Retro gaming consoles and computers are still going strong, with many designs still left to be revived, resized, and retrofitted for modern times. Most of these products try to recreate the experience of those original machines, at least with the games they used to run on very limited hardware. That said, you can only go so far trying to recreate the past. Sooner or later, you will hit a wall, as demonstrated by the limited number of titles supported by many of these retro consoles. This reinterpretation of a Game Boy classic design, however, isn’t exactly a simple copy of the clamshell handheld. Instead, it takes the same spirit of portable adventure that the Game Boy Advance SP embodied and wraps it in a body that’s well-suited for modern gaming styles.

Designer: Anbernic

It’s honestly a bit of a gray legal area whenever third-party brands try to embrace a design so close to something from the annals of video gaming history. That hasn’t stopped the likes of Anbernic from taking obvious inspiration from those bygone designs but with enough modifications to skirt infringement accusations. Of course, Anbernic has its own original designs, but the ones that really grab your attention are those that pay homage to icons like the Nintendo Game Boy.

With the uninspiring name of Anbernic RG35XXSP, the prolific gaming handheld manufacturer is bringing the Game Boy Advance SP back to life, or at least the pocket-sized clamshell design that made it quite a hit. It’s just as blocky and thick as the original, but that’s also part of the device’s charm. For better or worse, however, that’s where the similarities end to the point that you can even say that the RG35XXSP was simply “inspired” by Nintendo’s handheld.

Deep inside, it uses the same guts as all the other iterations of the RG35XX, which means that it’s practically a mini computer that runs the Linux operating system. Specifically, it uses an emulation platform that can support a whole plethora of games from the likes of the Nintendo 64, PlayStation 1, PlayStation Portable, or even MS-DOS. And, yes, it can probably run Game Boy games as well, though you’re left to your own devices on how to make all these work.

What’s more important, however, is that the RG35XXSP doesn’t use the limited controls of the Game Boy Advance SP. Instead, it has enough buttons to support all those gaming platforms, though don’t expect any analog joystick here. The pocketable gaming handheld is also described to be equipped with modern technologies, like Wi-Fi and 5G for local multiplayer gaming, HDMI for TV output, and support for Bluetooth peripherals like controllers, keyboards, and mice. Shown off in four designs that give tribute to those consoles and handhelds of the past, launch details for the Anbernic RG35XXSP are unfortunately still unavailable at this moment.

The post Anbernic Game Boy Advance SP clone does more than just copy an old design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, as proven by the number of successful crowdfunded projects and launched products that try to capitalize on this ongoing retro trend, especially in the gaming industry. Vintage designs of the past are today’s quirky oddities, and there are many who are quick to jump on the bandwagon. While many of these retro designs try to also recreate the experience of holding a real gaming console or turntable with some modern features and conveniences, others are just content to copy the aesthetics of old-school products and leave it at that. This MagSafe iPhone charger might be in that latter category, and while it is charming in the way it brings back fun, playful memories, it could have probably gone further if it really wanted to.

Designer: Elago

To be fair, the Elago WS M5 Charging Stand does exactly what it says it does, which is to offer a fun MagSafe charger in the design of the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP. In that regard, it does its job well, providing a stable and useful stand for charging the phone. The fixed 30-degree angle, for example, is claimed to be perfect for watching videos or using iOS Standby Mode at night. It even has helpful support on its back to prevent the charger from tipping backward from the weight of the phone.

Elago never claimed that the stand was a functional gaming device, despite all visual indicators. It’s simply meant to inspire a trip down memory lane and nothing more. The buttons do nothing and you can’t fold the charger close like the original handheld it was based on. For a $25 MagSafe charging stand, that’s a bit disappointing. It sort of raises expectations and then dashes them quickly, making those good old days really feel more like a distant memory.

It’s also a missed opportunity for innovation and distinction. Sure, it won’t make much sense to turn it into a makeshift game controller, but having the buttons trigger some action on the phone or do anything at all is significantly better than making you feel like an idiot for expecting that a button press would actually result in something. A clamshell design would have also made this charging stand a bit more portable while relying on a kickstand mechanism to provide that same stability and support.

What this Game Boy-like MagSafe charger really accomplishes is to demonstrate the biggest benefit of this magnetic wireless charging technology. Sure, charging without cables is convenient, but its speed still leaves a lot to be desired. Instead, it’s the freedom to design a wider variety of accessories, from chargers to stands to docks, that MagSafe really shines, and this Elago WS M5, underwhelming as it might be, is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s possible.

The post Elago Game Boy style MagSafe iPhone charger looks fun but comes up short first appeared on Yanko Design.

Hier, je vous parlais de Sprite Fusion pour faire vos niveaux 2D mais peut-être que vous rêvez carrément de créer vos propres jeux vidéo pour Game Boy. Seulement, voilà, vous ne savez pas par où commencer ?

Ne cherchez pas plus loin ! GB Studio est là, et c’est une application très facile à prendre en main qui offre aux débutants comme aux experts de créer des jeux rétro pour votre console portable préférée. Disponible sur Windows, Mac et Linux, GB Studio offre ainsi une bonne expérience de création de jeux sans avoir besoin de connaissances en programmation.

Hé oui !

Avec son interface drag’n’drop (glisser-déposer) et son scripting visuel, GB Studio simplifie vraiment la création de jeux pour les personnes ayant peu ou pas d’expérience en programmation. Que vous souhaitiez créer un jeu d’aventure ou un jeu de plateforme, GB Studio prend en charge plusieurs genres de jeux pour vous donner la possibilité de créer votre chef-d’œuvre numérique.

L’un des aspects les plus intéressants de GB Studio est sa capacité à composer de la musique pour vos jeux. L’éditeur intégré permet une écriture musicale facile en offrant des modes de piano roll et de tracker pour créer vos propres mélodies pour accompagner l’action à l’écran.

Une fois votre jeu terminé, vous pouvez créer de véritables fichiers ROM pour les jouer sur n’importe quel émulateur Game Boy. En outre, GB Studio vous permet d’exporter votre jeu pour le web avec d’excellentes commandes mobiles. Il suffit de télécharger votre jeu sur Itch.io et de le partager avec le monde entier !

Pour ceux qui sont déjà familiarisés avec la programmation, GB Studio offre également des points d’accès pour les utilisateurs avancés afin d’accéder à la machine virtuelle (GBVM) du moteur de jeu et de modifier directement le code C et l’assemblage Z80 du moteur de jeu via des plugins.

Pour obtenir la dernière version de GB Studio, rendez-vous sur la page de téléchargement d’Itch.io, et pour les versions plus anciennes, consultez les archives sur GitHub. De plus, la documentation est également disponible en format PDF.

Puis une fois que vous aurez réalisé votre rêve, vous pourrez passer à l’étape supérieure en suivant ce tuto de HxC2001 qui vous expliquera comment le mettre sur une VRAIE cartouche comme à l’ancienne !

Elle est pas belle la vie ?

Merci à Lorenper