I think if this was a GBA version of this, I would be much more tempted to make the purchase. GB and GBC are great, but GBA would open the list of games hugely and having something that could still connect to a Gamecube that would stay true to the link cable would be great these days.
Ohhhh I totally missed that! Makes much more sense now. And it seems the budget didn't stretch to licensing Pokémon haha. I'm not sure they pulled it off but at least I can understand some logic in the colour choices now
I’m going to give Palmer the benefit of the doubt, purely on the preservation angle of these things. But also interesting is how they’ve given themselves into entering retail along side the typical triple-a slop
I really want the GBA version when it comes out. Looks gorgeous and by the time the GBA version is out any kinks will be ironed out. That OLED screen and metal body look glorious.
Very fair assessment! I’m going to give it a try because it is available at retail in the US. It’s not an understatement that serious funds are being pumped into the project.
There's plenty I found out about him that doesn't align with my views and ethics. I didn't want to make the video about that but it was an aspect of the project I found interesting. Although I'm not getting one I am very curious to see if the high level of financial backing is evident in the finished consoles.
@@JoeBleepsAnyone who can’t handle political differing views needs to grow some balls. This has literally nothing political, yet commies still are hyper focused on turning America into this awful regime, so now everything is political for no reason
@@JoeBleepsI'm glad you mentioned it too, because that solidified my decision to NOT support the product due to the same reasons you listed here. No way in hell.
His tech is on the way to Ukraine and soon after that Taiwan. Why would anybody not want to support that? It’s also worth mentioning that he can’t go anywhere near Russia or China…
I’ve seen the Chromatic up close at PRGE. While I’m not a huge fan of the color scheme, these things are super nice. Screen is glorious too. But I also have a fpgbc and it’s really nice too, but half the price. Either way though, the new game series coming with these things look extremely good so even if I don’t get one, I’ll get all the games
Whether this is THE console, I’m not sure however I am welcoming any device that aims to accurately play retro cartridges. I personally think physical cartridges will be the future for homebrew and indie games as major studios will keep trying to push incomplete, unoptimized games digitally. I think it’s a good thing for more gamers to realize older hardware hasn’t fully been explored or pushed to its limits. We abandoned every console gen as it really just getting started creatively.
Great video. You make some great points as I am looking for modern ways to play my GB and GBA carts. The screen size and the feel of the device were my 2 main concerns as well.
I am a big proponent of FPGA for the accuracy of the hardware simulation, and because it doesn't impact real hardware with modifications (like how you pointed out the modded Gameboys take original Gameboys out of circulation). That said, Gameboy (and Gameboy Color) is one of those consoles that is incredibly easy to emulate. We're at a point where emulation is pretty much indistinguishable from the original experience, just because we can throw more power at the job than we'd ever have dreamed possible in the 90s. If you just want to play the games, and you want some modern conveniences like save states, which are invaluable for games with password save, or no save at all, you can have backlit screens, you can scale, you can embrace blasphemy and put on smoothing filters, or interpolation. Emulation is totally good enough for Gameboy games. Emulation also means you can play other contemporary stuff reasonably well. Gamegear, Lynx, Wonderswan, NeoGeo Pocket. The Analog Pocket gives you that option, too, with cartridge adaptors, but I think for the vast majority of gamers all over the world, the Gameboy is where the nostalgia really is, and the also-rans are really just bonuses (though the Lynx has its diehard fans). Now, it's still a different story for even the SNES, never mind higher end consoles. It's gotta be original hardware to get the authentic experience, but you can't throw a rock on AliExpress without hitting something that can emulate the gameboy well, if not perfectly. I have my Gameboy Color, and my much-loved childhood DMG-1, both sitting in my cupboard, never getting any love, because emulation handhelds are totally good enough for me.
I really enjoyed reading that and it's a really great case for emulation. I tend to flip flop between the two, as I'll often end up with choice paralysis when it comes to the emulators and thousands of games. But when I'm playing the cartridges I do miss those save states!
@@JoeBleeps I encountered the choice paralysis problem, too, back when I used to download full ROM sets for emulation on PC, and when I got my first emulation handhelds and they came with thousands of games. These days, if given the option, I get it without a second SD card for games, because it's cheaper that way. The SDs they come with are usually cheap and crappy anyway, so I image a new one for the OS, and get another for the ROMs. Then I'll seed it with whatever shows up in top 25 lists, and add a few more specific ones I want, as I want them. I think keeping each console you emulate on a handheld to under fifty games is key to keeping your attention.
@@JoeBleeps It does, eventually, get a bit out of hand, if I just keep adding things, but at least things start off fairly well, and by the time things do start to get a bit hairy I have my sights set on whatever new toy from Anbernic or PowKiddy has caught my eye, and I can start the cycle all over again.
It'll be my first handheld. I do like how it seems engineered to last generations without degradation. I like it's one-of-a-kind approach to replicating sub-pixel arrangement. I can imagine these things to be highly sought after over the coming decades.
I do definitely like that aspect of it. Like the DMG console I have here from 1990 that still works perfectly. And also, a savvy buyer would definitely pick one up if you're seeing it as an investment. Likely to be going for silly money on eBay come Christmas time (if they're ready by then)
I like it so I ordered the yellow one. I do wish there were more color options, something more like the original GameBoy color theme or a SNES theme one. Even though I have a collection of original and modded GameBoy/Color/Advance and emulation devices, I was going for that original resolution and screen size. Just another device for my ever growing collection.
I really like the look of this. I understand the differences from the Analogue Pocket and it’s something that appeals to me. I love that it’s sticking close to the original while upgrading what matters. I’d need confirmation that it works with the GB Everdrive before taking the plunge, and I’d want to wait for genuine, independent reviews first as currently it’s all just hype from ModRetro themselves. Unfortunately that might mean I miss the pre-order window and therefore miss out on it altogether. Oh well.
I agree with you. Until the product releases and people can try it and give their honest, informed opinions about it, everything else is just speculation.
The features of this (Or lack-of, actually) doesn't warrant the high price tag, especially considering the entire package that the Analogue Pocket offers for just a little more. I also hear Funnyplaying is working on an FPGBA for real, so that's exciting.
@@JoeBleeps Is there a way to get this message through to him? It should already be obviuous. You could buy the device or just the screen. Or wait for China to clone just the screen...
@JoeBleeps nah definitely not just you. It gives me a naff vibe even though it may actually feel sturdy holding it in your hands in real life. But like you say, aesthetics are a big part of a gamers perception on a console. At least that's my thoughts anyway.
@@samdoble66 I'd be modding it straight away, dismantle it and put it in paint stripper, polish the shell and reassemble. Which goes against the whole philosophy of it being a perfect solution that doesn't need any tinkering... Modder's gonna mod haha
@JoeBleeps That's it! A Moder will always find something they want to do to a console even before purchase haha. They should have left an original metal finish option which personally I think would sell alot better based on looks. Also would leave time for moders to mod something else and not waste time essentially stripping paint lol
I also don't have an Analogue Pocket, because I think it's an ugly piece of modern tech and the way the cartridge needs to be held in the device is a big - no, HUGE - design flaw IMHO! What were they thinking... I preorderd a Chromatic. Ordered the orange one. Love the looks of them all, but the orange and pink ones stood out for me. The screen and the premium materials used and since I am a Gamboy fan, made me buy one. I like that it runs on AA batteries. These things are sold everywhere on the planet. I use rechargeables AA batteries a lot, so I always have charged spares in the house and or with me on the road/ camping trips. I absolutely love the FPGBC! Nice, simple kit to build. It's my standard for playing GB and GBC games now, so I don't wear my OG devices too much. The OLED mod is great too! These are the devices I am currently developing my homebrew games on. You can never have enough Gameboys!
@@JittikMieger that last statement is very true haha! It does frustrate me that my analogue pocket is useless when it comes to cartridges, I feel like I'm forced to play roms on it as they aren't going to crash as easily
@ Ahh! That could be a huge issue. We’ll have to check out everyone else’s if they make a video. I think if the batteries just come in a separate bag like with the original Gameboy, we should be good to go!
I'm actually a bit excited for it. Never had modern retro hardware like an Analogue Pocket. Frankly, I very much favor the direction this project is going in with trying to match original hardware, although I am worried about the feel of the device due to material used. Seems like a cross between a gameboy pocket and color. The screen size spec is not of the GameBoy Color, it's of the GB Pocket, which is fantastic. Also I like that it takes AA batteries :P GameStop was also announced to be an exclusive retail partner for it, and that's pretty cool. I do agree with you a bit about the color choices though
I don’t think these look bad at all, I dig the racing stripes. But it doesn’t really look like a 200$ premium product either. Nor does an og gameboy/pocket/color/advance either. GBA SP and GB micro are the only premium looking official gameboys tbh. But yeah, original gameboys never were premium products to begin with.
I agree. And I don't think they really need to be premium products. There's a lot of joy to be had with these things and if they feel like a toy that's not always a bad thing 😊
If this thing looked better and had a larger display with a denser pixel count then I could see it making more sense at that price. But considering the small display and how ugly that metal shell is, at $160 I would much rather just spend the extra $60 + shipping for an Analogue Pocket since that thing is way nicer looking, has a far better display, and it supports more consoles both via official carts AND loading ROM files from an sdcard. The Pocket might be $220, but for that extra $60 you get A LOT more for your money in my opinion.
I've always found the Analogue Pocket to be expensive, but I've never felt that it's overpriced. It's a fantastic creation and it shows that an aesthetic appreciation of modern design can be combined with a classic hardware style
@@JoeBleeps The Pocket is so uncomfortable to play compared to a Game Boy Color though. If the Chromatic has a better d-pad and feels more comfortable in the hands it will be a better option to play your physical cartridges over the Pocket.
@@Revariance I've never actually handled an Analogue Pocket. I do love the GBC form factor though. So have you been able to try out the Chromatic? Very interested to hear what you think of it.
