/vr/ - Retro Games

>>8723803
It crosses my mind. A few large USB powerbanks and a small solar USB charger should do the trick for handhelds.

i'd kill you for the batteries and pop tarts

>>8723803
You'd want to save the batteries for things that keep you alive. Flashlights and radios come to mind.

I think you'd end up having video games for later, when someone has organised a power supply like your picture or a diesel generator.

>>8723825
If you ever find me. I don't eat nasty shit like pop-tarts. Do americans really?

>>8723830
Well of course. But if I get enough powerbanks and have excess energy reserves, it could be possible. It gives me some sense of comfort knowing that.

Is there an optimal way to do this?

>>8723803
Have you not seen the solar boy?
https://youtu.be/EEzJH90h3aA?t=306

>>8723831
you would know

>>8723803
Even if you charge the batteries and powerbanks by solar power, don't they have a finite number of charges? I've had rechargeable batteries dying on me after a few years even though I only used them sparingly. There are probably better batteries today though, but still.

>>8723830
getting a crank-powered shortwave radio is probably the best bet there. They often have a flashlight and USB port for charging on them too.

>>8723842
Shit really? What is the solution to this? A gameboy and rechargeable batteries? What is the best long term solution? Buying a premium handheld and recharging it or buying a bunch of spare batteries that you can replace?

>>8723848
Spare batteries; all batteries are consumable. If they weren't we'd have flying cars.

>>8723851
I'm guessing the chink-shit handhelds won't last for say 20+ years even with replaceable batteries?

>>8723854
Highly unlikely

>>8723803
Gay, just make steam engines

>>8723856
So I guess my question is if some crazy stuff in the world goes down and we're forced to hide in the woods with a self sustaining life, what would be the optimal solution for long term solar powered retro handheld gameplay once all basic needs are covered?

>>8723846
Yeah that's a good point.

>>8723863
A solar panel and a laptop with a bunch of emulators.

Solar power literally doesn't work you wouldn't be allowed to use it if it did

>>8723803
NDS had a hand-crank generator accessory to charge the battery

>>8723803
>>8723863
You're not alone on this, anon. My idea is to settle nearby a river, then use it to produce power. Solar is good, but not enough. It will need a bunch of other components after that to stabilize the power, but batteries won't be required. For the gaming platform, as some anons suggested, mobile seems to be the way to go, due to lower power consumption. Of course I never tried this and neither did the maths, but once I get my ranch it will be my goal.

>>8724057
So awesome. In an ideal world I would want a property near water where I could harness free energy from it + solar + pedal crank generator and a small handheld gaming device that I can play all games up to say PS2

>>8723803
I have no way to get electricity without a grid. That said, I have terabytes of /vr/ backed up so I don't need the internet to get ahold of anything.

>>8723803
I did, but if society collapses I'm just going to start reading books instead when I'm not gathering supplies.

>>8723803
Implying that there will ever be an end to the slowly worsening drudgery. It's not gonna collapse, bro. If you're gonna go Uncle T schizo mode it's best to learn to appreciate books and live to survive, not to be entertained.

>>8724115
this.

if shit gets bad ill probably just game on my phone anyway. maybe i can solar charge a game boy SP at most.

>>8723803
I know people who live off of solar power and play games on a Pi with a small screen. They use a 7" Pi Touch with case. I found a photo from the site of a couple that has the same setup and lives on a boat with solar only as well.

I think going with a low power PC such as a Pi is the way to go here.

>>8724128
>if shit gets bad ill probably just game on my phone anyway
>Anon is happily gaming on his phone
>Globalhomo agents track the passive cellular radio and wi-fi emissions.
>Anon is captured
>Anon eats the bugs and lives in the wage cage.

>>8724205
i have a burner

>>8724185
How can one reach this level of basedness?

>>8724765
Buy a house-boat and go for it. If I wasn't married I would. Get a cell modem and work from the boat, would be so awesome

>>8724185
salsa on the pic?

>>8724873
Holy shit I need to know how this was done. I want to switch entirely to AA/AAA/D cell batteries.

>>8723803
Deck of cards would be enough for me. Fuck batteries.

I think we'll all be a little busy playing real life GTA at that point

>>8724873
This possible for a gba too? I need this

>>8723863
Even most solar panels for consumer use you can buy today only lasts about 25 years.

