Math professor, classic computing fanatic, and maker Chad Burrow has concluded a three-year journey in constructing single-board computer systems with a compact “retraux” microcomputer slash online game console: the Acolyte Hand PIC’d 32.
“Impressed by The 8-Bit Man’s ‘Dream Pc,’ and after many preliminary makes an attempt (aka failures) and a few superior successes, I ultimately produced the unique Acolyte Pc utilizing a [Western Design Center] W65C02 processor,” Burrow explains of the beginnings of the Acolyte line. “I had nice assist from Garth Wilson and the blokes on the 6502.org Discussion board as I labored by way of many prototypes to get to that time. I used to be in a position to show this and different initiatives on the Math Appreciation Day occasions enjoying video video games akin to House Invaders, Tetris, and Rogue. From there, the mission grew to the New Acolyte coupled with an [AMD] XC9572XL CPLD [Complex Programmable Logic Device], then the Acolyte ‘816 utilizing a [WDC] W65C816 processor coupled with a [Microchip] PIC16F886 microcontroller as a bootloader.”
Marking three years of progress in {hardware} design, the Acolyte Hand PIC’d 32 has been launched. (📷: Chad Burrow)
Earlier than all this started in late 2021, Burrow already had 20 years of expertise programming video video games — however he had been properly and really bitten by the {hardware} bug at this level. Having discovered Microchip’s PIC16F a pleasure to make use of, Burrow refocused on the corporate’s line-up: the PIC18F47J13-powered Acolyte HAND PIC’d adopted the Acolyte ‘816, and was then adopted in flip by the PIC24EP512GP204-driven Acolyte Hand PIC’d 24 — the primary model to drop the CPLD. “Throughout Summer season 2024,” Burrow provides, “I programmed a 2-player Pokemon demo utilizing Tuxemon artwork belongings, pushing that PIC24 to the restrict.”
The Acolyte Hand PIC’d 32 is the newest within the line, with Burrow hoping it should function a standardized improvement platform for video games and different initiatives to be showcased throughout future Math Appreciation Day occasions. It is powered, as you may anticipate, by a Microchip PIC32 — particularly the PIC32MZ2048EFH144, clocked at 200MHz — with 512kB of RAM and 2MB of flash ROM. An analog VGA video output delivers a most decision of 800×600, of which 720×512 is usually usable, at 72Hz and 256 or 65,000 colours. There’s stereo eight-bit audio, a dual-purpose PS/2 port for a keyboard and mouse, two nine-pin joystick ports appropriate with Sega Genesis/Mega Drive controllers, and a USB port that may work with a keyboard, mouse, or Xbox 360 gamepad.
Accessible software program features a primary textual content editor, Tetris sport, video participant, and Nintendo Sport Boy emulator. (📷: Chad Burrow)
For software program, Burrow has already written three purposes: a scratchpad “proof-of-concept ‘textual content editor'” that, in its current type, lacks the flexibility to save lots of work or load current recordsdata; Tetris, a clone of the favored falling-block sport written for earlier PIC-powered units; and AV Demo, which might play again 250×192-resolution video recordsdata at 15 frames per second, full with 65,000 colours and stereo audio. Lastly, Burrow has ported Mahyar Koshkouei’s Peanut-GB Nintendo Sport Boy emulator to the platform — “examined,” Burrow says, “with many video games together with Tetris, Dr. Mario, Balloon Child, Zelda: Hyperlink’s Awakening, Tobu Tobu Lady, Pokémon Purple, and Pokémon Kanto Enlargement Pack.”
The Acolyte Hand PIC’d 32 is documented in Burrow’s GitHub repository, the place design recordsdata and a 3D-printable case are offered beneath an unspecified license.
