Take a step back twenty years. Thirty. Now wait. Look at the market. What do you see? Computers that today would be vastly outperformed by a scientific calculator. Memory modules that cost a small fortune. Programmers who squeezed every last drop from the available resources, even applying hacks to the hardware. That said, come back and take a close look at this console. It has a single main chip, and from it, its developer has managed to generate both audio and video. Zero waste.
When Every Kilobyte Counted
On September 11, 1977, the Atari 2600 hit store shelves. Its main processor clocked at no more than 1.2 MHz, its total RAM amounted to 128 bytes and its ROM to 4 kilobytes. Less than six years later, the Nintendo NES debuted in Japan. The Ricoh 2A03 chip inside it ran at 1.79 MHz (1.66 MHz in PAL versions), but the available RAM took a terrifying leap, reaching two kilobytes for general use and another two kilobytes dedicated to video (which also had its own dedicated chip). Bank switching could considerably expand cartridge capacity, and this translated into a drastic improvement in game quality. Even so... we're still talking in the range of kilobytes. Without going further, a single email could fill the RAM on these consoles, yet the developers of yore managed to build entire ecosystems with unforgettable games.
A Single Chip, A Complete Console
Today, that art seems lost... though we still have hope. Just take a closer look at the latest project by Voja Antonic, a personal console based on a single chip. The hardware in question is the PIC24EP512GP202, which can be purchased online for less than six dollars. Total available Flash memory is 512 kilobytes, but its data memory goes no further than 48 kilobytes. With such limitations, Antonic had to generate all signals via software, apply a series of hacks to make the audio/video combo work correctly, and run a clone of the old title Jumping Jack for Spectrum, with improved graphics and sound.
The complexity of the project will surely amaze many enthusiasts, but we can't deny the fact that Antonic did an extraordinary job documenting every aspect of his console. Those with enough skill can replace Jumping Jack with another game; however, the underlying truth remains unchanged: In the hands of masters, even the most humble hardware works magic.
