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The Uzebox: an Open Source Hardware Games Console

Posted by Soulskill on from the throw-one-together dept.

angry tapir writes "Lots of people are familiar with open source software. Open source hardware, however, is still more of niche category. The Uzebox is an open source, 'retro minimalist' 8-bit games console, licensed under version 3.0 of the GNU GPL. 'The console uses an overclocked ATmega644 microcontroller and classic Super Nintendo controllers, supports 256 colors and 4 sound channels and has an SD card interface from which games can be loaded from.'"

2 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. This is Open Source done right by node+3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I was expecting some fanboyistic "this will take on Sony and Microsoft!" or something similar. People aren't going to chose some DIY console over something where all the hard work is done for them, like has been done by Sony, MS, and Nintendo.

    However, that's not what this is at all. This is awesome, and exactly the sort of thing Open Source is great at: making projects that are geek-centric, geek-powered, and just plain A-Z geek.

    A 'retro-minimalist' 8-bit console using SNES controllers? What could possibly be more geek than that? It's fantastic.

    1. Re:This is Open Source done right by node+3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yes, you are a nerd hipster, how fantastic for you.

      My point is that this is the way to approach these things. Open source, DIY, geek projects are about doing things you want to see done, not worrying about toppling the proprietary companies. If that's your goal, you're in for a shock. But if you want to make cool things to play with and work with, this is the way to go. Just look at Linux. It sucks for general, consumer desktop use, but it's fantastic for geeks to play with and to also get real work done on.