Thumby (console)

The Thumby is a small keychain-sized programmable game console produced by TinyCircuits of Akron, Ohio[3][4] and funded by a Kickstarter campaign.[5][6][7] The console measures 1.2 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches (30.5 mm × 17.8 mm × 7.6 mm).

Thumby
Thumby game console close up
DeveloperTinyCircuits
ManufacturerTinyCircuits
TypeHandheld game console
Release date2022
Introductory price$19–35
MediaDigital distribution
System on a chipRP2040
CPU2 ARM Cortex-M0+ cores @ Up to 133 MHz[1]
Memory264 KB[1] (SRAM[1])
Storage1.4 MB (advertised as 2 MB)
Display72x40 1-bit OLED
SoundPiezoelectric speaker
ConnectivityLink cable
Power40 mAh Lithium polymer battery
Online servicesThumby Arcade
Dimensions1.2 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches (30.5 mm × 17.8 mm × 7.6 mm)
Mass4.7 grams (0.17 oz)
Marketing targetProgramming education[2]
PredecessorPocket Arcade
Websitethumby.us
LanguageMicroPython, Arduino

History

The first concept for the Thumby originated roughly around 2015 or 2016.[3] An early version of the system was shown at the 2016 Bay Area Maker Faire.[8]

A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the console began on September 28, 2021.[9][10] The company projected a production of at least 10,000 Thumby consoles despite the 2020–present global chip shortage.[3] A stated goal was to ship consoles to backers by February 2022, with plans to ship some early units in Fall 2021.[3] The console shipped in 2022.[11]

Games

The Thumby includes six preloaded games:

  • TinySaur/Saur Run
  • Thumgeon
  • TinyTennis/Tennis
  • Annelid
  • Space Debris
  • TinyBlocks/TinyTris

Additional games can be downloaded from the internet on a personal computer, then loaded onto the console over USB.

Hardware

The Thumby is powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller.[7] The console provides 2MB of onboard storage.[7] MicroPython is supported with a web based development environment.[12]

A small 0.38 by 0.27 inches (9.7 mm × 6.9 mm) 72x40 pixel 1-bit OLED panel is used as the display.[13][7][14] A buzzer is also included[15] for simple audio feedback.

A microUSB port is used to connect the console with computers, as well as to support the Thumby link cable.[7] This port is also used to charge the lithium polymer battery, which provides about 2 hours of operational runtime with a capacity of 40 mAh.[7]

The system is notable for its small size, measuring at 1.2 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches (30.5 mm × 17.8 mm × 7.6 mm).[13] The console can be mounted on a keychain.[10][13] The system has a mass of 4.7 grams (0.17 oz).[16]

The console casing was made in a variety of colors including gray, dark gray, blue, pink, gold, green, and clear.[17]

References
  1. "RP2040 specifications". Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi Ltd. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  2. "This Akron startup is Bringing Tiny Technology to the Masses". TechOhio. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  3. Mackinnon, Jim. "Akron's TinyCircuits has its fingers on a new winning product, Thumby". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  4. Nethers, Dave (1 October 2021). "Dreaming small: Local electronics company making it big with tiny retro video game". Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  5. "Thumb-Sized Game Boy Project, Thumby, Launches A Kickstarter". ScreenRant. Sep 29, 2021.
  6. "A (Playable) Game Boy For Ants". Kotaku. 29 September 2021.
  7. Liszewski, Andrew. "How Small Is Too Small for a Game Boy? The Thumby Might Have the Answer". Gizmodo. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  8. Evenden, Ian (29 September 2021). "Raspberry Pi Powers Keychain Sized Games Console". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  9. "Thumby, the 'world's smallest gaming handheld', headed to Kickstarter on September 28th". Nintendo Wire. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  10. Whitehead, Thomas (21 September 2021). "Random: This Tiny Game Boy Is Probably The World's Smallest Game Console". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  11. "Playing A Tiny Video Game With My Thumbnails Because I Hate Myself: A Review". TheGamer. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  12. Hill, Brandon (29 September 2021). "TinyCircuits's Diminutive 'Thumby' Game Boy Clone Would Make Ant-Man Proud". HotHardware. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  13. Wong, Raymond. "World's tiniest Game Boy is actually playable". Input. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  14. "Bright Ideas". Inventors' Digest. 37 (11): 12. November 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  15. Becka, Megan (1 October 2021). "Akron-based TinyCircuits video game keychain hits Kickstarter funding goal in under 2 hours". cleveland. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  16. "Meet The World's Smallest Games Console". Retro Dodo. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  17. Frahn, Enrico. "The Raspberry Pi Pico-powered Thumby is a tiny retro gaming console for your keychain that looks like a miniaturized Nintendo Game Boy". Notebookcheck. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.