Story
Retro gaming has always fascinated me, particularly the simplicity and ingenuity of early computer systems. This project was born from a desire to create a small console powered by the ESP32, and what better system to emulate than the Chip8, the first emulator many programmers build?
The development process came with several challenges, particularly optimizing the emulator’s performance on the ESP32, with a focus on improving the screen’s refresh rate. Additionally, integrating a display, SD Card reader, buzzer, and controls into a compact form factor added another layer of complexity, especially for someone new to 3D modeling like me.
After overcoming these hurdles, the final result is a fully functional, portable console (as long as you have a USB-C cable and a power supply) that can run CHIP-8 games efficiently on the ESP32.
For those interested in the technical details, including the code and step-by-step guide, I have documented the entire process on my website. You can find the in-depth tutorial and source code at TMVTech.com.
I hope this project inspires others to explore emulator development and embedded systems. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to any feedback or suggestions!
