The Multisystem2 Pocket Project - (MiSTer FPGA Handheld) Open innovation design and development

Today, Heber and the Retro Collective are launching the Multisystem2 Pocket Project.

A Multisystem2 FPGA Handheld.

This will be an open innovation design and development effort to produce a fully MiSTerFPGA compatible handheld gaming system - with the full involvement of the community.

We have made a number of fun prototype handhelds based on off-the-shelf components, modules and screens, but we always wanted to make something you could actually buy...

Today we are launching a full blown project to make the Multisystem2 Pocket a reality, hopefully by the end of this year.

We are doing this project in the open, from the start, with your involvement and a blank sheet of paper.

We plan to make this handheld console injection moulded so we have enlisted the industrial design services of Relay Industries. Jono and Rich (see above and below) helped us understand the challenges of designing electronics for the injection moulding process.

We have started on some concept ideas and 'block models' to help inform design language and check for a comfortable design layout, we have a long way to go and we need you to get involved. No decisions made yet!

One significant first step forwards was to prove we can successfully drive an LCD screen directly from the MiSTer FPGA framework, this was achieved a few months ago.

This very quick prototype gave us the confidence to go ahead and also decide to make this an open-innovation project, so you can follow and suggest ideas as we do the entire development, from initial prototype into full production.

We are currently having many internal and external discussions about every aspect of the Multisystem2 Pocket Handheld, with lots of inspiration from the past and present.

We want to include Handhelds, Consoles, Computers and Arcades with the Multisystem2 Pocket so controls and modularity will be essential.

We want and need your feedback 

We have a good idea what makes a great handheld retro gaming system, but as we are also trying to encompass the entire 'Multisystem' philosophy of a true all-in-one design, we need some feedback from all of you on what path we should take for the key features capabilities, controls, and many more critical decisions this project will need.

You can watch the full launch video below or over on the Retro Collective YouTube channel.

Please leave comments on the video, get involved and help us all make the perfect MiSTer Handheld.