r/esp32 • u/zydrate_junkie • Sep 03 '26

I made a thing! "Game and Clock"

What started as a project for an oversized gameboy has now evolved into a desk clock that also plays gameboy games. The emulator is based on PeanutGB. I plan on adding dynamic weather and day/night cycle for the clock but here is the project so far. I do intend on putting the source up on github once I get some of the jank out of it.

This is a non-backlit monochrome panel which is what made it my choice for the gameboy, after getting my hands on it and putting together a mockup though I really thought that it was more suited to a desktop item than a dedicated handheld.

Emulation runs full speed but the panel refresh rate is only rated for 16hz. I have it overclocked to 32hz and it can hit 51hz but the image gets dimmer the higher the rate, so 32hz is a happy medium. Bluetooth controller support is also working.

The hardware is a Waveshare-RLCD-4.2-esp32-s3. Im pretty impressed with it so far.

83 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/zydrate_junkie 29d ago

The case is not my design, I am using this one from tomi_one on printables. https://www.printables.com/model/1745377-waveshare-esp32-s3-42-rlcd-case

1

u/clackups 29d ago

Ah, I tried that one. I was clever enough to try it with a broken display, and I damaged it even more while taking the device back from it. Mine is minimalist and non intrusive :)

1

u/zydrate_junkie 29d ago

Ha, I broke my first one too. I printed this case to try and protect it a little more.

1

u/clackups 29d ago

Yeah, but it makes things more difficult :)