PICO-8

A fantasy console for making, playing and sharing cute 32k cartridges. · By lexaloffle

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FPGA Pico-8 implementation ? ;)

A topic by mahen created May 21, 2021 Views: 2,243 Replies: 5

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mahen3 years ago(+1)

Hi everyone !

I know this is very specific and tons of work... Just asking by any chance, if you've considering making an FPGA implementation of the Pico-8 fantasy console - or releasing some specs so that someone can do it ? This would make it even closer to real hardware... As FPGA implementation is the closest you can do, that's some kind of hardware low-level implementation.

The most well-known current FPGA plateform - pretty affordable too - is the MiSTer FPGA project. Check it out ! :)

Cheers

jan-kleks3 years ago (5 edits) (+1)

Yeah, I have seen people mention an FPGA implementation of PICO-8 in the context of MiSTer FPGA as well as Analogue Pocket in quite a few places already. That could definitely bring the project closer to real hardware (instant boot, low audio/controller latency, direct hardware interactions). Also, there are devs who suggest that it may actually be possible with the right approach, for instance: https://twitter.com/ferreira_hugo/status/1305284124488486917
A baremetal (no OS) version of PICO-8 for Raspberry Pi and stronger microcontrollers would have been awesome too. If lexaloffle started brainstorming regarding FPGA/baremetal PICO-8 (on Twitter, for instance), I think we might get some interesting answers/ideas.

mahen3 years ago

Hi ! Thanks for taking the time to answer :) Cheers !

WARvault3 years ago

There is a pretty low-level iso image for Raspberry Pi 1/Zero I have. It boots in about six seconds and I used it to create a "Plug and Play" composite TV arcade stick thingy. Was super fun. The dev has passed away but the image still exists...

iabhua3 years ago

Any chance you’d share?

WARvault3 years ago (2 edits) (+2)

Look, I know exactly where my SDCard is. I will first Google and see if I can find a link, otherwise I will find some sort of way to share it. Nice thing is my copy is already setup with 240p and 800mhz OC so ready for a pi 1 or pi Zero...

*Edit* Here is the thread I followed to make my SDCard, it does seem as if the link is currently broken. I will keep looking and see if I can find a copy on Archive.org maybe...?

*Edit the second* Here is the Wayback Machine link, hope it works for you! http://web.archive.org/web/20200114205739/http://guillermoamaral.com/read/picopi/

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PICO-8

FPGA Pico-8 implementation ? ;)