Virtual Boy Multicart?

[Video]

I need to iron out some bugs in the firmware this week, but in the mean time here's some pics of the cart assembled.

 

(Cutting the case to fit the USB connector was pretty tricky, I ended up ruining 4 until I got it right)

 

Hell, I'd probably have just hacked a huge hole in the case myself. That's friggin awesome.

 

I'm looking forward to buying one or two fo these things when it's all finished. And I'd love a test cart too, if you don't already have enough people

 

Keep up the awesome work.

 

One more thing...what are you going to do with all the old revision carts? Just for curiosity or whatever, I think it would be cool to get the various evolutions of them all. That would be cool.

[Richard H.]

what are you going to do with all the old revision carts?

I've salvaged the expensive components and destroyed the boards. It's something I always do, so that new revisions of PCB's don't get mixed up with the old. So easy to mistake one with a small alteration and find yourself soldering everything onto it by accident (been there, done that).

 

The case cutting, connector/label removing is VERY tedious and time consuming. I've also only got a few donor carts left now as the connectors don't like being soldered in and out multiple times (they break quite easily). Which means, I'm probably going to have to request a donor cart with every order. Also, to save time, I might supply just a built board for guys (who can solder) to add the connector and case to (I'll supply a label). You can't go wrong soldering the connector on, very easy.

Edited July 23, 2007 by Richard H.

[bones]

Way cool, looking great, can't wait!

[nintendo]

what are you going to do with all the old revision carts?

I've salvaged the expensive components and destroyed the boards. It's something I always do, so that new revisions of PCB's don't get mixed up with the old. So easy to mistake one with a small alteration and find yourself soldering everything onto it by accident (been there, done that).

 

The case cutting, connector/label removing is VERY tedious and time consuming. I've also only got a few donor carts left now as the connectors don't like being soldered in and out multiple times (they break quite easily). Which means, I'm probably going to have to request a donor cart with every order. Also, to save time, I might supply just a built board for guys (who can solder) to add the connector and case to (I'll supply a label). You can't go wrong soldering the connector on, very easy.

 

You should actually tell people to remove the label themselves before they send you their donor cart, just to save you some time. Maybe make it a requirement or you add an extra $9 if you have to do it.

 

Let 'em know. We can start removing 'dem labels right now!

[Richard H.]

You should actually tell people to remove the label themselves before they send you their donor cart

That's a good idea. The labels are really awful to get off, there's no chance of peeling it in one go like on some systems. I had to get the top layer off, then soak the cart in warm water and even then use a non-corrosive glue remover to get the last bit off. I thought about applying heat but was worried the case might warp a bit with it being quite thin plastic.

 

I know some guys on here will have much better techniques for getting it done.

 

 

BTW if anyone fancies designing a label for the finished cart, feel free (I'm crap at art).

 

52mm x 42mm seems to be a good size as it leaves a little space for positioning it into the label recess.

[KR155E]

some ideas:

 

Edited July 24, 2007 by KR155E

[Video]

Hell yeah...with the red "VB vission" look to the lable. I like that. So there's one vote for you.

[Quadhorn]

BTW if anyone fancies designing a label for the finished cart, feel free (I'm crap at art).

 

52mm x 42mm seems to be a good size as it leaves a little space for positioning it into the label recess.

How would we go about getting an AtariAge label design compo' going on this? Or would that be an inappropriate and daft idea for a chunk of Nintendo hardware?

[Richard H.]

How would we go about getting an AtariAge label design compo' going on this? Or would that be an inappropriate and daft idea for a chunk of Nintendo hardware?

I think it's probably inappropriate as it's not a game and not Atari. I'm liking the middle one of KR155E's quite a lot, and if no one else comes up with anything I'll probably go with that one.

[Bruce Tomlin]

How would we go about getting an AtariAge label design compo' going on this? Or would that be an inappropriate and daft idea for a chunk of Nintendo hardware?

I think it's probably inappropriate as it's not a game and not Atari. I'm liking the middle one of KR155E's quite a lot, and if no one else comes up with anything I'll probably go with that one.

Ditto that. The LED text looks wrong, and the red text turns the whole label red and black, resulting in a low-contrast mush. And that flowerburst "kicks it up a notch", to quote Emeril.

