Doom Now Runs on Wireless Earbuds with the DoomBuds Project
The saga of bringing the classic Doom to any device with a chip finds a new and surprising home: earbuds. Developer Arin Sarkisian presented DoomBuds, a project that manages to run the video game on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. This feat underscores that even modern audio gadgets have enough power to become mini consoles. 🎮
The Hidden Hardware in the Earbuds
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are not just speakers. Inside, they house a Bluetooth chip with an ARM Cortex-M55 core and 4 MB of RAM. Sarkisian modified the original Doom source code and used an adapted version of the PrBoom engine so the game could operate within those resource limits. The system requires a computer to send control commands via Bluetooth, while the earbuds handle processing all graphics and sound, sending the video signal to an external screen.
Key Components of the Project:- ARM Cortex-M55 Processor: The brain inside the earbuds that runs the game.
- Modified PrBoom Engine: The software base that makes porting Doom to this environment possible.
- Bluetooth Connection: The channel that transmits inputs from the PC keyboard and mouse to the earbuds.
Every new Doom port to improbable hardware is a testament to the flexibility of its code and the ingenuity of its community.
A Tradition of Extreme Modding
The DoomBuds project fits into a long tradition where fans port this game to unusual platforms. The open-source nature of its derivative engines and its relatively simple graphics make it the perfect candidate for these experiments. This not only proves the versatility of the software but also the programmers' skill in overcoming technical barriers.
Some Memorable Doom Ports:- On ATMs and boarding sensor screens.
- On scientific calculators and smartwatches.
- On other household appliances and office devices with screens.
The Future: Audio Gaming?
This advance makes us think of a future where the line between an audio device and a gaming platform blurs completely. The day may come when, while waiting on a call, we can clear our minds by eliminating hordes of demons using our phone screen as a controller for the earbuds. The community's creativity continues to expand the limits of what we consider a gaming system. 👾