Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
A brand new open-source FPGA recreation of the Nintendo Game Boy, GBC, and GBA is currently looking for funding on Crowd Supply.
Game Boy style handhelds are ten-a-penny these days. If it’s not a reconditioned and seriously souped-up Game Boy, it’s an emulation unit, or a DIY Game Boy with a Raspberry Pi inside. This device is a bit different, however. The Game Bub uses FPGA (field programmable gate array) to run Game Boy titles, and is built into a snazzy clear shell with a 4-inch IPS LCD.
Or, as the video description states:
Game Bub is an open-source FPGA-based retro emulation handheld that supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games.
But most importantly, the Game Bub is open source, and supports docking with video out to an external display.
The Game Bub is listed as a crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Supply. Here’s the trailer:
FPGA Game Boy system compatibility
So, what is so great about this system, compared to other Game Boy-alikes?
This list should help:
- Game Boy-compatible cartridge slot for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games
- Custom FPGA cores designed for high accuracy and physical hardware compatibility
- Built-in ROM loading and backup
- GBA-type multiplayer link port (also compatible with Game Boy Color)
- Rumble motor for games with force feedback
- Accelerometer and gyroscope for compatible games
- Real-time clock
One or two of those features would be worth considering the device. All of them make it something we really need to keep an eye on. Oh, and it has Wi-Fi, too.
Game Bub system specs
- Enclosure: Transparent plastic
- FPGA: Built around the powerful AMD (Xilinx) XC7A100T FPGA, with 101,400 logic cells and 607.5 KiB of block RAM
- MCU: ESP32-S3 microcontroller for auxiliary tasks
- Wireless: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE
- Memory: 32 MiB of SDRAM and 512 KiB of SRAM connected to the FPGA
- Display: 4.0-inch 720 x 480 IPS LCD
- Audio: Stereo 1 W speakers, TRS headphone jack
- Input: 12 buttons for the FPGA, 4 additional system buttons for the MCU only
- Expansion: PMOD header
- Storage: microSD card slot
- Power: USB Type-C charging, 3000 mAh battery with 14+ hour in-game time
- Optional Dock: Digital video output and wireless controller compatibility, simultaneous charging
- Dimensions: 85 x 174 x 19 mm (3.35 x 6.85 x 0.75 in)
- Weight: 250 g (8.82 oz)
It’s small, perhaps around the size of a Retroid Pocket 3. Of all the similar Game Boy cart-playing devices around, the Game Bub is the only one that offers cartridge backup/restore. Not even the Analogue Pocket will give you that.
At the time of writing, the campaign has reached over 26% of its $100,000 goal, and is set to conclude on October 2nd. If you think this is a campaign you should be supporting, head to the Game Bub page on Crowd Supply, where you can order one for $249. A purple variant is $299, and you can add the dock for $59.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
