FunstockRetro.co.uk - Europe's Number One Retro Gaming Destination are proud to announce that they are now registering interest for the Smart Boy accessory by Hyperkin.

Those who wish to be notified of when the Smart Boy will be available to pre-order can do so by registering their e-mail here.

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The Smart Boy will turn your android based smartphone into a Game Boy Colour by allowing you to play your original Game Boy and Game Boy Colour cartridges through your smartphone.

As standard the Smart Boy accessory will feature an eight-way D-pad; two action buttons; a start and select button to offer that authentic Game Boy experience you could only dream about.

The Smart Boy also comes built-in with a rechargeable battery pack that allows for up to five hours of gameplay and can be recharged using your Android smartphone.

With over 1600 Game Boy and Game Boy Color games in the market, such as Pokemon Blue, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Super Mario Land, Tetris and Donkey Kong, you're bound to have endless fun with the Smart Boy.

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Key Features:

• Connects to any Android operated Smartphone
• Allows all Game Boy and Game Boy Colour Games to be played through your Smartphone
• Authentic Buttons that replicate the original Game Boy experience
• Comes with a built-in battery and can be powered via your Smartphone

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Resigter Interest

 

[FireEmblemGuy]

For what it's worth, Americans(?) can already pre-order the device here: http://hyperkinlab.com/smart-boy-developer-kit/
Note that it's the developer version, likely not the public release, and even then it's not scheduled to ship for another five-plus months.


Edit: What seems curious to me is the mention in Funstock's release about the internal battery - namely in that it seems entirely unnecessary. If USB OTG is already a requirement, and you're not going to have something like TV-out to make it a standalone device, why not just power it over USB? The Hyperkin website/twitter doesn't even mention a battery.

 

[WiiUBricker]

Or just get a GBA SP.

 

[Quietlyawesome94]

I'm still curious to how this actually uses your game carts. All demos of it so far have been nothing but existing emulators off the play store.

 

[Minox]

I'm still curious to how this actually uses your game carts. All demos of it so far have been nothing but existing emulators off the play store.

It's probably just a USB device that interfaces with the cart allowing direct access to the data.

Edit: What seems curious to me is the mention in Funstock's release about the internal battery - namely in that it seems entirely unnecessary. If USB OTG is already a requirement, and you're not going to have something like TV-out to make it a standalone device, why not just power it over USB? The Hyperkin website/twitter doesn't even mention a battery.

It's probably to prevent the device from draining your smartphone battery while in use.

 

[mgrev]

how great is playing gb games on an edgy screen? /s
seriously though this will require them to make a LOT of models

 

[Veho]

how great is playing gb games on an edgy screen? /s
seriously though this will require them to make a LOT of models

They can make the phone holder piece with adjustable width and depth, or make model-specific adapter inserts. There's no need to shape the entire device to the phone model. I think the keys will be on the player, they won't be pressing the screen, so they won't have to adapt the key position to the screen width.

 

[Quietlyawesome94]

It's probably just a USB device that interfaces with the cart allowing direct access to the data.


It's probably to prevent the device from draining your smartphone battery while in use.

Agreed. Probably temporarily dumps the ROM to a folder on your phone when it's on.

 

[mgrev]

They can make the phone holder piece with adjustable width and depth, or make model-specific adapter inserts. There's no need to shape the entire device to the phone model. I think the keys will be on the player, they won't be pressing the screen, so they won't have to adapt the key position to the screen width.

if it uses usb otg, they will still need a bit of models, because of the size variations and different usb types.

 

[nxwing]

I think it's possible that the thing that plugs in to your phone can be replaceable.

 

[mgrev]

I think it's possible that the thing that plugs in to your phone can be replaceable.

maybe, but if that is so, they might break after a while. (and some phones doesnt have them centered)

 

[Veho]

if it uses usb otg, they will still need a bit of models, because of the size variations and different usb types.

Don't all smartphones use Micro USB? And like 90% of them have it at the bottom center. And if they place the USB connector on a cable instead of having it fixed in place, it would solve the problem of USB position on different phones. No need to have entirely different models.

 

[mgrev]

Don't all smartphones use Micro USB? And like 90% of them have it at the bottom center. And if they place the USB connector on a cable instead of having it fixed in place, it would solve the problem of USB position on different phones. No need to have entirely different models.

my nexus 6p begs to differ. (and most of the xperia phones have them at the side)
They will manage to do it correctly. In some way.

 

[Veho]

my nexus 6p begs to differ. (and most of the xperia phones have them at the side)
They will manage to do it correctly. In some way.

Your nexus 6p is in the 10%
Like I said, that can be solved by either using a USB cable (the trivial solution), or making model specific adapter inserts.

 

[raulpica]

Pretty sure this thing won't support my big ass-Nexus 6

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

Uses game cartridges but looks like it's just an emulator.

 

[Phil5004]

Very cool!
I was just thinking about to get an Raspberry PI to build a Super PI Boy .
But I'm thinking .. it's worth?

 

[PedroKeitawa]

Good thing i already have my GBC, so i don't have to buy this GB armor for my phone.

 

[darksweet]

problem is, are they gonna revive the gameboy and color carts? they are gone now

 

[CuriousTommy]

it look like this is a great way to dump my old gameboy games, but I am not sure if I still want to buy it.