[mellott124]

Hi,

I just completed schematic entry and PCB design on a Virtual Boy Multicart design I’m calling MultiBoy 32.
Specs first and then some more discussion.

1. Flash space: 32 slots of 32Mbit RAM via a 1Gbit Flash.
2. RAM space: 256k x 16 SRAM space (8k x 16 per slot) using MRAM (no battery needed).
3. Full 16bit SRAM bus instead of the production 8bit width.
4. On board 32bit microcontroller (MCU) for programming slots.
5. USB input for interfacing and control.
6. Games loaded via SD card slot.
7. On screen game selection themed around my 8bit VB character Do-Do.
8. Arduino compatible MCU (custom firmware development if you’re so inclined).

MultiBoy name for obvious reasons. Several reasons for the 32 number. There will be 32 slots of 32Mbit for a total of 1Gbit Flash (ROM) space. Also 256k x 16 of SRAM space which is divided among the 32 slots to give 8k x 16 (close to the production cart SRAM space of 8k x 8 but wider bus width). The microcontroller on board is also 32bit (cheaper than comparable 8 bit, faster to program slots, built in USB). I’ll probably run the MCU at 32MHz just for fun.

I have a stretch goal of using the USB port as a built in USB link cable as well. Hardware hooks are in place. Firmware should work but some details will need testing.

The reason I’m announcing now is because the board is dense, and with several BGAs, there will be NO hand assembling of these units. I will have to get this assembled by my PCB house and that means knowing up front how many to order.

So if you think this is something you’re interested in, then please let me know. Only collecting an email list for now. Please email me at mellottsvrpage@gmail.com . How many get ordered will affect the pricing. Can’t commit to a price at the moment but based on my experience with VB projects and the current BOM cost, think ~$150. More details to follow.

Timeline, we’re probably looking around 4-5 months from now. I also need the on-screen code for the title selection (volunteers?). Even 5 months might be aggressive if ducks don’t all line up. Think summer release. I will do a small 25 unit prototype run initially before doing the full hopefully ~100 unit production batch. Next steps are to get fabrication and assembly quotes.

Background on myself since not everyone may be familiar with me. I’ve been an R&D Electrical Engineer for the last 10 years. An electrical technician for 7 years before that. I’ve designed and/or built quite a few VB related projects in the last 3-4 years including: VB link cable, USB link cable, VB cart programmer, SNES to VB adapters, VB controller to PC adapters, first VB 128/256Mbit reprogrammable cart, 16Mbit reprogrammable cart, and others. Professionally I do system and electrical design for very high end head mounted displays and other AR/VR related gear. I’ve been designing and building VR related projects for over 20 years. I’ve maintained and updated http://www.mellottsvrpage.com with VR projects and reviews I’ve done since 1998.

So there it is. Lets see what the reaction is and if we can finally get a VB multicart built for the VB.

Thanks,
Kevin

• This topic was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by mellott124.

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   vb-multiboy-32-final-pcb.png
   

Quick heads-up: Kevin’s email address link in the OP includes a period at the end, which will be included in the address and prevent the email from sending. If you want to successfully email Kevin after clicking the link in the OP, delete that period! 😀

Quaze wrote:
Quick heads-up: Kevin’s email address link in the OP includes a period at the end, which will be included in the address and prevent the email from sending. If you want to successfully email Kevin after clicking the link in the OP, delete that period! 😀

That was interesting. Something with the auto formatting. Fixed! Thanks.

Posting a summarized email that I sent out to interested people here on the main thread as well. This thread will be where the most recent updates are posted.

The other is on my website located here:

MultiBoy 32

I still haven’t pulled the order on the initial prototype build. Funding didn’t come in as expected.
I’ve always used current and past projects to fund the next project, but MultiBoy 32 is on a larger
scale technically and cost wise. There has been a lot of units requested. So currently I’m
considering what options I may have to keep things moving forward. I’m considering things like
Kickstarter. I’m open to any ideas or suggestions the community may have.

Otherwise keep your eye on this thread and my website page.

Thanks,
Kevin

Pre order, kickstarter, I think almost everyone wanting a cart would be open to either of these option. Go with whichever gets you the most funds after fees.

Id have to agree… pre order or kickstarter would be great options. With the level of excitement behind this project and the amount of people following, all you would have to do is open the flood gates for all the funding you’d ever need!

Thanks for the updates!

I always assumed this was going to be a preorder. Definitely do what you need to do. I think you have the support of a lot of people who are anxious for this. I’d be happy with either a preorder or a kickstarter.

Hyper Fighting at a reasonable cost, finally!

Count me in. (I’ve already emailed and received your updates).

Do whatever you gotta do, Kevin. I’m happy with a pre-order and Kickstarter is fine too. I’ll have funds in hand regardless.

I always assumed that this was going to be a pre order. Not sure what kind of percentage kickstarter takes or if you have the tools to do a pre order yourself but i’m in whatever it turns out to be!

I’m with everyone else on this.. Pre-order, kickstarter, whatever you are most comfortable with.

I’m more than willing to pre-order! 🙂

Honestly, I don’t want you to get bogged down with fulfilling needless tier perks, but if you go with Kickstarter I’ll be there to.

Hi Kevin,

Me like most people would be more than willing to support your project in whichever method is best for you!

Keep up the Hard Work!

I’ll add that I would be totally down to do a pre-order as well, or a kickstarter if you needed to go that way.

I would be more than comfortable paypaling the money and being put on a spreadsheet that Kevin would maintain. I have neevr had any worries with any of the projects he has created, I look forward to it!!

Kickstarter or preorder, either is fine. I have full trust in you since previous transactions anyway! 🙂

I’d definitely send preorder payment right now.

Same, I’d front the cost. But I recognize that there doesn’t yet exist a working prototype of the mulitboy32, correct? So is this just a matter of cost and time? Or is there a real possibility that this won’t actually pan out?

Splain wrote:
Same, I’d front the cost. But I recognize that there doesn’t yet exist a working prototype of the mulitboy32, correct? So is this just a matter of cost and time? Or is there a real possibility that this won’t actually pan out?

There’s risk in any new design. The plan is to do a small (10 unit) prototype run first for full development and then go and build the rest. However pieces of the MultiBoy32 already exist in my VB mini programmer and reprogrammable carts. The new thing for MultiBoy is combining them into a single cart and having on-screen game selection. I built my VB mini programmer and reprogrammable carts knowing that eventually they would morph into the MultiBoy32.

At this point it’s more a matter of time and cost along with some new development risk for combining and adding new features. It’s managable risk and why I developed other products before this one.

Well let’s get those 10 (or 25?) prototypes made! Your update says you’re waiting for a quote, let us know how many preorders you think you’ll end up needing for the first run, and I bet we have enough people who would back it. Even if the estimated cost goes up from the first estimate of $150.

I know Kickstarter takes a big cut, but it’s good for visibility and for people who aren’t on PlanetVB and are leery of Paypaling money to a stranger. But before then, we might as well transfer as much $$ OFF of Kickstarter as we can, just so we aren’t giving Kickstarter funds that could go to you. Hopefully we can get enough for the first run without KS.

I, too, would front the cost. Do a kickstarter.