Open source "Game Boy" has five awesome parts, zero games

The Arduino-based, DIY GamePack is sort of like the Mignon Game Kit we saw in 2005, but it definitely looks much, much radder. For a mere $249.93, all the necessary parts -- CPU, "Inputshield" customizable, vibrating controller / button component (say, for right or left-handed configurations), "TouchShield Stealth" OLED display unit, and "MeCap" lithium battery pack -- can be yours. Once you've cobbled it together, of course, the real fun begins -- it's pretty much a blank slate with little more than code for a color-changing dot to start with, so if you want to play any "games" on that new "Game Boy" of yours, you're going to have to write them yourself. See a video of the device in action after the break.

[Via technabob]

[Patriks7 @ Oct 28th 2008 1:47PM]

What a nipple ;o

[Lucien @ Oct 28th 2008 1:53PM]

thats pretty cool, my soldering skills arent too great so i might get the assembled version

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 28th 2008 7:36PM]

Ah progress...

[collegekid13 @ Oct 28th 2008 1:55PM]

so would the graphics still be like GB or would they be oh so slightly better?

[trainwrecka @ Oct 28th 2008 2:51PM]

We don't want to focus on graphics with this system. We actually have a totally new input device for this Gameboy, that will make you forget all about the graphics.

[deyanimay @ Oct 28th 2008 7:12PM]

It would be better. You know like a gameboy color screen.

[AnyKey @ Oct 28th 2008 1:59PM]

That looks like fun to mess with, but $250 could buy soooooo many other things...
If I were looking to indulge my desire to develop games for a small device I'd probably go for the iPhone because of the slick developer tools and cool stuff like accelerometers, etc.
But maybe that's just me.

[wootman @ Oct 28th 2008 4:58PM]

Games? on MY ipod?
I suggest googlein openpandora.

[tom @ Oct 28th 2008 2:01PM]

I guess this thing should not be dropped, exposed to any moisture (including sweat), extremely fragile too.

With the look of this, I am sure I would be held up by the customs at an airport. To me, it looks VERY like a remote to control an explosive device.

[feffrey @ Oct 28th 2008 2:09PM]

That is why radio shack sells project boxes :)

[Nick @ Oct 30th 2008 3:55PM]

I think you missed the concept entirely.

[Matthew Hilario @ Oct 28th 2008 2:27PM]

id rather spend 10 bucks at radioshack and have a circuit bent gameboy than to spend nearly 300 dollars for a frankenstein with no games.

[Carney @ Oct 28th 2008 2:56PM]

Why not get a GP2X or Pandora if you're interested in DIY gaming? There's a robut community already for all that, not even counting emulation, which is huge too.

[TavisJohn @ Oct 28th 2008 3:00PM]

Exactly! Plus you do not have to make a case for it!

[TavisJohn @ Oct 28th 2008 3:01PM]

For $250, it should COME with a "Project Box"!

[TavisJohn @ Oct 28th 2008 3:04PM]

This is supposed to be a reply to tom stating that RadioSack sells project boxes...


And WTF is with the comment system. If I reply to one person, I can't reply to another unless I remove the "#commentform" from the URL, and reload the WHOLE PAGE!

[TavisJohn @ Oct 28th 2008 3:05PM]

Or remove the "1#c15161875" Or anything after the article title...

[Coolty @ Oct 28th 2008 3:20PM]

Now, these are the kinds of posts I like to see on engadget.

[Ridgecity @ Oct 28th 2008 3:40PM]

haven't these people heard about the gameboy advance?

[Jasonbot @ Oct 28th 2008 3:42PM]

hmm closed source PSP or this :/ the choices are so hard these days!

[Atropos @ Oct 28th 2008 4:06PM]

$300? Is it april already?

[Michael B @ Oct 28th 2008 4:25PM]

Yea, I'd like to see you try and carry that through airport security :oP

[Xidius @ Oct 28th 2008 6:26PM]

So now if it were to include a slot for flash memory... and compatibility with Gameboy and GBA roms.. and a bigger screen... Then you've got something there. ;)

- Xidius

[deyanimay @ Oct 28th 2008 7:14PM]

Or buy a psp for cheaper that has a homebrew gba emulator that works perfectly fine and has video out.

[Joseph @ Oct 28th 2008 6:40PM]

I have a box the size of a table that plays "atari-like" games. Only it can't actually play atari and it costs a ten thousand dollars. Oh yeah and the controls are upside down.
Does anyone want to buy it?
What are these people thinking?