This is the main README for original implementation on TangNano9k. For TangNano20k port, check also README_20k.

A Pac-Man Arcade implementation for the TangNano9K using HDMI for video and audio output. See it in action in the Youtube Video. The latest version supports the use of a USB Joystick as demonstrated in this video.

There are many Pac-Man implementations in HDL, especially the great version by MikeJ. I wanted to gain some experiences with the GoWin FPGAs and wanted to make use of the HDMI output of the TangNano9K. So I wrote another Pac-Man using HDMI.

Most existing versions recreate the original video and in a way that outputs an upright 60hz signal with NTSC timing expecting the screen to be mounted in portrait mode as it was in the original Arcade machine. Such a signal can be converted to HDMI in landscape format. But that needs a seperate frame buffer.

I wanted to implement the video to directly output a signal compatible with modern screens. So the video logic implemented here does not work like the original arcade machine. Instead it replaces the video logic by something that outputs a double scanned signal with 576 lines (576p@60hz).

By default the video is 1024x576p to nicely fit a 16:9 screen. The game area is displayed centered with a dark blue border left and right. The video can be configured to output a 4:3 video with a resolution of 768x576p instead by commenting ``define WIDE` in line 4 of src/top.sv.

Since this project implements the hardware of the Pac-Man Arcade machine it needs the original ROM files to run. These can be obtained from the Pac-Man (Midway) romset.

The ROMs need to be converted into HDL source files compatible with the GoWin toolchain. This can either be done manually using the GoWin IDE or via the Python conversion tool and a shell script.

The easiest way to convert these files is to place the ten ROM files in the src/roms directory and then run the shell script.

Convert the ROMs as described above.

Open the project file pacman.gprj from the corresponding board folder in the GoWin IDE run the synthesis, place & route and download the resulting bitstream onto the TangNano.

Once the game runs it can be controlled with six buttons connected to the TangNano9K as depicted below:

The pins used are:

You can also use a USB joystick.