Recently, at the Def Con 32 hacking conference, a developer showcased just that by hacking the new Raspberry Pi RP2350-powered badge to run Doom smoothly.
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 and Def Con 32 Badge
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has begun shipping the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, featuring the new RP2350 microcontroller. This same microcontroller was integrated into the Def Con 32 badge, which attendees received this year in Las Vegas. The badge, resembling a handheld gaming device with a small display, encourages participants to customize and modify it to enhance its functionality.
Software engineer Graham Sanderson took this challenge to heart and successfully got Doom running on the Def Con 32 badge. This exciting achievement adds yet another layer of interactivity to the badge, aligning perfectly with the conference’s “Badge Life” program, which focuses on gaming.
Smooth Gameplay and Features
Sanderson’s implementation of Doom on the badge is impressive, achieving a smooth 50 frames per second. His contribution to GitHub includes not just the game itself, but also sound and save game support. Participants can enjoy various features, including:
- Running demo modes
- Playing through game levels
- Saving and loading games
However, it’s important to note that installing Doom will overwrite the badge's flash storage contents, so Sanderson advises users to back up their data first.
Limitations and Workarounds
While running Doom on the Def Con 32 badge is a remarkable feat, there are some limitations. The main menu contains a "Quit Game" option that doesn’t function because it was designed for DOS, which Sanderson has disabled due to display limitations. Fortunately, users can still end an active game via the “Options > End Game” menu.
Additionally, there are no buttons for strafing or entering cheat codes at this time, which could limit some players’ experiences.
Getting Started
For those with a Def Con 32 badge, you can find all the necessary files and instructions to run Doom on Sanderson’s GitHub repository. He has also updated the original rp2040-doom repository to support the new RP2350 microcontroller for users who want to install Doom on a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 without the Def Con badge.
The ability to run Doom on the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is not just a technical achievement; it embodies the spirit of creativity and innovation that events like Def Con promote. Whether you’re a seasoned hacker or just curious about the capabilities of microcontrollers, this project is a fantastic example of what’s possible when technology meets imagination.
