#RetroConsole

[oldguydoesstuff]

Lotta hours clocked on this baby by me in the 70s ..

[adafruit]

Fruit Jam RP2350B credit-card mini computer with all the fixin's 🍓🍇💾

We were catching up on a recent Hackaday hackchat with Eben Upton (https://hackaday.io/event/202122-raspberry-pi-hack-chat-with-eben-upton) and learned some fun facts: such as the DVI hack for the RP2040 was inspired by a device called the IchigoJam (https://www.hackster.io/news/ichigojam-combines-strawberry-and-raspberry-to-deliver-a-raspberry-pi-pico-powered-educational-micro-66aa5d2f6eec). We remember reading about this back when it was an LPC1114, now it uses an RP2040. Well, we're wrapping up the Metro RP2350 (https://www.adafruit.com/product/6003), and lately, we've been joking around that with DVI output and USB Host support via bit-banged PIO, you could sorta build a little stand-alone computer. Well, one pear-green-tea-fueled-afternoon later we tried our hand at designing a 'credit card sized' computer - that's 3.375" x 2.125", about the same size as a business card (https://hackaday.com/2024/05/07/the-2024-business-card-challenge-starts-now/) and turns out there's even a standard named for it: ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 (https://www.iso.org/standard/70483.html).

Anyhow, with the extra pins of the QFN-80 RP2350B, we're able to jam a ridonkulous amount of hardware into this shape: RP2350B dual 150MHz Cortex M33 w/ PicoProbe debug port, 16 MB Flash + 8 MB PSRAM, USB type C for bootloading/USB client, Micro SD card with SPI or SDIO, DVI output on the HSTX port, I2S stereo headphone + mono speaker via the TLV320DAC3100 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/tlv320dac3100irhbt/2353656), 2-port USB type A hub for both keyboard and mouse or game controllers, chunky on-off switch, Stemma QT I2C + Stemma classic JST 3-pin, EYESPI for TFT displays, 5x NeoPixels, 3x tactile switches, and a 16-pin socket header with 10 A/D GPIO + 5V/3V/GND power pins. The PSRAM will help when we want to do things like run emulations that we need to store in fast RAM access, and it will also let us use the main SRAM as the DVI video buffer.

When we get the PCBs back and assembled, what should we try running on this hardware? We're pretty sure it can run DOOM. Should that be first? :) We also need a name. Right now, we're just calling it Fruit Jam since it's inspired by the IchigoJam project.

[michaeldagaymerx]

Now that I have an SNES what games should I get for the console?? 🤔

[filzablase]

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[oldguydoesstuff]

I own this. I love the idea of a dedicated handheld for an old PC game. Let's do Pool of Radiance next!

You have died of dysentery.

The handheld is just a few years old, but the game... I first played it on a Commodore PET computer in 1979.

[begouristore]

Top On Sale Product Recommendations! ANBERNIC RG35XX Retro Handheld Game Console Linux System 3.5 Inch IPS Screen Cortex-A9 Portable Pocket Video Player Consoles Original price: USD 107.92 Now price: USD 67.99 Click&Buy:

[wordpress-blaze-239158942]

Is There a Higher Risk of Parkinson's for People with Autism?

A recently published research paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association by researchers suggests a possible link between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Parkinson’s Disease by citing shared underlying cause or causes connecting neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder and Parkinson’s Disease. Potential shared underlying factors such as genetics, disrupted brain development, or environmental influences that may link these neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions. The findings highlight the need for greater awareness of long-term neurological risks in individuals with the Autism Spectrum Disorder.

What Is Autism and Parkinson's Disease

The National Institutes of Mental Health defines Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a "neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave." According to the Centers for Disease Control 1 in 31 children and 1 in 45 adults have Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Autism Speaks website lists someone with Autism as having experiencing challenges with social skills, challenges with communication, and restrictive or repetitive behaviors and interests that has a direct impact on their quality of life. Other conditions include depression and anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other mental and physical conditions that are experienced as a part of the autism spectrum.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects movement by causing the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. It is estimated that by the year 2050, there will be will be 25.2 million people with Parkinson's Disease, 267 per 100,000 people will fall under it's influence experiencing reduced motor function in their body, tremors and see impacts to their lifestyle. Currently, Carbidopa/Levodopa and excercise programs like Rock Steady Boxing offer current patients a close to normal lifestyle. The strongest defense against Parkinson’s disease is the support of the Parkinson’s community. Local programs and medical centers often offer resources and guidance to help individuals navigate their journey.

