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Virtvic

@tenpencearcade.bsky.social
126 followers 62 following 1K posts

Blogging tinkerer, ex host of the Ten Pence Arcade Podcast. Collector of over 300 famicom carts. Arcade joystick maker for many platforms.

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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 6h
@markfixesstuff.com One just watched one of your ColecoVision videos. Would you like me to send you a repro controller pcb so you can make yourself a ‘not terrible controller’?
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Who is going to Play Blackpool this weekend?
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
New video game console made - A Colecovision and controller from @leadedsolder.com LEAKO project - Substack blog - virtvicstinkerings.substack.com/p/im-a-recre...
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
@leadedsolder.com Did you treat any Atari games out on Leako? None of the ones I’m loading from my picoleco will accept any inputs from the joystick?
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
@leadedsolder.com Can you also combine the Leako and soggy to make a Dina 2 please, as they are made out of actual shit (I have one) thanks!
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Another Sega project, written up for your consumption on Substack - virtvicstinkerings.substack.com/p/im-a-recre...
virtvicstinkerings.substack.com
I’m a Recreationist.
No, it’s really not a religious thing.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Standard from me.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
@leadedsolder.com Looks like the Super Cassette Vision needs a modern remake. Jus’ sayin’…
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
@leadedsolder.com I have been busy with Leako case design. I’m just waiting on controller pcbs to arrive, then the re-imagined Leako and arcade controller can be revealed! I still curse your pcb layout with a thousand ass wasps, though…
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
@leadedsolder.com Please tell me this isn’t a stupid idea and it’s why I’m having real trouble getting a cart to play…
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I even made a delightful little cartridge dust cover for it -
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I even made a delightful little cartridge dust cover for it -
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
@leadedsolder.com Here is your project, made by me - virtvicstinkerings.substack.com/p/sg-1000-re...
virtvicstinkerings.substack.com
SG-1000 (Recreated)
Did you see this one coming?
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I have made a 'recreated' SG1000 - read all about it on my Substack blog - virtvicstinkerings.substack.com/p/sg-1000-re...
virtvicstinkerings.substack.com
SG-1000 (Recreated)
Did you see this one coming?
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
@leadedsolder.com Me again! The Z80 used on the Leako is now obsolete from Digikey. Could I use an adaptor with a dip40 Z80?
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Christ on a bike. People really like the fact I fixed my super famicom graphics!
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I upcycled some LCD panels. Now suitable for video games! substack.com/@virtvic/not...
substack.com
...About Those LCD Screens...
Give the buggers new lives!
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
I’ve fixed the fault! It just happened to be the 4th chip of 4 I replaced (PPU2) Harrrumph!!! Never mind, I have trees now!!!
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
I’ve modded my SuperFam Tv - New swivelly base.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
@fenriswolfretro.bsky.social
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
@leadedsolder.com I have worked out why the on board Rom wasn’t working. It doesn’t like plain 27256 EPROMs. I just burned a 27C512 and it worked fine!
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
@leadedsolder.com HELP! The Z80 in the Leako BOM is obsolete - will this do the job? Z85C3010VSC ZILOG PLCC44 ???
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
One and a half new blog posts released on Substack. This one's a doozy. I made a Super Famicom TV (sort of a Sharp SF0.5) virtvicstinkerings.substack.com/p/super-fami.... The addition part is also available on Substack.
virtvicstinkerings.substack.com
Super Famicom TV (SFCTV)
Smol all in one console
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
The extent of my
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
@leadedsolder.com I’m considering doing myself a Leako. Just been reading up on it. In the end, was it fully functional?
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
@leadedsolder.com Pays arrived for the Soggy build aaaaand - the first one works! But, the inbuilt game eprom function doesn’t. Any pointers where to look first?
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I have made a new portable game console out of an old one. Substack blog here - virtvicstinkerings.substack.com/p/not-so-sup...
virtvicstinkerings.substack.com
Not So Super TV Boy
