NeoGB-Printer VS ESP32-HUB75-MatrixPanel-DMA

Most emulators are able to export a PNG that you could then print with something like this project! They don't support using a webcam with the ROM for the Game Boy Camera though.

If you buy the real thing, there are lots of projects for extracting and printing the pictures though.

This project implements a fake GB Printer that you can then access via WiFi to download the prints: https://github.com/zenaro147/NeoGB-Printer

This project I wrote a while ago allows you to use a printer very similar to the one in this submission as an actual Game Boy Printer, connected to an original Game Boy: https://github.com/iamjackg/esp32-phomemo-gameboy-printer

Hack A Day article and GitHub link from the original post on /r/GameBoy for those interested in learning more.

I whipped up a quick ESPHome wrapper (as a custom component) for this library: https://github.com/mrfaptastic/ESP32-HUB75-MatrixPanel-DMA

The ESP32 can handle a 64x64 HUB75 display pretty handily. Several of them, even. There’s a solid library out there [0] that just pumps pixels right from memory via the ESP32’s built-in DMA engine. Adafruit_GFX is the supported library for drawing primitives/text/bitmaps/etc., so you can re-use a lot of code that’s out there.

But let’s start with a simple, quick hit of dopamine: There’s a web-based installer [1] (it uses web serial, so Chrome is required) for a couple varieties of clock designed for a 64x64 HUB75 panel and an ESP32. $20 in parts from AliExpress if you already have a suitable 5V power supply.

To use that site, all you need is that aforementioned 5V power supply—4A or more recommended, 10A if you’re planning to drive a full panel of pixels on an outdoor panel at full brightness—a 64x64 HUB75 matrix panel, and an ESP32. Everything except power is run directly to the ESP32. Many panels even come with a 16-pin female IDC connector for the panel, with individual DuPont-style female connectors at the other end that you can just slip over the pins on the ESP32.

The source code for each clock (repo is linked from the web page) is a great starting point for making your own versions.

The panels, as others have mentioned, are shockingly cheap from the usual sources like eBay [2] or AliExpress (search for “HUB75 panel” or “p3 64x64”), but even those in a hurry can get a 64x64 panel for under $40 from Amazon [3].

[0]: https://github.com/mrfaptastic/ESP32-HUB75-MatrixPanel-DMA

I'm about to share the whole project documentation in german. I used ESP32-HUB75-MatrixPanel-DMA with additional 74HC245 to shift the levels up from 3.3 to 5v (as there is a 2m flat cable running through the frame to the display). The Library is based of Adafruit GFX, for which you can find plenty of examples. If you don't want blanking, use two buffers or partially repaint (for the text and image animation I added black filled boxes on each redraw before painting the new position/text). The ESP32 has just enough pins to power the basic functions, but I'm about to order a new PCB with a portexpander, which frees some pins and allows for blinking buttons. Will add a DFPlayer Mini as well, as soon my customer decided, which MP3 files he wants.

will this work? , also im very new to this space but very willing to learn . so far all i have is the freenove starterkit that came with an esp32 because the first one i got from aliexpress wasn't showing up in arduino IDE, but i have a feeling it just wasn't configured properly.

Here's some sample code that does exactly that this is a "HUB75" board, but it looks like a HUB75 is just an ESP32 with an LED matrix attached. The code should work fine for you so long as you change the number of LEDs, and the pin out.

unless someone can help me fix the Arduino Code...

See: https://github.com/mrfaptastic/ESP32-HUB75-MatrixPanel-I2S-DMA#panels-supported