@@JoeBleeps I haven’t tried the Chromatic, not many people have, but I do have it preordered. It seems more in line with a GBC form factor from what I can tell. The Chromatic has a few really strong selling points for me that point to Palmer having an eye for detail and the little things that add up to a great playing experience. I can’t speak to his business ventures or political affiliations and honestly I don’t care. I love Game Boys and I think this one has the potential to be a fantastic option for physical carts. Time will tell.
I’m on the fence guys, someone convince me! I sense Palmer is very genuine and passionate about retro gaming and equally has money to burn on something he’d love. Anyone else?
While i no longer have any GB carts yo speak of, yhis does intrigue me as a toy/curio of sorts, and new games on it as well as Tetris, im toying with it. It gets Shovel Knight or Mina the Hollower on it and id be absolutely sold.
I owned an Analogue Pocket for a while back when they were new, and while the Analogue Pocket is a cool device, I don't like Analogue as a company and I ended up getting an RG35XX and later an RG35XX Plus instead. I'm satisfied with that. Lol.
I thought I'd made mention of it, apologies. But when I was reading about it I was having trouble working out if it meant it had a transflective (is that the right term?) screen like the original GBC or if it simply meant the brightness was so high it was clearly visible in daylight. It seemed unclear. And I've yet to see a proper demonstration of the hardware to explain it. That said, the original GBC is pretty good outdoors already.
The announcement of the Chromatic is what led me to eventually get the FPGBC, two of them in fact... with a link cable... and each one fitted with an Everdrive GB x3... totaling $240... slightly more than the asking price of one Chromatic with its reliance on AA batteries and original tiny screen. Even though I think the Chromatic handheld will be a huge financial failure, I could see ModeRetro becoming a successful publisher of homebrew 8-bit games. I do plan to pick up at least one of the Chromatic launch titles and it'd be great to see more programmers incentivized to make new high quality games for GBC.
I've been looking at the more recent Everdrive type flash carts and it seems to be a real minefield. What led you to opt for the X3? Have you been happy with it?
@JoeBleeps YES, the x3 has been a perfect experience and I'm glad I didn't she'll out more for the x5 or x7. Savestates weren't important to me amd saving via the button atop the Everdrive cart is no hassle. I get around the gen 2 Pokemon real time clock with simple romhacks that let you change the time in the pokegear menu. With the latest OS for the Everdrive (from like 2017) and firmware 1.10 of the FPGBC, everything has worked as it should across dozens of roms, never an issue.
@@JoeBleepsthe main reason I went for an official everdrive product what's for the faster load times. It's not worth it to save 20 bucks on a single purchase to then waste a minute waiting for each game to load for the rest of your ownership of that product
The best and really only important thing about this, is the 1:1 screen. Everything else is good but not a real change from the FPGBC. Oh and video out is nice, I actually didn't know about that before. I mean I'm way more interested in them making a GBA model for the same price with the video out. Or even making a standalone TV system for the GBA, since there's still not really any affordable way to do it with real or FPGA hardware.
I've been hearing things about a FPGA based TV system for GBA recently, you'll hear about it here as soon as I know more! The GameCube with the GB Player is a great option too.
The resolution of the GBC screen is the same as the one on the DMG and GBP. So yes, the GBC screen is smaller, but I don't think this new console is going for THAT size, but for the one of the DMG/GBP.
I wouldn't be surprised if the next iteration isn't toned down a bit. It's a shame there isn't a bare metal option. This got me wondering if it's painted because of the risk of oxidisation, and I found this: "Just as steel will rust and copper will tarnish, so magnesium will acquire a surface coating of oxide. The need for surface protection of magnesium alloys depends entirely on the conditions of service, and where these are known to be non-corrosive no protection may be necessary."
@@RogerEssigArtist I'd expect it to be paint, for the thickness and durability. Powder coating would be too vulnerable to cracking and weakening if it's dropped, I think.
Yeah, like you say, different strokes for different folks. I'm quite happy with my original gameboys with modded bigger screens. The new version of tetris could be interesting but lets face it. Theres already tons of tetris carts for the gameboy. I'm sure one of the normal versions will have everything you desire :)
I ordered 2. Im excited for it since i should be able to see the screen outside. I only use the analouge pocket as a paper weight. Every single modded gameboy and fpga clone has the same problem. You cannot play outside. Its terrible. I have to constantly switch consoles around depending on where im at. Its so annoying
I hope it delivers for you. I never really play outside so it's not an issue to me. Worth trying out the original, unmodded GBC if you haven't already. It's excellent in direct sunlight.
You're right. The one time it was an issue was when I used a link cable to connect the FPGBC with a GBC for two player Tetris and they gradually drifted out of sync. Thankfully I have no friends so that won't be a cause for concern 🤣
I’m intrigued by this but not really into any of the colour options either. Feel like it’d have to be the black one. The Analogue Pocket looks a lot nicer. Are you from the Wirral / Cheshire way btw?
@@JoeBleeps ah, sound. I don’t often come across RUclipsrs from this part of the world so glad to have found you. (I’m based in South Liverpool myself)
I do wonder where this fits into the market. I think people really want a sweet spot between the FPGBC and the Analogue Pocket. Something maybe a little more refined, but without Analogue's fluff and business practices. However, something like this would need to be priced WAY lower, I'd say around $120 USD. If I just wanted a new, backlit, good-looking GBC, the FPGBC fits my needs for $83 and free shipping, and I can choose my colors, while also performing repairs or replacements of any parts if needed. Aside from the toggle for color fix being not a factor in the Chromatic, I don't see any upside. X4 with pixel grid gives you an authentic feel, if that's what you're after, and the stock GBC shell even pushes that point home. So, I suppose what I'm trying to convey is, for that price, where does this fit in?
There's definitely room for something in the middle but it needs to lean more towards the FPGBC and this leans more towards the AP. I'll be honest the Color fix doesn't really bother me but I would like it fixed in an update.
@@JoeBleeps My thoughts exactly. Makho made a really confusing reply to me on one of his videos, implying that it was fixed, but I think the fix he was referring to was the manual toggle. He mentioned it being fixed in "1.1", whether he means firmware v1.1 or hardware revision 1.1, no idea. I wasn't pressing, it was just something I mentioned in a comment on one of his early hardware revision videos. It is kind of exciting to see someone else try an FPGA-based GBC, I hope someone comes up with a solution that's the best of both of our FPGA products released so far. I think, if this guy can make it happen, others may try.
The world's greatest tribute to the gameboy is the gba, gba sp. Why? Cuz you can play gba, gbc and gb games all on one handheld. Want a better gba, gba sp? Get a modded one or mod it yourself if you have the ability to do so.
No mention of the Everdrive that I've seen yet. I've used the original Everdrive on my FPGBC and it has sometimes worked, sometimes not, but I've heard mixed reports about that particular console with Everdrive type flash carts
Nice video. I agree I personally don't like the design of the Chromatic. Also I'd say they're a bit late to the game... they would've probably got more interest if it was released before the FPGBC. I'm already a happy man with an OLED + giltesa Type-C modded GBC, FPGBC and Analogue Pocket. Spent way too much, no way I'm getting the Chromatic.
The price hurts. I'm of the group that thinks that even with it's flaws if you're at $200 you might as well spring for an analogue pocket. I never knew about the clockspeeds being off with the FPGBC. It seems like FP is really good at releasing stuff and then it having a major flaw. I remember I ordered their first product which was the GBA screen mod (which was rare at the time) and it was a laggy diagonal refresh mess. A few weeks after I got it in the mail they came out with a ribbon cable replacement to fix that issue but wanted me to pay for it. I still refuse to buy anything from them and now hearing the clockspeed issue I think even less of the company. We also have the Taco Mister handheld coming soon which will likely shake up the whole FPGA handheld ecosystem. I guess this ModRetro console still has some unique aspects. I love all my Magnesium devices, my thinkpad, my camers, but I'd probably still take a modded GBC over it though for half the price. If I didn't know how to mod, it's definitely a contender. But again... So is the AP with its other consoles and you don't need to get a flashcart.
AP is a known quantity, it's proven. Definitely a safer bet. But the FPGBC, that clock speed issue has been blown out of all proportion. What it gets right, at that price point, it's really something special.
@@JoeBleeps IDK maybe it's not that far off with the speed to matter. I hadn't even heard about it until you mentioned it, but it reminds me of those fake gameboys from back in the 90s lol. To me that's unacceptable but I also make games and use these devices for testing. I'm glad you enjoy it though. I think it is a good price but I don't really understand who it's for. Why not just mod an original GBC for a similar price? It's not like they sell the FPGBC prebuilt right?
@@Ill_look_back_on_in_disgust I see lots of advantages. Especially moving forward. Having carried out more repairs than I'd care to mention on failing parts, and the heartbreak of having to abandon a motherboard that just won't work no matter what you do, and also seeing people destroy beautiful game boys with their botched mods, having something like the FPGBC gives a gateway to new modders, helps keep original hardware preserved, and gives us an option to keep playing our old cartridges on brand new hardware that doesn't need fixing.
@@JoeBleeps Which I guess is why people are making stuff like the ModRetro. IDK I guess if you need to have the original form factor the FPGBC is nice but imo I sortof dislike the GBC ergonomics. I much prefer the original DMG lol. I don't like the AP much either but I put up with it. I might actually be the market for something like the ModRetro especially with video out, but there's much better stuff on the horizon. I realize people are getting into handheld games at much different points then me. I waited on the AP so long because I already had every handheld with a flashcart and an IPS modded screen even the rare ones. If someone's going into the handheld world and think they are only going to play GB/GBC, then I guess the FPGBC is fine, but personally I'd much rather have a handheld Mister or something like the AP. It's a shame Analogue is such a joke because they could make a killing selling mag body AP's lol. I think the Taco Mister handheld will have a fair share of power issues to be honest. But on paper it sounds amazing. But to each their own. I was quite surprised hearing you don't own an AP. I love mine and honestly it's the one to rule them all. If I didn't have 4 modded gameboys already, maybe I'd think the FPGBC is cool but yeah now I can't get over the 1.05x speed so I'm 100% over it lol. Next I want someone to make a NGPC style handheld.
