Project Hand held N64 - advance (HHN64-adv)

[KJ1LL]

Totally new here, quick intro: I'm from Belgium and have a bachelor degree in electronics.
So this is a little idea I have for a while:

The N64 hand held has been done several times and in several ways. So time for something new, right?
I've always wanted want, so I'm going to make one, but one never seen before, the advance. The idea.

Why not give the full package?
A portable N64, thus: battery pack and external adapter. Video out for hooking up on any tv. USB ports, to connect 4 player expansion bay.

So far yes ok, done before! but here's the twist:

Why not create extra memory? So you can "buffer" a couple of games so that no cartridge is needed.
With that extra memory comes another possibility, quick save and load. Saving the current state of the game in a point of time which you can return to by quick loading. (Yeaaah I know kinda cheating, but then again it isn't)

Ah the joy of extra memory so much to do with it:
- Buffering games
- quick save/load
- savegames

This all requires some intelligence so a little firmware shall be needed. Now where at it, I've mentioned USB, lets make sharing of savegames and games possible. Maybe bluethooth connectivity, everything is beter with bluetooth!

Further ideas so far:
- SD slot
- Multilink (2 or more device's playing same game on different hand helds)

This is about it, it's has been cooking for a while but now I have some time so I'll give it a go.
I will update this in my progress, or start a blog, don't know yet.
I thinks this is never done before? Correct me please if I'm wrong.

Tips, tricks and all help is appreciated.
I have a skill set in electronics, analog as digital and a basic knowledge of some programming (C++, C#, VHDL)
And a whole bunch of friends with degrees in every niche imaginable.
But! All help is welcome!! Please!

~A fully motivated geek:
KJ1LL

[stuntpenguin007]

What you are describing kind of sounds like the 64drive made by marshallh. It can load games from a CF card.
http://64drive.retroactive.be/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't think it has save state support, but I'm guessing it could probably be added.

[ProgMetalMan]

I don't think that you can use USB ports for controllers. Completely different interfaces.

[eagle5953]

Loading games without a cartridge off a memory card: 64drive, as mentioned above.

'Multilink' between handhelds: LoB64 interface

Bluetooth for what? Audio? Multiplayer? Its own sake?

[Reubensupernerd]

Sorry to enter a dead thread, but if you have a bachelors degree in electronics you should take a crack at emulating a system on an FPGA (suggestion: n64dd because those things are rather pricy)