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PICO-8

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

FPGA Pico-8 implementation ? ;)

A topic by mahen created May 21, 2021 Views: 2,207 Replies: 5
Viewing posts 1 to 3
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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

(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.

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

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...

Any chance you’d share?

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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/