 

But it needs a higher resolution VB pic than that. The pixelated VB looks awful at full size.

Edited July 25, 2007 by Bruce Tomlin

[PsychedelicShaman]

But it needs a higher resolution VB pic than that. The pixelated VB looks awful at full size.

 

But the image won't be at full size, it will be about the size as shown in the post. I'm pretty sure the pixelated VB was used to give off the classic gaming vibe. I like it

[Bruce Tomlin]

If that's label art, then it should be OK. The problem is with using it as box art.

[KR155E]

cool that you guys like it! the second one is my personal favorite as well.

 

the pixelated vb was used on purpose, but i could try replacing it with an image of a real vb or a render. when i have the time, i will also polish up the virtual boy logo on the left (this is a beta vb logo from late' 94/early '95 btw), it just doesn't look perfect yet.

 

so do you only need a cart label or also box art, richard? i could also try making a box design based on the label if needed.

[Richard H.]

so do you only need a cart label or also box art, richard?

No, just a cart label thanks

[chadtower]

Haven't been around in a long time... totally psyched to see this coming to fruition and still totally in line to buy one of the first off the shelf (and test betas if requested).

[Richard H.]

Still trying to track down some bugs in the firmware which keep messing up the write now and again, God it's SO annoying

 

I am determined to have it done by the end of this week though.

 

 

BTW the download speed is about 1MByte per minute (including erase and verify). I tried the same chip in a commercial programmer and it took about the same time, so that's as fast as the chip will go. Obviously, smaller homebrew stuff should load much faster.

 

I'll say one thing, this Intel Flash is horrible to work with compared to the AMD chips I use in the VecFlash.

Edited July 29, 2007 by Richard H.

[Richard H.]

BTW I won't be supplying USB leads with the carts. I think most people will have one already, as they're used on a lot of mobiles, digital stuff etc

Edited July 29, 2007 by Richard H.

[bones]

Cool, I've got a donor VB cart and USB lead set aside, ready to use

[KR155E]

i did some more work on the label, added the wavey form on top and a higher res vb logo, and replaced the pixelated vb with a render, here are two more designs. personally i prefer the first one with the head unit only over the second one. ^_^

 

Edited July 31, 2007 by KR155E

[geoanas]

I also prefer the first one ! Cool art work indeed !

[geoanas]

My USB lead(s) is ready to take some action !

Richard did Macalan (VecVoxX) help you with this project ? One year ago I had an email from him, saying that he had some Virtual Boy Flash cards ready to use.....I' ve lost his tracks since then (and after his divorse)....

[Richard H.]

Richard did Macalan (VecVoxX) help you with this project ?

No.

 

I was not aware of anyone else mad enough to take on this project

 

Perhaps I'm treading on his toes if he has one built already.

 

Have you got any specs on his cart ?

[geoanas]

Have you got any specs on his cart ?

 

No, unfortunatelly not. This was ages ago....(last summer!)

I only remember that I was a voluntear to beta test his card.

I never had any news.

Maybe KR155E might be more helpfull. John used to post there.

Edited July 31, 2007 by geoanas

[KR155E]

no sorry, i don't know of any macalan, or a flash cart. you say he posted on the pvb forums? by which name? did you ever receive any test cart?

[geoanas]

no sorry, i don't know of any macalan, or a flash cart. you say he posted on the pvb forums? by which name? did you ever receive any test cart?

 

His name is : maccallan. He has only 2 posts.

http://www.vr32.de/modules/newbb/viewtopic...6#forumpost3106

 

"hmm splitting up the roms into odd and even parts is not neccesarry on virtualzoas flashcart. i have the same flashcart. it comes with 16bit flash for maximum flexibility so only one adaptor is needed to program them.

padromvb.exe from the gccvb1.0 was the key. now all homebrewns seem to work (only tested the tictactoe so far which didn't work before)

 

i can't believe it was soo easy.

 

hope that is enough to motivate virtualzoa to make a game for us

 

Posted on: 2006/6/14 17:48"

 

I've never received any test cart.

 

You can see some other guy from Vectrex scene there (*hint* VirtualZoa )

I am also a regular (althought I have 0 posts ! ).I like much reading than writing

Edited July 31, 2007 by geoanas