In 2006, I built a game console for my senior project in college. I modeled it on the 2D consoles like Sega Genesis and SNES. Last year, I started transforming it into an Arduino-based system. Now I have completed it, after a year's work.
Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/502532396/duinocube-a-retro-game-co...
About DuinoCube:
Has graphics, audio, USB gamepad, and SD card support.
Capabilities are comparable to Super Nintendo.
More comprehensive than other Arduino or AVR-based game systems.
Compatible with multiple Arduino boards.
Aimed at hobbyists who would like an easy way to develop games on a console.
About me:
Doing this as a part-time project of my own.
Background in embedded systems.
Working as software engineer at a major Silicon Valley tech company.
This project wasn't successful, I see. I think it's a good idea in principle, but the critical parts are all in the execution and software side. For people looking for something like this, have a look at these:
Uzebox ( http://belogic.com/uzebox/index.asp )
Mist FPGA ( https://github.com/mist-devel/mist-board/wiki )
Game Duino ( http://excamera.com/sphinx/gameduino/ )
While a cool and interesting concept, I don't think any of these or similar works have been a big commercial success. Probably because everything they do can be done even easier through emulation or virtual consoles instead of custom hardware. The appeal is partly in the nostalgia or relative simplicity of the limited purpose device, but if you still need a PC to develop for it, will it really make your life any simpler ?
Ye,you are right!I mean you said what I thought from my heart.