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GitHub Universe Attendees Hack Conference Badge

Attendees at GitHub Universe are hacking their conference badges, which are full-blown color screen computers. This allows them to run emulators and games like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

Original reporting · simonwillison.net

Original: “Game Boy Color on My Conference Badge”

Read “Game Boy Color on My Conference Badge” at Simon Willison →
Game Boy Color on My Conference Badge
Image: Simon Willison

How this was written. Content Memory wrote this article with a language model from Simon Willison’s reporting (model: @cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast); it describes that reporting rather than adding to it. The original, linked above, is the full story.

Key points from Simon Willison’s report

  • Attendees at GitHub Universe are hacking their conference badges to run emulators and games.
  • The badge is a full-blown color screen computer that can be used in different ways, including with game controller touch buttons.
  • Steve Francia worked with Gemini to deploy a full NES emulator and emulators for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color on the badge.

Attendees at GitHub Universe are receiving a unique conference badge that is a full-blown color screen computer, similar to last year's design. This has led to attendees hacking around with the badge to explore its capabilities. The conference is a platform for developers to showcase their skills and creativity.

The badge's capabilities were further expanded when Steve Francia worked with Gemini to deploy a full NES emulator on it. This achievement was then built upon to create emulators for both the Game Boy and the Game Boy Color. These emulators enable attendees to run classic games on their badges.

The possibilities for the badge are extensive, and attendees can now run games like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening if they can obtain the ROM. This feature has generated excitement among attendees, who are exploring the limits of what they can do with the badge. The ability to run classic games on a conference badge is a unique experience.

A notable feature of the badge is its versatility, as it can be turned upside down and used with game controller touch buttons built into the badge body. This design allows attendees to use the badge in different ways, making it a more engaging and interactive experience. The touch buttons provide a new way to interact with the badge and its emulators.

The hacking of the conference badge is a testament to the creativity and skills of the attendees at GitHub Universe. The ability to turn a conference badge into a functional gaming device is a remarkable achievement. It will be interesting to see what other innovations and creations emerge from this year's conference.

The use of the conference badge as a gaming device also highlights the potential for innovative uses of technology in different contexts. As attendees continue to experiment with the badge, they may discover new ways to apply its capabilities in various fields. This could lead to new ideas and collaborations emerging from the conference.

The overall experience of hacking the conference badge has added a new layer of excitement and engagement to the GitHub Universe conference. Attendees are not only learning about new developments in the field but also actively participating in creating something new and innovative. This interactive experience is likely to be a memorable part of the conference for attendees. This article is based on reporting by Simon Willison.

Questions and answers

What is the conference badge at GitHub Universe?

The conference badge is a full-blown color screen computer that attendees can hack and use to run emulators and games.

What games can be run on the conference badge?

Attendees can run games like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening if they can obtain the ROM, using the Game Boy and Game Boy Color emulators deployed by Steve Francia and Gemini.

What is a notable feature of the conference badge?

A notable feature of the badge is that it can be turned upside down and used with game controller touch buttons built into the badge body.

Read the full story at Simon Willison More from Wednesday, October 28, 2026’s edition