Engin Cilasun
@sparsevoxel.bsky.social
Blizzard, Activision, Avalanche, Starbreeze, Simbin
(World of Warcraft / CoD Vanguard / JustCause3 & 4 / Rage / Syndicate / Race Pro)
github.com/ecilasun/tinysys
github.com/ecilasun/sandpiper_hw
@[email protected]
u/Not_Computer
(World of Warcraft / CoD Vanguard / JustCause3 & 4 / Rage / Syndicate / Race Pro)
github.com/ecilasun/tinysys
github.com/ecilasun/sandpiper_hw
@[email protected]
u/Not_Computer
Here's the sandpiper emulator, running all hardware and software that the real hardware can.
Kudos to QEMU for making this so easy. Adding custom devices was a breeze.
Head over to ecilasun.github.io/sandpiper/ and check it out!
(OS .img is very large but I'll find a way to distribute a copy)
Kudos to QEMU for making this so easy. Adding custom devices was a breeze.
Head over to ecilasun.github.io/sandpiper/ and check it out!
(OS .img is very large but I'll find a way to distribute a copy)
December 14, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Here's the sandpiper emulator, running all hardware and software that the real hardware can.
Kudos to QEMU for making this so easy. Adding custom devices was a breeze.
Head over to ecilasun.github.io/sandpiper/ and check it out!
(OS .img is very large but I'll find a way to distribute a copy)
Kudos to QEMU for making this so easy. Adding custom devices was a breeze.
Head over to ecilasun.github.io/sandpiper/ and check it out!
(OS .img is very large but I'll find a way to distribute a copy)
sandpiper is getting a QEMU system soon. It can already boot and run the operating system and run quake as a test, I'm working on more devices at the moment.
December 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
sandpiper is getting a QEMU system soon. It can already boot and run the operating system and run quake as a test, I'm working on more devices at the moment.
Happy weekend folks.
sandpiper is a Linux based mini console that aims to be really simple to program games on.
Project page with documentation and links to related repos is below for a first release candidate version:
ecilasun.github.io/sandpiper/
sandpiper is a Linux based mini console that aims to be really simple to program games on.
Project page with documentation and links to related repos is below for a first release candidate version:
ecilasun.github.io/sandpiper/
Sandpiper
ecilasun.github.io
December 14, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Happy weekend folks.
sandpiper is a Linux based mini console that aims to be really simple to program games on.
Project page with documentation and links to related repos is below for a first release candidate version:
ecilasun.github.io/sandpiper/
sandpiper is a Linux based mini console that aims to be really simple to program games on.
Project page with documentation and links to related repos is below for a first release candidate version:
ecilasun.github.io/sandpiper/
Time flies when you’re making fun things :-)
Been with the WoW team for 2 years now.
My 5 years at ABK is almost up as well!
#BlizzLife
Been with the WoW team for 2 years now.
My 5 years at ABK is almost up as well!
#BlizzLife
December 11, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Time flies when you’re making fun things :-)
Been with the WoW team for 2 years now.
My 5 years at ABK is almost up as well!
#BlizzLife
Been with the WoW team for 2 years now.
My 5 years at ABK is almost up as well!
#BlizzLife
Sorry for not posting game-dev stuff. Perhaps after I wrap up some work stuff next year there’ll be time.
December 4, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Sorry for not posting game-dev stuff. Perhaps after I wrap up some work stuff next year there’ll be time.
Yesterday I found a bunch of video output issues and while fixing that added four new video modes:
320x480 (8 & 16 bpp)
640x240 (8 & 16 bpp)
Not sure what they’ll be good for, but since the display is actually always 640x480 and uses pixel doubling, this was easy to achieve.
320x480 (8 & 16 bpp)
640x240 (8 & 16 bpp)
Not sure what they’ll be good for, but since the display is actually always 640x480 and uses pixel doubling, this was easy to achieve.
December 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Yesterday I found a bunch of video output issues and while fixing that added four new video modes:
320x480 (8 & 16 bpp)
640x240 (8 & 16 bpp)
Not sure what they’ll be good for, but since the display is actually always 640x480 and uses pixel doubling, this was easy to achieve.
320x480 (8 & 16 bpp)
640x240 (8 & 16 bpp)
Not sure what they’ll be good for, but since the display is actually always 640x480 and uses pixel doubling, this was easy to achieve.
Oh noes the checkmark has found us 🤣
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Oh noes the checkmark has found us 🤣
So far it's good, though I had to use 8 screws since I didn't want to deal with snap-fit this time around.
November 28, 2025 at 1:15 AM
So far it's good, though I had to use 8 screws since I didn't want to deal with snap-fit this time around.
This older enclosure build is great but I think I could make it even smaller. Also I should have made right shift shorter instead of left so the arrows could tuck in a bit more…
November 27, 2025 at 10:45 PM
This older enclosure build is great but I think I could make it even smaller. Also I should have made right shift shorter instead of left so the arrows could tuck in a bit more…
I think I’m happy with how sandpiper console looks for now.
Back to enclosure design with SOLiDWORKS for a bit today, if I can stop playing with fbterm for a second.
Back to enclosure design with SOLiDWORKS for a bit today, if I can stop playing with fbterm for a second.
November 27, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I think I’m happy with how sandpiper console looks for now.
Back to enclosure design with SOLiDWORKS for a bit today, if I can stop playing with fbterm for a second.
Back to enclosure design with SOLiDWORKS for a bit today, if I can stop playing with fbterm for a second.
