James Sargent’s ReBoi Raspberry Pi Game Boy is a Raspberry Pi Zero-powered handheld console kit that easily snaps and screws together without soldering. Its design allows the PCB to fit snugly into both original and replica Nintendo Game Boy Color cases.
We’ve seen several handheld consoles with powerful processors and great portability, including the Raspberry Pi CM4 console similar to a Nintendo Switch Lite, GPD WIN Max, LyRa RPi CM3L, and many other gaming consoles.
Key Highlights of the ReBoi Raspberry Pi Game Boy Kickstarter Project:
- Core Concept:
- A Raspberry Pi-powered handheld that revives the classic Game Boy console.
- Continues the tradition of distributing DIY electronics as kits. Enabling anyone to build their own Game Boy.
- Accessibility and Ease of Assembly:
- No soldering is required; the kit snaps and screws together.
- Comprehensive website with documentation and tutorials for easy assembly.
- Raspberry Pi Zero and RP2040 Integration:
- Integrates Raspberry Pi Zero with added electronics for power, display, and ease of control.
- Includes RP2040 microcontroller for keyboard emulation, RGB lighting, and battery monitoring
- Retro Gaming Capabilities:
- Equipped with RetroPie OS for playing classic retro games.
- Emulates various systems from the golden age of handheld gaming.
- Environmental and Sustainability Considerations:
- Focuses on sustainability with open-source design, recyclable packaging, and reusing electronics
- Challenges and Risks:
- Managing the assembly and distribution of kits.
- Potential delays due to sourcing parts globally.
The Reboi kit, designed for the Game Boy Color housing, includes custom boards, 3D-printable parts, a high-res color display, rechargeable batteries, and a cartridge cover. Additionally, It features an RP2040 MCU its main role is as a Keyboard emulator, turning the face buttons of the GameBoy into a built-in USB keyboard, this means almost any operating system can work with the GameBoy buttons.
To simplify the assembly process, Sargent includes a comprehensive tutorial in a YouTube video, guiding users through the entire board assembly.
Sargent launched a Kickstarter campaign for Reboi, offering early bird kits at £74 (around $94) and a special edition kit at £129 (around $164), both set to ship by August 2024.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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This is way overpriced. ESPlay Micro v2 is only $33 and it emulates many gaming platforms.
Neither of those are in a GBC form factor you contrarian goblins. If you want to offer a cheap alternative to a GBC shelled rPi, then your alternative has to be in a GBC shell.
So much overpriced, why not buy GPI Case instead?