Building the Uzebox Game Console

The project is based on an Atmel AVR 8-bit general purpose microcontroller in order to produce a reto-minimalist open source game console known as Uzebox.

The Uzebox can produce good enough sound and graphics while maintaining enough sources to implement interesting games although the design of the device was simple. The system uses an interrupt-driven kernel in particular as well as not having a frame buffer. In order for the games to be easily developed in C, a background task that runs in real-time by performing video sync generation, music mixing, and tile rendering. There are two chips consisting of ATmega644 and AD725 RGB-to-NTC converter that comprise the final design, making it low in cost and parts count.

Since the project is an open source, the hardware and software design are free with GPL licensing. An API is used to develop games because of multiple video modes, sound driver, and other features that it provides. The 3 wavetable channels and 1 noise or PCM channel comprise the sound subsystem. A R-2R resistor ladder DAC is used to accomplish the 256 simultaneous colors. The standard NES/SNES controllers interface are used in the joypad inputs.

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