@@Ill_look_back_on_in_disgust if something me manages to recreate that glorious clicky joystick from the NGPC I'd be all over it. I've nearly pulled the trigger on the AP a few times but the taxes and shipping fees just bump it up to a price that's beyond me. I'll likely end up buying a used one from within the UK.
I don’t think it’ll be comfortable. There’s not really too many shots of the back and I would imagine that they had to exclude the curve which is what makes the GBC super comfortable over the Analogue Pocket. When you have your hands flat like that, eventually they start to cramp when it’s that thin. With the GBC Butt your fingers rest nicely. But I guess they want it not to rock on the table :/
I think it looks ugly and goofy, and the thought of some of my retro gaming hardware money going to an evil billionaire's vanity project - rather than the hobbyists or small-medium sized businesses it usually goes to - makes me feel dirty and ashamed. Especially at that price plus import duties. Having said that I'm surely it'll do really well and I don't personally judge anyone who buys into it, who couldn't care less about the corporate entity behind it. A new high end GBC with its unique screen will be a luxurious novelty and I believe the hype that it's probably the lowest latency panel on any GBC clone too. Still, to me, these guys are the bad guys on the block. Well-moneyed, smooth talking out-of-towners who waited until the industry was just big enough to be worth milking for daddy Satan.
It's so often the way when the big corporations get involved. Some things improve but a lot of things suffer. Seen the same thing with the skateboard industry
I understand scrutinizing the values of the creator, but you are doing so from the relative luxury of a western country that is secured by military technology (including Anduril products). Anduril's focus on autonomous technology is explicitly to save human lives in combat situations. Palmer is on record saying that the ideal outcome is that all wars are essentially resolved via computer simulation in future. That all said, I'm not trying to argue the point - just wanted to add a bit more context.
I really appreciate such a polite and informative response. As I noted in the video I am always open to corrections, context or further info. Always interesting to learn new things
@@hcbs1986 jep, completely bullshit. If u could simulate any war, the country with the strongest military would rule the whole world (at no cost!). The only thing that keeps evil dictators from starting wars is the cost (like putin and china are learning right now)
I can't see how it can be creating a publishing platform for indie developers via the Chromatic cartridges and also be a limited run console. There are many things that are just 'off' with this one, and it's not for me. It has some technical aspects that do pique my interest.. but they don't outweigh the ick feeling
Yeah I feel that. There's definitely enough new and different to make this interesting but it's not enough for me to feel happy giving money to this brand
So for what it is worth, adjusted for inflation, the Modretro is about the same price as GBC was when it was released (I know hard to believe, but inflation is a bitch, ask your boss for a raise). So I think it is fair value... But yeah damn man, most of us can't even afford rent and food these days, let alone a new handheld console lol
You had me at "owns an arms company". That makes this a no from me. We got enough of that crap in this world without me knowingly supporting it. The colors chosen and the graphics on the shells are also terrible. The grey on black one is the only halfway decent choice and that's because it's just black and grey. I'm weirdly intrigued by Toki Tori in gameboy format though, I've played through those games quite a bit. I'm very curious to see if the games are compatible with a standard gameboy.
I'm pretty sure they are compatible, I read that somewhere. The more I think about it, the more I think it's clearly been exclusively designed by engineers.
I'm 100% going to take the screen out, throw everything else away, and stick it in a gbc. Don't need a kevlar bulletproof console. Just want the good stuff
A friend in Japan buys cool stuff over there and sells said stuff, sending it elsewhere. He knew I was after one of these and he has had similar since. He's called docspamdog on instagram
Palmer is a national treasure, he is spending his fortune to build the essential technologies to protect NATO and the American homeland???? that’s why you won’t buy the greatest game boy ever made!?! Hahaha ok then, truly pure stupidity. Palmer is the MAN! USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Great video, I agree 100%. If we're talking only about the console: the colours are hideous, the graphic design amateur, and the industrial design choices very opinionated and not really to my tastes. And thankfully that means I'm out even before we talk about the guy behind it.
🤣 agree with all those points. It's the typical result of a product that's been designed exclusively by engineers. No disrespect to engineers in that statement by the way, it just needs to be both a technical and creative endeavour which needs a mixed team working on it
Hard to keep up with all the devices coming out at the moment..I mean, its good.. the more the merrier. I agree with your thoughts about the Chromatic, it's probably going to be pretty decent but decent isn't going to cut it in 2025. Miyoo Mini+ and/or FBGBC gives you way more value for money. I'll pass thanks.
The one thing that's a sticking point for me is their claim of a sapphire screen lens. I've seen this claim before and it trends to be a lie. Unless the lens is tested and verified to be sapphire with the correct level of scratch resistance, I wouldn't want one. I'm not putting up with that lie even if the rest of the console is good. Of course if it is real sapphire and the rest of the device is good then I'd be willing to pick one up. Even though I sure don't need another device that plays Game Boy Color games.
I took a look at the Chromatic, but it's way overpriced, imo. At that price point the Analogue Pocket is the much better option because it also plays GBA cartridges, the screen is much nicer with its 1600x1440 pixels, and there are countless fpga cores available for it. They should get rid of the magnesium shell and sell it at a more reasonable price, but even then I wouldn't buy one because I already have so many (much nicer) options available.
I love the idea of the magnesium shell, I think that's one of the things that sets it apart in a good way. If all the hype is true, and the quality of the final product delivers, I wouldn't be surprised if I found out they're selling this at a loss.
@@JoeBleeps you got me interested in looking deeper at the manufacturing process. For people that've pre-ordered, they're sending email updates with embedded GIFs of manufacturing. They sent one so far of the screens getting processed on an assembly line.
I definitely recommend watching Palmer Lucky on impaulsive podcast because he explains himself very well as far as his involvement as a weapons manufacturer, it definitely doesnt seem like he comes from a place of evil or wants money, he gives good v8bes off and you have to be able to separate art from thhe artist
@@JoeBleeps I have not tried personally, no. An experienced modder that I have commissioned work from said it is not possible. As far as I know, the specific fpgbc screen is the only one compatible with that board, but I could be wrong.
Dude why did you make me watch 5 minutes of the video to find out you have moral objections to a gameboy and don't have one in hand to test and also am not quite convinced it's a fun time guys... why make a video?
I was seeing it a different way. I was thinking it was an attempt at building a more positive reputation while selling these at a loss. Whichever way you look at it, I won't be a part of it
I was seeing it a different way. I was thinking it was an attempt at building a more positive reputation while selling these at a loss. Whichever way you look at it, I won't be a part of it
Absolutely. As I've said elsewhere it's like it's been designed by a team of engineers. Amazing technology, precision, materials and manufacturing techniques but it's not had an expert in charge of aesthetics.
@@JoeBleeps The aesthetics are directly based off artist James White (insta,' signalnoise') and his 2020 piece titled 'lost boy'. He is now employed at Modretro for all design work.
@@RogerEssigArtist I really appreciate this! I'm familiar with his artwork from the Blood Dragon games, and I've now seen the illustration of the game boy that this is inspired by. It works well on there but I don't think the colour choices and layout really translate the design well to the Chromatic
I asked Palmer some questions about support, firmware updates, and why the Modretro website felt like the Chromatic was not going to be produced beyond the initial pre-orders and thus were planned obsolescence he said they were "stupid questions". Nope. I'm out. I have a modded GBC w/AMOLED and FPGBC already in addition to an Analogue Pocket as well as an old GBA I plan to transfer the CPU and RAM chips over to one of FunnyPlaying's new GBA boards with a nice IPS display and new FP shell. I don't need Palmer's $200 magnesium box with a tiny screen and thanks to his arrogant attitude I will *never* buy one. Ever. To me it's a downgrade, not an upgrade.
To make a point of being dismissive like that rubs me up the wrong way. Like when they made a fuss about having real product photos (which is a good thing) because "renders are for losers" (unnecessary)
@@RogerEssigArtist I liked that concept. Like the originals, built as is, no updates, lasts years. I do see how the confidence/arrogance of the statements would really engage some people and switch others off
Bruh, you compare it to a colour, in terms of design. Why not the Pocket? Its even in the name, and clearly represents that. Its screen will scream at you its also a colour on hearth. And about the looks, its retro all the way like it should have been in the 80” & 90”s. Love it, or hate it I guess. I think the 1th edition will be a pocket, the 2nd will be the colour body, and they will bring a limited DMG (with colour capabilities). Atleast, I can smell it come.
So conclusion the modding scene for Gameboys are far more cheaper and more options available, I'm pretty much scratching my head as to who would want this overpriced tat and from what ive seen it does not have a backlit screen either
@@JoeBleeps hmmm, it could possibly be fair for someone who wants an "original experience" I guess? I have so many devices that can play the OG GB, GBC, GBA games on hardware that's "adorable" including my original Wii and convenient my DSi XL with twilight, if I wanted the "original" experience I would dig nice and deep and get my OG GBA or GBA SP AGS-101 out from storage and slam my carts in that for no reason? and get the same "retro" experience they are trying to sell smh Apart from noglastia 🤷🏾♀️ the only reason to keep GBA or older carts now is for your original saves on there if you have the hardware and knowledge to get your saves, apart from that this is fan service nostalgia profit but kudos to people who still hold on to the old ways I guess but I've moved on 🫤
@@JoeBleeps how petty, instead of an adult arguement you or RUclips just deletes my comment, I don't want to waste my time anymore with logical sense if there is none left on this platform whatsoever smdh
GBA AGS-101 I think this company are going to be scared of people who own one of these devices! I should make my own vids and show how much these current devices are absolutely rubbish and an extortionate con! Don't expect this comment to last long either 🙄🙄
Jesus Joe, how long is it since I’ve seen you - I literally fell back in my chair when I saw your hair length 😂 This handheld though, not a fan, looks so cheap and tacky
There are only 2 RELEVANT systems: Using an original GBC with an IPS/OLED screen upgrade and a flash card. Or the Miyoo Mini Plus / Anbernic derivative. EEEEEEEEEEverything else is just poop. And for 98% of all people the Miyoo Mini is by far the BEST choice. Because its cheaper then an OLED upgrade / FPGA mod and it has important features the ORIGINAL and FPGAs are missing: mid-game suspension & resume, quick loading, fast forwarding, wifi network play, etc. All for 50 bucks. The only reason to NOT use a Miyyo / Anbernic is if you want nostalgia and hold a REAL gbc. In which case go for the IPS / OLED screen mod and a flash card (no one likes to carry 10 game cartridges around...). These overpriced fpga devices are just dumb. They are WORSE then an original and worse then a 50 bucks Miyoo / Anbernic.
