Introducing Chromatic - A New Gameboy Styled Handheld - Also Plays Gameboy Carts!

[@TheRemynight00]

I got to hold one in North America at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2024. After 1 Min. of holding it, I knew I was going to preorder it that day. I ordered the Blue one.

[@Stephen-2097]

The great thing about this device is that it can take regular batteries! An often unappreciated aspect in retro handhelds like this. The ability to use regular, widely available batteries now and in the future is a huge bonus.

[@jondixon4937]

I have a lot of nostalgia and personal connection to the GBC and the Analog Pocket didn't quite float my boat with its form factor. This looks amazing and a real passion product. Everyone that's had their hands on one has nothing bad to say about it. It's the product I've been waiting a long time for. I had to preorder.

[@philfriethegamingguy7759]

I want one. I was always put off by the Analogue Pocket aesthetic and 4 button face. I really only wanted 8 bit games for my pseudo gameboy, so I like this 2 button layout. Its more nostalgic and not over designed for my needs. The perfectly replicated pixel screen is a big plus too.

[@MI-Tech]

Been following this one since the beginning. Reason it's so expensive is because of the magnesium derived shell. Just to illustrate Analogue pocket magnesium goes for $499,-... Not cheap but not crazy expensive. Another specific and (maybe costly) feature is the screen on this unit which was custom made developed to display the colors like an advanced gameboy color screen would, which has quite different results from the after market fpgbc kits. Also the creator has stated that these devices will be on sale for a limited time, as it's a passion project not a profit project. So I would recon once these are out of production the prices will really sky-rocket.we

[@CrazyBurger]

@@MI-Tech Interesting.. thanks for the feedback.

[@gerardos256]

Display the colors as a gba would? Not as an original gbc would? I liked how the colors looked on an original gbc compared to gba. If it doesnt display the original gbc colors probably not getting one.

[@MI-Tech]

@@gerardos256 My bad corrected it 😅 yes I meant like the GBC it's supposed to be the ultimate tribute. It's probably powerful enough to do GBA and SNES and in fact it is also supposed to be open source -but as they explain it was primarily designed to play OG gameboy and GBC. With it even working with the original link cables. Interestingly enough as well it doesn't run on a rechargeable battery pack but 3x AA batteries.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

​@@MI-Techthere will be a rechargable battery pack for it.

[@MI-Tech]

@@RogerEssigArtist true but that's sold separately.

[@CZpersi]

The retro handheld market is getting very saturated. In order to succeed, you need to either 1) Do thing differently (Playdate), 2) make a high-value, premium product (Analogue), 3) have a cheap price, interesting and versatile ecosystem (Evercade) or 4) sail the pirate waters (Ambernic, GPD...). But who knows? There are places, which were boycotted by Analogue, so oeople interested in premium retro handheld might buy this instead of Pocket

[@doh4828]

I got a Miyoo Mini Plus and never looked back

[@danc3933]

@@CZpersi If the Analogue Pocket is premium, the Chromatic is a high-end luxury handheld.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

Chromatic has done something no one has done or will do again. That one-off custom screen.

[@danc3933]

@@RogerEssigArtist I'm excited for that sapphire crystal screen lens. This is next-level in material quality.

[@TIDbitRETRO]

I see a lot of people saying “Just get an Analogue Pocket”, and yeah, it has more functionality, but the buttons and D-Pad on the Pocket are dog water.

[@alexblue6991]

I still have the old game boys and Nintendo ds my wife plays every morning I play the Nintendo chessmaster now and again

[@briandadude]

Ordered the GameStop one. Analogue pocket buttons are meh. 3-4x the battery life of FPGC and comes with Tetris.

[@TheRemynight00]

I got to hold the Chromatic at an Expo, and the controls were the first thing i noticed. They felt just right. I remember how shiny the A and B buttons were, the plastic buttons felt premium.

[@waynetemplar2183]

Definitely one for the collectors out there. I have the Analogue pocket but it's just too pricey (especially when you factor in the addition of postage+taxes from the US) to take it out for portable playing. I did re-shell and put a laminated IPS screen in one of my old GBCs for a very reasonable price from AliExpress. Because it's much cheaper I don't mind taking it with me for some portable gaming.

