Build a homebrew retro game console project - crowdfunding teaser!!
Retcon is an educational kit to help people learn more about computers by building one.
The first project I've build with it is "Retcon85" - a Sega Master System homebrew clone, but the board layout is flexible enough, and the audio/video board can be reconfigured so that it should be possible to build clones of other 8-bit (and possible even 16-bit) consoles.
I chose to build a Master System clone in particular because the Z80 CPU is still in production and not too expensive, and all the glue logic can be implemented with standard parts. Importantly, the cartridge slot is also standard, so you can build the whole thing more or less with off-the-shelf components.
The fancy bit is the audio & video, which pretty much have to be customised hardware - they were even back in the day - so I've made a small reconfigurable board based on a Lattice Ice40 FPGA. This has a digital output, so you can plug it straight into a modern TV without having to buy any bulky old screens.
My aim is to make learning about computers, computer science, electronics and learning to code and build things as much fun as possible!
If you like this stuff, please help support me by subscribing and spreading the word.
I'll be crowdfunding starting 2023, and writing a companion book to the build.
External Links
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Retcon project: https://www.undeveloper.com/retcon
Copyright notes
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In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg, 1875, public domain, https://musopen.org/music/performer/m...
Screenshots from Master System gameplay, fair usage