@@JoeBleeps There's currently a couple of videos of a woman using a pink one at a demo station. It's on the X platform. You can find it via the ModRetroChromatic subreddit.
first I’ve heard of this and… what an odd product. magnesium shell is cool, but there are so many bizarre design choices. I don’t care for any of the colour options and… why is it so boxy? why limit the screen to be *exactly* the same size and pixel count as the OG? why not go the Analogue route and make it a higher res integer scaled option? I’m not sure where this would even fit into the market now (aside from “billionaire’s pet product launch”). I’ll get an FGPBC (is that what it’s called?) since they nailed the price point. learning about the drone company and political backing snuffed out any remaining interest for me - not that there was much there tbh. if I wanted to spend more, there’s the Analogue Pocket. and if I only want to play GB/C games, modded original hardware can be found at a similar price instead of this… with a lot more aftermarket options to make it feel more personal. and resale value, if anyone cares about that. plus as discussed, nostalgia is a huge factor with these devices, so messing with the shape but keeping the screen the same size is confusing, to say the least. I don’t like the “limited release!” hype marketing and artificial scarcity. it must be effective, but there’s something I find really unpleasant about that. I’ll be throwing money at the screen for the FPGBA / GBA SP versions if they ever come. FunnyPlaying has the right idea - make it affordable and accessible. y’know… like a Gameboy… I wonder if there will be a surplus of screens available as aftermarket parts. not sure if exact dimensions means it’d be a drop-in replacement somehow.
They are definitely borrowing from Analogue's model with the limited edition hype. And yes it's called the FPGBC despite what my malfunctioning brain early on a Saturday morning seems to think 😅
why make the 'ultimate game boy color tribute device' and not build a custom one-off screen that replicates and improves on the original screen? Have you seen magnified comparisons? Chromatic looks the best , by far.
@@RogerEssigArtist what was the original Gameboy made out of? Oh cheap plastic. Wouldn't someone who wants the original experience want the plastic that feels and looks like the real thing even down to boot up screens 😔 and really the resolution is fine in the funnyplaying one. In some ways the screen beats og
@@RogerEssigArtist for 200 bucks get an analogue. Seriously want a higher quality material and screen let's go with the analogue pocket . Even can play wonderswan which has much better games. On top of me being able to play , neo Geo pocket , PC engine, gamegear and other carts lol on top of docking it to the TV without a pico mod cart thing
@@owomoshi-gaming You're somewhat right, for sure. But I do mean purists in terms of subpixel/resolution. From modretro -" fully-custom sunlight-viewable LCD underneath perfectly miming the size/resolution/subpixel structure/color balance of the GBC so as to faithfully recreate painstaking pixel art". I'm looking forward to hands-on reviews. But yes, a reason to get the chromatic over anything else is build quality at a price that's similar to a fully built funnyplaying.
@@RogerEssigArtist 200 is a bit of an ask. May as well grab a analogue pocket. And then play neo Geo pocket, PC engine, gamegear, GBA, Gameboy, gbc , carts. I just don't get the reasoning for this. For the price they are asking you may as well just upgrade an original gbc screen if you're looking for the resolution from that. $200 is a bit of thievery all I'm saying
who gives af about working for an arms company lol. is he a trustworthy person. does he make quality stuff? im not a fan of drones really but weaponry defintily since you know who wants to be enslaved.
Some people do, some people don't. It's up to each of us to make our own choices based on what sits right with us. Your opinion is backed up by sound logic and I respect that.
![Chromatic: The Game Boy to End All Game Boys - Hands-On Preview & Interview [NWRTV]](/img/1.gif)
I think if this was a GBA version of this, I would be much more tempted to make the purchase. GB and GBC are great, but GBA would open the list of games hugely and having something that could still connect to a Gamecube that would stay true to the link cable would be great these days.
Same. I would definitely splurge for the GBA version. The GBC version seems pretty great for the price especially.
The colors are actually like that to match the colors of the Gen 1 starter pokemon
Ohhhh I totally missed that! Makes much more sense now. And it seems the budget didn't stretch to licensing Pokémon haha. I'm not sure they pulled it off but at least I can understand some logic in the colour choices now
The late Mitsuharu Misawa would have loved this.
They released another color that’s exclusive to GameStop. It’s plain gray and it’s by far the best color.
I saw that one! It does work well. Still not a fan of those stripes.
I’m getting that one
I’m going to give Palmer the benefit of the doubt, purely on the preservation angle of these things. But also interesting is how they’ve given themselves into entering retail along side the typical triple-a slop
@@kitestar I'm still really intrigued by the whole thing, always interesting when something new comes along
I’m ok w drones as I’m ex military and used them for surveillance, I like him now
I really want the GBA version when it comes out. Looks gorgeous and by the time the GBA version is out any kinks will be ironed out. That OLED screen and metal body look glorious.
Honestly, I don't think this will launch with any kinks. That seems to be one of the main things about it. Time and reviews will tell, of course. :)
Very fair assessment! I’m going to give it a try because it is available at retail in the US. It’s not an understatement that serious funds are being pumped into the project.
he also owns an arms company? listen i already bought a modretro chromatic, you don't need to sell me on it further.
@@nonormies 🤣
Thanks for mentioning Palmer’s other ventures, i didnt know what other thing he was involved with
There's plenty I found out about him that doesn't align with my views and ethics. I didn't want to make the video about that but it was an aspect of the project I found interesting. Although I'm not getting one I am very curious to see if the high level of financial backing is evident in the finished consoles.
USA 🇺🇸
@@JoeBleepsAnyone who can’t handle political differing views needs to grow some balls. This has literally nothing political, yet commies still are hyper focused on turning America into this awful regime, so now everything is political for no reason
@@JoeBleepsI'm glad you mentioned it too, because that solidified my decision to NOT support the product due to the same reasons you listed here. No way in hell.
His tech is on the way to Ukraine and soon after that Taiwan. Why would anybody not want to support that? It’s also worth mentioning that he can’t go anywhere near Russia or China…
5:16 This quickly turned into a FPGBC shoutout. 😸 ...sold! Going to get one right meow! 😹
It wasn't intentional! Just every time I came up against something that's an issue, I was thinking, the FPGBC does this so well though
"right meow"
Bruh
I have both the fpgbc and Analogue pocket. Love both
@@owomoshi-gaming both great options
Too bad they didnt do a custom oled screen instead of an ips one. That would of been even more killer!
I’ve seen the Chromatic up close at PRGE. While I’m not a huge fan of the color scheme, these things are super nice. Screen is glorious too.
But I also have a fpgbc and it’s really nice too, but half the price.
Either way though, the new game series coming with these things look extremely good so even if I don’t get one, I’ll get all the games
Whether this is THE console, I’m not sure however I am welcoming any device that aims to accurately play retro cartridges. I personally think physical cartridges will be the future for homebrew and indie games as major studios will keep trying to push incomplete, unoptimized games digitally. I think it’s a good thing for more gamers to realize older hardware hasn’t fully been explored or pushed to its limits. We abandoned every console gen as it really just getting started creatively.
Wise words, well written. That's pretty much the conclusion I came to. The more, the merrier!
i'm actually digging the color/design. It's the $200 price tag and $40 for new GBC game that has me scratching my head on this
@@depafeo I'm on the other side of the fence haha! I think the price is reasonable but I'm not a fan of the design
Great video. You make some great points as I am looking for modern ways to play my GB and GBA carts. The screen size and the feel of the device were my 2 main concerns as well.
Thanks for the feedback!
I excited for the chromatic. The only thing is, I wish the screen was a little bigger, but I'm still getting one.
I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what they're like when they finally drop
I am a big proponent of FPGA for the accuracy of the hardware simulation, and because it doesn't impact real hardware with modifications (like how you pointed out the modded Gameboys take original Gameboys out of circulation). That said, Gameboy (and Gameboy Color) is one of those consoles that is incredibly easy to emulate. We're at a point where emulation is pretty much indistinguishable from the original experience, just because we can throw more power at the job than we'd ever have dreamed possible in the 90s. If you just want to play the games, and you want some modern conveniences like save states, which are invaluable for games with password save, or no save at all, you can have backlit screens, you can scale, you can embrace blasphemy and put on smoothing filters, or interpolation. Emulation is totally good enough for Gameboy games.
Emulation also means you can play other contemporary stuff reasonably well. Gamegear, Lynx, Wonderswan, NeoGeo Pocket. The Analog Pocket gives you that option, too, with cartridge adaptors, but I think for the vast majority of gamers all over the world, the Gameboy is where the nostalgia really is, and the also-rans are really just bonuses (though the Lynx has its diehard fans).
Now, it's still a different story for even the SNES, never mind higher end consoles. It's gotta be original hardware to get the authentic experience, but you can't throw a rock on AliExpress without hitting something that can emulate the gameboy well, if not perfectly. I have my Gameboy Color, and my much-loved childhood DMG-1, both sitting in my cupboard, never getting any love, because emulation handhelds are totally good enough for me.