>>8725189
hand-cranked it is, then

>>8725172
The GBA takes AAs normally, so it would be even easier.

>>8723863
worrying about video games at all in such a situation lol you won't survive a week so don't worry

>>8723803
I had worked on a low wattage PC for gaming that could be charged with a solar panel, but I never managed to work out some fine details. Namely, I wanted to bypass the idea of a traditional power supply and directly supply 5v and 12v DC power to the motherboard from a battery bank, charging the bank through a solar panel.

The idea was a culmination of various experiments that I fiddled with having access to a hardware workbench and far too much free time at my previous job. I had experimented with using copper wire to chain together several batteries in parallel for a UPS, which worked fine, although charging took far longer than normal. Eight batteries in parallel did give about eight times the running time, and since I had a whole shelf full of replacement UPS batteries, it was easy to test.

I then decided that instead of needing to hook up the UPS to an outlet, I could barrow the solar panels our department used for our off-grid radio transmitters to charge the batteries directly, the UPS working the role of an inverter. This also worked, but actually getting enough solar panels together to power a regular computer wasn't feasible, let alone a high end gaming computer. Hence the need to design a computer that used sub 100w and was still able to run important games like Quake, Starcraft, X-COM, and a whole host of emulators.

I was able to assemble various parts to reduce power usage such as a CPU with an integrated GPU and a low consumption motherboard, but I ran into problems attempting to bypass the inverter and supply power from DC directly, which would've more than doubled the efficiency of the power supply from the batteries, increasing their life. I feel as if had I solved that final hurdle, I would be able to use a few of those folding 100w solar panels to charge the batteries during the day and the bank itself could last around 30 hours of continuous use from a full charge. It would be a very heavy setup though due to lead-acid batteries.

>>8723842
>>8723848
Lead-Acid batteries, keep a supply of the electrolyte on hand. Replace the electrolyte as it starts to go bad.

Lithium-Ion batteries are beyond my knowledge on how to maintain, partially because I've heard they aren't really designed to be maintained by laymen. However, the only advantage to Lithium Ion vs lead-acid is weight, with LI being far, far lighter than lead-acid and packing more energy into a smaller footprint.

>>8725172
All this is doing is using an energy source that supplies the same voltage DC as the original battery. There's no reason you can't replace any lithium ion battery with an older type if you keep the voltage the same. Voltage regulators, like what they use on a car's alternator and properly sized for your device, will make it even easier to use any type of battery with your device, though you'll lose some efficiency as the conversion takes place.

I really recommend watching some Youtube videos on all of this, you can see some even sillier designs like people powering devices with an orange because its juice can function as an electrolyte.

>>8724880
https://100r.co/site/raspberry_pi.html

>>8723803
I bought a GPi Case with similar situations where power might not be available for an extended time in mind. Three AA batteries lasts me 20-30 hours depending on the emulator being used. I'm also buying an e-reader I found that runs off AA batteries to go alongside my sizable collection of physical books. Better to own something and not need it, than need it and not have it.

>>8725372
Pic related. Forgot to attach it to the post.

>>8725372
"It's in here somewhere..."

>>8723803
If society collapses the last thing I'd be doing is playing games.

>>8725395
thread filled to the brim with filthy casuals

>>8725221
You're going to have to crank it all day to get about 5 minutes of runtime. A better solution might be a small wind turbine. Providing you live in a place with a lot of wind, one ~0.5 meter long blades should be enough to charge a couple of usb power banks simultaneously.

>>8723803
>Has anyone else thought of this idea?
Yes.
> If society collapses and there is a black-out, wouldn't you want to be prepared for solar-paneled handheld gaming to remember the good times?
No, without modern technology and industrial capacity, you wont have time for games. You will be constantly working for survival. The fact that you can play video games is the direct result of the mountains of third world labor being managed by technology and bureaucracy. Your free time exists due to the sweat of people you’ve ever met nor seen. Without these support systems, you would be struggling to feed yourself, much less play with childrens toys like video games.

>>8725289
Incredible anon. I’ve had a lot of the same ideas you did, except you’ve actually followed through and tested them. You have my unbridled admiration.

>>8725652
anon, once you get yourself organized, it really wouldn't be that bad. you'd tend to your or your community's farm and livestock, and then have your evenings free.

there would be no need for many of life's annoyances. no daily commute, etc.

would anon be grinding away for 8-12 hours a day? not likely unless it's winter, where you feast on the labor of the rest of the year.

