Palmer Luckey's FPGA Game Boy clone lands just in time for the holidays
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Oculus and ModRetro founder Palmer Luckey recently unveiled the Chromatic, a retro-style handheld designed to play Game Boy games more accurately than any other competitor. Pre-orders are...

Former Oculus designer and founder of ModRetro, Palmer Luckey, is set to release a new retro handheld gaming device later this year, aiming to compete with the Analogue Pocket. This comes as great news for tech enthusiasts, as it adds another option in the FPGA-based market.

Key Information:

  • Device: Palmer Luckey’s Chromatic
  • Release Date: Holiday season
  • Price: $199 per unit
  • Technology Used: Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for hardware emulation, offering more accurate game play compared to traditional software emulators

Distinct Features:

  1. Design Focus: The Chromatic is tailored specifically to showcase Game Boy games as they were originally released.
  2. Display Technology:
    • Maintains Nintendo’s original 160x144 resolution on a screen designed to ensure faithful visual representation of Game Boy games.

Comparison with Analogue Pocket:

  • Limited Support: Unlike the Analogue Pocket, which supports multiple platforms and offers enhanced functionality, the Chromatic is geared more towards providing an authentic Game Boy gaming experience.
  • Display Difference: While the Analogue Pocket features a high-resolution 1600 x 1440 LCD screen for better detail, the Chromatic maintains the original resolution to deliver a classic visual experience.

Additional Touches:

  • Hardware - Magnesium alloy shell, PBT buttons, compatibility with original Game Boy link cables.
  • Power Supply - Uses three AA batteries or supports a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack through USB-C, which also supports lag-free video output.

As the competition heats up between FPGA-based retro handhelds, what do you think is most important in designing such devices? Is it accuracy, convenience, or nostalgia that holds the key to attracting gamers?

  • Emily (she/her)English
    15·
    6 months ago

    I was trying to read those stripes a pride flags, but I’m guessing by the creator that’s unlikely

    • mctoasterson@reddthat.comEnglish
      6·
      6 months ago

      Or it is just an extremely common retro style motif dating to the 70s/80s, color coordinated with the base device color schemes, with no particular intended political meaning whatsoever.

      Occam’s razor is a useful blade.

      • Emily (she/her)English
        15·
        6 months ago

        …I know? Believe it or not I’m aware of those decades and their aesthetics, I didn’t need you to condescendingly explain that to me. I was just saying that it was my first instinct, especially since some do resemble pride flags.