I really enjoyed reading that and it's a really great case for emulation. I tend to flip flop between the two, as I'll often end up with choice paralysis when it comes to the emulators and thousands of games. But when I'm playing the cartridges I do miss those save states!
@@JoeBleeps I encountered the choice paralysis problem, too, back when I used to download full ROM sets for emulation on PC, and when I got my first emulation handhelds and they came with thousands of games. These days, if given the option, I get it without a second SD card for games, because it's cheaper that way.
The SDs they come with are usually cheap and crappy anyway, so I image a new one for the OS, and get another for the ROMs. Then I'll seed it with whatever shows up in top 25 lists, and add a few more specific ones I want, as I want them. I think keeping each console you emulate on a handheld to under fifty games is key to keeping your attention.
@@NoobixCube I'm impressed you can do that. I can't help myself and always fill them up with loads 🤣
@@JoeBleeps It does, eventually, get a bit out of hand, if I just keep adding things, but at least things start off fairly well, and by the time things do start to get a bit hairy I have my sights set on whatever new toy from Anbernic or PowKiddy has caught my eye, and I can start the cycle all over again.
@@NoobixCube setting them up is half of the fun for me, so having something work right out of the box isn't always a strong selling point for me!
It'll be my first handheld. I do like how it seems engineered to last generations without degradation. I like it's one-of-a-kind approach to replicating sub-pixel arrangement. I can imagine these things to be highly sought after over the coming decades.
I do definitely like that aspect of it. Like the DMG console I have here from 1990 that still works perfectly. And also, a savvy buyer would definitely pick one up if you're seeing it as an investment. Likely to be going for silly money on eBay come Christmas time (if they're ready by then)
I like it so I ordered the yellow one. I do wish there were more color options, something more like the original GameBoy color theme or a SNES theme one. Even though I have a collection of original and modded GameBoy/Color/Advance and emulation devices, I was going for that original resolution and screen size. Just another device for my ever growing collection.
The screen is definitely the most intriguing part of it. Absolutely with you on the colour schemes!
I really like the look of this. I understand the differences from the Analogue Pocket and it’s something that appeals to me. I love that it’s sticking close to the original while upgrading what matters. I’d need confirmation that it works with the GB Everdrive before taking the plunge, and I’d want to wait for genuine, independent reviews first as currently it’s all just hype from ModRetro themselves. Unfortunately that might mean I miss the pre-order window and therefore miss out on it altogether. Oh well.
I agree with you. Until the product releases and people can try it and give their honest, informed opinions about it, everything else is just speculation.
The features of this (Or lack-of, actually) doesn't warrant the high price tag, especially considering the entire package that the Analogue Pocket offers for just a little more.
I also hear Funnyplaying is working on an FPGBA for real, so that's exciting.
That's really exciting! I'll keep an eye out for that
We just need the screens.
Amen to that! Pop it inside an original GBC and you're golden
@@JoeBleeps Is there a way to get this message through to him? It should already be obviuous. You could buy the device or just the screen. Or wait for China to clone just the screen...
@@icyds it says on the website that the project is open source so I wouldn't be surprised to see the screens being available eventually
@@JoeBleeps Awesome! VIVA LA GAMEBOY! I can't wait for the release tho. I want that Tetris game!
@@icyds yeah I'm interested to see if that's any good. I love Tetris DX as well as the original, and Tetris DS is hugely underrated too
Completly agree with the graphics on the console. I thaught the same before I even opened the video.
I'm glad that wasn't just me!
@JoeBleeps nah definitely not just you. It gives me a naff vibe even though it may actually feel sturdy holding it in your hands in real life. But like you say, aesthetics are a big part of a gamers perception on a console. At least that's my thoughts anyway.
@@samdoble66 I'd be modding it straight away, dismantle it and put it in paint stripper, polish the shell and reassemble. Which goes against the whole philosophy of it being a perfect solution that doesn't need any tinkering... Modder's gonna mod haha
@JoeBleeps That's it! A Moder will always find something they want to do to a console even before purchase haha. They should have left an original metal finish option which personally I think would sell alot better based on looks. Also would leave time for moders to mod something else and not waste time essentially stripping paint lol
@@samdoble66 never wasting time. Always fun 😁
I also don't have an Analogue Pocket, because I think it's an ugly piece of modern tech and the way the cartridge needs to be held in the device is a big - no, HUGE - design flaw IMHO! What were they thinking...
I preorderd a Chromatic. Ordered the orange one. Love the looks of them all, but the orange and pink ones stood out for me. The screen and the premium materials used and since I am a Gamboy fan, made me buy one. I like that it runs on AA batteries. These things are sold everywhere on the planet. I use rechargeables AA batteries a lot, so I always have charged spares in the house and or with me on the road/ camping trips.
I absolutely love the FPGBC! Nice, simple kit to build. It's my standard for playing GB and GBC games now, so I don't wear my OG devices too much. The OLED mod is great too! These are the devices I am currently developing my homebrew games on.
You can never have enough Gameboys!
@@JittikMieger that last statement is very true haha! It does frustrate me that my analogue pocket is useless when it comes to cartridges, I feel like I'm forced to play roms on it as they aren't going to crash as easily
I plan on getting 2 and keeping 1 sealed!
I was thinking that too. But I think they come pre-installed with 3 AA batteries. Which could leak over time. if in a sealed box. What do you think?
@ Ahh! That could be a huge issue. We’ll have to check out everyone else’s if they make a video. I think if the batteries just come in a separate bag like with the original Gameboy, we should be good to go!
@@isaiahmcclure8894 maybe it was just the preproduction ones sent to reviewers had them pre-installed.
I'm actually a bit excited for it. Never had modern retro hardware like an Analogue Pocket. Frankly, I very much favor the direction this project is going in with trying to match original hardware, although I am worried about the feel of the device due to material used. Seems like a cross between a gameboy pocket and color. The screen size spec is not of the GameBoy Color, it's of the GB Pocket, which is fantastic. Also I like that it takes AA batteries :P
GameStop was also announced to be an exclusive retail partner for it, and that's pretty cool. I do agree with you a bit about the color choices though
There's a lot to be excited about with this, for sure. I'm very interested to see how it turns out.
I don’t think these look bad at all, I dig the racing stripes. But it doesn’t really look like a 200$ premium product either. Nor does an og gameboy/pocket/color/advance either. GBA SP and GB micro are the only premium looking official gameboys tbh. But yeah, original gameboys never were premium products to begin with.
I agree. And I don't think they really need to be premium products. There's a lot of joy to be had with these things and if they feel like a toy that's not always a bad thing 😊
If this thing looked better and had a larger display with a denser pixel count then I could see it making more sense at that price. But considering the small display and how ugly that metal shell is, at $160 I would much rather just spend the extra $60 + shipping for an Analogue Pocket since that thing is way nicer looking, has a far better display, and it supports more consoles both via official carts AND loading ROM files from an sdcard.
The Pocket might be $220, but for that extra $60 you get A LOT more for your money in my opinion.
I've always found the Analogue Pocket to be expensive, but I've never felt that it's overpriced. It's a fantastic creation and it shows that an aesthetic appreciation of modern design can be combined with a classic hardware style
@@JoeBleeps The Pocket is so uncomfortable to play compared to a Game Boy Color though. If the Chromatic has a better d-pad and feels more comfortable in the hands it will be a better option to play your physical cartridges over the Pocket.
@@Revariance I've never actually handled an Analogue Pocket. I do love the GBC form factor though. So have you been able to try out the Chromatic? Very interested to hear what you think of it.
@@JoeBleeps I haven’t tried the Chromatic, not many people have, but I do have it preordered. It seems more in line with a GBC form factor from what I can tell. The Chromatic has a few really strong selling points for me that point to Palmer having an eye for detail and the little things that add up to a great playing experience. I can’t speak to his business ventures or political affiliations and honestly I don’t care. I love Game Boys and I think this one has the potential to be a fantastic option for physical carts. Time will tell.
@@Revariance ahh I see, sorry. Just with you saying about the d pad being better. Good luck with your order, I hope it's as awesome as you hope 🤞
I’ll just stick with my Analogue Pocket
I'd say if you have one of those, you won't be needing this
Analogue is awesome
I’m on the fence guys, someone convince me! I sense Palmer is very genuine and passionate about retro gaming and equally has money to burn on something he’d love. Anyone else?
Seems like there's a good Reddit community for this thing if you're interested in speaking to people enthused by it
While i no longer have any GB carts yo speak of, yhis does intrigue me as a toy/curio of sorts, and new games on it as well as Tetris, im toying with it. It gets Shovel Knight or Mina the Hollower on it and id be absolutely sold.
I owned an Analogue Pocket for a while back when they were new, and while the Analogue Pocket is a cool device, I don't like Analogue as a company and I ended up getting an RG35XX and later an RG35XX Plus instead. I'm satisfied with that. Lol.
I don't like the way they build the hype and limit the supply, those anbernic devices look awesome too
Clock speed matters to me, the screen seems great, I want it :)
@@brokenstyx it's definitely catering to your needs then!
Whats clock speed?
Shocking you left out the most important part of the screen. The fact that you can see it outside
I thought I'd made mention of it, apologies. But when I was reading about it I was having trouble working out if it meant it had a transflective (is that the right term?) screen like the original GBC or if it simply meant the brightness was so high it was clearly visible in daylight. It seemed unclear. And I've yet to see a proper demonstration of the hardware to explain it. That said, the original GBC is pretty good outdoors already.
The announcement of the Chromatic is what led me to eventually get the FPGBC, two of them in fact... with a link cable... and each one fitted with an Everdrive GB x3... totaling $240... slightly more than the asking price of one Chromatic with its reliance on AA batteries and original tiny screen. Even though I think the Chromatic handheld will be a huge financial failure, I could see ModeRetro becoming a successful publisher of homebrew 8-bit games. I do plan to pick up at least one of the Chromatic launch titles and it'd be great to see more programmers incentivized to make new high quality games for GBC.
