Hardmod

[SkylarTheNerd]

I'm wondering if it's possible to hard mod an 8-bit console with pin adapters to play games ranging from the Atari console series to Coleco to Intellivision to ZX Spectrum, etc? Sort of like an all-in-one?

If it comes down to actually building a console instead of hard modding it, I'm down for that too

 

[DeoNaught]

I'm wondering if it's possible to hard mod an 8-bit console with pin adapters to play games ranging from the Atari console series to Coleco to Intellivision to ZX Spectrum, etc? Sort of like an all-in-one?

If it comes down to actually building a console instead of hard modding it, I'm down for that too

Probably not....... Is there an adapter already for it?

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

Probably not....... Is there an adapter already for it?

No, but theoretically if you could have a pin adapter such as this, and hook it up to say a NES, it should play, right?

 

[DeoNaught]

No, but theoretically if you could have a pin adapter such as this, and hook it up to say a NES, it should play, right?

No, thats wrong, if it does'nt have native support it won't work.

You will probably have to buy another console.

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How much do you know about electronics?

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

No, thats wrong, if it does'nt have native support it won't work.

You will probably have to buy another console.

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How much do you know about electronics?

I'm using this platform to learn. I'm only 18, and I'm going to school for advertising, so I don't really know a whole lot about electronics. My brother is good with electronics, but he lives far away from me. I'm just trying to make this a side project.

My friends have built a computer, and I'm wondering if it's possible to build a console in the same vain as the Retron that can play old pre NES games.

 

[The Catboy]

You could make something like the "Super Genintari"

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

To go more into depth as to why it won't work other than "NO", it's because each system uses different hardware to process and control games. You can't just use a pin adapter, as the game for another system would attempt to make calls to that other systems hardware and, when it can't even initialize, nothing will happen. Think of it like this, it'd be like putting a PS4 game in your DVD player and expecting it to work since, after all, the disc fits!

Is it possible to build a system that could do everything at once? Yep, see the video Lilith posted above. But it's relatively large, and you'd need pretty good knowledge on electronics, wiring, etc. to build one yourself.

 

[DinohScene]

You can stick all the systems on a breadboard and hook them up to their respective components.
However, you can't just have one system play all the games.
Unless you manage to write software which can read the gamecart via adapters and parse it through a Raspi with a self written emulator.

 

[migles]

My friends have built a computer, and I'm wondering if it's possible to build a console in the same vain as the Retron that can play old pre NES games.

"bulding a pc" is like purchasing an IKEA bed and follow the instructions to assembly the ready parts into a bed.
while really electronics is like what IKEA had done to deliver you the box with the contents, they had to design all the parts, choose the right type of screws, getting the right type of wood, turn the trees into parts etc...

in computer building stuff is ready to fit in the right slots and there is not much you can do to fuck it up... (ok there is some, mainly cpu installation, but you just have to use some common sense)
while in electronics, you can solder a nintendo cartridge into a wall socket and then a few wires to the tv ports, boom, kaput. you just burned your house down. (i am exagerating and giving a little humour, but with electroncis you can really fuck up)

 

[Kioku]

I'll keep this short. It's already been mentioned that it won't work. With good reasons given.

Building a PC and building a console are completely different. PC? You buy your parts at your local Microcenter or online at Newwgg/Amazon. Making sure everything is compatible, you assemble, install your os and you're good to go.

Consoles? Oh my. It's a jumbled mess. Every console and their respective hardware differ from every other one. You can't take an SNES board and slot and hope that your Genesis carts work, even with an adapter. Consoles like the Retron are built with the different hardware in mind.. But there's multiple slots for a reason. A single slot, multi console system would not work.

 

[dAVID_]

This is what RetroArch is for.

 

[DinohScene]

This is what RetroArch is for.

For plebs yes.

OP specifically asked if it was possible to make an all in one machine that works with retail cartridges.

 

[dAVID_]

For plebs yes.

OP specifically asked if it was possible to make an all in one machine that works with retail cartridges.

You'd need to have all the console's hardware inside one box. It sure is possible, but, I think that would require something a bit more complicated than soddering a few wires.

 

[DinohScene]

You'd need to have all the console's hardware inside one box. It sure is possible, but, I think that would require something a bit more complicated than soddering a few wires.

That was posted literally a couple posts ago.

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

That was posted literally a couple posts ago.

You had mentioned running a code through a RasPi. Would that be an alternative? I'm thinking if I run native through a RasPi, and somehow make it switch to the correct support upon inserting the cartridge, it could work...

 

[DinohScene]

You had mentioned running a code through a RasPi. Would that be an alternative? I'm thinking if I run native through a RasPi, and somehow make it switch to the correct support upon inserting the cartridge, it could work...

Writing an emulator that fetches the ROM from the retail cartridge yes.
However, you'd need to manufacture your own slot that accepts a multitude of cartridges.
Don't think it's possible unless you got a ton of DIP switches that can switch between signals.

Your best bet is to solder everything to their respective components on a breadboard and use a multi array of slots to insert the carts.
The bulk of the power can be drawn from a single transformer and you could theoretically hook up all the video signals to one output (make sure you put switches between the wires)

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Writing an emulator that fetches the ROM from the retail cartridge yes.
However, you'd need to manufacture your own slot that accepts a multitude of cartridges.

At that point, might as well buy a Retron 5 lol.

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

At that point, might as well buy a Retron 5 lol.

Doesn't play what I want

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Writing an emulator that fetches the ROM from the retail cartridge yes.
However, you'd need to manufacture your own slot that accepts a multitude of cartridges.
Don't think it's possible unless you got a ton of DIP switches that can switch between signals.

Your best bet is to solder everything to their respective components on a breadboard and use a multi array of slots to insert the carts.
The bulk of the power can be drawn from a single transformer and you could theoretically hook up all the video signals to one output (make sure you put switches between the wires)

Any tutorials?

 

[DinohScene]

Any tutorials?

Nope, I dun have those.
To me knowledge, it's never attempted before.

 

[SkylarTheNerd]

Nope, I dun have those.
To me knowledge, it's never attempted before.

Interesting. I'm going to need help then. Leave it to a noob, right?