MrCART128 Virtual Boy Mulitcart

Note: This is a preorder.  PCBs are on order and should arrive mid Nov.  I expect to start shipping mid November and through December. Thanks!

MrCART128 is the next generation of the original MrCART—the world's first Virtual Boy multicart with on-screen game selection. Designed by Virtual Boy community member Mr. Flower, MrCART brings a simple, console-native game selection experience to the Virtual Boy. RetroOnyx builds and ships MrCART with permission from Mr. Flower, making the design available to the wider Virtual Boy community.

MrCART128 is a major hardware upgrade to the original MrCART. Flash capacity has increased from 32 Mbit to 128 Mbit (16 MB), game flashing is up to 3× faster, microSD support has been expanded, and the new hardware introduces ESSound—an entirely new audio capability for the Virtual Boy.

Games are stored on a microSD card and selected directly from the Virtual Boy's on-screen menu. MrCART128 supports folders and subfolders for organizing larger game libraries, and firmware updates can be performed directly from the microSD card. No computer connection or external programmer is required for normal operation.

ESSound takes MrCART128 well beyond the capabilities of a conventional multicart. It is the first hardware to make use of the Virtual Boy's ES (Expansion) address space, adding capabilities to the system through a new expansion interface. Homebrew software can play high-quality MP3 music and WAV sound effects in stereo directly from the microSD card while simultaneously using the Virtual Boy's native VSU audio. Games can control playback, looping, volume, and stereo balance through a simple command interface. This opens the door to full soundtracks, sampled speech, enhanced sound effects, and audio experiences that were previously impractical on the Virtual Boy.

MrCART128 retains the compact form factor of the original MrCART and is the same size as an OEM Virtual Boy cartridge. Each cartridge is built using all-new components—no donor cartridges or donor parts are used—and is housed in a RetroOnyx premium anodized aluminum shell.

Features

• True on-screen Virtual Boy multicart game selection

• 128 Mbit (16 MB) flash memory

• Supports Virtual Boy ROMs up to 16 MB

• 16K × 8 nvSRAM for game save data

• Up to 3× faster game flashing than the original MrCART

• ESSound stereo MP3 and WAV audio system

• microSD card storage (32 GB max)

• Folder and subfolder support for organizing games

• User firmware updates directly from microSD

• ARM-based System-on-Chip (SoC)

• Premium anodized aluminum cartridge shell

• All-new components—no donor parts required

• Simple, self-contained operation

ESSound Expansion Audio System

• Utilizes the Virtual Boy's ES (Expansion) address space

• Stereo MP3 music playback

• Stereo WAV sound-effect playback

• Simultaneous MP3 + WAV playback

• Operates alongside native Virtual Boy VSU audio

• Software-controlled play, stop, and looping

• Software-controlled volume and stereo balance

• Audio streamed directly from the game's microSD folder

This is a cartridge-only product supplied with a dust cover and protective sleeve.