[@dutchbeef8920]

People seem to forget rechargeable batteries exist.

[@jasonshiers5771]

You could buy one of them chipped cartridges full of roms for this could be interesting , i see Toki Tori on that game list , amazing game .

[@genejoke8538]

It's not for me, but for those with a collection of GB games I can see the appeal maybe.

[@MIKandJEAN]

I liked the grey one. Highly over priced though so it's a no from me. Tech is so cheap now and even the Hyperkin Retron Sq can play GB, GBC & GBA carts on screen of your choosing for around £100... Thanks for sharing tho, this unit had not crossed my path! 👍

[@CrazyBurger]

@@MIKandJEAN I love the styling but yeah it's way over priced. There's better options out there. Shame. I dont see this one lasting.

[@8bitNL]

This is so cool. I pre-ordered the starter bundle with orange handheld and headset. High quality also from what the reviews show, with magnesium body en good bottons. I agree with you that the prices are a bit high. Should be max 20-25 for a single gamecart, right?

[@bh1409]

Thanks for your thoughts - looks interesting but as a casual gamer I’d rather stick to my Superpocket and cheapish carts. Will be interesting to see if this takes off or not.

[@irrepressibleme6846]

I like it and it comes with its own catalogue of modern retro style games that are exclusive to the device i guess.

[@MI-Tech]

Games are compatible with all other gameboy (color) capable devices 😁

[@bjornh1527]

Price on carts seems reasonable, that’s about what homebrew carts for Game Boy usually go for. Personally I hardly play portable anymore, so I’m not the target.

[@CrazyBurger]

@@bjornh1527 that's true. I'm just not keen to pay that.

[@frooglepete]

Very curious, but not jumping into this one - you can pry my Analogue Pocket out of my cold dead hands first

[@RogerEssigArtist]

'100 pounds too much' 58 pounds is incredibly unrealistic for it's build quality and one-off custom screen.

[@CrazyBurger]

@@RogerEssigArtist perhaps but 157 quid is too much. Maybe that's just me.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

​@@CrazyBurgercertainly. I see it like getting a good quality watch. It's going to feel nice having the best of something. No one else will ever make a 160x144 resolution screen

[@CrazyBurger]

@@RogerEssigArtist I'll wait to see some early reviews before deciding.

[@DaveFallows]

Also comes with a Tetris cart.

[@GrooveSpaceArk]

FPGBC is half the price (less if buy a kit to make your self instead of premade one) and free postage and plays real carts and is fpga and has a nice screen.

[@VGRobot]

Cripes. For those game prices I am running screaming to my SuperPocket

[@richardmullens4707]

Do the new game carts work on an original GameBoy Colour? 🤔

[@CrazyBurger]

@@richardmullens4707 mmm good question.. I'd assume no.. but who knows.

[@danc3933]

​@@CrazyBurgerPretty sure they do.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

100% yes

[@PhilSzomszor]

I’ve watched a few videos and tracked the Chromatic for a while - as it looks really interesting. Worth also following the story of the founder Palmer Luckey, who invented the Oculus and now develops weapons (seriously!) and supports Donald Trump. So he’s colourful! He says he’s making the Chromatic at a loss, because of the crazy R&D and materials. Remember these are just regular gameboy games, not GBA.

[@CrazyBurger]

@@PhilSzomszor mm thanks for the info. Crazy it's still running at a loss at those prices. I'll keep tabs on it.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

Palmer sent a letter to Donald Trump in 2011 when he was 19 and urged him to run for President.

[@danc3933]

Sapphire crystal lens, unique backlit screen, magnesium alloy shell, premium buttons, new official tetris game... This isn't a Super Pocket, its a premium product! It's priced extremely fairly and I have one pre-ordered.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

It's kinda fun watching people not get it. These things will be collector's items

[@danc3933]

@RogerEssigArtist They're driving me crazy 🤣

[@RogerEssigArtist]

@@danc3933 🤣

[@stevemahoney5209]

Did you see this in stuff mag John 😊 It also needs AAA’s I believe according to the mag 🤨

[@CrazyBurger]

Ha funny enough, yes!

