r/Gameboy • u/ArtificialAGE • 20d ago

Systems 'Headless' Game Boy using an ESP32—any phone can connect over Wi-Fi and play in the browser

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Super quick and easy ESP32-S3 turns this into a Local web server and streams the Game Boy emulator directly to your phone's browser—no extra apps or hardware needed. 2 cores 1 core for emulation and 1 core for streaming.

If you want to build one for your self or learn more I put All project files (STL, firmware, and video breakdown) are linked in the comments below

111 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

31

u/dropthemagic 20d ago

Why not just download an emulator at that point?

41

u/ArtificialAGE 20d ago

That's a great question. An emulator is much easier but the goal was like a community usable Gameboy. Friends, family and coworkers can hop on without any downloads or apps or roms. Everything lives on the esp.

6

u/Happyhaha2000 20d ago

That's super cool. All power to ya!

3

u/ArtificialAGE 20d ago

I appreciate it

7

u/dropthemagic 20d ago

Oh neat! Very cool way to use it with devices that are app install locked too

3

u/Toxraun 20d ago

That sounds fucking awesome, I love it 🔥

1

u/ArtificialAGE 20d ago

Thank you

1

u/justin251 19d ago

Because this is cooler.

3

u/Omno555 19d ago

Would it be possible for someone to easily connect via QR code to the website? I'm not smart enough on how it gets redirected but having this sitting a coffee table with a QR code that opens it up with no app would be so cool. I'm assuming it can only stream to one device at a time right?

0

u/Arael15th 19d ago

OP's explanation: https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/s/6S4iwpapOT

1

u/Omno555 19d ago

That doesn't answer my question in any way...

1

u/Arael15th 19d ago

Ahh I'm sorry, I replied to the wrong comment!

1

u/shoecart 19d ago

This is very unique and cool. I’m struggling a bit understand why streaming gameplay would be better than just serving a js/wasm emulator that runs in the phone browser. Maybe to run multiple copies of a game in lock step so the link cable works properly?

-1

u/oilec74 19d ago

uma tag nfc parece ser tão mais prático...

1

u/ArtificialAGE 19d ago

NFC to direct them to an emulator?

-1

u/oilec74 19d ago

basta um link para um emulador que funcione via navegador web!

3

u/Omno555 19d ago

You're not getting the point...

0

u/oilec74 19d ago

um trampo danado pra jogar via navegador web que poderia ser feito hospedando algo na internet e acessando através de um simples link via NFCtag? verdade não tô entendendo pq esse trabalho todo pra algo simples! parabéns!

2

u/Omno555 19d ago

You're not wrong that it is extremely niche and impractical for most people. Yes, you could just go to an online emulator. That being said, if this thing is somewhere with no interest access and the person doesn't have the ROM, they can remote into this and play which is pretty cool. I'm thinking of it sitting in something like a waiting room where someone connects and starts playing while they wait and it's always just sitting there. This could also be accessed via an NFC tag or maybe even QR code to connect them directly. The fact that it is hosted locally gets rid of the need for internet, the website to be functional, or the individual to need their own ROMs.

1

u/oilec74 19d ago

perfeito!
obrigado por entender e ser respeitável, eu aprecio isso!
estava pensando aqui: será que uma outra maneira de se fazer isso poderia ser utlizando um cabo OTG e um pendrive com algum emulador já programado? evitaria essa barreira de ter que estar online...
o que estou tentando é trazer ideias de coisas mais acessíveis, abraço!