Thoughts on the Hyperkin Smart Boy?

[TPA5]

Since I don't keep up with news at all I'm probably behind on this, but I found out through the Metal Jesus channel:

 

 

You drop your smartphone into it and then plug in GB or GBC cartridges and play them on your phone with the physical controls. Android only, which is a bummer but it's the fault of Apple and their arbitrary, draconian app-store restrictions.

 

Not 100% sure how I feel about it, part of me thinks it looks really cool especially since I'm a big Nintendo hand-held fan. On the other hand, depending on the price I wonder how many people would buy this as opposed to a GBA SP? Maybe for people who want to casually play some of the games from their yesteryears, but then I wonder if they'd bother with even trying to find carts. Currently the development kit is on sale for $60, not sure what the final retail price will be.

Edited June 28, 2016 by TPA5

[Bill Loguidice]

Well, the advantage is its new tech and the screens on modern smartphones are considerably better than anything you could do on the real deal. It all comes down to how compatible this is, I suppose, and of course the final price. This was one of those April Fool's jokes where enough people expressed interest that they decided to turn it into a real product. I think for a certain type of consumer this has some appeal.

 

From my own standpoint, even if I don't see myself ever getting it, I at least greatly appreciate the idea of merging old tech with new. It points to yet another way we can preserve our past when it comes to videogames and computers.

[BassGuitari]

It essentially turns your phone into a Game Boy with a proper screen. What's not to like?

[Flojomojo]

I liked the original "joke" version better, it was sleeker, and it worked with an iPhone 6 Plus. I understand why they made it one-device-fits most, but the sliding size really hurts the physical appearance. This is ugly, and kinda stupid from where I sit. I'd buy something that looked nicer and allowed use of a software emulator with GB-style buttons, preferably on iOS. I'd just as soon play GB games on a real GBA or in emulation on a GPD handheld.

 

The original concept was much prettier, and was something I'd buy:

 

[Skippy B. Coyote]

It's a neat idea, but probably kind of pointless since you can get high quality real Nintendo hardware to play your Game Boy / Color / Advance games on for $20 to $40 depending on what model of Game Boy you go for. With the real hardware being so affordable there really isn't any reason to buy a Hyperkin Smart Boy, unless you just like collecting odd gadgets and accessories for your phone.

[omegadot]

I wish it had the SNES button mapping and was just a bluetooth controller. It's neat but just not versatile enough for me to bother with.

[+KeeperofLindblum]

This is a cool looking smartphone device, but it won't fit every phone.

I swear I saw a description somewhere saying like 4.7 to 5.5 phones. I realize that's probably a majority of phones... but still.

 

I already have like 2-3 bluetooth controllers, and I never use those, so I barely have a use for this.

 

While this one is more convenient, you can buy bluetooth controllers with phone holders that feel awkward but have more varied usage.

I'd get this if it was cheap, but we all know it probably won't be. Also like previously stated, you could buy a game boy and probably several games for the same cost as one of those.

Edited June 29, 2016 by KeeperofLindblum

[CatPix]

It's probably very expensive compared to making a real Game Boy or getting your hand on a GB Boy Colour, which cost around 20$.

Edited June 29, 2016 by CatPix

[Bill Loguidice]

It's probably very expensive compared to making a real Game Boy or getting your hand on a GB Boy Colour, which cost around 20$.

 

The screens are atrocious though on those models of GameBoy, which is why something like this has so much appeal. My preferred GameBoy for playing original GB/GBC/GBA games is the GameBoy Advance SP (and specifically the AGS101 model; the prior model is not as nice). That has an awesome screen.

[KreatorKat]

 

The screens are atrocious though on those models of GameBoy, which is why something like this has so much appeal. My preferred GameBoy for playing original GB/GBC/GBA games is the GameBoy Advance SP (and specifically the AGS101 model; the prior model is not as nice). That has an awesome screen.

 

Yup, I usually like to play games on their original systems but the AGS-101 is exponentially better than any other GB system. Also, if anyone here doesn't like the GBA SP design (I've heard many people don't) you can get a normal GBA modded with an AGS-101 screen or an original GB (fat model or the GB pocket) with a backlight mod that also looks fantastic, but for only original GB games.

 

This device looks pretty cool and it's a neat idea, but I'm good with my AGS 101 .