>>8724873
Can you explain wtf is going on here? What is that thing coming out from the bottom of the DS? You can't hold it like that. Also what's with the batteries?

>>8724185
i used to do that.
>a rasp 3b and the official touchscreen.
>an external batery
>gamepad
didn't try with solar charger. it was pretty great

>>8725376
Is this also compatible with the pi zero 2 w?

>>8726859
Yeah, you just need a different firmware which is available through the various OS sites. Works like a charm, you can play most DC games like a dream with the Zero Two.

>>8726743
It's just a proof of concept: never have to worry about proprietary batteries again.
The AA battery pack attaches to the back of the ds via velcro command strips I just didn't bother to use them for the example.

I was going to print a grip that also functioned as a battery pack and add a voltage regulator because there is a difference in nominal voltage between the battery chemistries, and an even bigger difference during the discharge curve. As it sits now the low battery light comes on early, but it still lasts for 8 hrs+ at max brightness.

Rechargeable NiMH AA batteries have some advantages over the lithium flat batteries, especially concerning integrity over the long term.

>>8725372
How are you getting 20-30hrs? Everything I've read says 4hrs max is the norm.

I've tried to run battery powered pi's for non-gaming projects and they seem thirsty.

>>8726950
>How are you getting 20-30hrs? Everything I've read says 4hrs max is the norm.
I just use Rayovac rechargeable AA's with a Pi Zero non-w and it gives me that much playtime. I think the batteries are 1350's, just off the shelf from Walmart.

>>8723803
I have bought that exact solar panel. Do not recommend buying cheap solar panels. Don't half ass going off the grid, I bought pic related a Flashfish External battery to power my wacom cintiq (So I could plen-air digital paint, solar glare a bitch)
Charging via the sun, practically, is still in its infancy.
Wait for the switch to electric cars first, then see if "society" goes to waste.
By the way, society "collapses" and I suppose rebuilds itself day in and day out, nothing exists in a vacuum, the warning signs will be there.

I think you're referring to unprecedented negative events, aka Black Swans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory
by which case I would say your reasoning falls into the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rietdijk%E2%80%93Putnam_argument

"That no inherent meaning can be assigned to the simultaneity of distant events is the single most important lesson to be learned from relativity."
You're worrying about things out of your control, being a counterfeit adult involves these things.

Real men are >>8725289 (and I'm not even him)

>>8723863
You need to remake your favorite games as pre-electronic computers akin to the Antikythera Mechanism or a highly-complex abacus.

Actually would love apple to severely underpower their m1 and make a portable that could last 40 hours on 1 charge. Also put solar panels on the back that you can leave to charge

Or like.... Give the chip to Nintendo. I'm thinking sub 1w and switch power with a dock that can increase power to do higher resolution s

Anyone modded a pi zero portable with solar panels on the back?

>>8723803
Gaming will be the least of your concerns. Without uber eats you soibois will be all but extinct within a few weeks. Not sure how many of your kind think about that sort of thing. I just take it as a given that I have a few solar chargers I use for camping and main panels that give me 1kw on a cloudy day. I'm fully prepared for the zombie apocalypse. But you're ngmi. Not even gonna finish a game before you die of starvation or get eaten by cannibals.

>>8728215
Everyone who thinks they’re gonna make is ngmi. Thinking that you’re fully prepared, as you say, it’s a sure fire tell that your overconfidence will get the better of you, likely before it comes for our fat helpless friend over there trying to charge his dslite or whatever. You’ll never hear from the people who are truly ready.

What I don't understand about the prepper mindset is the notion that you will be forced to live in complete isolation when the shit hits the fan. Wouldn't it be in your best interests to build skills that would make you valuable to a community and to encourage other people to do the same?
That being said, I'm very excited to see the advancements in solar cell technology that are bound to come around in my lifetime.

I live in a van so I basically already do this. You just need solar panels and one of those camp power stations like a jackery, outputting ac and dc is a must. More complicated setups exist but that's the simplest way.

>>8723940
It works and it's fucking easy. The elites don't want you to know this but the energy in the sky is free you can just take it home.

