GitHub Universe conference badges now function as full colour screen computers, allowing attendees to play retro games directly on their identification. Steve Francia worked with Google Gemini to build a full Nintendo Entertainment System emulator on the device before expanding the software to support both the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Color. This development means anyone with access to the hardware can run specific game ROMs, such as The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, directly on the badge. The design includes touch-sensitive controller buttons built into the badge body, which users can access by turning the device upside down.
This project demonstrates how generative AI models can assist in porting complex emulation code to constrained hardware environments. The collaboration highlights the practical application of large language models in hardware hacking rather than just generating generic text. It also shows how conference infrastructure can evolve into interactive entertainment tools for attendees.
* The emulator runs on the badge’s integrated colour display.
* Touch buttons serve as on-screen controls when the device is inverted.
* Users must obtain the game ROMs separately to play.
