# History of video games/Platforms/Thumby
## History
### Development

Thumby was preceeded by the TinyDuino line, specifically by the portable TinyPocket.
The system was developed and produced in Akron, Ohio.
An early Thumby was first show as a personal project at Bay Area Mini Maker Faire in May of 2016. In April of 2021 the device was redesigned to use the newly released RP2040 processor.

### Launch

A kickstarter for the device launched on September 28th, 2021.
Despite supply chain challenges caused by the chip shortage in 2021, enough parts were procured to produce 10,000 units by October 2021.
The hardware was made open source under the GPL V3 in 2022.

## Technology
### Compute

The Thumby is based on an RP2040 microcontroller.

### Hardware

The system can function for approximately 2 hours on an integrated 40 milliamp hour hour lithium polymer battery.
The system measures at 29.5 millimeters (1.16 in) by 18 millimeters (0.71 in) by 8.5 millimeters (0.33 in).
The Thumby uses a display with a resolution of 70 pixels by 40 pixels.
At least two revisions of the Thumby were shipped - Revision 5, and a quicker to assemble Revision 6.

### Software

The Thumby was designed to be easy to program, and offers a python programming option via a browser.

### Design Philosophy

This console was noted by LowSpecGamer for following a similar design philosophy as the original Game Boy, using mature and inexpensive technology to create an innovative experience. This philosophy is properly known as "Lateral thinking with withered technology".

## Gallery
### Thumby Consoles

* Front of a teal Thumby.
* Rear of a teal Thumby.

### Thumby Internals

* Front of PCB (Revision 6)

## References

* ↑ "Thumby Press Kit". Thumby. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
* 1 2 "Thumby - The Tiny Playable Keychain". Retrieved 11 October 2021.
* ↑ "Thumby, the 'world's smallest gaming handheld', headed to Kickstarter on September 28th". Nintendo Wire. 22 September 2021. https://nintendowire.com/news/2021/09/22/thumby-the-worlds-smallest-gaming-handheld-headed-to-kickstarter-on-september-28th/.
* 1 2 Mackinnon, Jim. "Akron's TinyCircuits has its fingers on a new winning product, Thumby". Akron Beacon Journal. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/10/15/tinycircuits-has-new-hit-device-small-thumby-game-player/6035681001/.
* 1 2 Halfacree, Gareth (June 22, 2022). "TinyCircuits Open Sources Its RP2040-Powered Tiny Games Console, the Thumby, Under the GPL3 License" (in en). Hackster.io. https://www.hackster.io/news/tinycircuits-open-sources-its-rp2040-powered-tiny-games-console-the-thumby-under-the-gpl3-license-8317fc0dfa29.
* 1 2 "Thumby is the Tiniest Gaming Handheld Yet". Niche Gamer. 14 December 2021. https://nichegamer.com/thumby-kickstarter-launched/.
* ↑ "How Small Is Too Small for a Game Boy? The Thumby Might Have the Answer" (in en-us). Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/how-small-is-too-small-for-a-game-boy-the-thumby-might-1847722821.
* ↑ Frahn, Enrico. "The Raspberry Pi Pico-powered Thumby is a tiny retro gaming console for your keychain that looks like a miniaturized Nintendo Game Boy" (in en). Notebookcheck. https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-Raspberry-Pi-Pico-powered-Thumby-is-a-tiny-retro-gaming-console-for-your-keychain-that-looks-like-a-miniaturized-Nintendo-Game-Boy.567468.0.html.
* ↑ "I made a game for the world´s smallest "Game Boy"" (in en). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEVXW3sdPtM.
* ↑ "Withered thinking with lateral technology ;)". Virtual Training and Research Program. 19 April 2019. https://people.bsu.edu/jaraines/2019/04/19/lateral-thinking/.