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History of video games/Platforms/Thumby

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History

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Development

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The Goodrich building in Akron, Ohio.

Thumby was preceeded by the TinyDuino line, specifically by the portable TinyPocket.

The system was developed and produced in Akron, Ohio.[1]

An early Thumby was first show as a personal project at Bay Area Mini Maker Faire in May of 2016.[2] In April of 2021 the device was redesigned to use the newly released RP2040 processor.[2]

Launch

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A Thumby console close up.

A kickstarter for the device launched on September 28th, 2021.[3]

Despite supply chain challenges caused by the chip shortage in 2021, enough parts were procured to produce 10,000 units by October 2021.[4]

The hardware was made open source under the GPL V3 in 2022.[5]

Technology

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Compute

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The Thumby is based on an RP2040 microcontroller.[6]

Hardware

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The system can function for approximately 2 hours on an integrated 40 milliamp hour hour lithium polymer battery.[7]

The system measures at 29.5 millimeters (1.16 in) by 18 millimeters (0.71 in) by 8.5 millimeters (0.33 in).[8]

The Thumby uses a display with a resolution of 70 pixels by 40 pixels.[6]

At least two revisions of the Thumby were shipped - Revision 5, and a quicker to assemble Revision 6.[5]

Software

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The Thumby was designed to be easy to program, and offers a python programming option via a browser.[4]

Design Philosophy

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This console was noted by LowSpecGamer for following a similar design philosophy as the original Game Boy, using mature and inexpensive technology to create an innovative experience.[9] This philosophy is properly known as "Lateral thinking with withered technology".[10]

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Thumby Consoles

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  •  
    Front of a teal Thumby.
  •  
    Rear of a teal Thumby.

Thumby Internals

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References

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  1. ↑ "Thumby Press Kit". Thumby. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. ↑ a b "Thumby - The Tiny Playable Keychain". Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Thumby, the 'world's smallest gaming handheld', headed to Kickstarter on September 28th". Nintendo Wire. 22 September 2021. https://nintendowire.com/news/2021/09/22/thumby-the-worlds-smallest-gaming-handheld-headed-to-kickstarter-on-september-28th/. 
  4. ↑ a b Mackinnon, Jim. "Akron's TinyCircuits has its fingers on a new winning product, Thumby". Akron Beacon Journal. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/10/15/tinycircuits-has-new-hit-device-small-thumby-game-player/6035681001/. 
  5. ↑ a b Halfacree, Gareth (June 22, 2022). "TinyCircuits Open Sources Its RP2040-Powered Tiny Games Console, the Thumby, Under the GPL3 License" (in en). Hackster.io. https://www.hackster.io/news/tinycircuits-open-sources-its-rp2040-powered-tiny-games-console-the-thumby-under-the-gpl3-license-8317fc0dfa29. 
  6. ↑ a b "Thumby is the Tiniest Gaming Handheld Yet". Niche Gamer. 14 December 2021. https://nichegamer.com/thumby-kickstarter-launched/. 
  7. ↑ "How Small Is Too Small for a Game Boy? The Thumby Might Have the Answer" (in en-us). Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/how-small-is-too-small-for-a-game-boy-the-thumby-might-1847722821. 
  8. ↑ 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" (in en). Notebookcheck. https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-Raspberry-Pi-Pico-powered-Thumby-is-a-tiny-retro-gaming-console-for-your-keychain-that-looks-like-a-miniaturized-Nintendo-Game-Boy.567468.0.html. 
  9. ↑ "I made a game for the world´s smallest "Game Boy"" (in en). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEVXW3sdPtM. 
  10. ↑ "Withered thinking with lateral technology ;)". Virtual Training and Research Program. 19 April 2019. https://people.bsu.edu/jaraines/2019/04/19/lateral-thinking/. 
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