Ode to the Gameboy: 10 Projects Based on the Iconic Portable Nintendo

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Ode to the Gameboy: 10 Projects Based on the Iconic Portable Nintendo

By Andrew Terranova

Andrew Terranova

Andrew Terranova is an electrical engineer, writer and author of How Things Are Made: From Automobiles to Zippers. Andrew is also an electronics and robotics enthusiast and has created and curated robotics exhibits for the Children's Museum of Somerset County, NJ and taught robotics classes for the Kaleidoscope Enrichment in Blairstown, NJ and for a public primary school. Andrew is always looking for ways to engage makers and educators.

View more articles by Andrew Terranova
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If you are a Raspberry Pi fan who loves old game systems, you’ll love microbyter’s detailed post on how to hack a Raspberry Pi B into the case of a broken Gameboy. The post explains all the parts and tools you need, an explanation of the design decisions microbyter made, lessons learned, and links to resources and research that he found helpful.

The mod includes an emulator that not only runs the original Gameboy games, but also Doom, Gameboy Advance, Game Gear, Nintendo Entertainment System, and more!

The Super Pi Boy mod next to an original Gameboy. Photo by microbyter.
The Super Pi Boy mod next to an original Gameboy.
Photo by microbyter.
Several mods to the case were necessary to shoe horn everything inside.Photo by microbyter.
Several mods to the case were necessary to shoe horn everything inside.
Photo by microbyter.
A third party controller board allowed microbyter to use the original Gameboy buttons and interface them to the Raspberry Pi.Photo by microbyter.
A third party controller board allowed microbyter to use the original Gameboy buttons and interface them to the Raspberry Pi.
Photo by microbyter.
Component testing the Super Pi Boy.Photo by microbyter.
Component testing the Super Pi Boy.
Photo by microbyter.
Two buttons were added for use with Gameboy Advance and to help navigate within the emulator.Photo by microbyter.
Two buttons were added for use with Gameboy Advance and to help navigate within the emulator.
Photo by microbyter.
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By Andrew Terranova

Andrew Terranova

Andrew Terranova is an electrical engineer, writer and author of How Things Are Made: From Automobiles to Zippers. Andrew is also an electronics and robotics enthusiast and has created and curated robotics exhibits for the Children's Museum of Somerset County, NJ and taught robotics classes for the Kaleidoscope Enrichment in Blairstown, NJ and for a public primary school. Andrew is always looking for ways to engage makers and educators.

View more articles by Andrew Terranova
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