8-bit open source video game system
Not sure if you’ve seen this yet, but pretty damn cool. Playpower plans to develop a $12 open source video game system (or is it $10, the site seems to contradict itself). What’s extra cool, is the system will be 8-bit with cartridges based on the 1980’s era Nintendo Famicom. Apparently one single cartridge will be able to contain hundreds of software titles.
And the programming language used – nBasic, a derivative of Basic. It was developed by Bob Rost, who taught a class about programming NES games at Carnegie Melon University (the same amazing institution that Randy Pausch taught at). The beta compiler is only available on PC. It’s available for PC here. For other platforms check out Rob Rost’s site.
“We don’t just believe that fun aids learning—we believe fun is learning,” say the Playpower dudes. I can’t agree more.
Also there was something about the subtleties of the 8 bit format, that is lost in the rich graphics of todays games consoles. It leaves more to the imagination, the reason why kids prefer cartoons to live action stuff.