[@depafeo]

This is $200 vs Analogue Pocket which is $220. For $20 more you 4 extra buttons and the ability to play GBA with a super crisp 3.5 inch screen. I would consider it if it was $100. Afraid this product is Dead on Arrival

[@ahoihoi87]

The shipping on the Analogue Pocket is much more expensive.

[@AlexanderShelestov]

@@ahoihoi87 Not if you smart enough.

[@danc3933]

@@depafeo Lol gotta love those 2 extra buttons.

[@bjornh1527]

Yeah, seems like a competitor to Analogue.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

Chromatic screen is better

[@SRDhain]

This is more of a niche lifestyle product, maybe to be sold on Mr Porter and that level of online stores (the koss headphones and mid tier pricing is the giveaway). The colour range also suggests going for a younger market, with cash (i.e. gen z), who don't want /need (or are unaware) of the whole ambernic or evercade retro gaming ecosystems.

[@danc3933]

Anbernic and Evercade are trash products. Owned (and sold) them all. The Chromatic is a premium handheld for people who grew up with the GBC and want an authentic experience.

[@simonwilliamson1979]

I got a Funny playing FPA GBC for £60 delivered. Plays original carts and has an amazing screen. This is way overpriced.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

Chromatic has a 160x144 resolution screen. Funny playing does not. Chromatic wins there

[@simonwilliamson1979]

@@RogerEssigArtistyes, but the funny playing device does have a pixel perfect mode with a slight border around the screen. 👍

[@RogerEssigArtist]

@@simonwilliamson1979 There's something about having genuine large pixels with real gaps is appealing. It's not faked.

[@simonwilliamson1979]

@@RogerEssigArtistyou’re right, but it’s at a premium.

[@RogerEssigArtist]

@@simonwilliamson1979 For me in Australia it's £25 more expensive than a premade Funny playing FPA GBC and Chromatic comes with a physical Tetris cartridge.

[@emanuelepolloni4002]

I’m afraid that this is a dead on arrival product. No offense to it’s makers but for that price you can buy an Analogue Pocket if you’re a purist, an Anerbic console if you want to emulate multiple home and portable consoles or an Evercade (both the exp and Super Pocket) if you want compilations of modern and retro games from multiple companies and platforms. Even the new cards released alongside it won’t save it since they don’t look so appealing to me compared to the ones released for the original Game Boy

[@RogerEssigArtist]

It's the 160x144 pixel screen that ensures it will be a highly sought after unicorn device.

[@emanuelepolloni4002]

@ a great screen won’t be enough to make it stand out from dozens of competitors

[@RogerEssigArtist]

@@emanuelepolloni4002 of course it will.

[@emanuelepolloni4002]

@@RogerEssigArtist we must wait and see. Still, they do look nice

[@JohnnyProctor9]

To heck with this garbage, Evercade is a WAY better deal!

[@0pt1mv5_Arcade]

Absolutely not worth the price. There are far better AND cheaper alternatives. Like the FPGBC for example.

[@CrazyBurger]

@@0pt1mv5_Arcade I can't swe this taking off at that price. Ideally needs to be minimum less than 100.

[@mediagemini5206]

Built one. It sits in a box collecting dust. Even the most updated firmware fails to match the clock speed of a real gbc and the lack of a pixel grid option in full screen to take advantage of the larger display is a no for me.

[@liammctaggart9840]

too bad the creator is a super villain. also I really don't understand them having chromatic carts if it take gameboy carts.. can a gbc take chromatic carts..? are they trying to be the publisher that we actually do need, but then putting up a huge barrier to entry right out the gate? and when it comes down to it, it's just another gamble that will probably fail? and if they fail but still make a chunk of change, I guess that technically makes it a scam

[@James101]

There is no way this is worth more than £75.

[@danc3933]

Are you high?

[@RogerEssigArtist]

The screen resolution is 160x144. That alone makes it extremely well priced.

[@bigjohnchannel7378]

Onestamente a me non piacciono e anche fossi ricco non spenderei così tanto per così poco.

[@BenWaddington-Law]

What a rip off