2 layers380 × 148.5 mm
2 layers47.5 × 35.5 mm
Motherboard
CaptainDeathead/Nebulous1Nebulous is a retro console system powered by a Raspberry Pi. Designed for both nostalgia and innovation, it offers a unique blend of custom hardware and software to deliver an exciting multiplayer gaming experience.
- Size
- 47.5 × 35.5 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 26
- Nets
- 14
- Pads
- 41
- Tracks, vias
- 57, 0
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
- Created
- 6 Mar 2025
- Updated
- 12 Jan 2026
Overview
Motherboard is an open-source printed circuit board by CaptainDeathead, from the CaptainDeathead/Nebulous repository on GitHub, published under the MIT licence. It is a 2-layer board of 47.5 × 35.5 mm with 26 parts on 14 nets, routed with 57 tracks and 0 vias.
It is built around the MCP3008-I/P. It belongs with the computers and single-board computers boards of this library.
Main components
1README
README.mdNebulous
Nebulous is a retro console system powered by a Raspberry Pi. Designed for both nostalgia and innovation, it offers a unique blend of custom hardware and software to deliver an exciting multiplayer gaming experience.
Features
- Custom Controllers: Nebulous supports up to 4 controllers for multiplayer gaming.
- SD Card Cartridges: Games are loaded via SD card cartridges, offering a retro game-swapping experience.
- 3D Printed Shell: The physical console is encased in a sleek and durable 3D-printed shell.
- Custom Games: Includes a variety of games designed specifically for Nebulous (see the list below).
- NES Game Support: Play classic
.nesfiles for old NES games.
Custom Games
The games directory contains the following games created specifically for Nebulous using Pygame:
- Caliby: A calibration tool for testing controllers with the Nebulous.
- Meteors: A 4-player Asteroids clone.
- Pong: The classic Pong game.
- Shape Royale: A class-based battle royale where you play as 2D shapes.
- Snither: A multiplayer merge of Slither.io and classic Snake.
- Tetris: A 4-player version of the timeless Tetris game.
Design Files
All files related to the physical design of Nebulous are located in the /design directory, including:
- 3D Printing Files: Models for the Nebulous shell.
- Controller PCB Designs: Schematics and layouts for custom controllers.
- Wiring Designs: Diagrams and plans for wiring the console, controllers, and other components.
How It Works
- Without Cartridge: If no game cartridge is inserted, the console will prompt you to insert one.
- With Cartridge: When a cartridge is inserted, the console attempts to load and play the game.
Getting Started
-
Hardware Setup:
- Assemble the 3D-printed case using files from the
/designdirectory. - Connect up to 4 custom controllers using the provided PCB and wiring designs.
- Insert an SD card cartridge containing your desired game.
- Assemble the 3D-printed case using files from the
-
Software Setup:
- Clone the repository:
bash git clone https://github.com/CaptainDeathead/Nebulous.git - Navigate to the
rpi-installdirectory and run theinstall.shscript to set up the console:bash cd Nebulous/rpi-install ./install.sh
- Clone the repository:
-
Running Games:
- Insert a game cartridge to start playing.
- Alternatively, load a
.nesfile for older NES games.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Feel free to submit pull requests or open issues for bug reports and feature suggestions.
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
Parts
26| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | TestPoint | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x01_P2.54mm_Vertical | C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C1, C2, C3, C4, CH0, CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, CH5, CH6, CH7 +9 |
| 1 | MCP3008 | Package_DIP:DIP-16_W7.62mm | U1 |
Questions
How big is the Motherboard PCB?
It measures 47.5 × 35.5 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Motherboard use?
26 parts, built around the MCP3008-I/P. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Motherboard KiCad files?
From the CaptainDeathead/Nebulous repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is Design/Main Console stls/Motherboard/Motherboard.kicad_pcb and its schematic Design/Main Console stls/Motherboard/Motherboard.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Motherboard design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the MIT licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).
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