Run a MicroPython NES Emulator on RISC-V Dev Boards

Whenever a development board with a new processor is released, the first question we all have is always, “what language can I program it with?” The second question is, “will it run a video game emulator?” The latter question is a bit more complicated, because a device’s ability to emulate a video game console isn’t based purely on processing power. But, there is good news if you have a development board with a Sipeed MAIX board with a KPU K20 RISC-V processor: you can now run an NES emulator!

The Sipeed MAIX launched last year through Indiegogo as “the world’s first RISC-V 64 AI Module.” It’s now available in development board form from retailers like Seeed Studio. The Sipeed MAIX is intended for tasks like artificial intelligence processing on the edge, but it has a powerful processor that can be used for all sorts of jobs. The Sipeed team recently released a new beta version of their MicroPython port for their boards that run on the KPU K20 processor, and it includes an NES emulator.

To get this working, you’ll need a development board like the Sipeed M1w, which costs less than $20 and includes a 2.4" LCD. Then grab your favorite Nintendo NES ROM and download the K-Flash utility to a Windows computer and the MaixPy binary. Use K-Flash to upload the binary to your development board. After it flashes and reboots, you can connect to the board with a serial terminal utility and load up the game. It’ll display on the included LCD, and can be controlled by your computer’s keyboard!