LEGO did a great job with their GameBoy set, which faithfully recreates the classic gaming handheld in construction bricks. Of course, it’s all for show, since there are no actual electronics inside to let you play any games. The BrickBoy Kit changes that.
Designed to transform the LEGO Game Boy into an actual playable handheld, the DIY kit gives you a bunch of electronic components that you can install to bring the erstwhile toy model to life. Granted, it won’t let you play with actual GameBoy cartridges, instead allowing you to play games using ROM files and emulation software, which, let’s be honest, probably has a wider appeal in this day and age.
The BrickBoy Kit consists of multiple electronic modules custom-built to fit inside LEGO’s GameBoy model to turn it into a playable gaming handheld. Those components include a 2.4-inch display, actuators and sensors for the buttons (you can keep the LEGO buttons that come with the model), a built-in mono speaker, and a cartridge module designed to slot in the back that houses all the other electronics. What exactly those other electronics are will depend on the kind of kit you purchase, as they offer three kinds, namely Essential, Gamer, and Collector’s Edition.
The Essential kit contains all of the above, but doesn’t come with a rechargeable battery. Instead, it’s designed to run on two AAA cells, which you can put in a designated compartment that sticks out of the back. It’s also only compatible with GameBoy Classic titles. The Gamer Kit ditches the AAA battery slot in favor of a rechargeable module, eliminating the big bump in the back for a sleeker look, all while offering support for GameBoy Color and GameBoy Advance titles. It also adds a faster processor, customizable backlighting, and wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi for loading new games and Bluetooth for using with headphones), making it feel like a more contemporary retro console.
The BrickBoy Kit’s Collector’s Edition gets all the same thing as the Gamer Kit, while adding an Exposition Mode for an always-on display, a USB port (for whatever purpose that serves), and a USB power supply, so you can keep it powered continuously. At any rate, the outfit claims the Collector’s Edition is designed not just for playing, but for showing off the build, so you can display it on a shelf with the console actually running the entire time. Do note, the LEGO GameBoy is not included in any of the kits, so you’ll have to buy that separately, if you don’t already have one.
According to the outfit, installing the kit requires no soldering and no screwing. Instead, you mostly just fit things in place and attach the wiring, allowing most people to install it in around 10 minutes. From what we can tell, they’re preinstalling the emulator on the cartridge, so you simply have to add your own ROMs, although there’s no mention of the storage capacity available on the kit.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for the BrickBoy Kit. Pledges to reserve a unit starts at €99 for Essential, €119 for Gamer, and €159 for the Collector’s Edition.
David Chen
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