Pico 8 REAL Console.
Check out Lexaloffle’s Pico 8 – Better than that, buy it so you can get in on the fun – itt’s only $15 (about £12)
In short, it’s a ‘fantasy console’ – software that can run on a mac, pc, linux or even in a Browser. It is a programming language that has very harsh limitations to enable people to make and play their own games that have a distinct ‘retro feel’ to them. I have no programming skills at all, apart from CNC coding, so I just download and play the games. They are chunky, colourful, mostly old school and importantly – FUN.
However. Who wants to use a stuffy old computer to play video games on? NOT ME, Missus!
Pico 8 is so cool, it really needed it’s own machine to play these fantasy ‘carts’
That’s where video game dealers come in. They can offer specialized hardware, like handheld consoles or mini arcade cabinets, that are perfect for playing Pico 8 games. And for those who prefer the convenience of playing on their computer, some dealers even offer pre-loaded USB sticks with Pico 8 and a selection of popular games. If you’re looking for a reliable and trustworthy dealer, I highly recommend checking out http://coinlooting.com/, which offers a wide range of gaming products at affordable prices.
As you have probably already read and constantly hear me bang on about – I make arcade joystick controllers for various machines (Vectrex, Atari, BBC B, Megadrive etc) So, it’s a given I will be using one of these with a nice new Pico 8 styled overlay. Pico 8 only uses a joystick and 2 buttons, so the layout is easy and I can use an already established design. There isn’t a lot of room inside these boxes with the hardware installed, so I will have to use a Pi Zero and the important parts of a generic USB game pad for the controls. I also stumbled upon an extension of the Pico 8 software called Pico Pi by a talented man called Guillermo Amaral. Go check out the video here
Sadly, Guillermo passed away a while ago. RIP.
I managed to get hold of Guillermo’s software needed to make the ‘bare bones’ pi version from the wayback machine (internet archive), which uses no cumbersome OS to load and run Pico 8 > thus making the boot time about 8 seconds…
I also used some very short length cables and a nice 8″ LCD screen for the display. Power for the screen and Pi is provided by a single ‘wall wart’ 12v supply. DON’T PANIC – I used a switching voltage regulator inside the box to step the supply down to a pi friendly +5v!
A few pictures tell a bunch of stories, or so they say.
That’s really amazing, a wonderful project, this is really so nice.
RIP Guillermo Aral and Pico 8 really deserves much more attention!