A new open-source console hardware project dubbed the GameTank, designed by Clydeware, is preparing for launch. The GameTank is a totally new platform, with its own game library and authentically restrictive hardware.
Unlike most retro consoles that rely on emulation or FPGA re-implementation of older chips, the GameTank uses twin MOS 6502-family CPUs and a purely logic-and-RAM architecture. This means no microcontrollers, no FPGA bitstreams. The main CPU is a WDC W65C02S running at 3.5MHz, while a second W65C02S at 14 MHz handles audio duties.
For graphics, the console uses a 128×128 framebuffer, aided by a hardware-accelerated blitter which copies graphics to the framebuffer every clock cycle at 3.5 MHz. The GameTank also breaks with typical 8-bit memory constraints. Its sprite/graphics RAM is 512 KB, while general-purpose RAM is 32 KB banked in 8 KB sections.
The lingo may be complex, but the ambition here is clear: this isn’t about reproducing classic consoles or playing old cartridge libraries. Instead, GameTank is intended to inspire new games built for this hardware. As our friends at Time Extension put it, it’s “a playground for software and hardware tinkerers alike”.
The system comes with open-source schematics, board files, 3D-print files, part lists, and an SDK based on the CC65 compiler for 6502 code. It uses cartridges (a custom 36-pin 0.1-inch format with 2 MB flash on the standard board) for game storage and outputs composite video via RCA rather than HDMI. There’s also an expansion port, a 26-pin backside exposing GPIO and system signals suitable for hardware hackers.
On the one hand, the technical architecture shows ambition. Using real 6502-family CPUs (used in systems like the Apple II, NES, etc) gives a tangible link to retro hardware while allowing modern flourishes (such as the large graphics RAM and a dedicated blitter).
On the other hand, the choice of composite output and fairly low resolution (128×128) might limit appeal for those expecting “modern” display support. A commenter on Tom’s Hardware wrote: “The decision to use a composite-only output was very poor… it automatically limits the market to people who still own displays that accept composite input.”
Given its open-source hardware/software ethos, this console is aimed less at the mainstream “play all your favorite retro games” crowd and more at homebrew developers, hobbyists, and hardware modders. Time will tell whether it finds a sufficient developer and user base to justify its ambitions.
Source: GameTank via Tom’s Hardware
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