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This is a project I've had in mind since 2016. I even made attempts back then, and in 2022, but they went nowhere because I lacked proper equipment and skill. I've been trying again about 3 months ago, with more success.
Basically, the WiiU gamepad could technically function as a standalone device, and I've thought since 2016 that doing so would be nifty.
The main entry barrier here is that the only way to upload code to the gamepad is via the wifi update functionality, but for that, you need to have a functional firmware installed, so that excludes any sort of reverse-engineering work.
Unless you're willing to pull out the big guns...
This FPGA board is replacing the onboard FLASH. Not only does it let me upload custom code to the gamepad easily, it also serves as a handy debug output. Without this, during my previous attempts, I was pretty much blind -- the only output I had was toggling the rumble motor, since I didn't know how to turn on the LCD.
This time, I was also able to finally turn on the LCD and display stuff.
These were early tests, but here's a little list of what we covered so far:
* Basic hardware initialization
* LCD and framebuffer initialization
* UIC comm and basic input
* DMA, most if not all of the functionality
I am currently trying to get wifi working (and having a bit of a hard time).
The hardmod above is technically cool but not very practical, obviously the FPGA board doesn't fit in the gamepad case
My idea would be to make a sort of custom menu that could be installed to a gamepad over wifi. The menu would then allow to install and launch homebrew apps over wifi, launch the stock gamepad firmware, or uninstall the menu and revert the gamepad to stock functionality.
I have even been fantasizing about possible addons to add a SD card or other storage (for example via the expansion connector), but we'll see how far we can get with this, I guess. I know this is a pretty niche thing, but I find it nifty.
We're also documenting the gamepad's hardware: https://kuribo64.net/wup/
Basically, the WiiU gamepad could technically function as a standalone device, and I've thought since 2016 that doing so would be nifty.
The main entry barrier here is that the only way to upload code to the gamepad is via the wifi update functionality, but for that, you need to have a functional firmware installed, so that excludes any sort of reverse-engineering work.
Unless you're willing to pull out the big guns...
This FPGA board is replacing the onboard FLASH. Not only does it let me upload custom code to the gamepad easily, it also serves as a handy debug output. Without this, during my previous attempts, I was pretty much blind -- the only output I had was toggling the rumble motor, since I didn't know how to turn on the LCD.
This time, I was also able to finally turn on the LCD and display stuff.
These were early tests, but here's a little list of what we covered so far:
* Basic hardware initialization
* LCD and framebuffer initialization
* UIC comm and basic input
* DMA, most if not all of the functionality
I am currently trying to get wifi working (and having a bit of a hard time).
The hardmod above is technically cool but not very practical, obviously the FPGA board doesn't fit in the gamepad case
My idea would be to make a sort of custom menu that could be installed to a gamepad over wifi. The menu would then allow to install and launch homebrew apps over wifi, launch the stock gamepad firmware, or uninstall the menu and revert the gamepad to stock functionality.
I have even been fantasizing about possible addons to add a SD card or other storage (for example via the expansion connector), but we'll see how far we can get with this, I guess. I know this is a pretty niche thing, but I find it nifty.
We're also documenting the gamepad's hardware: https://kuribo64.net/wup/
