Topic: A Swansong to "old-school" handhelds.

This is more of a fantasy than anything I actually expect to happen but...

So imagine this. Everyone apparently loved the "Classic/Mini" systems for NES and SNES. (and disagreement with that position was banned by international law) and so we've all wondered if/when and what the next one will be. N64? Game Boy? Both?

But also, at the same time, the 3DS is reaching its final days. Not because its a bad system at all(it is not), it has simply run its course.

Nintendo decides to sing a swansong for their classic handheld lines. They give us, the "Nintendo Game Boy + DS Classic" A final revision to the DS and yes, to the Game Boy line of systems. A unit with all the bells and whistles. In form factor, its closest to the original DS. That is because it brings back that Game Boy port on the bottom. The system is totally region free, with a brand new OS and supports every game released for the Game Boy, GBA, Nintendo DS, 3DS and New 3DS lines, including the entire current eshop and VC on the current 3DS. With the only exceptions being the handful of special Game Boy and GBA games that can't be run upside down or needed to also plug into the link cable port (there were a few oddballs like that). This system would also be able to save the roms for any Game Boy and GBA title you have, to the micro SD card on the system, as a means of preserving them. It would also encrypt them and lock them to your Nintendo account (as an anti piracy measure that would probably take at least a few weeks for hackers to break)

At the same time, Nintendo releases the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance classic collections. NES Mini style collections of games on remade cartridges that you can actually also play on original hardware if you want. These would not be "savable" like classic cartridges however. (Because Nintendo wants you to buy them new, not borrow your friend's copy!)

Nintendo releases two versions. A standard version, that is a basic color (one of a selection of memorable colors from the GB, DS lines). This would be similar in build quality to current 3DS and 2DS units, plastic screens and body, etc. All perfectly acceptable, but unremarkable and affordable - probably 125-160 USD at launch.

The second version would be marketed as a premium version. This version would be a different set of "more popular" colors from the years, have higher build quality - glass top screen like modern smartphones and tablets, and come pre-packaged with both mini collections, and a larger SD card. This premium model, with the games packed in, would probably be at least 200USD at launch.

I know how unlikely any of this is. But man, forget day 1, I'd pre-order like 4 of these.

@ReaderRagfish Honestly minus the online support, link cable support, and replaceable buttons, I really could see Nintendo doing this. I was actually thinking about the support for the Super Game Boy enhancements and GB player backgrounds. But knowing Nintendo they'd vastly under-stock the device for months.

I mean, I don't think they will but I also don't think it is totally impossible. However I do imagine, 30 years from now, some 3rd party clone systems doing this and sucking.

On that note, there must be 101 thousand NES clones, but very few, if any, Game Boy, GBA clones out there. I wonder why...

@ReaderRagfish I mean, the number of Game Boy and GBA mods out there suggest there is a significant amount of interest. But like you said, there are only a few clones out there. But there are mountains of famiclones...

Even though I have my modded GBA and Everdrive coming in the mail, I'd be interested in a clone that builds the Everdrive right into the device and has a slot for the SD card built in, while also having the ability to back up game roms to the device.

Heavy, that gameboy of yours must by stopping at every tourist trap along the way. Let’s hope it has a few gb cameras.

@ReaderRagfish @Hobbitgamer Yeah... The estimated delivery date was between August 15 and September 17th... And I technically already have my Everdrive, but it's sitting at my parent's house in the States because the seller wouldn't ship overseas. lol

@ReaderRagfish I officially hate you. I have ordered my people to hire more people to eliminate your people and then tie you up and force you to watch as they delete all of your save games.

@ReaderRagfish That looks like a Newgrounds thing from 2005.

@ReaderRagfish There's a bit of nostalgia!