posterchild336
Superstar
Hyperkin)Soon you'll be able to turn your iPhone 6 into a functioning Game Boy thanks to gaming hardware company Hyperkin.
When Hyperkin first teased the design for the device on Reddit, most thought it was an April Fools' Day prank — and it was — but Hyperkin has since decided to create and sell the device, and it's calling it the "Smart Boy."
The Smart Boy will allow people to insert their iPhone 6 into the device, giving them access to physical controls such as an 8-way D pad and four buttons designed to mimic the A, B, select, and start buttons found on the original Game Boy.
The coolest feature? The Smart Boy will also work with original Game Boy and Game Boy Color game cartridges, which will slot into the back of the device.
"We wanted to create a retro device that can be easily adapted into any modern gamer's arsenal of devices," said Hyperkin's product developer, Chris Gallizzi, in a press release.
(Hyperkin)The Smart Boy will also include its own battery to help extend playing time, and since the device uses the iPhone 6 Plus' screen instead of its own, you'll be able to enjoy your favorite Game Boy games with a backlit screen that features "noticeable upscaling" — so you won't have to squint.
On the software side, the Smart Boy will talk to your iPhone through its own dedicated app that will take care of saving games and offer a cheat database.
It's entirely possible that Nintendo could attempt to shut this project down — they have a history of pulling the plug on any infringing ideas. But, since the Smart Boy doesn't feature any Nintendo branding and Nintendo's hardware patents have expired, there's a good chance it will survive.
The Smart Boy will launch with an "80s Grey" color, but Hyperkin says more colors could be available in the future. Android users will have to wait a little longer for their own version, but Gallizzi revealed that Hyperkin is "working on an open side-panel version for Android phones" in his original Reddit post.
There's no release date yet for the Smart Boy, but you can follow Hyperkin on Twitter for the latest update to the project.
