This mod turns your Lego Sport Boy into an actual handheld console

If there’s one firm that has lately been betting on nostalgia, it is Lego. Earlier this month, the corporate launched an official Lego Game Boy set that precisely recreates Nintendo’s traditional handheld console in Lego kind. Whereas the set is eye-catching for avid gamers and collectors alike, the unlucky half is that it’s Lego in any case, so you may’t truly energy it on and play video games on it as a lot as you’d want too. Nonetheless, because of the efforts of modders, that dream is changing into a actuality.

Natalie the Nerd was one of many first modders to efficiently flip the Lego Sport Boy into a completely useful system that may play video games, making a small PCB that matches contained in the Lego set and performs precise Sport Boy cartridges. She is presently engaged on making a package in order that anybody can do that, however within the meantime, one other modder has entered the scene, providing another.

A gaggle of Swiss modders who name themselves Substance Labs lately introduced the BrickBoy, which brings the Lego Sport Boy to life and makes it playable. Nonetheless, the distinction in comparison with Natalie the Nerd’s mod is that BrickBoy’s design depends on emulation, quite than truly working video games from a Sport Boy cartridge. The workforce behind BrickBoy says putting in the mod takes “lower than 10 minutes” and that each one the components are custom-made, however did not dive into specifics on how its emulation system truly works.

“BrickBoy is an easy-to-assemble package that transforms the Lego Sport Boy set right into a playable console. It’s an unbiased, creator-made improve package, constructed solely from our personal {custom} elements, together with the cartridge, buttons mechanism, display module, and management board,” Substance Labs defined.

BrickBoy will probably be accessible via Kickstarter

Pricing has not been revealed but

Substance Labs uploaded a YouTube video demonstrating the BrickBoy mod, which you’ll be able to watch above. The video exhibits that putting in the mod requires attaching a 2.4-inch LCD display to the Lego set and including magnetic sensors for the D-pad and motion buttons. Probably the most visually impactful change, nonetheless, is the BrickBoy’s battery pack, which requires two AAA batteries and protrudes from the again of the cartridge module.

The BrickBoy will probably be accessible via a Kickstarter campaign launching on October 28, with three kits accessible: Important, Gamer, and Collector’s Version. The Important Package can play Sport Boy Traditional titles in greyscale, has mono audio system, and depends on the AAA battery pack I discussed earlier. The Gamer Package can play Sport Boy Shade and Sport Boy Advance video games, in addition to traditional titles, helps Bluetooth audio and wi-fi updates, and is powered by a chargeable lithium battery. The Collector’s Version features a USB energy provide and charger so you may run video games frequently on the display for show functions.

Despite the fact that Kickstart launches in only a few days, pricing for any of the kits hasn’t been revealed but. It is also price noting that not one of the kits embody the Lego Sport Boy set itself; it’s important to purchase it individually. Substance Labs says as soon as the Kickstarter marketing campaign ends, it is going to start meeting and begin delivery to backers by December.

So, should you’ve received a Lego Sport Boy set and need to convert it right into a playable handheld, both the package from Natalie the Nerd or BrickBoy ought to do the job. Nonetheless, a phrase of warning: Kickstarter campaigns do not at all times come to fruition, so preserve that in thoughts should you’re interested by changing into a backer for the BrickBoy.