Somewhere, in my neglected drawer of Nintendo chiptune kit from maybe 15 years ago, I have a Nanoloop cartridge I built into an all-white game shell from a weird donor game. That was about as far as I got with game cartridge modifications. Cutting to today there are loads of options for aftermarket game shells making re-casing a simple task. If you want to go one step further though this Tetris DX replacement board allows you to swap the components of your original Tetris DX cartridge onto this gorgeous full-colour custom PCB.
You may wonder why you might ever need to crack open an older Game Boy cartridge — well, it’s pretty likely that vintage cartridges will at some point need the SRAM battery replaced. The batteries were used to keep the save states of your game alive in memory and, while that draws incredibly little current, those batteries don’t last forever. This new PCB adds a battery holder which makes it much easier to replace the battery in the future.
It’s fair to say removing all the old ICs off of the classic cartridge board and placing them onto the new board is not a beginner-level soldering project. It’s the kind of project that lots of people will use lots of different techniques and approaches for so even a competent solderer might want to look around the Game Boy modding communities a little to see others approaches.
The PCB itself though is glorious. It has a great full-colour print design and looks crisp. Pair it up with an aftermarket clear case and you have a Tetris DX cartridge that your Tetris compatriots will be jealous of!
There are lots of cool retro computer-inspired kits going around these days. The Commander X16 is popular, but the OtterX 8-bit Retro Computer Kit makes it affordable and easy to assemble! Fully X-16 compatible, with all the bells and whistles you’d expect, but the surface mount components come pre-soldered, so all you need to assemble is the through-hole stuff and you’ve got a great, retro-inspired computer!
Featuring an 8MHz 65C02 processor and over 512K of RAM, this computer can bring some serious horsepower to retro programs. It can even be upgraded to the 65C816, the 8/16-bit hybrid 6502 that can run even faster. With a Mini-ITX form factor, finding a case isn’t difficult, and with 2 SNES-compatible controller ports it’s easy to find quality controllers for gaming!
You do need to supply a power supply. It’s designed to accept an ATX supply, but a correctly sized PicoATX would likely do the job and save a lot of space. Retro music is covered with a YM2151 OPM sound chip for classic FM music and sound effects. And, to top it off, it even supports IEC serial devices, so your Commodore 1541 or your SD2IEC should work flawlessly for file storage.
If you’ve ever wanted to get into the retro computing scene, but also want to build a kit, this is a great option. The amount of engineering and the density of the chips on this board show that they packed in every single feature they possibly could!
Do androids dream of electric beeps? Reawaken the past with the MIDISID, a portable, standalone SID chip synthesizer, and create anything from dreamy electronic lullabies to jarring alarm tones. Tap into the distinctive chip-fueled style of this iconic chip and take your musical compositions into the era of classic video game music.
The Sound Interface Device (SID) chip was originally designed in 1982 for the Commodore 64, and creates a unique sound that many modern sound designers now covet. A vital component of a vast number of 80s and 90s video game soundtracks, the classic sound of this synthesizer brings a nostalgic groove to your compositions.
The MIDISID features an intuitive and highly visual user interface, including an LCD display and four potentiometers, making it easy to control and a joy to use. It is professionally mounted in a well-proportioned purple PCB casing that looks fantastic alongside other music equipment.
Controlling a SID chip using multiple rotary controls has been a long-term dream of the creator, MIDI IN. The ability to change so many parameters simultaneously opens up an entire world of musical possibility, and MIDI IN has even created (almost) a whole song using this device! Watching the video of them doing so really showcases how intuitive this instrument is and sparks so many creative ideas.
I’m a southpaw. It mostly goes unnoticed these days but when I was younger I used to get annoyed at the right-handedness of the world. I was truly awful with scissors and would constantly be told off for leaving things the wrong way round! I never really considered the impact on me when gaming, but perhaps I should have! This Goofy Foot NES controller PCB essentially allows you to create a perfectly left-handed NES controller. When the controller is upside down, the D-Pad and buttons are re-mapped to work correctly.
Apparently, this isn’t only desirable for the true left-handed retro gamer. It’s a technique used competitively by professional and amateur Tetris players who prefer the D-Pad to be in the right hand. Digging deeper into the product description from EricIcx they actually offer a range of modifications so you can get the NES controller you require. They offer modifications to vintage controllers and modern aftermarket clones. They are also replacing the rubber button membranes and modifying them to give the best and fastest response. They also offer a range of different key bindings with suggestions as to why they might be beneficial for different player styles and games.
There’s such a level of detail in the product description; you can tell by reading it that EricIcx is really dedicated to getting the best out of this classic controller design which is heartwarming to see!