Now, how does one add custom devices to the memory bus of QUEMU… and how much of a torture will it be to build it for both Linux and Windows?
November 26, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Now, how does one add custom devices to the memory bus of QUEMU… and how much of a torture will it be to build it for both Linux and Windows?
Fancy schmancy command prompt added. Had to make a custom small one with one directory level since existing scripts do not run very responsive on small computers.
November 26, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Fancy schmancy command prompt added. Had to make a custom small one with one directory level since existing scripts do not run very responsive on small computers.
Today I wrapped up some details about sandpiper drivers. Now I don’t run into situations where apps leave video, copper or audio output running, and driver takes care of silencing sound / resetting video mode on any type of app termination.
I guess next is some more fancy instructions for the copper
I guess next is some more fancy instructions for the copper
November 26, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Today I wrapped up some details about sandpiper drivers. Now I don’t run into situations where apps leave video, copper or audio output running, and driver takes care of silencing sound / resetting video mode on any type of app termination.
I guess next is some more fancy instructions for the copper
I guess next is some more fancy instructions for the copper
I've dropped Ubuntu 20.04 in favor of Petalinux2025.1 for sandpiper since I don't need anything apart from a system that boots and takes me to command prompt.
Ubuntu requires way too much work to get versions higher than 20.04 working on Zynq 7020, if at all, and I want a more recent kernel + rootfs
Ubuntu requires way too much work to get versions higher than 20.04 working on Zynq 7020, if at all, and I want a more recent kernel + rootfs
November 24, 2025 at 7:20 AM
I've dropped Ubuntu 20.04 in favor of Petalinux2025.1 for sandpiper since I don't need anything apart from a system that boots and takes me to command prompt.
Ubuntu requires way too much work to get versions higher than 20.04 working on Zynq 7020, if at all, and I want a more recent kernel + rootfs
Ubuntu requires way too much work to get versions higher than 20.04 working on Zynq 7020, if at all, and I want a more recent kernel + rootfs
Vacation time! Good opportunity to wrap up sandpiper project and start looking at an emulator.
I’m going to have to write some custom devices for QEMU it seems…
Also started thinking about ‘the next one’
I’m going to have to write some custom devices for QEMU it seems…
Also started thinking about ‘the next one’
November 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Vacation time! Good opportunity to wrap up sandpiper project and start looking at an emulator.
I’m going to have to write some custom devices for QEMU it seems…
Also started thinking about ‘the next one’
I’m going to have to write some custom devices for QEMU it seems…
Also started thinking about ‘the next one’
All of the files to make one of these 'sandpiper' things is posted on my github. I'll add detailed documentation and more samples on first chance. Likely that the enclosure design will change.
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
November 17, 2025 at 2:24 AM
All of the files to make one of these 'sandpiper' things is posted on my github. I'll add detailed documentation and more samples on first chance. Likely that the enclosure design will change.
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
github.com/ecilasun/san...
And finally, audio over HDMI is problem free too
November 17, 2025 at 2:20 AM
And finally, audio over HDMI is problem free too
Quake is also running at a decent frame rate without prior can issues. I think all that’s left to do is to try to get a qemu version working and finish the darned enclosure so it can close properly 🤣
November 17, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Quake is also running at a decent frame rate without prior can issues. I think all that’s left to do is to try to get a qemu version working and finish the darned enclosure so it can close properly 🤣
Testing out the video coprocessor with a short palette update program.
November 17, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Testing out the video coprocessor with a short palette update program.
Done with the video coprocessor instruction set for the time being, and it runs quite well so far.
I can now to Amiga-like copper effects on sandpiper.
I think I'm getting closer to being able to opensource this.
I can now to Amiga-like copper effects on sandpiper.
I think I'm getting closer to being able to opensource this.
November 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Done with the video coprocessor instruction set for the time being, and it runs quite well so far.
I can now to Amiga-like copper effects on sandpiper.
I think I'm getting closer to being able to opensource this.
I can now to Amiga-like copper effects on sandpiper.
I think I'm getting closer to being able to opensource this.
Little bit of sandpiper time today.
I want to port a few more samples to the device and wrap up that copper unit.
I want to port a few more samples to the device and wrap up that copper unit.
September 16, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Little bit of sandpiper time today.
I want to port a few more samples to the device and wrap up that copper unit.
I want to port a few more samples to the device and wrap up that copper unit.
The complete enclosure. Slicer mess-up in some parts, I’ll fix later.
Feels just right in this form factor, slightly larger than a 60% keyboard :)
Feels just right in this form factor, slightly larger than a 60% keyboard :)
September 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The complete enclosure. Slicer mess-up in some parts, I’ll fix later.
Feels just right in this form factor, slightly larger than a 60% keyboard :)
Feels just right in this form factor, slightly larger than a 60% keyboard :)
Enclosure bottom plate fits. Now to start printing that top half…
September 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Enclosure bottom plate fits. Now to start printing that top half…
“How else would they know it’s made in Orange County?”
September 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“How else would they know it’s made in Orange County?”
Working on VCP (video coprocessor) today. It can wait for a scanline or pixel and has full access to the AXI bus to poke at pixels and palette entries.
A much more advanced version of the Amiga copper, if you will.
A much more advanced version of the Amiga copper, if you will.
September 1, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Working on VCP (video coprocessor) today. It can wait for a scanline or pixel and has full access to the AXI bus to poke at pixels and palette entries.
A much more advanced version of the Amiga copper, if you will.
A much more advanced version of the Amiga copper, if you will.