What is it?

PewPew M4 is an affordable game console programmed with CircuitPython (but also MakeCode Arcade or even Arduino, if you prefer that). When you connect it to your computer, it appears as a disk drive with all the code in Python files, graphics in GIF files, and sound in WAV files — you can just edit them with any program to make it do whatever you want. It comes with several example games and online tutorials for getting started.

This is a pre-sale of the hand-made prototypes that were created during the development process. I will be selling final, production, versions of this device separately. The devices are fully compatible electrically with the final version, they only differ in their looks.

Why did you make it?

I needed a way of easily running workshops on game programming and electronics with Python. Regular Python is too difficult to install with all the necessary libraries on the participant computers. Raspberry Pi works better, but requires screens and keyboards, and is very easy to break. This device can be programmed with pretty much any computer (even a tablet or phone), and it's cheap enough to be given away to the participants at the end of the workshop.

What makes it special?

It removes almost all obstacles between you and programming a game. No installation of runtime environments or libraries, no setting up of IDEs, no need for Internet access or JavaScript-capable browser. Just connect it, and you are ready.

The prototypes I am selling here have an additional unique feature: they are the only ones of their kind. While the electronic connections are identical to the final design, the color of the PCB and case and the shape of the button caps is different. Also, the software is not quite final yet, but that will be improved gradually, and since the electronics are the same, you will be able to upgrade to newer software as it is released.