Nintendo’s Cutesy Alarmo Clock Now Runs Doom, Thanks to Modder
genji 
Nintendo's Cutesy Alarmo Clock Now Runs Doom, Thanks to Modder
Nintendo’s Cutesy Alarmo Clock Now Runs Doom, Thanks to Modder
Doom on a Clock: The Unexpected
The ever-growing list of devices capable of running Doom has gained a new entry—the Nintendo Alarmo clock. While this might seem unexpected, a programmer named GaryOderNichts has found a way to run a version of the classic shooter on the tiny 2.8-inch LCD screen of the Alarmo.
How It Works
GaryOderNichts, known for reverse engineering the Wii U, explored the Alarmo’s hardware and software. He discovered that the clock’s internal components, including an STM32H730ZBI6 MCU and a 4GB eMMC chip, were relatively easy to work with. Building upon work done by another coder, he was able to dump and decrypt the system’s content.
Doom on Alarmo: The Details
The Alarmo can be tricked into loading custom firmware by pressing all three buttons on top, activating USB mass storage mode. While the device doesn’t need to be opened or modified, the custom file needs to be encrypted according to Nintendo’s specifications.
GaryOderNichts initially managed to display a cat image on the Alarmo’s screen before releasing a Doom package for the device. Now, Alarmo owners can experience a unique “Doom machine” on their new gadget.
Limitations
While the Alarmo can run Doom, there are some limitations. Audio support is currently missing, and there are file size restrictions that need to be bypassed.
Despite these limitations, Doom’s .wad file can be compressed and decompressed back to the external memory unit at boot time, allowing players to experience the entire shareware version of Doom on the Alarmo.