I've been looking at the more recent Everdrive type flash carts and it seems to be a real minefield. What led you to opt for the X3? Have you been happy with it?
@JoeBleeps YES, the x3 has been a perfect experience and I'm glad I didn't she'll out more for the x5 or x7. Savestates weren't important to me amd saving via the button atop the Everdrive cart is no hassle. I get around the gen 2 Pokemon real time clock with simple romhacks that let you change the time in the pokegear menu. With the latest OS for the Everdrive (from like 2017) and firmware 1.10 of the FPGBC, everything has worked as it should across dozens of roms, never an issue.
@@JoeBleepsthe main reason I went for an official everdrive product what's for the faster load times. It's not worth it to save 20 bucks on a single purchase to then waste a minute waiting for each game to load for the rest of your ownership of that product
Absolutely love my 2 FPGBC, can't wait for the FPGBA coming out some day too! But for $80 for everything, makes it way too good
It over delivers for that price point 🙌
The best and really only important thing about this, is the 1:1 screen. Everything else is good but not a real change from the FPGBC. Oh and video out is nice, I actually didn't know about that before.
I mean I'm way more interested in them making a GBA model for the same price with the video out. Or even making a standalone TV system for the GBA, since there's still not really any affordable way to do it with real or FPGA hardware.
I've been hearing things about a FPGA based TV system for GBA recently, you'll hear about it here as soon as I know more! The GameCube with the GB Player is a great option too.
The resolution of the GBC screen is the same as the one on the DMG and GBP. So yes, the GBC screen is smaller, but I don't think this new console is going for THAT size, but for the one of the DMG/GBP.
I am more interested in the FunnyPlaying FPGA. Only think I like is the metal shell but I don't like the looks with the stripes and so forth.
I wouldn't be surprised if the next iteration isn't toned down a bit. It's a shame there isn't a bare metal option. This got me wondering if it's painted because of the risk of oxidisation, and I found this: "Just as steel will rust and copper will tarnish, so magnesium will acquire a surface coating of oxide. The need for surface protection of magnesium alloys depends entirely on the conditions of service, and where these are known to be non-corrosive no protection may be necessary."
@@JoeBleepsI wonder if they're powercoated. That'd be my guess.
@@RogerEssigArtist I'd expect it to be paint, for the thickness and durability. Powder coating would be too vulnerable to cracking and weakening if it's dropped, I think.
Yeah, like you say, different strokes for different folks. I'm quite happy with my original gameboys with modded bigger screens. The new version of tetris could be interesting but lets face it. Theres already tons of tetris carts for the gameboy. I'm sure one of the normal versions will have everything you desire :)
Tetris and Tetris DX still get regular play from me. And Tetris DS is also a truly underrated gem. So yes, plenty to keep me busy!
We just need someone testing this for us.
I ordered 2. Im excited for it since i should be able to see the screen outside. I only use the analouge pocket as a paper weight. Every single modded gameboy and fpga clone has the same problem. You cannot play outside. Its terrible. I have to constantly switch consoles around depending on where im at. Its so annoying
I hope it delivers for you. I never really play outside so it's not an issue to me. Worth trying out the original, unmodded GBC if you haven't already. It's excellent in direct sunlight.
The clock speed affects linking with original hardware. I'm not worried about that tbh.
You're right. The one time it was an issue was when I used a link cable to connect the FPGBC with a GBC for two player Tetris and they gradually drifted out of sync. Thankfully I have no friends so that won't be a cause for concern 🤣
I’m intrigued by this but not really into any of the colour options either. Feel like it’d have to be the black one. The Analogue Pocket looks a lot nicer. Are you from the Wirral / Cheshire way btw?
Not far from there! Warrington area
@@JoeBleeps ah, sound. I don’t often come across RUclipsrs from this part of the world so glad to have found you. (I’m based in South Liverpool myself)
@@IntentionalTech nice! I grew up in Woolton. Small world!
I do wonder where this fits into the market. I think people really want a sweet spot between the FPGBC and the Analogue Pocket. Something maybe a little more refined, but without Analogue's fluff and business practices. However, something like this would need to be priced WAY lower, I'd say around $120 USD. If I just wanted a new, backlit, good-looking GBC, the FPGBC fits my needs for $83 and free shipping, and I can choose my colors, while also performing repairs or replacements of any parts if needed. Aside from the toggle for color fix being not a factor in the Chromatic, I don't see any upside. X4 with pixel grid gives you an authentic feel, if that's what you're after, and the stock GBC shell even pushes that point home. So, I suppose what I'm trying to convey is, for that price, where does this fit in?
There's definitely room for something in the middle but it needs to lean more towards the FPGBC and this leans more towards the AP. I'll be honest the Color fix doesn't really bother me but I would like it fixed in an update.
@@JoeBleeps My thoughts exactly. Makho made a really confusing reply to me on one of his videos, implying that it was fixed, but I think the fix he was referring to was the manual toggle. He mentioned it being fixed in "1.1", whether he means firmware v1.1 or hardware revision 1.1, no idea. I wasn't pressing, it was just something I mentioned in a comment on one of his early hardware revision videos.
It is kind of exciting to see someone else try an FPGA-based GBC, I hope someone comes up with a solution that's the best of both of our FPGA products released so far. I think, if this guy can make it happen, others may try.
@@davidpayneii289 the fact it can be done manually suggests it may be automated at some point. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I swore this was only like 98 dollars when I checked
The world's greatest tribute to the gameboy is the gba, gba sp. Why? Cuz you can play gba, gbc and gb games all on one handheld. Want a better gba, gba sp? Get a modded one or mod it yourself if you have the ability to do so.
This is an excellent point. Love the SP
I kind of want one in ever color now.
That would solve the problem of which one to choose!
Hopefully they can get some plastic shells out too for bringing cost down a bit.
Yeah. It would lose that USP then though. I liked the idea of a moulded metal shell.
They just released a new video yesterday of them going to a GameStop and letting people test them out. It actually looks promising.
Thanks, I'll take a look!
@@JoeBleeps if it actually turns out to be what they say it is, I would really love to see their take on a Gameboy Advance
@@ChewyChicken589 very interesting
@@JoeBleeps I really really don't need one but I really really want one
@@ChewyChicken589 😂 that way of thinking always leads me to poor decisions
If its supposed to kinda replace the gameboy by mimicking it almost exactly why sell it for a limited time? Cuz then it ain’t replacing anything
I think they are planning to keep selling them, it's just this set of "day one edition" type consoles that are a short run
Buy a Game Boy clone, get Skynet?
I'm okay with that. Skynet did nothing wrong.
Does the FPGBC work with the GB Everdrive? Has there been any confirmation that the Chromatic will work with the GB Everdrive?
No mention of the Everdrive that I've seen yet. I've used the original Everdrive on my FPGBC and it has sometimes worked, sometimes not, but I've heard mixed reports about that particular console with Everdrive type flash carts
Nice video. I agree I personally don't like the design of the Chromatic. Also I'd say they're a bit late to the game... they would've probably got more interest if it was released before the FPGBC. I'm already a happy man with an OLED + giltesa Type-C modded GBC, FPGBC and Analogue Pocket. Spent way too much, no way I'm getting the Chromatic.
Sounds like you don't need one! That's a great collection. Agreed on it being a bit late to the party too
The price hurts. I'm of the group that thinks that even with it's flaws if you're at $200 you might as well spring for an analogue pocket. I never knew about the clockspeeds being off with the FPGBC. It seems like FP is really good at releasing stuff and then it having a major flaw. I remember I ordered their first product which was the GBA screen mod (which was rare at the time) and it was a laggy diagonal refresh mess. A few weeks after I got it in the mail they came out with a ribbon cable replacement to fix that issue but wanted me to pay for it. I still refuse to buy anything from them and now hearing the clockspeed issue I think even less of the company. We also have the Taco Mister handheld coming soon which will likely shake up the whole FPGA handheld ecosystem. I guess this ModRetro console still has some unique aspects. I love all my Magnesium devices, my thinkpad, my camers, but I'd probably still take a modded GBC over it though for half the price. If I didn't know how to mod, it's definitely a contender. But again... So is the AP with its other consoles and you don't need to get a flashcart.
AP is a known quantity, it's proven. Definitely a safer bet. But the FPGBC, that clock speed issue has been blown out of all proportion. What it gets right, at that price point, it's really something special.
@@JoeBleeps IDK maybe it's not that far off with the speed to matter. I hadn't even heard about it until you mentioned it, but it reminds me of those fake gameboys from back in the 90s lol. To me that's unacceptable but I also make games and use these devices for testing. I'm glad you enjoy it though. I think it is a good price but I don't really understand who it's for. Why not just mod an original GBC for a similar price? It's not like they sell the FPGBC prebuilt right?
@@Ill_look_back_on_in_disgust I see lots of advantages. Especially moving forward. Having carried out more repairs than I'd care to mention on failing parts, and the heartbreak of having to abandon a motherboard that just won't work no matter what you do, and also seeing people destroy beautiful game boys with their botched mods, having something like the FPGBC gives a gateway to new modders, helps keep original hardware preserved, and gives us an option to keep playing our old cartridges on brand new hardware that doesn't need fixing.
@@JoeBleeps Which I guess is why people are making stuff like the ModRetro. IDK I guess if you need to have the original form factor the FPGBC is nice but imo I sortof dislike the GBC ergonomics. I much prefer the original DMG lol. I don't like the AP much either but I put up with it. I might actually be the market for something like the ModRetro especially with video out, but there's much better stuff on the horizon. I realize people are getting into handheld games at much different points then me. I waited on the AP so long because I already had every handheld with a flashcart and an IPS modded screen even the rare ones. If someone's going into the handheld world and think they are only going to play GB/GBC, then I guess the FPGBC is fine, but personally I'd much rather have a handheld Mister or something like the AP. It's a shame Analogue is such a joke because they could make a killing selling mag body AP's lol. I think the Taco Mister handheld will have a fair share of power issues to be honest. But on paper it sounds amazing.
