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May 08, 2018 • 18:39 Profile Photo Super Bros.

I am currently in the development stage of building a VB mini. I am using a Raspberry Pi 2 with touch screen module that autoboots into a VB emulator. I am having a friend 3D print a custom VB shell replica in smaller form that will use a Google VR headset for its base. Then I am also customizing a 8bitdo controller to look more VB like. It’s looking like my design will cost about $220 (at cheapest) at this moment.
Sadly I doubt I’d ever build more then one, unless it was a kit (or if you really wanted one).

I can supply the files for the replacement shell for Google VR and 8bitdo for you to do the 3D printing (when they become available). Then I could email you the software to add to your Raspberry Pi.

I’ll provide pictures when they become available. But I am highly excited for this project to be finalized.

I am also having a friend currently edit the current VB emulator for Emulation Station to display dual screens to the module, this might be a bit of a wait. It’s a formatting issue to work better with the module, so it’d look bad on any other device.

  • This topic was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by Super Bros..
  • This topic was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by Super Bros..
32 Replies
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May 08, 2018 • 20:05 Profile Photo Quaze

Sounds interesting, looking forward to seeing the finished product!

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May 08, 2018 • 21:33 Profile Photo retronintendonerd

I’m excited to see how this turns out! If this is something we could replicate with your blessing, I’d love to try to give it a go.

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May 09, 2018 • 09:02 Profile Photo Super Bros.

Someone already solutioned my issue!, and they did it substantially cheaper.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.all3dp.com/49-3d-printed-vr-headset-inspired-virtual-boy/

(I am going to buy one to see about pulling the screen from it and extending it off the main base.)

So now it’s actually just up to making a nice headset and controller, I guess.

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May 09, 2018 • 18:53 Profile Photo Schwanck

funny, after mellot posted his 3d printed case I made the suggestion of doing this with a RPi3.

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May 13, 2018 • 02:19 Profile Photo Super Bros.

So the Pocket C.H.I.P route is definitely the way to go, but I have run into a snag. The fellow that was gonna help me design the shell has backed out, so I’m hoping to find someone to modify the already existing Pockulus Chip files to look more VB like (once these files become available anyone will be able to make themselves one). Then I’m gonna hopefully find a VB to USB adapter so it can use a real VB controller.

Honestly though this is definitely starting to look like a great project.

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May 13, 2018 • 02:47 Profile Photo Schwanck

Well Mellott can make you one if he has any available at the moment or time. I believe they were $70

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May 13, 2018 • 03:09 Profile Photo Super Bros.

Well that would unfortunately break out of my low cost hopes, so I guess I will go full Nintendo as they tend to use GameCube controllers for everything. Lol

Or that other one as it’s sort of VB like.

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May 13, 2018 • 17:51 Profile Photo mellott124

Dreammary wrote:
So the Pocket C.H.I.P route is definitely the way to go, but I have run into a snag. The fellow that was gonna help me design the shell has backed out, so I’m hoping to find someone to modify the already existing Pockulus Chip files to look more VB like (once these files become available anyone will be able to make themselves one). Then I’m gonna hopefully find a VB to USB adapter so it can use a real VB controller.

Honestly though this is definitely starting to look like a great project.

The headset in the picture won’t be comfortable to play for long. Look how it’s digging into her face.

My day job happens to be designing electronics for head mounted displays. I do a lot of the system design as well. This would be an interesting project to work on. The hardest part will be making it cheap enough at low volume.

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May 13, 2018 • 18:00 Profile Photo Super Bros.

By all means, If you want to take over the project, I know you could do it better.

I still plan on making my own though.

  • This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by Super Bros..
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May 13, 2018 • 20:27 Profile Photo Super Bros.

This is just a potential mockup using preexisting images.

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May 13, 2018 • 23:08 Profile Photo mellott124

Dreammary wrote:
By all means, If you want to take over the project, I know you could do it better.

I still plan on making my own though.

Not at all. This one is yours. Looking forward to seeing what you do.

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May 14, 2018 • 14:28 Profile Photo Super Bros.

So the project is really starting to become exciting, though it’s never gonna be an affordable option. It’s expensive no matter how you look at it, but once you own one it’s internal storage can support any future games projects. It’s also truly portable for the first time, and that’s the appeal for someone like me.

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May 16, 2018 • 15:19 Profile Photo Super Bros.

I actually found this quite interesting when looking at my NES/SNES Classic and the Pocket C.H.I.P:

NES and SNES Classic Specs:
Allwinner R16 Cortex A7
Mali 400 GPU
256MB DDR 3
512MB NAND Flash

Pocket C.H.I.P Specs:
Allwinner R8M Cortex A8
Mali 400 GPU
512 MB DDR 3
4GB NAND Flash

They both contain Allwinner R-Series processors (and they are the only devices to use R-Series) and Mali 400 Graphics.

It’s almost like Pocket Chip was always intended to be the Virtual Boy Classic.

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May 16, 2018 • 22:16 Profile Photo retronintendonerd

How funny would it be if Nintendo planned it all along and you just beat them to it XD

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May 16, 2018 • 23:49 Profile Photo Super Bros.

Honestly, a Pocket Chip would also make an amazing GameBoy Classic.

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May 20, 2018 • 20:07 Profile Photo Super Bros.

Wow, Pocket C.H.I.P is actually pretty big. I am not sure why I was picturing something much tinier.

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May 23, 2018 • 01:56 Profile Photo Super Bros.

I installed Firefox on my Pocket C.H.I.P, this device is actually pretty cool; for several different reasons.

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May 23, 2018 • 03:40 Profile Photo Super Bros.

One step down! I got PocketCHIP to finally display VB games in side by side mode, now I have to figure how to get a controller working (it’s not just plug n play). It’s not easy being a first time Linux user.

  • This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by Super Bros..
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May 23, 2018 • 14:04 Profile Photo Super Bros.

Today was a day of success, I have the 3D functioning (occasional slowdown), the sound (a little choppy, still trying to get it a bit smoother) and controller support.

Ladies and gentleman, we have a Virtual Boy! Now I just have to patiently await the 3D printed parts.

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May 23, 2018 • 17:48 Profile Photo retronintendonerd

I can’t wait to see the final product! You got this going and finished fairly quick.

 

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