[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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Hi! Mail sent!!!!

Email sent… from j.a @ gccisd.net

Splain wrote:
Forgive my ignorance, but do those specs allow this to potentially play every commercial release? Meaning, is there any game that is “too big” to be able to run on this?

Email sent either way. 😀

Every current game yes. Even homebrews. It was sized at 32Mbit per slot to fit the largest homebrew game which is Hyper Fighting, although the full game ROM isn’t easily obtainable. Maybe that will change one day.

nmalinoski wrote:
So excited.

I emailed as well, and also asked for clarification about what he means by the USB link support being a “stretch goal”, as well as what kind of cabling we’d need (Micro-B to Micro-B? Micro-B to A and a hub?), whether we’d be able to use a hub for >2 players, and if there are any port strain concerns having the MicroUSB port mounted horizontally. (Micro-B is notoriously fragile compared to Mini-B.)

A USB link cable is a VB to PC connection, not VB to VB. There’s still the link port for that functionality. The USB port on the cart is micro B. It will be as rugged/fragile as every other micro B connector on the market. You won’t want to hang on it but it should hold up if its not abused.

JoePassive wrote:
I have 3 questions:

1.Can It load Any ROM? which means Hyper Fighting is playable.
2.Can It save?
3.Do I need to convert it to 2mb like with the Flashboy?

email sent though, i need it asap.

1. It’s 32Mbit slots for the largest current game which is Hyper Fighting.
2. There’s a 8k x 16 SRAM slot associated with every ROM slot. If you over write it you’ll lose your data but you can always download it and save it.
3. Yes, every game will need padded although I plan to add automatic padding to the firmware of the cart to make it less painful for people.

Excellent work! Very excited about this!

I am in of course, email sent!

Oh yeah! Put me down for two!
Email Sent!

Great news! Email sent.

mellott124 wrote:

JoePassive wrote:
I have 3 questions:

1.Can It load Any ROM? which means Hyper Fighting is playable.
2.Can It save?
3.Do I need to convert it to 2mb like with the Flashboy?

email sent though, i need it asap.

1. It’s 32Mbit slots for the largest current game which is Hyper Fighting.
2. There’s a 8k x 16 SRAM slot associated with every ROM slot. If you over write it you’ll lose your data but you can always download it and save it.
3. Yes, every game will need padded although I plan to add automatic padding to the firmware of the cart to make it less painful for people.

Thank you for the official answer. THIS IS A Great idea, concept and you actually have a great customer service, i mean, you actually answer. thanks. i sent an answer to your email btw.

In light of this great news, has anyone gone through the trouble of compiling and VB full romset for download. I’ve been searching and haven’t had much luck. I’ve grabbed a couple English translations here, and I have come across individual games different places (some feel more sketchy than others) but I would love it if anyone could message me or point me toward where I can download the whole collection… homebrews as well.

Thanks in advance!

https://www.planetvb.com/modules/games/?r
https://www.planetvb.com/modules/games/?u
https://www.planetvb.com/modules/games/?t
https://www.planetvb.com/modules/games/?d
https://www.planetvb.com/modules/games/?hf

Thank you! I’ve barely scratched the surface here… As chance would have it the only link from that page I clicked when I saw it was Waterworld and there was no download so I didnt look any further lol

I guess I should have been more thorough!

Thanks!

Sent an email a few days ago but damn I’m quite excited about this.

Amazing work. Love the other projects you have been doing to. The 3d printed vb dev cart programmer is so sweet looking.
Just wanted to say thank you for your contributions and follow the official thread.

Wow!! sent a mail!!

Kevin, thank you so much! An email has been sent! We bought some carts from you a few months ago, hope you remember us! We also want to buy other items from you, please let us know how to add more to our order besides just the Multiboys!
Michael

Received my quotes and have selected a board house for the initial prototype run. I’ll be building 10 initial units. Order should go in within the next two weeks. Waiting for some funding to come through to cover the cost on this small initial run.

Email sent!

I’d be up for one of these. I collect all the old consoles and play them using multicarts in front of my 1974 TV on my retro rug.

In addition to the Atari and Colecovision in this picture, I have also added Intellivision, NES & Channel F

I just wish I could get my hands on a store display for the VB. Such a shame many of them were thrown away. I do not want to derail this thread. So, if anyone has a source for building them, please let me know in PM. I may want to build one myself if none are available.

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mellott124 wrote:
Received my quotes and have selected a board house for the initial prototype run. I’ll be building 10 initial units. Order should go in within the next two weeks. Waiting for some funding to come through to cover the cost on this small initial run.

That’s exciting!