Turn your Android phone into a Game Boy, even plays cartridges

[0078265317]

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/141497-turn-your-android-phone-into-a-game-boy-even-plays-cartridges

 

http://hyperkinlab.com/smartboy-mobile-device-for-game-boy-game-boy-color-hyperkin/

 

http://hyperkinlab.com/smartboy-development-kit/

Edited July 25, 2017 by 0078265317

[+phoenixdownita]

Aside from the "cool" case wrapper it simply dumps the ROM, launches an emulator of your choosing (yep, you provide it) and when the cart is removed it deletes the dump.

 

And it costs more than the GB boy (the clone) .... unsure what it's market is really going to be.

[keepdreamin]

How's that old proverb go?

 

something like "a retrogamer and his money are soon parted"?

[0078265317]

50 is not bad. Plus if you have the original cart then its a proper dump and not broken or hacked. Plus roms are illegal. So since this is a temporary dump of a real cart and not an illegal download then its legit is it not?

Edited July 25, 2017 by 0078265317

[keepdreamin]

then its a proper dump and not broken or hacked.

 

this is a problem that doesn't actually exist.

[RamrodHare]

This is one of those things that really has no use. The average retro gamer knows that you can get a nice working Gameboy for less than $50, if you look around. The fact that you NEED carts for this, makes it even less useful. You can already run an emulator on your phone. People will buy it, but I won't. One reason being, I'm not one of the mindless drones who can't survive without a phone. I have an old prepaid flip phone that I sometimes carry for emergencies. I actually use it for an alarm clock more than a phone.

I'm trying really hard not to go into a rant about people texting while driving and such, so I'm going to end my post here.

[godslabrat]

50 is not bad. Plus if you have the original cart then its a proper dump and not broken or hacked. Plus roms are illegal. So since this is a temporary dump of a real cart and not an illegal download then its legit is it not?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe there's any "temporary dump" exemption from ROMs being illegal, just as there was never any "delete within 24 hours if you don't own the cart" loophole. It's a legal fiction that occupies a giant grey area of copyright law. Either ROMs are illegal in any way, shape, or form... or they're totally fine if you own the actual cart. This concept of a rom suddenly being "okay" because you can't access the file system directly is just silly. Besides, does it really matter if it's "legit"? Are you actually worried about Nintendo taking action against you for bootlegging Pokémon? Serious question.

 

Other than that... there are a whole host of problems with this thing on a practical level. Does it take power from the phone, if so, does it suck batteries like crazy? Do you need to provide batteries, and if so, does that add to the bulk? What do you do with the gameboy sleeve when you're not playing games-- stick it in your pocket? It looks rather large. Which brings me to the next point... if you're constantly unhooking this thing, why not just carry two devices anyway?

 

This is one of those things that looks cool for five minutes, but the second you try to make practical use of it, just falls apart.

[Skippy B. Coyote]

I'll never complain about there being more ways to play Game Boy games or there being new products that could spark renewed interest in the Game Boy among the general public, but Hyperkin's Smart Boy certainly does seem like a solution in search of a problem.

 

Personally I'm much more excited about Retro-bit's Super Retro Boy coming out in August. There's still a few unknowns about it but it definitely has the potential to be the backlit Game Boy Color I always wanted.

[Video]

Yeah you can put an emulator on your phone already, but this thing gives you actual buttons. Humans are tactile, like it or not, and just the controller would interest me. I got carts, but I got actual systems to play on too. Honestly, an emu that uses this minus carts would interest me more, what emulators would be compatible?

 

I'm getting mixed info, you provide the emulator (which means there's no reason I couldn't use any ROMs with it) but it deletes the ROM after you turn it off? That implies it uses its own emu, so which is it? I figure its more a console emu, but instead of reading ROMs, it reads the cart, that makes the most sense.

 

I'd get one if I could rip my own carts with it, especially the save data.

[Flojomojo]

Humans are tactile, yes ...also visual. I like the original idea -- the initial pitch was an April Fools joke, I think -- but the finished product looks like trash. They had to make it expandable to fit more than one type of phone, and in doing that, they destroyed any sense of style or lines it ever had.

 

I haven't looked into this closely lately, but the early developer editions were hackable, likely allowing you to add ROM files without requiring cartridges. I can think of better GB style controllers for Android though.

