Minecraft Played Entirely on a Thermal Printer by Smill

YouTuber Smill achieved an unusual feat by playing Minecraft with a thermal receipt printer as his visual display. Forgoing his monitor, he used the printer to output black-and-white screenshots of the game, creating a unique gameplay experience.

Key facts

• Smill played Minecraft using a thermal receipt printer on 2023-10-01.
• The printer processed about one frame per second to avoid overheating.
• DIY respooler used to flip through printed frames for continuous play.
• Paper rolls lasted around 10 to 15 minutes, handling 600–900 images.
• Challenges included interface element disappearance and potential print head burnout in dark scenes.

Impact / What's next

This inventive approach inspired comparisons to a similar Doom project by Bringus Studios. These projects highlight the creative potential of using thermal printers as alternative displays, though not practical for regular play. Smill's experiment underscores the lengths to which players can go, pushing boundaries in gaming technology and experimenting with unconventional setups.

Creative Minecraft Display: Thermal Printing Adventure