A journey into reverse engineering arcade PCBs for video game preservation via FPGA emulation (WHY2025)

Sometimes ago, I embarked on a journey into the world of electronics and FPGA technology with no prior knowledge. What began as passion for retro gaming evolved into a quest for preservation via reverse engineering and FPGA-based emulation. This presentation will share my journey, highlighting the challenges of learning Verilog, the tools, the resources, and the lessons I learned along the way. By sharing my experiences I hope to inspire others to contribute to preservation of video games. **Abstract:** In an era where classic arcade games risk becoming obsolete, preserving them is crucial. This presentation chronicles a journey from curiosity to creation, demonstrating how FPGAs can be used to create accurate emulator. **Introduction to FPGAs:** FPGAs are versatile integrated circuits that offer unparalleled flexibility for hardware design. Unlike fixed CPUs or GPUs, FPGAs allow for reconfiguration, making them ideal for creating custom solutions like game emulators. This section will explore the advantages of FPGA-based emulation over traditional software emulators, and the existing plateform like the MiSTeR FPGA. **Verilog Programming:** Verilog is a hardware description language used for defining digital circuits in FPGAs. This part introduces Verilog's role in designing these circuits, and how it differ to traditional programming languages. **Reverse Engineering PCBs:** This segment breaks down the process of reverse engineering an arcade PCB. From identifying components and they're connections, to reverse custom IC and schematics creation. **Creating an arcade games core** A case study on the creation of an arcade game FPGA core. Challenges faced during development, and specifities of arcade games emulation. **Conclusion :** The presentation concludes by encouraging attendees to embark on their own journey, offering practical advice and resources tofacilitate their exploration into FPGA-based gaming preservation. The goal is to inspire and equip newcomers with the knowledge and tools to preserve classic arcade games through FPGA emulation. Licensed to the public under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ about this event: https://program.why2025.org/why2025/talk/3AKXN7/