The Study

The study included 2,278,565 individuals born in Sweden between 1974 and 1999; of those individuals participating in the study who had Autism, 0.05% developed Parkinson’s (1,139 people), while only 0.02% (456 people) of those in the study without ASD developed PD. Taking into account factors like depression, medication use, and family history, researchers found that individuals with ASD were four times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.

Two smaller studies for adults over the age of 39 with ASD found higher-than-normal rates of Parkinsonism among individuals in the study. Twenty percent of those not taking any antipsychotic medications as part of their normal daily routine still showed Parkinsonian symptoms, suggesting that motor issues associated with Parkinsonism can develop without complication from medication side effects.

Researchers indicate that diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease in individuals with Autism can be challenging due to the use or ongoing use of neuroleptics by many. They also note that individuals with Autism often exhibit unusual movements, gestures, and coordination issues, and that non-verbal individuals may not consistently follow instructions for standard motor exams. Additionally, there are concerns regarding caregiver turnover in group homes. This complicates the ability to monitor gradual changes in symptoms, which is crucial for confirming whether Parkinson’s Disease is present. 

Missing Links

The study suggests that while there is no definitive reason to directly link Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Parkinson’s Disease, several overlapping factors point to a possible connection that needs to be further explored. Small sample sizes and non-population-based recruitment (where participants are selected from specific sources like clinics or registries rather than randomly from the general population) inhibit the strength of current findings. Researchers propose that selection bias, long-term use of neuroleptic medications, and shared biological factors could all play a role. For instance, the “unmasking effect” of neuroleptics (antipsychotics) may appear before the social symptoms of Autism in early development of the disorder. These shared features could help bridge the understanding between the two conditions and support more targeted research and clinical approaches.

Along with the effects of some medications and the shared biological connections between ASD and Parkinson’s Disease, research has already shown that impaired motor functions are a core symptom for those who have Autism, both sharing abnormalities in brain regions involved in movement, such as the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Researchers have also identified genetic links, including mutations in a receptor associated with Parkinson’s disease, found in some individuals with autism.

The study also points to individuals with Fragile X Syndrome or carriers of the fragile X premutation, who often develop movement disorders, show high rates of Parkinsonism. 

These findings suggest that autism and Parkinson’s may share an overlapping genetic, molecular landscape and possible changes in brain circuitry.

Limitations

The article does point out limitations to the study itself, citing no control groups for one study, and differing education and IQ of the individuals involved. The differences in medication use between the two studies, limited records on long-term medication and childhood behavior, and small sample sizes with diminishing results.

The study also calls into question the risk of Parkinson’s Disease in people who have autism and are more likely to develop Parkinson’s as they get older. It creates bigger challenges for healthcare, training, and policy changes when it comes to the treatment and care of people with ASD and PD. While research on younger adults with autism is increasing, we still know very little about what happens as they age. This gap could lead to problems in planning their care, especially as the population grows older. The high rates of Parkinson’s in older adults with autism may be just the start of more discoveries. Health systems will need to adjust to better support their needs.

Getting Personal

Three members of my family were born with Autism, the importance of finding a connection to Parkinson's and other neurodegerative diseases could impact them as they get over the age of 50. Advances in research may someday lead to cures, or at least medications, to lessen the impact of the disease if does come to them. If the cause of the disease can someday be determined, it will give my family members or their decendants a chance to have a normal, healthy life.

Source: Is There a Higher Risk of Parkinson's for People with Autism?

[1upretrogaming]

Guess The Retro Arcade Game, You have 10 Seconds to 🍄1up

[pinoyvideogamer]

Our ToyCon 2025 Adventure – A Day Full of Toys, Games, and Great People!

[3nding]

Made in China

Con l'arrivo dell'ultimo pacco dalla Cina posso personalmente tirare un paio di somme su ciò che ho acquistato negli anni e sulla qualità della merce.

Il sito che ho usato maggiormente è Geekbuying.com - scoperto per caso durante una promozione - dove ho preso una retro console portatile ANBERNIC RG35XX, un aspirapolvere ULTENIC FS1, un tablet N-ONE npad pro.

Tutte queste cose sono arrivate funzionanti, senza difetti, in tempi rapidi se consideriamo la spedizione internazionale e sopratutto.. funzionano ancora.

Questo infatti è solitamente il cruccio maggiore per chi acquista da ecommerce cinesi, la bassa qualità dei prodotti e la difficoltà - eufemismo - a fare il reso o a ottenere un rimborso. Per quanto mi riguarda mi sono sempre diretto verso prodotti con recensioni disponibili anche fuori dal sito di vendita, forse solo la batteria dell'aspirapolvere ha perso parte della carica ma usandolo tutti i giorni spesso più volte al giorno direi che ci possa stare.

