 7 comments

Hi, Any idea about cool name for this console ?????
SAMD21 card
bobricius • 04/12/2019 at 21:33 • 2 comments

(12.8 x 30.6mm)
Dual Card ... Dual CORE :D
bobricius • 04/11/2019 at 20:34 • 0 comments
Main changes:
- 2X parallel micro SD slots
  - 1. card MCU
  - 2. card SENSOR
  - you can also use 2x MCU and communicate over I2C
  - no care where is MCU or sensor, they are parallel
- Display is direct on board not on module
  - WHY? until January I ordered on 4x on ebay by picture, I received 4x different display, with different pinout
  - you can put card from top side what is more practical
- I will focus to keep all compatible with display module version, which is more DIY friendly
- I think about microUSB for charging and add option for lion battery instead CR2032
This is preview for board with 2 micro SD slot.
Game card with USB
bobricius • 04/11/2019 at 19:37 • 2 comments

After thinking and hearing community voices, kill 2 wires with USB is useless.
So here is alternative with PCB USB (or metallic but this make board little longer).
This require 0.6mm board, maybe this need little sticker to 0.8mm :)
support for CPU with USB ???
bobricius • 04/11/2019 at 12:54 • 5 comments
I got a tip from Mr. Vlk to try Microcontrollers with native USB and read buttons via I2C.
Also Attiny85 can be reprogrammed via USB with digispark bootloader !
My fake Micro SD give me 8 wires (list only, not exact pinout):
- GND
- VCC
- SDA
- SCL
- SPEAKER
- Analog 1
- Analog 2
- Analog 3
Maybe in next version I can try this pinout:
- GND
- VCC
- SDA
- SCL
- SPEAKER
- Analog 1
- D -
- D +
With this I can expand offer of usable controllers with etc. SAMD21 or STM32
SAMD21 add now very popular Adafruit circuitpython programming feature ;)
What do you think about it?
Console in my hands
bobricius • 04/08/2019 at 22:48 • 5 comments

For better dimension imagination ...
New cpu cards
bobricius • 04/08/2019 at 22:26 • 0 comments
Also second envelope is full boards from OSHpark
What is new?
- CPU reversed for deeper CPU insert
- Card with Atmega328 for more hardcore games etc ARDUBOY emulation
BONUS
- Attiny85 breadboard adapter / programmer
New main board received
bobricius • 04/08/2019 at 22:22 • 0 comments
Good, news, I can work on upgrade.
I am just received new main boards from PCBWAY
What is new?
- Card is more inserted and not stick up
- +1 button ... 6 in total
- power buton is moved to back (needed space for button)
- all is prepared for port ARDUBOY games to Atmega328 card

View all 10 project logs

Discussions

TheStumbler wrote 09/17/2024 at 08:03

This is cool project. A couple years back, I wanted to use some MRAM on an off-the-shelf industrial controller, but had no easy way to attach it. Then I realized they had an SD card slot that I wasn't using, so I made myself some MRAM SD cards -- no doubt violating the SD card specs, but it worked just fine (connected to the SPI and power pins) for my application.

Are you sure? yes | no

teraz wrote 11/29/2022 at 19:39

can You create network connecting to my 3d printer sd card

Are you sure? yes | no

Dylan Turner wrote 08/05/2021 at 03:58

Yes!! Finally, someone who gets it! It's not a game "console" unless it can play more than one game.

I have a similar project, and if I'm not mistake, I think we both found the same solution to get multiple games: put the MCU on the cartridge, instead of the console itself. Great minds think alike!

Awesome project, fam!

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kwapiszon wrote 12/07/2020 at 09:32

ja bym chciał fomu zamiast karty SD https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/fomu

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biały wygrywa wrote 07/03/2020 at 13:16

I like tempest game, put big rotor !

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Keith Olson wrote 07/14/2019 at 04:52

Hmmm... If you put two microsd card slots side-by-side, you could have cartridge PCB's that plug into both at once. UART + I2C, perhaps on the second one?

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Keith Olson wrote 07/12/2019 at 20:51

This would also make a *great* debugging interface for any other circuit. All that is needed is a micro-sd extension cable and a cartridge with a breadboard header that has all of the lines--and probably some protection circuit.

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[deleted]

[this comment has been deleted]

bobricius wrote 05/13/2019 at 12:49

Attiny85 is best because all 8 pins are used on card, limits are like on another tiny85 (etc, 8kb flash, only 5GPIO = only 3 if you using I2C for display) based project. also onboard is space for mcu to use console without card.

Are you sure? yes | no

bobricius wrote 05/13/2019 at 13:17

Of course no, this project use usd card only as mechanical connector. Pinout is partially like on real card.

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Louis Irwin wrote 04/14/2019 at 19:48

Great project! Reminds me of an arcade console I made back in college...

