On this page, you will find information about the preparation of Kickstarter V2 for the games Popcorn DUEL and Popcorn 2026, as well as the new peripheral: the Popcorn Spinner.
Originally designed exclusively for the Genesis / Mega Drive console, the Popcorn Spinner is now USB compatible thanks to a DB9/USB interface!
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The initial project was dedicated to the Genesis / Mega Drive console and offered:
The upcoming campaign will also feature a USB interface for the spinners and the Popcorn DUEL game for PC!
Below is the presentation video of the first Kickstarter.
Link to the previous cancelled campaign: Kickstarter
Description:
Hardware compatibility:
I am currently working on the USB interface; here is a photo of the first prototype. The second prototype will feature 2 DB9 ports.
This interface transforms Mega Drive peripherals into USB devices compatible with any machine accepting HID mouse and keyboard devices.
It also allows connecting 3/6-button joypads and the Sega Mouse / Mega Mouse via USB.
A configuration button allows you to remap buttons to keyboard keys.
When 2 spinners are connected to the interface, the first one acts as the X-axis and the second as the Y-axis.
List of compatible machines:
Tested:
Not yet tested but potentially compatible (works with a USB mouse):
I am also preparing a PC version of Popcorn DUEL...
Here is the second prototype of the USB adapter, which allows you to connect either 2 Popcorn Spinners or 2 Mega Drive joypads.
This is a working prototype for the firmware; the next version will have a much smaller form factor. I figured it would be far more efficient to have a single adapter for two spinners, both in terms of final costs for the user and to save USB port space.
This adapter emulates a USB HID mouse and keyboard. When 2 spinners are connected, one controls the X-axis and the other controls the Y-axis. The spinner buttons are detected as mouse buttons and keyboard keystrokes. The button on the adapter allows you to cycle through multiple configurations. I will be asking for your feedback on your specific needs regarding this very soon.
I am currently running compatibility tests. Everything works flawlessly with PCs and Raspberry Pis, but it seems that some FPGA emulators don't handle simultaneous mouse and keyboard inputs very well. I am continuing my testing...
I will post a video soon to show it in action.
Here is some news regarding the PC version of Popcorn DUEL 2026 and the USB interface for Mega Drive Spinners: That's it! Both games (Popcorn DUEL and Popcorn Classic) are playable on any PC using USB Spinners as well as many other PC controllers like mice or gamepads. Multiple mice can be used simultaneously, or a spinner combined with a mouse—any combination works!
I used Raylib for this version, as I also plan to target macOS and Raspberry Pi. Since Popcorn DUEL is natively a Mega Drive game and I am still tweaking the gameplay regularly based on playtest feedback (I listen closely to players' comments at conventions), I built a system that lets me keep the exact same codebase as the Mega Drive version! I developed a custom SGDK and Mega Drive hardware wrapper using Raylib, which requires almost zero modifications to the Mega Drive source files—just a few macros for ROM resource access (direct pointers on Mega Drive, text-based lookup keys on PC). This is not an emulator running the Mega Drive ROM; the code compiles natively on PC. I only implemented the SGDK functions and hardware features needed for these specific games, so it won't recompile just any arbitrary Mega Drive project, though I'll add missing functions if the need arises. Writing the VDP display emulation was quite fun—column-based vertical scrolling was definitely the trickiest part to implement. However, once the display rendering was up and running, adding the VInt and HInt interrupts took just two minutes (pure joy!). It can compile in a direct-read mode from the resources.res file—parsing commands, loading files straight from the Mega Drive directory, generating TileSets, TileMaps, and assets internally, and launching the executable in a single pass. From there, it can also generate a PC-formatted BigFile and recompile a build that uses it directly without re-parsing resource files. The only assets requiring pre-conversion are the XGM audio tracks, which are converted to WAV using RymCast.
The USB adapter prototype and its firmware have been validated, although it will undergo a few more minor tweaks that I'll share later. Production PCB design can officially begin…
Popcorn DUEL is a brand-new game. It is a modern reimagining of the classic Pong for two players or a single player against the CPU. Power-ups in the spirit of the original Popcorn add formidable options such as fireballs, missiles, or grapples, all with the goal of decimating your opponent's audience hidden behind their paddles. Popcorn DUEL offers fast-paced, competitive gameplay and includes a tournament mode for organizing matches with up to ten players.
A PC version, playable with the USB interface and two Popcorn Spinners, is currently in development!
Popcorn 2026 is the new version of the original Popcorn game from 1988 (PC CGA). The visuals take full advantage of the Mega Drive's capabilities, and the gameplay has been significantly improved: less difficult and much more fun, the progression through the 50 available levels becomes faster and more addictive. However, a special nostalgia option allows you to experience the graphics and the ruthless gameplay of the 80s once again.
The upcoming Kickstarter will feature the level editor, well known by long-time fans, as part of the Stretch Goals…
The games Popcorn DUEL and Popcorn 2026 (+1988) are all included on the Genesis / Mega Drive cartridge.
More games are on the way! Other developers have already confirmed Popcorn Spinner support for their titles.