>>8728254
There is a school of thought in prepping that emphasizes community, favored by the people with actual survivalist motivations. Most of the lone wolves are people who always wanted to be alone and want to have the end of the world as an excuse to actually do it.

solar powered phone chargers are pretty cheap now.
I imagine you could use one of these to emulate a tone of games in that situation.
It's much more lightweight and easy to use than having an actual console and a ton of games.
Plus the phone has other essential tools you'd wanna use in a pinch.

>>8728245
>our fat helpless friend over there trying to charge his dslite or whatever.
what the heck?! Mom has assured me that I'm not fat.
(the powerfilm charger and counterweight sleeve are good clues)

>>8728245

>>8723803
>If society collapses
95% of us would die from diarrhea (from drinking dirty water) within a couple weeks
another 4% would probably be hunting each other for precious edible flesh
video games would be the least of our worries

>>8728215
I don't use uber eats and give money to minorities. I cook my own food and have thought about a self sustaining life for a while. I'm not ready because I don't have a property in the woods to do this. When I do, I would like to have some handhelds with me. I don't care if you think I'm soi or not, I've outgrown a need to be accepted by everyone. It's something that's important to me and it gives me comfort knowing that I can be prepared and self reliant for some down time in case things go bad.

>>8729572
This.

>>8725652
Agrarian societies had much more free time than your modern day wagie. Sure, at planting/harvesting time there was a lot to do, but day to day there was only simple maintenance needed. Today's farmers work themselves to death intensively farming as much as they can to SELL. If you are only providing for you and immediate family with a bit left over for trade you are going to have lots of hours to fill.
There are two scenarios that spoil the ideal though: 1) in the early days there will be more gun toting looters and gangs you'll have to defend your land from. If you can lay low until they mostly murder each other and die off then that's better than trying to establish fort kick ass and defend yourself against a siege
2) leftoids establishing a communist government where jack booted thugs with guns come and "nationalise" your farm for the "good of the people." If that happens you just have to give up and move and hope you moved beyond their sphere of influence.
But with any luck the post-collapse will look more like the wild west before long where apart from some opportunistic criminals you mostly got to sit around and enjoy yourself.

>>8729572
>i'm not prepared and self reliant
>it gives me comfort knowing that I can be prepared and self reliant
ngmi

>>8728254
Its because most people don’t have a community that could be trusted once conditions break down to that point. Cities become wastelands. Even small towns would fracture to family groups with a few close alliances with your best friends. You can’t trust anyone beyond these immediate bonds. This isn’t just speculation, there are tons of reference cases from economic collapses within the past century that tells this same old story. You wont have you agrarian dream life running your old gameboy off of marine batteries hooked up to a solar panel you can’t replace and has degraded to only a fraction of its original capability. No, you mostly just try to survive and forage food without being killed. I don’t want to go into a prepper rant here, but you should also know that in these situations, roads become death traps. You don’t take roads. You don’t trust your “community” not to shoot you

>>8729730
>If that happens you just have to give up
If you have a farm, you should have the resources needed to make good old ANFO.

>>8729730
>>8730136
This is most likely what will happen. It's another reason why you want to find fertile land somewhere in the bush in Canada or Russia away from all the chaos. Having a few handhelds and batteries could help the time to pass.

>>8730078
>not owning a property RIGHT NOW means you're NGMI
sure.

>>8729730
>leftoids establishing a communist government where jack booted thugs with guns come and "nationalise" your farm for the "good of the people."
sounds based they can have it

>not becoming the local warlord who has servants bring him food so he has plenty of time to play Castlevania on his solar-powered GBA
ISHYGDDT

>>8723803
if you had solar panels, you might have enough power for a PS2 and a TV.

>>8730423
>not being prepared RIGHT NOW means you're not prepared
Yes. That's literally what it means.

>>8723817
Probably want a larger panel to keep a few large powerbanks charged, and the panel should have a blocking diode implemented such that current cannot flow back into the panel from the powerbank.

Solar is fun, but you need a lot of panels to be useful.

>>8723803
Yes, it doesn't have to be the apocalypse it can just be a multi-week power outage due to some government employee fucking up at his job or whatever.
Handhelds are the best obviously due to being self-contained as well as being low on power consumption. Small modern chips are by far the best at this. A few large powerbanks is probably more realistic than solar power.

I'm also thinking about the miyo mini and a spare battery as its very small and portable and the battery is easily accessible. Not sure if there is a charger for those kinds of batteries. They are old phone batteries I think.