TechTuber Throaty Mumbo built a modern VHS-based video game system using a DE1-SoC FPGA board and a Raspberry Pi RP2350 MCU to play versions of Doom and Super Mario Bros., telset.id reported. The project stems from the creator’s dissatisfaction with the 1987 ActionMax VHS console, which featured limited and imprecise interactivity.
Building a Modern VHS Game System with FPGA Tech
The system utilizes a DE1-SoC FPGA board to handle graphic overlays and switch between eight simultaneous video streams played from a standard VCR deck. This hardware combination marks a departure from traditional software emulation, functioning instead as a physical interactive video system.
In the Doom adaptation, the gameplay relies on timing-based button presses rather than standard first-person shooter mechanics. Players must press the left controller button before a visible timer bar reaches zero to score points and trigger the correct video stream from the VCR. The Super Mario Bros. version pairs a classic Nintendo game running on single-board computer hardware with background footage recorded onto actual VHS tape.
Expanding Retro Technology Experiments
This VHS project follows previous unorthodox hardware experiments by the creator. Mumbo previously gained attention for running Sega games using vinyl records, a method adapting how early computers loaded software from magnetic tape. Both projects reflect ongoing interest among technology hobbyists in repurposing obsolete media formats with modern microcontroller boards.
The documentation video for the VHS project includes frequent profanity and outlines the technical progression from testing the original 1987 ActionMax hardware to assembling the custom FPGA-driven deck. The finished build demonstrates how single-board computers and field-programmable gate arrays can interact with analog magnetic tape to process real-time user inputs.
Common Questions About the VHS Retro Gaming Project
What hardware powers the custom VHS gaming system?
The system runs on a DE1-SoC FPGA board paired with a Raspberry Pi RP2350 MCU, working alongside a standard VCR deck to stream video.
Which games can the system play?
The setup plays custom variations of Doom and Super Mario Bros. configured for full-motion video playback.
How does the gameplay work on the VHS Doom version?
Gameplay functions as an on-rails experience where players press a controller button before a timer bar expires to select the correct video stream and score points.
Why did the creator build this system?
The creator undertook the project out of disappointment with the limited interactivity and lack of novelty offered by the 1987 ActionMax VHS game console.
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