Just a regular boy doing (nearly) the same as a super boy does.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Anyone got links to people making their own custom console cases / diy builds? There doesn’t seem to be many people doing this kind of thing (except me)
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Making bank wiv ma tinkerin’s - virtvicstinkerings.substack.com/p/paid-tinke...
virtvicstinkerings.substack.com
Paid Tinkering!!!
I can't believe someone wants to pay me for my nonsense...
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
@leadedsolder.com I’ve just been reading some of your Soggy1000 blogs. Can I not get certain (eprom burned) games to work because of an internal ram moving anti piracy ‘thing’? Circus Charlie and the msx converted pac man spring to mind. The EPROMs are good, but I just get a black screen on the SG
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
As I always have trouble getting the right feel and function on D pads, I’m making a universal one that works well and use it on all my tinkerings in the future. This is the prototype -
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
@leadedsolder.com Hello Mr Solder. I have recently been on a massive SG1000 kick after picking on e up in Japan. I'd like to get hold of a Soggy1000 board, assemble it and make a nice custom case for it. How could I go about getting the PCB and some installation guides? PM me if need be...
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
New Substack post, where I make some stuff for Sega SG1000 - open.substack.com/pub/virtvics...
open.substack.com
Adventures With SG1000 (CONTRABAND CONTENT)
Only because SG1000 stuff is SPENDY $$$. Carts and controllers covered in this blog.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I got around to checking out @flynnsarcade.bsky.social Viral Reload EX - it’s a great little bullet hell shooter in the style of a ‘sort of’ Pico 8 game. Loads of blocky pixels and bullets! It’s also cheap as chips…
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
New Substack post - I have recently come into possession of a very R@re Atari 2600 Jr prototype. open.substack.com/pub/virtvics...
open.substack.com
Atari* Master Junior
A never before seen Atari* Junior Variation
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Can someone please make Mr Driller for SFC / SNES already?
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Reposted by Virtvic
clockworkrobot @jamesgwatt.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Play Expo Glasgow, this weekend. Chris Binarystar, Laurence Bennion and myself will be presenting an extensive Vectrex exhibit. Come and say Hi if you can.
A vectrex games console with glowing ultraviolet video affects.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
I've written up a debrief on the things I bought in Japan recently - Read it on Sibstack - open.substack.com/pub/virtvics...
open.substack.com
Japan Trip (DEBRIEF)
Testing and logging
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Atari 2600s are bastard hard. I composite modded this and tested it. Works perfectly.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
@nataliethenerd.com I’m sure I’ve asked you about this before - is there anywhere you can still get OG gameboy pocket lcds from? I’ve just been to Akihabara and the shops there didn’t have them.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Last full day report from Japan. Nakano Broadway. open.substack.com/pub/virtvics...
open.substack.com
Japan Trip_Day 8
Last Full Day
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
BICU BICU BICU BICU CAMERA!!! I may come back from Japan a bit brain damaged by the constant jingles in some of the shops…
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
I have been trekking around Japan looking at video games again - Substack blog post day 7 in Japan. open.substack.com/pub/virtvics...
open.substack.com
Japan Trip_Day 7
It's my birthday (and I'll go to a Hard Off if I want to)
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Dang! Boxed SG1000 II and a boxed cassette vision right next to it! Hard Off Ueno
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Day 6 in Japan (substack post) - Shibuya and Akihabara (again) open.substack.com/pub/virtvics...
open.substack.com
Japan Trip_Day 6
Shibuya and back to Akiba
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Boo! No toilet Olympics allowed in here.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Day 5 of my Japan Trip on Substack - I visit BEEP among other things. open.substack.com/pub/virtvics...
open.substack.com
Japan Trip_Day 5
Not much buying, but other good stuff.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
WTF? I’m really getting into the FOREVER REPEATED Hard Off jingle.
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Sat in a Starbucks in Shinjuku watching the world go by. I am at peace (which is rare)
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Virtvic @tenpencearcade.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
@jake74.bsky.social @toomanywires.bsky.social Just found something on my wanted list!
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