Game Guy - The Unportable Game Boy -- Episode 531

Due to the need for both speed and precise timing, video conversion tasks are often left to FPGAs or similar devices. But in this episode, Andy demonstrates how a $4 microcontroller can be used to convert Game Boy video into something that can be displayed on a big screen. Combine that with an NES controller port, and you've got a TV console that can play original Game Boy games!

Supplemental Content:

Link to Github Files: https://github.com/andy-west/consolized-game-boy

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Raspberry Pi Pico, Microcontroller Board, RP2040, 32 bit, 2MB Flash, ARM Cortex-M0+	RASPBERRY-PI	1	Buy Now
Resistor Kit, 10Ohm To 1MOhm, 610 Pieces, 250mW, Carbon Film, 10 Pieces Per Value, E12 Series	Velleman SA	1	Buy Now
LOGIC, BUS TRANSCVR OCTAL, 20DIP	Texas Instruments	1	Buy Now
LOGIC, BUS TRANSCVR OCTAL, 20DIP New	TEXAS INSTRUMENTS	4	Buy Now
Additional Parts	Manufacturer	Quantity
1 x 50 Pins IDC 2.54mm Card Edge Connector for 1.27mm Flat Ribbon Cable
1 x 50 Pin IDC 2.54mm Pitch F/F Connector 1.27mm Flat Ribbon Cable

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mattbraddock over 4 years ago

Love the project. Is there a pin on the GB that pulses each time it polls for input? Or pulses on each frame (as it relates to the frame rate)?
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andywest over 4 years ago in reply to mattbraddock

Not really, no. Pins P14 and P15 determine what buttons will be scanned, so I read them in a tight loop on one of the Pico's cores. There's a VSYNC pin for video, but it has nothing to do with input.
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mattbraddock over 4 years ago in reply to andywest

Appreciate the response. So do pins P14 and P15 alternate back and forth constantly?
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andywest over 4 years ago in reply to mattbraddock

They're controlled by game code, so not always. But it's normal for them to switch back and forth during gameplay, yes (when the game checks the status of all the buttons). And it's common for that to happen once per frame.
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mattbraddock over 4 years ago in reply to andywest

Thanks! If I get this project working, I'll share.
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mattbraddock over 4 years ago in reply to andywest

Thanks! If I get this project working, I'll share.
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