From the release of dmg-01 in 1989 to the launch of the last micro variant in 2005, Nintendo game boy series represents the epitome of hundreds of millions of players’ handheld games. But this is not to say that there is no other kind of handheld system to break the monopoly of the Japanese game giant. SEGA and Sony released high-tech systems, bringing impressive technological innovation, while the famous Tiger Electronics took the opposite approach, launching ultra cheap handheld devices and using simplified games based on popular children’s franchises.
(Chris downing) when he was a child, he had to make do with these cheap tiger games. Now as an adult, he is determined to do well in tiger boy forward. As its name implies, this retro hybrid game combines the look and feel of the brand Tiger game with the powerful functions and software compatibility of the genuine Nintendo game boy upgrade (GBA) around 2001. It even embellishes some modern details, such as usb-c charging and backlit display. Although most of its charm may be lost to those who do not grow up in a very narrow age range, the following video seems to prove that even modern children can appreciate this unique creation.
From an electronic point of view, the system is essentially a damaged GBA, which is stuffed into a 3D printed tiger game similar to the mid-1990s. But what makes this project different is the nostalgia for details brought by [Chris].
Take the custom-made panel as an example, which combines the art works of some of the most famous games of the times. Printing images on the back of transparent acrylic cut by CNC proved to be a considerable challenge, but the end result looked very professional. Instead of using GBA’s inventory buttons and directional boards, [Chris] decided to replace 3D printing, imitating the appearance of the original tiger control. All this ends with a device that perfectly reproduces the unique appearance of the original tiger game.
Some people will argue that if he could equip the system with raspberry zero 2 and the latest version of retropie, he would do better. Frankly, the attraction of taking this road is obvious. But [Chris] didn’t do it for us. He built this website to summarize a very specific period of his childhood. We are pleased that the technology now available to individual manufacturers enables them to turn this particular dream into a reality.