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The Playpower Foundation is using “the world’s most inexpensive home computer” as a platform for learning games in order to improve educational access for millions of children around the world. Motivated by the availability of this radically affordable platform, their goal is to design and discover high-quality 8-bit learning games and make computer-aided learning affordable for people everywhere.

The Playpower computer comes with a mouse, a keyboard, and software for programming BASIC and practicing typing. It uses a TV as a display and is almost identical to the 25 year old Nintendo Family Computer, so much so that it can play nearly all of the original 8-bit Nintendo games. Although weedy in comparison to modern computers, game consoles and even mobile phones, the system is more than capable of running games and other software. The key to it’s success is that it is very cheap – around $12!

Playpower - "the world's most inexpensive home computer"

As well as the usual call for donations, Playpower are looking for volunteers to design and develop all aspects of educational software (including games) for their system. They need designers, artists, musicians and of course programmers to work on software for their platform. The project is at an early stage yet, but eventually an open source development environment will be available with BASIC, C and 6502 assembly languages.

More information is available on the Playpower website. If you’re a retro artist, musician or coder with the right skills and some time to spare, get in touch with Playpower and do some good for the world. Think you can help?