Introduction to Eli Lipsitz and Game Bub
The interview begins with Pixel Cherry Ninja welcoming Eli Lipsitz, the sole developer behind the Game Bub, an open-source FPGA handheld console. Eli explains that the Game Bub is designed to support original Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance cartridges, as well as link cables and other original hardware. The entire project is open-source, with a crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Supply underway for a high-quality production run.
Eli has been working on the Game Bub for over three years as a personal project, motivated by his passion for retro gaming and the Gameboy Advance era. As a software engineer, he started with software emulators before moving on to FPGAs during the COVID-19 pandemic. A blog post about his creation gained significant attention, leading to the current crowdfunding campaign.
The Emulation Core
Eli clarifies that the Game Bub runs on FPGA cores he developed specifically for the project, not the software emulators he created earlier. There are two separate, open-source cores on his GitHub: one for Gameboy/Gameboy Color and one for Gameboy Advance. He notes that developing these cores required extensive simulation for testing and debugging.
Crowd Supply and Open-Source Philosophy
The choice of Crowd Supply as a crowdfunding platform is discussed. Eli explains that Crowd Supply specializes in open-source hardware projects and has a rigorous vetting process, ensuring that projects have a working prototype and are viable. He states that the goal of the Game Bub is to contribute to the community rather than to maximize profits, which is why he has kept it open-source.
Hardware and Features
Eli confirms that the Game Bub runs games directly from the cartridges, a key feature that distinguishes it from other cores (such as MiSTer cores). It also supports running ROMs from a micro SD card. The device includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, rumble functionality, and a real-time clock. It also has a PMOD expansion port for potential hardware additions, such as a solar sensor for games like Boktai. The design of the handheld evolved from a vertical to a horizontal form factor based on community feedback.
Future Development and Potential
When asked about future core development, Eli says he has no immediate plans to create more cores himself due to time restrictions, however this could change in the future. However, he designed the Game Bub as a platform for future expansion and hopes the community will contribute new cores, with systems like the SNES being a possibility. He also addresses the device’s 32 MB of DRAM, noting it would prevent it from running large Neo Geo games, but suggests a memory expansion via the cartridge port could be a solution. He adds that for systems with disc drives, the micro SD card could be used to emulate the disc drive.
Design and User Experience
Eli addresses the design choices, including the screen’s large bezels, which were used to keep costs down by using off the shelf components. He is making several improvements based on reviewer feedback, such as increasing the size of the D-Pad. He is also working on making the D-pad more comfortable for users with larger hands. The final product will feature screen filters to replicate the original Gameboys (all models) displays.
Controller Support and Connectivity
The Game Bub features a six button SNES style layout to support a wider range of games. The dock will support various controllers, including 8BitDo, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch controllers, via Bluetooth, 2.4ghz or a wired USB connection.
Campaign Details and Production
Eli reassures potential backers that they will only be charged if the campaign is successful. He also clarifies that this will not be a one-time production run; Crowd Supply will purchase additional units for future sales, and he will continue production as long as there is demand. The final product will have a more durable case made from injection-molded or CNC-milled polycarbonate.
Final Thoughts
The interview concludes with Eli thanking the community for their support. He encourages anyone with questions to reach out through the Crowd Supply page. He also reveals the origin of the name “Game Bub” as an inside joke. He mentions that the Game Bub can also be used to back up and restore save files from original cartridges.
You can watch the full interview down below 👇
