Game Boy accessory

Hyperkin is bringing the Nintendo Game Boy to mobile phones.

Pictures surfaced at E3 of a smartphone peripheral called the Smart Boy, a device designed by tech manufacturer Hyperkin to use Android phones to play Game Boy cartridges. The technology didn’t seem real, even with the leaked pictures, but it appears the Smart Boy is happening.

Jon Fingas of Engadget reports Hyperkin is now taking pre-orders for the Smart Boy development kit. There’s still kinks to be worked out, but Fingas reports Hyperkin is hoping users will improve the open source code. The Smart Boy checks in at a reasonable $60.

What makes the Smart Boy so unique is that functionally, there’s a Game Boy cartridge which allows you to play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Somehow, the technology will connect with your smartphone and play like a real game. I’d imagine the device somehow uses emulation to get the games on phones. The screen would be bigger and clearer on a smartphone, opposed to the small, non-backlit original Game Boy. Aesthetically, it appears to look exactly like a Game Boy. It’s got the appropriate button layout and the same off-white color.

Here are the specs via Hyperkin.

Features:

  • Open source serial app and firmware
  • Compatible with GB and GBC cartridges
  • Classic handheld-style tactile button set
  • Designed for Android smartphones
  • Double-sided micro USB port

Specs for Devs:

  • Atmel 90USB646
  • NTSC/PAL cart compatible
  • Phone Size: 5in-6in
  • SmartBoy Serial App Access for Mounting and Controller mapping
  • 4.4.4 Android KitKat OTG minimum OS requirement

It’s a pretty impressive-sounding phone accessory.

While Hyperkin originally wanted to port the Smart Boy on Apple devices, for now, it’s only available on Android phones.

The Smart Boy is still ways away from hitting retail production, as selling development kits will help decide the usefulness and functionality of the product. That’s without mentioning possible legal action from Nintendo – although Hyperkin has gotten away seemingly stealing open-source emulation code for their Retron console, which can play NES, SNES, and other retro system games.

Whatever happens with the Smart Boy, it’s an exciting piece of tech that I hope one day finds its way to the marketplace. Who doesn’t want to play Pokemon Blue on their phone?

[Image via Neowin]

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com