But to each their own. I was quite surprised hearing you don't own an AP. I love mine and honestly it's the one to rule them all. If I didn't have 4 modded gameboys already, maybe I'd think the FPGBC is cool but yeah now I can't get over the 1.05x speed so I'm 100% over it lol.
Next I want someone to make a NGPC style handheld.
@@Ill_look_back_on_in_disgust if something me manages to recreate that glorious clicky joystick from the NGPC I'd be all over it. I've nearly pulled the trigger on the AP a few times but the taxes and shipping fees just bump it up to a price that's beyond me. I'll likely end up buying a used one from within the UK.
I don’t think it’ll be comfortable. There’s not really too many shots of the back and I would imagine that they had to exclude the curve which is what makes the GBC super comfortable over the Analogue Pocket. When you have your hands flat like that, eventually they start to cramp when it’s that thin. With the GBC Butt your fingers rest nicely. But I guess they want it not to rock on the table :/
I was thinking the same! I struggled to find any shots of the back. I'd expect a trickle of hype over the coming months so we'll see soon enough
It's pretty incredible to me how they managed to mess up such a simple design. It looks like a GBC that was squished together.
I’m just curious how “limited” this thing is if they’re having GameStop distribution?
I was thinking the same thing.
"1st Edition" is very limited. These colours might not be available in the long run.
I think it looks ugly and goofy, and the thought of some of my retro gaming hardware money going to an evil billionaire's vanity project - rather than the hobbyists or small-medium sized businesses it usually goes to - makes me feel dirty and ashamed. Especially at that price plus import duties. Having said that I'm surely it'll do really well and I don't personally judge anyone who buys into it, who couldn't care less about the corporate entity behind it. A new high end GBC with its unique screen will be a luxurious novelty and I believe the hype that it's probably the lowest latency panel on any GBC clone too. Still, to me, these guys are the bad guys on the block. Well-moneyed, smooth talking out-of-towners who waited until the industry was just big enough to be worth milking for daddy Satan.
It's so often the way when the big corporations get involved. Some things improve but a lot of things suffer. Seen the same thing with the skateboard industry
I understand scrutinizing the values of the creator, but you are doing so from the relative luxury of a western country that is secured by military technology (including Anduril products).
Anduril's focus on autonomous technology is explicitly to save human lives in combat situations. Palmer is on record saying that the ideal outcome is that all wars are essentially resolved via computer simulation in future.
That all said, I'm not trying to argue the point - just wanted to add a bit more context.
I really appreciate such a polite and informative response. As I noted in the video I am always open to corrections, context or further info. Always interesting to learn new things
Am curious.. what in god’s name is a computer simulation? These are countries, not casinos.
@@hcbs1986 jep, completely bullshit. If u could simulate any war, the country with the strongest military would rule the whole world (at no cost!). The only thing that keeps evil dictators from starting wars is the cost (like putin and china are learning right now)
I can't see how it can be creating a publishing platform for indie developers via the Chromatic cartridges and also be a limited run console. There are many things that are just 'off' with this one, and it's not for me. It has some technical aspects that do pique my interest.. but they don't outweigh the ick feeling
Yeah I feel that. There's definitely enough new and different to make this interesting but it's not enough for me to feel happy giving money to this brand
@@JoeBleepsI don’t get why every FPGA is limited run.
@@hcbs1986 the FunnyPlaying was well stocked
So for what it is worth, adjusted for inflation, the Modretro is about the same price as GBC was when it was released (I know hard to believe, but inflation is a bitch, ask your boss for a raise).
So I think it is fair value... But yeah damn man, most of us can't even afford rent and food these days, let alone a new handheld console lol
If all the claims are true, I think it sounds a reasonable price for what it is
At $200 I’d rather buy and original GBC backlit or an emulation device like Anbernic rg40xxv or miyoo mini
You had me at "owns an arms company". That makes this a no from me. We got enough of that crap in this world without me knowingly supporting it.
The colors chosen and the graphics on the shells are also terrible. The grey on black one is the only halfway decent choice and that's because it's just black and grey.
I'm weirdly intrigued by Toki Tori in gameboy format though, I've played through those games quite a bit. I'm very curious to see if the games are compatible with a standard gameboy.
I'm pretty sure they are compatible, I read that somewhere. The more I think about it, the more I think it's clearly been exclusively designed by engineers.
Lol triggered commie hates gun.
I'm 100% going to take the screen out, throw everything else away, and stick it in a gbc. Don't need a kevlar bulletproof console. Just want the good stuff
@@Iktofed I hadn't thought about people using the parts for other projects! Love that
Nice breakdown! Gotta agree with you. Looks cheap.
Unrelated: Where'd you get that Kirby fan?
A friend in Japan buys cool stuff over there and sells said stuff, sending it elsewhere. He knew I was after one of these and he has had similar since. He's called docspamdog on instagram
Palmer is a national treasure, he is spending his fortune to build the essential technologies to protect NATO and the American homeland???? that’s why you won’t buy the greatest game boy ever made!?! Hahaha ok then, truly pure stupidity. Palmer is the MAN! USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Great video, I agree 100%. If we're talking only about the console: the colours are hideous, the graphic design amateur, and the industrial design choices very opinionated and not really to my tastes. And thankfully that means I'm out even before we talk about the guy behind it.
🤣 agree with all those points. It's the typical result of a product that's been designed exclusively by engineers. No disrespect to engineers in that statement by the way, it just needs to be both a technical and creative endeavour which needs a mixed team working on it
Looks average to me. But I realize you’re an SJW and that’s why you’re such a bitch about it
Why wouldn’t you just buy a gbc lol they’re around 50-100£ on the secondary market
And easy to upgrade the screens too
Hard to keep up with all the devices coming out at the moment..I mean, its good.. the more the merrier.
I agree with your thoughts about the Chromatic, it's probably going to be pretty decent but decent isn't going to cut it in 2025.
Miyoo Mini+ and/or FBGBC gives you way more value for money. I'll pass thanks.
I'm glad you feel that way too. I really hope FunnyPlaying keep going in the direction they took with the FPGBC. Really excited to see what's next.
@@JoeBleeps I would love a FPDMG!
@@Martin_Edmondson especially if it played GBC carts
The one thing that's a sticking point for me is their claim of a sapphire screen lens. I've seen this claim before and it trends to be a lie. Unless the lens is tested and verified to be sapphire with the correct level of scratch resistance, I wouldn't want one. I'm not putting up with that lie even if the rest of the console is good.
Of course if it is real sapphire and the rest of the device is good then I'd be willing to pick one up. Even though I sure don't need another device that plays Game Boy Color games.
Says in the blurb that it's "lab-grown synthetic sapphire"
What device claimed this before and who manufactured it?
Respect for putting your morals before your passion. I will follow suit
SJW tears aplenty 😂
I bet you dollars to donuts the boards inside come from Funny Playing...
I took a look at the Chromatic, but it's way overpriced, imo. At that price point the Analogue Pocket is the much better option because it also plays GBA cartridges, the screen is much nicer with its 1600x1440 pixels, and there are countless fpga cores available for it. They should get rid of the magnesium shell and sell it at a more reasonable price, but even then I wouldn't buy one because I already have so many (much nicer) options available.
It's built to last, hence the reason why it's not plastic.
I love the idea of the magnesium shell, I think that's one of the things that sets it apart in a good way. If all the hype is true, and the quality of the final product delivers, I wouldn't be surprised if I found out they're selling this at a loss.
@@JoeBleeps you got me interested in looking deeper at the manufacturing process. For people that've pre-ordered, they're sending email updates with embedded GIFs of manufacturing. They sent one so far of the screens getting processed on an assembly line.
@@RogerEssigArtist I love that! Really interesting approach. And genuinely interesting processes involved
I definitely recommend watching Palmer Lucky on impaulsive podcast because he explains himself very well as far as his involvement as a weapons manufacturer, it definitely doesnt seem like he comes from a place of evil or wants money, he gives good v8bes off and you have to be able to separate art from thhe artist
Leftists are pretty hard to convince because they’re all false intellectuals or people who prioritize feelings over facts
got a question, can the OLED GBC mod screen be used with the FPGA GB board?
It cannot
@@kennylee2590only because of the shell not fitting though right? The FPGBC board can still power the OLED screen?
@@kennylee2590 have you tried? I hadn't found any concrete info about this
@@JoeBleeps I have not tried personally, no. An experienced modder that I have commissioned work from said it is not possible. As far as I know, the specific fpgbc screen is the only one compatible with that board, but I could be wrong.
@@kennylee2590 I was thinking along the same lines. The scaling and colour options in the firmware would be specific to this screen, I'd expect
They just throwing money at a wall with this one
A lot of money too
😂
I pre ordered leaf green with Japanese txt
Dude why did you make me watch 5 minutes of the video to find out you have moral objections to a gameboy and don't have one in hand to test and also am not quite convinced it's a fun time guys... why make a video?
@@tonyspare2468 it was a newly announced project of the kind of thing I would normally be interested in and I was just giving my thoughts
War criminal Palmer lucky , wants us to buy some low quality low effort junk at a mark up. That’s the rub.
I was seeing it a different way. I was thinking it was an attempt at building a more positive reputation while selling these at a loss. Whichever way you look at it, I won't be a part of it
I was seeing it a different way. I was thinking it was an attempt at building a more positive reputation while selling these at a loss. Whichever way you look at it, I won't be a part of it
How?
FirbrandX also mentioned the controversy about this guy on twitter.
Turns out he's a pro genocide so i am not really interested in supporting that.
