bateskecom (u/bateskecom)

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

I like the mechanical design. Do you have any blog posts about creating the plastic mold and having the plastic parts produced (I looked around and didn't find anything)?

bateskecom · 4 years ago

I've got a video visiting the factory actually: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQI6GNvhmro

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

VectorLock · 4 years ago

What kind of licensing is this under? Can someone make a one-off hardware implementation and sell them freely?

bateskecom · 4 years ago

The pinout compatibility is public domain. The software is covered under it's respective licenses, the most popular library is now this: https://github.com/MLXXXp/Arduboy2 and is BSD. The name Arduboy is covered under US trademark. If you want to make your own clone, there are several out there already, you just can't use the trademark or include any games that carry it.

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

mulderc · 4 years ago

Curious to hear your thoughts on the play date?

bateskecom · 4 years ago

I love it! Not sure about the crank but everything else is incredible! I tried to go memory LCD but I couldn't get sharp to talk to me and was also too expensive at the time. I'd love to join their team! I've pestered Cabel for a job but I think he has bigger plans. Maybe I should start an Arduboy on Playdate petition? :D

It's really awesome to see to see all these other consoles follow in Arduboy's footsteps. Arduboy as not the first console like this but, I'm biased, I think it has been the best.

Really, I'm excited to see the entire industry of things like this grow, and it's nice to know I'm a part of it in some way.

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

jeofken · 4 years ago

Just checked again, and that option is not displayed - maybe not available in my country, or not possible for some other reason.

We could maybe just make an invoice and I pay it whatever way is possible for both and preferable to you.

bateskecom · 4 years ago

Thanks for letting me know! It is set up to allow it in paypal so it looks like squarespace integration does not allow the guest checkout option. I'll look at adding stripe to the page, otherwise you can place the pre-order with our distributor if that works better: https://www.seeedstudio.com/Arduboy-FX-p-4913.html

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

fao_ · 4 years ago

Can't wait for the landfill to be filled with these in 10 years time... I genuinely do not understand the appeal, even as a former indie developer.

I don't see why we need yet another tiny gaming console that's like the NES, except not. It has tiny buttons that look painful to use, it's credit card sized so you can barely hold the thing, it has an outdated usb port so it's not compatible with any of your devices, and a tiny screen that's going to shine in the sunlight.

I wonder where all the copies of the OUYA are now. Or the PlayJam Gamestick[0] (Whose founders sold out, then pivoted to bespoke software, and their site is no longer online now). Or any of the other thousands of consoles and gaming devices like these, after 10 years when the actual hardware is outdated and about 5 other things that are exactly the same came out except with an OLED screen and other things that make it nicer.

Despite raising 600k, the only place you can get the PlayJam Gamestick is on Ebay, for the shocking price of... 35 pounds. Because literally nobody wants one. It's value is zero, 10 years after the fact. The same for the OUYA (Which had more hype and is slightly cheaper now). The Caanoo, the GCW Zero, the GPD XD, etc. are all lying in the gutter. They either crashed when they tried to take off, or they crashed after 10 years.

Now, don't get me wrong. I do understand the appeal of things like the Analogue Pocket -- it has both Homebrew appeal, and the possibility of playing original, 1980s game carts, that is hardware accurate, along with homebrew. A developer making a game for this can know their game works on the original hardware, too! It's an alternative to emulators for time-tested and beloved hardware, so it has staying power.

This, like it's predecessors, objectively doesn't have that. It seems like a waste of resources.

[0]: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/872297630/gamestick-the...

bateskecom · 4 years ago

We are a different company with a different model to all of these businesses and products you have mentioned. It's intended to learn how to code on bare metal system using a language that both approachable and powerful, C++. Developing homebrew using assembly is tough. You can learn a lot by developing for a true 8 bit system and Arduino makes it easy and accessible.

It's ok to be a nay-sayer but you are super late to the party. We're on year 6 so maybe check back in 4 and see how we are doing! :)

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

timbit42 · 4 years ago

How about describing what it is. It sounds like an arduous boy, which would be a weird thing to post on HN.

bateskecom · 4 years ago

The spellchecker on every new computer I use agrees with you ;)

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

girvo · 4 years ago

As another Australian, I highly doubt they have much of a say in terms of how expensive shipping to us internationally is, right now.

bateskecom · 4 years ago

Unfortunately prices have gone up a lot. USPS won't even ship packages to Australia any more due to some dispute so it has to use some 3rd party service to get there. The only thing I can suggest is if you can get together with your friends, the shipping rate is flat fee you can split it that way.

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

jeofken · 4 years ago

I can not buy via PayPal - can pay with normal credit card number input (maybe Stripe?), SEPA, cryptocurrency, or maybe a bank transfer in USD with Transferwise or Revolut. Please let me know if any such payment method would be possible to use for an order :-) Or I’ll take you out skiing and treat you to dinner if you come to Scandinavia

bateskecom · 4 years ago

Paypal allows you to check out as a guest using a credit card but I understand some people it is still restricted or prefer not to. I'll look into other options, thanks!

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

Lerc · 4 years ago

What sort of display interface would you go for if you did the rp2040 thing? SPI doesn't really go fast enough. MIPI DSI is tricky. Are there any panels that do the simplicity of VGA style R,G,B,H,V (which the rp2040 has already shown aptitude at handling)

bateskecom · 4 years ago

Specifically the ST7735, 128x128 color LCD (available in IPS too) using SPI, it goes plenty enough. Should be able to max out the display, perhaps not at full color depth, but good enough. Still learning that platform though, I tried last year but there wasn't enough resources for noobs like me. Messed around with ESP32 earlier but it's power draw is too high: https://community.arduboy.com/t/micro-arcade-reverse-enginee...

bateskecom commented on Arduboy arduboy.com... · Posted by u/tosh

overeater · 4 years ago

Yes, why use the old micro-usb port? Now I would need a separate cable just to charge this.

bateskecom · 4 years ago

I don't disagree, I've wanted to switch to usb-c for a while. Several reasons. It was designed with Micro-USB 8 years ago, would have to make new molds for the new connector. (approx $20k) USB-C would fit but just barely because it is thicker. Connectors are more expensive and cables are more expensive. It includes a Micro-USB cable so we got you covered there. Bluetooth and wireless charging, and you wouldn't even need ports :)