[dnos]

Super intriguing. I don't really know much about FPGAs, but the idea of using them to essentially clone old gaming system CPUs is flat out awesome. I assume that theoretically this would be identical to original hardware, unlike emulating it in software?

This Pocket device looks like a well made product. I wish all the best to this endeavor -- if nothing else just for helping preserve gaming history and letting people (more accurately) play older games.

[SwellJoe]

"Identical" is a really strong word. The original Gameboy had all sorts of quirks due to the low price target of the device and the technical limitations of the time. The way the bits are tossed around inside will be very similar to the original hardware, and programming it will be roughly identical (it'd have to be to run all the old games accurately and at the same speed), but all the interfaces to the real world will be quite different.

This thing has HD color output...that's definitely not identical, but it's not a bad thing. The audio output is also a modern signal path...we probably wouldn't want it to be the same whiny/noisy output as the original at this price. And, oddly, some people do what's called a "prosound mod" on original GameBoys to clean it up a bit and obtain better frequency response, though I think that's silly...I just embrace all the quirks and accept that it's how GameBoy music sounds, if I wanted pristine I'd use my 24-bit 192KHz interface on my computer that's like a million times more powerful.

I think the cool thing about projects like this (and I'm excited about several of them) is that we get devices that we don't worry about dying, that remind us strongly of the ones we grew up with or enjoy tinkering with because of their limitations. Even if they aren't identical. If you really want identical, just buy a GameBoy. You can get original ones in good working condition for cheaper than this (though you might have to go through a few to get one that's actually in good working condition without screen problems...I bought like five on eBay to end up with two in mostly good shape, but the one with the best screen has also developed dead vertical lines since I've had it, but total spent was probably less than $200, including shipping).