 

Good idea, iffy execution. Don't want.

[TPA5]

Yeesh, when it was first teased as a joke it looked nice. In the final version, it does not look nearly as slick.

[godslabrat]

Hyperkin's products are a joke no matter what time of the year it is.

[Flojomojo]

Here are some images, just for anyone who might not know what we're talking about.

 

The original concept looks great! I would consider one of these if I had a compatible phone.

 

 

 

The actual thing? Blecccch.

 

 

[Skippy B. Coyote]

The actual thing? Blecccch.

a4eavqzumztkqdnzlc2q.jpg

 

At least they pre-yellow the plastic for you save you the trouble of having to leave it sitting on a windowsill unused for years on end, though anyone who buys it will probably do that anyway.

[0078265317]

I got a used working original Gameboy from ebay for 10 dollars and free shipping and handeling. But the pea soup screen is horrible for my eyes and hard to see. So this is much better. My android screen is much easier to see. Unless they emulate the pea soup screen also.

[0078265317]

I download one tetris GB rom just ot test. Original vs emulated on my phone. Android wins. Big difference. Actually playable. Easy on the eyes.

 

 

[TPA5]

I got a used working original Gameboy from ebay for 10 dollars and free shipping and handeling. But the pea soup screen is horrible for my eyes and hard to see. So this is much better. My android screen is much easier to see. Unless they emulate the pea soup screen also.

 

To be fair I can see things from that perspective too. There's no doubt the DMG Gameboy's screen leaves a lot to be desired. That also being said, for about the same price as this thing you could get an AGS-101 and play GB/GBC games on a very nice screen there too. But, it's whatever floats your boat. If you dig this thing, go for it. If you do end up buying it I'd be interested to hear how it plays and feels.

[RamrodHare]

My android screen is much easier to see.

That makes sense. If this is something you want, then you should get it. I just see plenty of reasons not to get it. Here's my best reason for not getting it, I have a flip phone and have no interest in a phone for any reason other than to make emergency calls. People are addicted to cell phones. It's just ridiculous. I don't text and I don't need GPS, because I'm smart enough to find my way to my destination. If I want to get online, I do it from my tablet or my laptop. I don't use Facebook or any of that crap, I get online in the comfort of my own home. Nothing online is so urgent that it can't wait until I get home, so a fancy phone is a waste of money. Every time I leave the house, I end up beside someone texting and driving. If they want to die, that's fine. I however, would like to get where I'm going without being killed by an idiot. (Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.) Back on topic, the Gameboy SP plays GB, GBC and GBA games. There are two versions, the AG-101 has a VERY bright, clear screen. You can get one for $50 or less. If you already have the carts, well, you are all set. If not, you just buy a flashcart. you then have access to the entire Gameboy library, plus the ability to run a few emulators. If you're looking for something with nice buttons and a clear screen, the GB SP works. If you don't like that, just buy a bluetooth gamepad and use an emulator on your phone. I have a Gameboy Micro and a flashcart. I have over 1,000 games on it, from multiple systems. I actually like it more than my PSP, which is hacked and has even more games from more systems. I also have a Gameboy Player for my Gamecube, if I want to play on a big screen using a nice controller. I also have emulators for countless systems on my Tablet and my Laptop. For me, this is a pointless waste of money.

[godslabrat]

Two points to bring up:

 

#1- Stay off of RamrodHare's lawn.

 

#2- The DMG is literally the worst Gameboy in terms of screen. If you're going to make a comparison, why not compare it to the GB Pocket, GBA SP, or the GB Color? I mean, the android screen will still win, but at least you'd have given it a fair trial.

[RamrodHare]

 

#1- Stay off of RamrodHare's lawn.

 

 

I'm going to be really annoying when I get old.

[0078265317]

Or there is this also but looks a little small to hold and use.

 

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3264?gclid=CMWWhKmOr9UCFVaewAod1wkIaA

Edited July 29, 2017 by 0078265317

[Flojomojo]

I was a kickstarter backer for that. It has a nice high-contrast monochrome OLED screen, and the buttons are less annoying than they might look. It doesn't have high quality sound or much memory, though. The Arduino processor is good for learning about electronics, and maybe programming small things like weather sensors, but it's not good for video games.