Command & Conquer Squeezed Onto Pi Pico 2 Microcontroller
Porting not because it's easy, but because it's hard.
Ever looked at a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 – that dinky microcontroller board costing just a few quid – and thought, 'You know what this needs? Real-time strategy'? Probably not, but someone out there certainly did. The rather improbable feat of getting a version of the original DOS classic, Command & Conquer, up and running on this minimalist hardware has actually been achieved.
The project comes courtesy of GitHub tinkerer 'Daft-Freak', who tackled the considerable challenge using specially prepared, slimmed-down 'Tiny' builds of both Command & Conquer and Red Alert. You can delve into the technical nitty-gritty over on their CnC_and_Red_Alert GitHub repository. While the original Pico would likely choke, the Pico 2 offers just enough extra RAM and Flash storage to make this particular brand of madness possible.
Naturally, you shouldn't expect a buttery-smooth GDI vs Nod skirmish. Performance is, shall we say, modest. The game reportedly chugs along, displaying its tactical action in a rather restricted 8-bit colour palette via an SPI-connected LCD screen. Control, thankfully, is handled through standard USB keyboard and mouse inputs plugged into the Pico setup. Intriguingly, there's even mention that basic sound output, perhaps using PWM audio techniques, might be feasible for the truly dedicated.
Let’s be clear, nobody’s suggesting this is the ideal way to relive Westwood’s masterpiece. This isn't about practicality; it's a technical demonstration, a testament to the sheer bloody-mindedness and skill often found in the retro-coding and homebrew communities. Seeing those familiar pixelated tanks trundle across a tiny screen powered by hardware you could lose down the back of the sofa possesses a certain charm.
It stands as another fascinating example of beloved old games being coaxed onto platforms their creators could never have dreamed of. While you won't be rushing to organise LAN parties around a Pico 2 anytime soon, it's undeniably impressive stuff. One does wonder what slice of gaming history might be shoehorned onto improbable hardware next.
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