Long gone are the days of sitting 6 inches away from your CRT television, trying to figure out where your friend is running around in the GoldenEye map without being accused of screen-cheating. We have evolved as a society to expect a more luxurious gaming experience, with our 60″ TVs and Bluetooth controllers that allow us to lounge in the living room, untethered to the console. That level of luxury is now available for the retro video game consoles we have on our shelves, with the RetroRosetta allowing you to use any of your more modern BT controllers with those older consoles.
This adapter works with a huge number of modern gaming controllers, like the PS4/PS5, Wii remotes and the Switch JoyCons, Xbox controllers, and so many more that you’ll just have to visit the product page to see for yourself. And the supported consoles include the Dreamcast, the PS1 and PS2, your Nintendo 64, and the ever-beloved Gamecube.
Though they offer some pre-made cables for the N64 and the Gamecube, if you want to build your own cables for your specific console, the maker has Cable Making Guide. The PCB utilizes the open-source BlueRetro firmware project, whose developer is included in the proceeds of every sale! There are honestly too many details and exciting features to list all of them here, so be sure to check out the product page and the project’s Github to see every delightful thing they’ve included in the RetroRosetta.
Stock is low right now, so if you happen to miss out on this much-needed upgrade for your retro console collection, be sure to keep an eye on GrechTech‘s Tindie store for a new drop in October!
Get ready to defeat project after project at record speeds with the Robotistan Electronic Giant Project Kit! This well-organised box comes packed to the brim with technology – featuring 150 fun components from robot platforms to LCD screens! You’re sure to find something that will spark your imagination here.
This kit is designed to help makers who want to explore electronics but won’t stand for being held back by shipping delays! With a vast array of sensors and components right at your fingertips, this kit makes it super simple to bring your ideas to life. Why not create a musical instrument that can be controlled by water, or control your blinds using light sensors? With this many components, the ideas are limitless!
Perfect for robotics enthusiasts, this kit comes complete with multiple robotics components and the sought after Robotistan Uno R3 – a custom chip compatible with Arduino, and explicitly designed for easily creating robots. Robotistan hand picked every element of this kit to help teach the fundamentals of electronic devices, so building projects which combine these elements is very educational!
The sturdy plastic case makes finding your desired component as easy as possible. Everything you could need is right in front of you and has a home to return to when you’re done. Pack everything away with ease, making cleaning up a simple task and leaving you with more time to invent. So, get to building, and create something new!
Robotistan is an independent electronics manufacturer based out of Delaware, United States. A producer of innovative kits for more than a decade, they have recently joined Tindie to share the unique products they produce! Support a talented maker and try out one of their well-considered electronics kits.
If you’re on a mission to become the very best, like no one ever was, this is the traditional starting point! Show off your wonderfully geeky fashion sense and support one of our talented creators with this Pokemon inspired necklace/lanyard.
You can travel across the lands with your new best friend! This tiny piece of electronics is controlled by the ATtiny85, a remarkably compact microcontroller, packing a serious punch for such a small device! Featuring two warm-looking LED cheeks, and a high-quality black and yellow PCB – this beautifully designed artwork looks amazing however you decide to display it.
Powered by only a single CR2032 battery, this device lasts for a long time even with regular use! Economical and cheap to power, it even has a function to turn itself off automatically after an hour of LED flickering. A push-button on the reverse allows you to control when your Pokemon is getting ready to attack!
Suicidebattery is a hardworking creator and electronics manufacturer that has been selling on Tindie since 2019. With a wealth of experience creating exciting badges and lanyards, you know that this product will be of high quality! Check out their Tindie storefront, and try to catch them all!
A hackable games console, software development device, and even a radio beacon – the ESPboy2 can seemingly do almost anything! Reminiscent of the transparent plastic stylings of the Game Boy – the updated ESPboy2 runs your favourite retro games, analyses WiFi signals, and can download programs directly from an app store.
However, the ESPboy2 starts to distinguish itself from other retro games consoles with its attachable modules and ability to be programmed using C/C++, MicroPython, Arduino IDE, and other languages. It can therefore be used as a prototyping and development platform compatible with a wide range of code libraries!
With add-on modules such as a heart rate monitor, GPS navigator, and a full keyboard – there are many creative coding possibilities to be explored. If you want something totally custom, you could even design your own modules using things like light sensors! It enables you to assemble modules from scratch, with extensive community documentation available – see the product page for details..
The ESPBoy2 is open source, easy to disassemble, portable, and modular – making it perfect for modifications and experimentation. The previous iteration of this device, the ESPboy, has been used to run a wide variety of applications, including the Game Boy emulator shown below;
The ESPboy2 has been upgraded with a clear acrylic case that makes it more polished and hardwearing, with soft tactile switches for the buttons. The programming port is accessible without any disassembly, and the pin headers are written directly on the case – making hacking this device even faster.