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RomanS wrote 04/11/2019 at 07:53

It's small and cool. Is it about 3х7см? Very interesting to see card with Atmega328 and arduboy game running on it )

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bobricius wrote 04/11/2019 at 09:05

2.4063 sq in (2.2127in x 1.0875in) / 1552.45 sq/mm (56.2mm x 27.62mm)

Are you sure? yes | no

RomanS wrote 04/11/2019 at 12:28

It's a great idea to use this small fake SD cards with flash onboard. I think i'll add SD carf slot to my gadget the same way. Hope it's not to hard, just to connect slot pins to SPI )

Are you sure? yes | no

bobricius wrote 04/11/2019 at 12:40

On fake card is not flash but complete procesor, It is much more versatile ;)

Are you sure? yes | no

RomanS wrote 04/11/2019 at 12:50

incredible! ) but there are only 8pins. 2 for power, 2 for I2C, 4 for SPI (without CS)... seemes it's enough ) but probably better +2 for uart, +1 for led, +1 for sound ))

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bobricius wrote 04/11/2019 at 12:56

Check my last LOG, what about D+ and D- from USB !!!!?

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toxibunny wrote 04/10/2019 at 20:56

nice looking design!

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Daniel C wrote 04/08/2019 at 22:42

Good upgrade!👍

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alireza safdari wrote 04/08/2019 at 22:36

could you please consider posting a picture where you hold it? It is so hard to imagine its size (not sure why).

Are you sure? yes | no

bobricius wrote 04/08/2019 at 22:49

Of course, check now.

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alireza safdari wrote 04/08/2019 at 22:50

Thank you. That was pretty fast.

My mind is blown away. I never thought it is this small. Great job!

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fabian wrote 04/06/2019 at 10:27

interesting... is possible using fomu on this device?

https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/fomu fomu are faster and still need small power

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bobricius wrote 04/06/2019 at 20:51

yes

Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel C wrote 04/04/2019 at 23:26

Wow! I just realized how tiny it is !!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!

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Daniel C wrote 04/04/2019 at 20:58

Awesome! A project really well done. I like the idea of the MicroSD slot. Too bad that there is not the little joystick that facilitated the gameplay. For the whole project, congratulations!

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bobricius wrote 04/04/2019 at 21:11

This project is nothing without your games. I have plan send you one but I need some weeks for assembly. Maybe you make more games with this professional tool ;)

Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel C wrote 04/04/2019 at 21:18

Hahaha! With the growing interest in games for tiny Joypad attiny85, I intend to continue coding games for this platform. :)

Are you sure? yes | no

davedarko wrote 04/04/2019 at 21:47

the "tiny bike" screenshot already looks awesome and I need to test "Tiny-Bert" on my now in resin encased skeleton handheld :) yes please, more games! :)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvt9p3SnhyY/

Are you sure? yes | no

megazoid wrote 04/04/2019 at 15:28

I can't put my finger on it, but it looks familiar. Hats off to you though, the micro SD card solution is good. The edge card connector was something I always wanted to do, but couldn't source a suitable interface. I may need to rework a version 2 of #Tiny Joypad ;)

Are you sure? yes | no

bobricius wrote 04/04/2019 at 20:33

I'd lie if I claimed I never saw a tinyjoypad project. Hackaday is all about inspiring, your idea was brilliant, I improved it. Now it's your turn ;)

Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel C wrote 04/04/2019 at 21:24

👍👍👍👍👍 I like this philosophy! 👍👍👍👍👍

Are you sure? yes | no

bobricius wrote 04/05/2019 at 06:13

Every day I fight the feeling I'm just a thief. But the whole world is now built on robbing. When I don't know what to invent, I will improve other inventions.

Are you sure? yes | no

Daniel C wrote 04/06/2019 at 00:59

bobricius Do not worry! Regarding the tiny joypad you did not steal the plan that I publish is distribute under GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE v3. All projects resulting from it governed by the same legacy license! As long as you mention the original author and provide the original source, as you already did very well on your page. ;)

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AVR wrote 04/04/2019 at 08:13

this is pretty damn cool, first of these things to have its own catridges from what I've seen, nicely done!!!

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davedarko wrote 04/04/2019 at 07:49

Woah, this is awesome! I recently dabbled with the games of @Daniel Champagne myself :) Found it through #Tiny Joypad and used it to update my #Skeleton Attiny85 Handheld What did you modify the schematics aside from your SD card mod? And is it already on @Tindie ? Good luck with the price!

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μRetro game console with CPU on fake μSD cards

Description

Details

Project Logs

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Design files ...

Raspberry PI card :-D

Project name

SAMD21 card

Dual Card ... Dual CORE :D

Game card with USB

support for CPU with USB ???

Console in my hands

New cpu cards

New main board received

Discussions

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μRetro game console with CPU on fake μSD cards

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