His Autonomous Underwater Vehicles help keep Australia safe as they're a part of our Navy here. I ordered the orange one.
Provided you do a bit of research and form your own opinions, you can be at peace with whether you decide to invest or not.
@@RogerEssigArtist Nice color!
I already received my analogue pocket so i am good
Better than being pro terrorist.
Havent found the tweet. When was it posted
The main thing for me is it just isn't good looking. shape is ugly, colorways are ugly, graphics are ugly.
Absolutely. As I've said elsewhere it's like it's been designed by a team of engineers. Amazing technology, precision, materials and manufacturing techniques but it's not had an expert in charge of aesthetics.
@@JoeBleeps The aesthetics are directly based off artist James White (insta,' signalnoise') and his 2020 piece titled 'lost boy'. He is now employed at Modretro for all design work.
@@JoeBleeps Aesthetics are based on artist signalnoise and his 2020 artwork titled Lost Boy. He does lots of their design work.
@@RogerEssigArtist thanks for the info, I'll check it out
@@RogerEssigArtist I really appreciate this! I'm familiar with his artwork from the Blood Dragon games, and I've now seen the illustration of the game boy that this is inspired by. It works well on there but I don't think the colour choices and layout really translate the design well to the Chromatic
I asked Palmer some questions about support, firmware updates, and why the Modretro website felt like the Chromatic was not going to be produced beyond the initial pre-orders and thus were planned obsolescence he said they were "stupid questions".
Nope. I'm out. I have a modded GBC w/AMOLED and FPGBC already in addition to an Analogue Pocket as well as an old GBA I plan to transfer the CPU and RAM chips over to one of FunnyPlaying's new GBA boards with a nice IPS display and new FP shell.
I don't need Palmer's $200 magnesium box with a tiny screen and thanks to his arrogant attitude I will *never* buy one. Ever. To me it's a downgrade, not an upgrade.
To make a point of being dismissive like that rubs me up the wrong way. Like when they made a fuss about having real product photos (which is a good thing) because "renders are for losers" (unnecessary)
Literally the exact opposite of planned obsolescence. 'designed to last for decades and evade obsolescence. Nobody will do better.'
@@RogerEssigArtist I liked that concept. Like the originals, built as is, no updates, lasts years. I do see how the confidence/arrogance of the statements would really engage some people and switch others off
I don’t support asshoels either. Wtf man.
Ugh, it's too small then if it's only the size of a gbc.
Bruh, you compare it to a colour, in terms of design. Why not the Pocket? Its even in the name, and clearly represents that. Its screen will scream at you its also a colour on hearth. And about the looks, its retro all the way like it should have been in the 80” & 90”s. Love it, or hate it I guess. I think the 1th edition will be a pocket, the 2nd will be the colour body, and they will bring a limited DMG (with colour capabilities). Atleast, I can smell it come.
So conclusion the modding scene for Gameboys are far more cheaper and more options available, I'm pretty much scratching my head as to who would want this overpriced tat and from what ive seen it does not have a backlit screen either
@@HUYI1 it is backlit and for what it is, it could be a fair price. Hard to tell until seeing and testing one for sure
@@JoeBleeps hmmm, it could possibly be fair for someone who wants an "original experience" I guess? I have so many devices that can play the OG GB, GBC, GBA games on hardware that's "adorable" including my original Wii and convenient my DSi XL with twilight, if I wanted the "original" experience I would dig nice and deep and get my OG GBA or GBA SP AGS-101 out from storage and slam my carts in that for no reason? and get the same "retro" experience they are trying to sell smh Apart from noglastia 🤷🏾♀️ the only reason to keep GBA or older carts now is for your original saves on there if you have the hardware and knowledge to get your saves, apart from that this is fan service nostalgia profit but kudos to people who still hold on to the old ways I guess but I've moved on 🫤
@@JoeBleeps how petty, instead of an adult arguement you or RUclips just deletes my comment, I don't want to waste my time anymore with logical sense if there is none left on this platform whatsoever smdh
GBA AGS-101 I think this company are going to be scared of people who own one of these devices! I should make my own vids and show how much these current devices are absolutely rubbish and an extortionate con! Don't expect this comment to last long either 🙄🙄
@@HUYI1 I can assure you I haven't deleted anything at all, I felt you made some good points!
I have analog pocket why this dumb
Good to have different options
i like his views so i bought 2
fair enough. I hope you enjoy them!
Jesus Joe, how long is it since I’ve seen you - I literally fell back in my chair when I saw your hair length 😂
This handheld though, not a fan, looks so cheap and tacky
Haha yeah it's grown a bit! Good to hear from you mate, I appreciate you watching 😊
There are only 2 RELEVANT systems: Using an original GBC with an IPS/OLED screen upgrade and a flash card. Or the Miyoo Mini Plus / Anbernic derivative. EEEEEEEEEEverything else is just poop. And for 98% of all people the Miyoo Mini is by far the BEST choice. Because its cheaper then an OLED upgrade / FPGA mod and it has important features the ORIGINAL and FPGAs are missing: mid-game suspension & resume, quick loading, fast forwarding, wifi network play, etc. All for 50 bucks. The only reason to NOT use a Miyyo / Anbernic is if you want nostalgia and hold a REAL gbc. In which case go for the IPS / OLED screen mod and a flash card (no one likes to carry 10 game cartridges around...). These overpriced fpga devices are just dumb. They are WORSE then an original and worse then a 50 bucks Miyoo / Anbernic.
I also agree that it's not that great looking. It looks like a children's toy--super plastic-y looking
When you've gone for an all metal shell that's definitely not the impression they want to be making!
In some of the promo video shots it looks anything but plastic.
@@RogerEssigArtist I'm looking forward to seeing some hands on footage without filters applied. Really intrigued by the metal shell
@@JoeBleeps There's currently a couple of videos of a woman using a pink one at a demo station. It's on the X platform. You can find it via the ModRetroChromatic subreddit.
@@JoeBleeps you can find two videos of hands on footage via the ModRetroChromatic subreddit!
first I’ve heard of this and… what an odd product. magnesium shell is cool, but there are so many bizarre design choices.
I don’t care for any of the colour options and… why is it so boxy?
why limit the screen to be *exactly* the same size and pixel count as the OG?
why not go the Analogue route and make it a higher res integer scaled option?
I’m not sure where this would even fit into the market now (aside from “billionaire’s pet product launch”). I’ll get an FGPBC (is that what it’s called?) since they nailed the price point. learning about the drone company and political backing snuffed out any remaining interest for me - not that there was much there tbh.
if I wanted to spend more, there’s the Analogue Pocket. and if I only want to play GB/C games, modded original hardware can be found at a similar price instead of this… with a lot more aftermarket options to make it feel more personal. and resale value, if anyone cares about that. plus as discussed, nostalgia is a huge factor with these devices, so messing with the shape but keeping the screen the same size is confusing, to say the least.
I don’t like the “limited release!” hype marketing and artificial scarcity. it must be effective, but there’s something I find really unpleasant about that.
I’ll be throwing money at the screen for the FPGBA / GBA SP versions if they ever come. FunnyPlaying has the right idea - make it affordable and accessible. y’know… like a Gameboy…
I wonder if there will be a surplus of screens available as aftermarket parts. not sure if exact dimensions means it’d be a drop-in replacement somehow.
They are definitely borrowing from Analogue's model with the limited edition hype. And yes it's called the FPGBC despite what my malfunctioning brain early on a Saturday morning seems to think 😅
why make the 'ultimate game boy color tribute device' and not build a custom one-off screen that replicates and improves on the original screen? Have you seen magnified comparisons? Chromatic looks the best , by far.
@@RogerEssigArtist I think the screen is definitely the most intriguing thing about this device. I'm just not sure if I'd find it a bit small.
@@JoeBleeps I'll be needing glasses soon, so It'll be quite funny if I end up getting a screen magnifier for the Chromatic!
@@RogerEssigArtist very old school!
Why not get a funnyplaying
Because It's plastic and doesn't have the same subpixel/resolution. Chromatic looks made for purists .
@@RogerEssigArtist what was the original Gameboy made out of? Oh cheap plastic. Wouldn't someone who wants the original experience want the plastic that feels and looks like the real thing even down to boot up screens 😔 and really the resolution is fine in the funnyplaying one. In some ways the screen beats og
@@RogerEssigArtist for 200 bucks get an analogue. Seriously want a higher quality material and screen let's go with the analogue pocket . Even can play wonderswan which has much better games. On top of me being able to play , neo Geo pocket , PC engine, gamegear and other carts lol on top of docking it to the TV without a pico mod cart thing
@@owomoshi-gaming You're somewhat right, for sure. But I do mean purists in terms of subpixel/resolution. From modretro -" fully-custom sunlight-viewable LCD underneath perfectly miming the size/resolution/subpixel structure/color balance of the GBC so as to faithfully recreate painstaking pixel art". I'm looking forward to hands-on reviews. But yes, a reason to get the chromatic over anything else is build quality at a price that's similar to a fully built funnyplaying.
@@RogerEssigArtist 200 is a bit of an ask. May as well grab a analogue pocket. And then play neo Geo pocket, PC engine, gamegear, GBA, Gameboy, gbc , carts. I just don't get the reasoning for this. For the price they are asking you may as well just upgrade an original gbc screen if you're looking for the resolution from that. $200 is a bit of thievery all I'm saying
😂😂😂😂
who gives af about working for an arms company lol. is he a trustworthy person. does he make quality stuff? im not a fan of drones really but weaponry defintily since you know who wants to be enslaved.
Some people do, some people don't. It's up to each of us to make our own choices based on what sits right with us. Your opinion is backed up by sound logic and I respect that.
WHEN are we finally getting FPGA GBA or SPs. This is just so useless when the funnyplaying fpgbc exists in my opinion
It's a different product for a different market. With the success of the FPGBC I would hope a GBA isn't far behind