A dedicated community has built up, intent on finding new and interesting ways to use this tiny computer. For guidance on getting started with the ESPboy2, the maker recommends that you start here with a detailed setup guide written up by one of their users.
ESPboy is an independent company based in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, happy to ship almost anywhere in the world. If you’re looking for a great portable retro gaming console with a lot of hackability, this is it!
Say you find an original NES at a garage sale or flea market for $5, as was the case for Long Island Retro Gaming (LIRG) in the video below. Unless you’re incredibly lucky, such a low-priced unit won’t work, which wasn’t a surprise here, especially considering its heavily yellowed outer shell. In this case, the internals were in very bad shape, which, according to LIRG, meant that it was submerged in water at one point during its lifetime. Therefore, restoring this particular NES to its former glory and/or state of neglect was a non-trivial matter.
Shot boards or not, the NES did provide two elements critical to the device’s operation, intact CPU and PPU chips. The rest, you might say, is just details. In reality, “details” here is just a bit of an understatement, but as it just so happens, Tindarian Low Budget sells something called the NESessity v1.3, a full replacement PCB package for the NES console. This board–or, more accurately, set of 3 boards–is available as a solder kit with components, or there’s a components list if you perfer to source things yourself. This allows you to build up you new NES with (almost) all modern components.
You will have to source the CPU, PPU, and possibly the crystal oscillator (as they can be hard to buy new), along with the actual shell and mechanical components like the 72-pin cartridge connector. Of course, if you don’t have an old Nintendo, clones of the CPU and PPU chips are available, though they may have some issues according to Low Budget. The finished LIRG build seen here features a Blinking Light Win aftermarket cartridge connector, which seems like a good option for your Frankensteined NES console.
A New NES in 2021?
In the video, LIRG goes through the assembly of the board, wisely starting with surface mount and other low-profile parts, before moving on to components that will interfere with the soldering operation. Once things are in place, the board + CPU/PPU chips become a more or less a drop-in replacement for the original NES internals. One does, however need to reverse the power LED leads to allow it to light up with this new board, a fairly trivial operation considering the circumstances.
The video does a good job of pointing out that while this method certainly is much easier than restoring a trashed NES PCB, it does take a significant amount of soldering work to get the board working. One would have to guess that most retro-gaming aficionados willing to open up a console wouldn’t want it to be too easy–or at least wouldn’t want to pay the money to have someone else put it together for them!
New – and Improved!
While you might call it a drop-in, this board isn’t a 1-for-1 replacement, as much an upgrade. It features a modern power supply with a massive heat sink, and an auxiliary switch that you can user for your own purposes. The new boards also feature composite video, along with stereo outputs. If you’d like to take things a few steps further, the device is compatible with NES RGB or Hi-Def NES mods. Either, will take a bit more hacking and sourcing on your end.
What a beautiful heat sink!
A series of 3 potentiometers modify the sound output, one of which is used to control Famicom expansion audio functionality. This allows for sound characteristics that you’ve likely never heard if you’re in the US, with everything able to be adjusted to your taste in terms of volume. The device has a Famicom-style expansion port for such accessories, and even features a microphone so that you can yell at it and have something actually happen (for example in the Japanese edition of Zelda). The system is region-free, and simply requires a cartridge adapter to play Famicom games.
All things considered, it’s an excellent video for what appears to be an excellent board. What’s shown in the LIRG build is the NESessity version 1.3, which has gone through multiple iterations. It’s clearly been a popular choice for many people; it’s currently sold out with new stock arriving soon. The second video below features Low Budget showing off the v1.1 NESessity board himself, which appears to be largely similar to the 1.3 version that LIRG put together.
If you like to play old-school video games, getting out an emulator once in a while may scratch that itch. For true retro fans, however, it’s hard to beat gaming on a dedicated console, such as the classic SNES. Assuming you can find the correct ccables, such systems are a matter of plugging in, turning on and mashing buttons! Perhaps, however, you’d like to go further and experiment with new firmware, or back up that valuable game in your collection to avoid potential damage.
If you’d like to burn new cartridges that can plug into your SNES, look no further than the M27C322 Pre-assembled Repro PCB SNES Homebrew SNES by Tindarian Michael Cardoza, AKA Ampere Sand. The process, as seen in the video below on a different iteration, involves programming an M27C322 EPROM chip with game data, and then attaching it to thePCB-cartridge via solder or headers. The device comes a programmed CIC (Checking Integrated Circuit, i.e. lockout) chip in order to allow your games to run. It also comes with pre-installed RGB LEDs with jumpers to select the color on display, and space for you to add your own LED if you so desire.
While the board by itself can’t save game states, it does have space to add SRAM and a battery to keep things alive if needed. Ampere Sand is also offering a similar M27C160 EPROM-based PCB-cart, though it doesn’t list the same saved game accommodations as its M27C322 cousin.
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
