The Game Bub crowdfunding campaign has begun!
Game Bub is the first fully open-source FPGA retro-emulation handheld. It plays your collection of physical Game Boy and Game Boy Advance cartridges, and supports link cables for multiplayer gaming with other Game Bub devices or original Game Boy and Game Boy Advance systems.
And now, if you wanted a Game Bub but haven’t been able to build one yourself, you can back the campaign to get your own pre-assembled, official device!
Check Out The New Game Bub!
If you’ve been following Game Bub since the original announcement, you’ve probably noticed that Game Bub looks very different now: it’s horizontal!
While we were preparing for the launch of the campaign, we did some research, solicited user feedback, and found that people generally preferred a horizontal form factor over vertical for GBA games. A few rounds of prototyping later, we determined that the horizontal version allowed us to better achieve our vision for the product.
First of all, the horizontal form factor comes with some ergonomic improvements for larger hands.
Second, the redesign allowed us to use a larger, higher resolution screen! The screen is now 4.0-inch 720 x 480 (previously 3.5 inch 480 x 320). This is 3x the resolution of the GBA, allowing for better screen filters and a roomier user interface! As a bonus, this screen resolution makes Game Bub more suitable for emulating other classic consoles that have 4:3 aspect games—a 256 x 224 output resolution scales nicely at 2x resolution with the new Game Bub screen.
Finally, the new form factor allows the game cartridges to be well supported on the sides, keeping them securely in the device even if it gets bumped around.
Exclusive to the Crowd Supply campaign, you can get Game Bub in a transparent purple shell with a white PCB! If you love retro handhelds, don’t miss this limited-time version of Game Bub.
We’re excited about the redesign, and hope you are too! If you prefer the original, vertical Game Bub, we’re sorry to disappoint. But don’t worry, you can still always build your own vertical Game Bub—that’s the power of open source hardware!
You can learn more about Game Bub on our main campaign page, subscribe for more updates, and back the campaign to get your very own Game Bub device!
