The Def Con event is known for attracting hackers and tech enthusiasts from all over the world. This year, attendees were issued a unique badge that served as a Tamagochi-Gameboy-cross device, equipped with a Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller. These badges are designed to be hacked and modified, making them a popular project for attendees.
One of the standout projects at Def Con this year was the successful porting of Doom to the badge. This feat was accomplished by coder Kilograham, who had to make significant changes to the code to adapt it from x86 chips running DOS to an Arm-based dual-core SoC with limited resources. Despite the challenges, the end result was a fully playable version of Doom on the badge.
The process of developing the firmware for the badges was not without its difficulties. The firmware developer, Dmitry Grinberg, faced issues with the manufacturing process and had to manually program each of the 29,770 badges. This resulted in delays and frustration for both the developers and attendees.
There was controversy surrounding the development and manufacturing of the badges, with the contracted manufacturer, Entropic Engineering, expressing disappointment in the decisions made by the conference organizers. Promises of compensation and recognition were reportedly not fulfilled, leading to a public statement from the manufacturer.
Despite the challenges faced during the development process, it is expected that all issues with the badges will eventually be resolved. The updated firmware will be released on the website for attendees to download. For those who want to test the capabilities of their badge, Kilograham’s Doom port is highly recommended.
The successful porting of Doom to the Def Con badge is a testament to the skill and dedication of the developers involved. Despite the setbacks and challenges faced during the development process, the end result is a fun and impressive demonstration of what can be achieved with innovative programming. The Def Con badge continues to be a platform for creativity and experimentation within the hacking community, and projects like this only serve to further enhance its reputation as a must-have item for tech enthusiasts.
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