If you were born in the 90s, you've probably come across one of Nintendo's most iconic consoles at some point in your life, the Game Boy. And although it's an outdated piece of hardware today, nostalgia for those childhood games is still alive for many, to the point that a case has been released that turns your iPhone into a Game Boy.
And yes, thanks to modern technology and the ingenuity of developers, it is now possible to turn your iPhone into a real Game Boy, reliving classic games from the 90s in the palm of your hand.
In this post, we'll explore how a new accessory, the GameBaby, allows users to transform their iPhone into a retro console, and how to set up Game Boy emulators on your device for a full gaming experience, so you can feel like you were a kid again.
GameBaby: A new way to play
Recently, the market has witnessed the launch of a new accessory that has captured the attention of retro video game enthusiasts: the GameBaby, which is currently on pre-sale for about $20.
This case is not just a protective case for your iPhone, but replicates the look and feel of a classic Game BoyBy attaching this case to your iPhone, you can enjoy a gaming experience that resembles that of a Game Boy, but with the power and processing capacity of a modern smartphone.
How does the case that turns your iPhone into a Game Boy work?
The GameBaby features physical buttons that replicate the original Game Boy controls, allowing users to play more intuitively than the touch controls offered by on-screen emulators and providing a more authentic and comfortable feel for those accustomed to the physical controls of portable consoles.
But unlike other Bluetooth cases or controls like the ones we have talked about on other occasions, What is done here is to use capacitive conductive rubbers that adapt to the emulator buttons on the screen..
That is, when we press a button, what we are really doing is pressing through a conductive rubber on the screen, which is where the buttons are, and so we would have tactile feedback. Apart from that, the system is more than known for being used in other brands such as GameSir, and we have to say that frankly, it works well.
Setting up Game Boy Emulators on iPhone
I already got the case… let's start playing! Well… this is not entirely true, since in order to get the most out of the GameBaby or simply to enjoy retro games on your iPhone, You need to set up a Game Boy emulator on your device.
Emulators are software that mimic the hardware of a video game console, allowing games designed for those consoles to run on a different device, such as an iPhone, which we have already talked about in this other post and we won't go into much detail about in this one. But since some of you haven't seen it yet, let's see how to configure an emulator.
Setting up an emulator to use GameBaby
Download a Game Boy Emulator
First of all, you should know that Apple has restrictions in the App Store that limit the availability of emulators, so many times it will be necessary to download the emulator from external sources or use alternative methods such as Cydia, in jailbroken devices.
However, with the changes in Apple's policies (Thank you EU!) Some emulators can be installed through third-party apps without jailbreaking your device.
One of the most popular emulators for iOS is GBA4iOSThis emulator not only supports Game Boy Advance games, but also supports Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles and we will tell you how to install it:
- Visit GBA4iOS Official Page from Safari on your iPhone.
- Download the installation file by clicking the download button and then select “Install«.
- Once installed, go to Settings > General > Profiles & Devices y Select the emulator developer profile to trust it and allow it to run on your iPhone.
Another recommended emulator is Delta, which also allows you to play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games, which can be installed from the AltStore and you have a whole article dedicated to it.
Making the emulator fine for playing
Once you have installed the emulator, the next step is to configure it, and although it is fairly easy to do, what you need to get it working is the following:
Import game ROMs
ROMs are files that contain the data for a specific video game, extracted from the original cartridge.
You can find ROMs on several websites, but it is important download only those for which you own the original cartridge, since otherwise you could be infringing copyright and from here we support each other “sailing on the Black Pearl”… you already know what i mean.
Now it's you turn Transfer ROMs to your iPhone using cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud, and then import them into your emulator using the “Open in…” option and selecting the corresponding emulator.
Configure the controls
Some emulators allow Customize the layout of on-screen controlsIf you are using GameBaby, make sure to configure the physical controls to sync correctly with the emulator, but with the skin that comes by default in Gba4iOS or Delta it usually works correctly without doing anything special.
Graphics and sound settings
Most emulators They allow you to adjust the resolution, graphics filters, and sound to improve the gaming experience.
If you prefer a true-to-original experience, you can leave these options at their default settings, but you can also experiment with different settings to see what you like best.
Now it's time to enjoy the case that turns your iPhone into a Game Boy!
Once everything is set up, You can now start enjoying your Game Boy games on your iPhone with the GameBaby, and feel like you have a supercharged version of the classic Nintendo console in your hands!