GameTank: 8-Bit Console with Dual 6502 CPUs Launching 2025
▼ Summary
– The GameTank is a new open-source 8-bit console by Clydeware that uses dual MOS Technology 6502-based processors and a custom framebuffer graphics architecture.
– It is designed as a standalone ecosystem to inspire new 8-bit game development rather than playing existing games or emulators from other systems.
– The console features a 3.5 MHz W65C02S CPU for general tasks and a 14 MHz W65C02S for audio, with 32KB system RAM and 512KB graphics RAM for smooth animations.
– It includes custom cartridges with USB-C ports for flashing ROMs and supports development using any toolchain that generates 6502 assembly, including a C SDK based on CC65.
– An open-source emulator is available on GitHub to facilitate software development, and the console will launch via crowdfunding with composite video output and wired controllers.
A new challenger is preparing to enter the 8-bit console market, aiming to carve out its own niche rather than compete directly with vintage classics. The GameTank, developed by Clydeware, is an open-source hardware project built around the enduring MOS Technology 6502 processor. This system distinguishes itself through a completely fresh design philosophy, incorporating not one but two CPUs and a custom graphics architecture centered on a framebuffer. It is not intended to run games from older 8-bit systems but to foster a brand-new ecosystem for developing the next wave of 8-bit gaming experiences.
The hardware foundation is built from basic logic and RAM chips, deliberately avoiding FPGAs or microcontrollers. A particularly unusual feature for a retro-inspired console is its dual-processor configuration. Both processors are enhanced CMOS versions of the classic 6502 CPU, a chip famous for powering legendary systems like the Apple II, Commodore PET, Atari VCS, and the Nintendo Entertainment System.
The GameTank is a new, retro-inspired console built around a 6502 CPU. Here are its key specifications and features:
- CPU: A WDC W65C02S running at 3.5 MHz handles general system operations.
This allocation of resources highlights a distinct architectural approach. By dedicating a massive 512KB to graphics and employing a framebuffer with a hardware blitter, the GameTank is engineered to deliver smoother and more fluid animations. This stands in stark contrast to the tile and sprite-based graphics of historical 6502 consoles like the NES, which often exhibited choppy scrolling.
The console’s “big chunky cartridges” are custom yet open in design, with tools readily available for developers to flash their own ROMs. For software creation, the designers recommend a C SDK based on the open-source CC65 compiler. However, they note that any development toolchain capable of generating 6502 assembly code can be used to create games for the platform.
In a firm commitment to its retro aesthetic, the GameTank’s sole video output is an NTSC composite RCA jack, and it relies on traditional wired controllers.
Interestingly, you don’t need to wait for the physical hardware to start experimenting. An official GameTank emulator is already available on GitHub, originally created to accelerate software development but now open for anyone to use. The console is scheduled to launch via a crowdfunding campaign in the near future.
(Source: Tom’s Hardware)