ESPuze

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Matej
Posts: 44
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:36 pm

ESPuze

Post by Matej »

Lets develop ESPuze!

CPU: ESP8266
32-bit RISC CPU: Tensilica Xtensa LX106 running at 80 MHz* (40MHz min -120MHz max)
64 KiB of instruction RAM, 96 KiB of data RAM
External QSPI flash - 512 KiB to 4 MiB* (up to 16 MiB is supported) - 16MiB
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
Integrated TR switch, balun, LNA, power amplifier and matching network
WEP or WPA/WPA2 authentication, or open networks
16 GPIO pins
SPI, I²C,
I²S interfaces with DMA (sharing pins with GPIO)
UART on dedicated pins, plus a transmit-only UART can be enabled on GPIO2
1 10-bit ADC

GPU+Blitter+SDcard: STM32 (graphics)
640x480x256colors
320x240x65536colors
VGA textmode
Blitter (sprites)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blitter
SDcard loader to ESP

AUDIO: serial DAC (COVOX 8bit, stereo)
http://hackaday.com/2014/09/29/the-lpt-dac/
standard music files: AMIGA MOD (4channel, stereo) (3channels music - left, right, both, 1 channel - sound fx)

TV OUT: 1x Composite CINCH (Yellow)
AUDIO OUT: STEREO JACK

GAMEPAD: 2x DB9 PCB female (Sega Gamepad clones are on ebay, alibaba, dx, alliexepress)
Storage: SD-CARD slot
Price: under 50-60EURO/USD

BOX: Hammond enclosure / 3D printed case / CNC case

So we will get small amiga/atariST/genesis like computer/console.
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D3thAdd3r
Posts: 3221
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:00 am
Location: Minneapolis, United States

Re: ESPuze

Post by D3thAdd3r »

I like these specs. In my mind, with a good color depth, all that ram and speed, you could likely make multiple graphics layers and end up with something looking like SNES games. If I were to take a guess what the best novelty nowadays would be to start a new open source console, I would say something just like this. If someone took it, put all the work in, and drove it home I could see another console approaching the success of the Uzebox someday. I would buy one or two and play it if it existed.

As for me, I like the idea of new consoles forming, but now pushing a decade of thinking into Uzebox, my "development loyalty" is really 100%. I have still not figured out how to squeeze every last trick out of this machine, and I think I can still make a game that blows my other ones away on this platform.

One thing I will say, I am interested in the possibility of cross platform network play between open source consoles. I would later work on things for other consoles to achieve that on BitBox, Wifiboy, RetroWiz(not sure how you would connect the module there..). I would think the best idea is NOT to use NodeMCU, since I heard system resources left while the network stuff+Lua interpreter is not very much.
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TonyD
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Location: Newcastle, UK
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Re: ESPuze

Post by TonyD »

I would consider just using the lastest ESP32 instead (i.e. no STM32)

http://hackaday.com/2016/09/05/new-part ... -released/

ESP32 Specs:

CPU: Dual core 32-bit @ 240MHz
RAM: 520KB
ROM: 448KB
WIFI
BT
GPIO
QSPI
etc.

A module costs $6.95 at Seeed

https://www.seeedstudio.com/ESP3212-Wif ... -2706.html

One core to run the WIFI/BT stacks and one core to run the app.
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D3thAdd3r
Posts: 3221
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:00 am
Location: Minneapolis, United States

Re: ESPuze

Post by D3thAdd3r »

Wow, I wasn't sure those were even going to come out for sure. Alec and I discussed using the 32 briefly but at the time it wasn't certain it would be widely distributed and stick around when released...looks like they will, maybe we should use that on Uzebox as well, what do you think?

I have to agree with Tony's idea to use the more powerful module with BT. That things definitely has the oopmh to get things done at SNES+ level. You could probably eliminate the controller ports, and "pay" for the module itself with the savings, by using BT controllers.
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Matej
Posts: 44
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:36 pm

Re: ESPuze

Post by Matej »

Nice that ESP32 looks like can generate gpu and everything else! So cost of such console can be very low! Maybe lowest!!!
So no need STM32!!!

CPU: ESP32 (FIRST CORE)
240 MHz dual core Tensilica LX6 microcontroller with 600 DMIPS
Integrated 520 KB SRAM
Integrated 802.11BGN HT40 Wi-Fi transceiver, baseband, stack and LWIP
Integrated dual mode Bluetooth (classic and BLE)
16 MByte flash
2.2V to 3.6V operating voltage
2 x DAC
Supports external SPI flash up to 16 MB
SD-card interface support

GPU+Blitter+SDcard: SECOND CORE
640x480x256colors
320x240x65536colors
VGA textmode
Build in Blitter (sprites) Engine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blitter

AUDIO: serial DAC (Amiga MOD or PC XM modules - samples)

TV OUT: 1x Composite CINCH (Yellow)
AUDIO OUT: STEREO JACK

MULTIPLAYER: Wifi (android mobile/tablet as server - espuze client) up to 2-256 players...
GAMEPAD: bluetooth gamepads
Storage: SD-CARD slot
Price: under 30EURO/USD

BOX: Hammond enclosure / 3D printed case / CNC case

This will be ideal for 2D MMORPG or 2D MMORTS!!! Imagine Zelda like MMO or DUNE2 like RTS played by all your friends!

So ports:
1x TV out - Cinch
1x AUDIO out - Stereojack
1x SD-Card
1x POWER plug (adapter)

Thats all.
Acessories:
1x or 2x or 4x bluetooth gamepads!
1x android mobile ()
32GB SDcard
TV cable
AUDIO cable

This can make console very cheap!
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