Veniamo ora alle novità di quest'anno: Temu e Aliexpress.

Da Temu il consiglio è sempre quello di stare alla larga dalla app per i motivi di privacy che avevamo trattato in precedenza. Personalmente l'ho installata su un muletto anonimo e come per aliexpress ho utilizzato Paypal per evitare di pagare con la mia carta di credito.

Anche qui gli articoli sono arrivati integri, velocemente e senza problemi doganali: un soffiaspiratore portatile a turbina, un joystick arcade usb e una retroconsole portatile clone della ANBERNIC.

Anche stavolta tutto funzionante, solo il joystick sembra più fragile però il futuro erede ci gioca e non ha di che lamentarsi.

Finiamo con Aliexpress. Approfittando degli sconti che finiscono domani 26 marzo ho preso 2 gamepad usb copia di quelli per il Super Nintendo e due joystick wireless con retroconsole su chiave hdmi.

Conclusioni:

Ogni singolo acquisto considerata anche la spedizione gratuita è risultato come prezzo estremamente economico. Io sono un nerd per quanto concerne il retrogaming e prima di mettere in mano a mio figlio dei joystick/pad più seri e costosi ho deciso di intraprendere questa strada.

E' ovvio che se si fa la comparazione con plance di marche più famose o autocostruite i joypad non reggono il confronto, ma questa non è mai stata la motivazione iniziale - se poi dovessimo considerare il paragone su cui passiamo due strati di nostalgia la cosa prende ovviamente una piega non imparziale: chi ha giocato da ragazzino coi pad della nintendo li ricorda - GIUSTAMENTE! - indistruttibili e di ottima fattura. Riprenderli in mano adesso a quaranta anni con le manone di uomo adulto sarebbe uguale? La domanda è retorica.

Tuttavia per chi volesse cimentarsi con emulazione online e offline - o portatile - questi siti si rivelono un punto di partenza interessante con una spesa davvero ridotta se si ha la pazienza e attenzione di controllare cosa si stia acquistando mettendo in conto che se dovesse verificarsi qualche problema avvalersi delle garanzie a tutela del consumatore che abbiamo in Europa non sarebbe così automatico nè scontato.

Ultimo spunto interessante, chi volesse assemblare il proprio controller/gamepad/joystick potrebbe acquistare i pezzi sfusi sulla cui qualità sembrano esserci recensioni decenti - anche qui la qualità quella più elevata si paga e ci sono siti in UE che se ne occupano e che garantiscono assistenza clienti e garanzia post vendita.

Basta essere consapevoli di tutto questo per una esperienza d'acquisto decente, per il momento io non ho di che lamentarmi.

[oldguydoesstuff]

Maybe there is a smaller functional retro game system than this Tiny Circuits Thumby, but I probably couldn't play it if there is, this is just insane.

[jetstor]

Portáteis R36S e Vertical Game Console em mãos

O R36S é um retroconsole portátil bastante popular entre canais especializados tais como Retro Game Corps e Mão na Luva, aliando baixo custo, design agradável e compacto e bom desempenho. Possuindo um processador RK3326 quad-core de 1,5 GHz, 1Gb de memória RAM DDR3l, tela IPS de 3,5 polegadas, bateria de 3200 mAh com estimadas 6 horas de duração e suporte a wi-fi e Bluetooth, o R36S roda com…

[michaeldagaymerx]

I feel like the baby yoshi’s are widely talked about a lot in Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door so I wanted to show off my Yoshi in the OG GameCube version. I named him pinkie because he’s pink and so cute 🩷🦖🥰

[polysteamgaming]

Are you a fan of retro game consoles like NES, Sega Genesis, or Atari?

Join our retro gaming community and let's share the love for these iconic machines that sparked our love for gaming. #RetroConsoles #GamingNostalgia"

[gbartalesi]

Atari 2600 #retroconsole #retrogaming #atari #atari2600 #spaceinvaders #rumagnaunite #romagna

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A post shared by Giacomo Bartalesi (@_janex_)

[retroist]

50 years ago, Atari released Pong and changed video games forever. A year later they innovated, taking Pong to the next level by putting it inside a barrel. As noted in the promotional flyer for arcades, Barrel-Pong is "a low-key cabinet conceived for the better-type bar."

Have you played Atari in-a-barrel today?