[CatPix]

The screen on the GB Boy Colour is good (backlight and color), just not on the right ratio. And when I meant making a real GB, I was thinking about recreating one, with a backlight screen, but using real hardware or something based on ASIC chip.

 

While this thing might have appeal... You have the pain of carrying real GB carts, the Hyperkin that is as bulky as a real GB pocket, AND to have your smartphone.

That's all the PITA of having the real GB and only having real physical buttons as the advantage. Because you gotta have the PITA to watch your smartphone batteries AND the HyperKin batteries.

 

Unless this add-on allow to load ROMs from the phone, or to write/dump your save files from a GB carts, it's, IMO (and this is what the OP asked) a nice gadget... that will get boring real quick.

 

If I have my smartphone, I don't want to carry around Game Boy carts.

 

If I have a bulky Game Boy cart reader, I might as well put a screen on it and play it standalone rather than wasting my smartphone battery. Wait... It's a GB Boy/Game Boy Advance!

Edited June 29, 2016 by CatPix

[godslabrat]

Want my thoughts? Really?

 

It's a stupid idea. Specifically, it's the kind of idea that seems "cool" at first, but completely falls apart in practice. For one, the shell is huge. It's not really a space saver over just buying a game boy. Then you have the fact that it's android-only, coupled with the fact that people change smartphones all the time....

 

It's a cool looking concept that has no real practical value. And it's being made by Hyperkin, a company with a terrible track record for attention to detail.

[KreatorKat]

And when I meant making a real GB, I was thinking about recreating one, with a backlight screen, but using real hardware or something based on ASIC chip.

 

 

Why would this be necessary as opposed to an original GB or GB pocket with a backlight mod? That already exists

[Skippy B. Coyote]

Yup, I usually like to play games on their original systems but the AGS-101 is exponentially better than any other GB system. Also, if anyone here doesn't like the GBA SP design (I've heard many people don't) you can get a normal GBA modded with an AGS-101 screen or an original GB (fat model or the GB pocket) with a backlight mod that also looks fantastic, but for only original GB games.

 

This device looks pretty cool and it's a neat idea, but I'm good with my AGS 101 .

 

Right on! I have an AGS-101 SP as well and the screen quality is beautiful. It's just perfect for GBA games and makes GB/GBC games good looking and easy to play indoors in low light, even if it does oversaturate the colors in GBC games a little. I usually use a slightly customized Game Boy Color with the original un-illuminated screen for playing GB and GBC games though, since I like the larger screen size and the ability to play it outdoors under natural light (which is where I do most of my handheld gaming, on smoke breaks) without the screen washing out and becoming difficult to see like a backlit screen would, but the AGS-101 model SP is definitely a great way to enjoy the entire Game Boy line of games indoors.

[CatPix]

 

 

Why would this be necessary as opposed to an original GB or GB pocket with a backlight mod? That already exists

Because it would have a better screen, with no blur, and you could easily make it a GB Color for the same price. It's even recommended, as It appears that the efforts on monochrome screens stopped in the mid 90's and so even modern monochrome screens suffer from blurring and other issues that color s screen doesn't have anymore.

 

You could imagine a GB clone that could extract your save files and store them in a flash memory so you could be sure to keep your childhood saved games even if the battery in the cart died. You can imagine a GB with an OLED screen that would look amazing and crystal clear.

 

But we agree on one point, I think : if you have to carry around your GB carts, and a bulky GB sized item with it's own batteries... you might as well carry the real hardware around.

Edited June 30, 2016 by CatPix

[KreatorKat]

Because it would have a better screen, with no blur, and you could easily make it a GB Color for the same price. It's even recommended, as It appears that the efforts on monochrome screens stopped in the mid 90's and so even modern monochrome screens suffer from blurring and other issues that color s screen doesn't have anymore.

I don't really mind the GB blur all too much, especially on the GB pocket, which is black and white instead of pea soup. But even less blur would defiantly appeal to many people .

 

You could imagine a GB clone that could extract your save files and store them in a flash memory so you could be sure to keep your childhood saved games even if the battery in the cart died. You can imagine a GB with an OLED screen that would look amazing and crystal clear.

Save files on a separate memory?!?! If the was possible, that would be amazing! Never thought of that.

 

But we agree on one point, I think : if you have to carry around your GB carts, and a bulky GB sized item with it's own batteries... you might as well carry the real hardware around.

Yup, agree 100%.