Game Bub
Hardware
fpga retro handheld
SHOW HN2025
274points
62comments
#205of 3,837 in 2025
Top 6%of 2025 by points
How HN took it
LovedMost comments that take a side are positive
13 positive, 14 neutral or asking, 0 mixed, 2 critical, out of 29 comments about the project. Thread score +0.42.
Idea: 6 for, 2 againstDesign: 3 for, 0 againstDocs: 2 for, 0 againstExecution: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Thorough writeup and design
From 3 comments
This is really cool, thanks for the writeup. Love how thorough you were, one of my first thoughts was whether you could hook it up to a gamecube and it was already done in the…
kbrackbill on HNVery cool project, and a fantastic write-up! The timelapse videos of the PCB layouts are particularly brilliant.
cibyr on HNWhat a great writeup. I am always interested in these specifics of current design decisions even if I am so not into gaming handhelds. But the questions around display,…
hoc on HN
Real cartridge support is a unique advantage
From 2 comments
You have not only created an open source Analogue Pocket, which is amazing, but you’ve also perfectly voiced the problems I have with the MiSTer project: that as cool as FPGA…
tourmalinetaco on HNThis main distinguishing feature of this project is that it supports physical cartridges, whereas MiSTer and almost every other emulation handheld doesn’t. The FPGA cores here…
elipsitz on HN
Objections
Questions why retro handhelds are needed
From 2 comments
How many retro emulation handheld do we really need? Are there people out there seriously playing retro games for many hours at a time?
ThrowawayTestr on HNWhy only GB/GBA? Mister FPGA support lot's of cores which can use the same Screen and controls: NES, SNES, various Sega consoles, C64, MSX etc. And any cheap Chinese…
ConanRus on HN
Possible Nintendo legal risk
From 1 comment
If Nintendo wouldn't sue you for selling these, I'd say shut up and take my money. I do wonder if they'll definitely try to sue? Its really a shame, I never thought I'd see a…
giancarlostoro on HN
Requests
Support for Game Gear or SNES
From 2 comments
Can you do one for Game Gear?
nubinetwork on HNIf Nintendo wouldn't sue you for selling these, I'd say shut up and take my money. I do wonder if they'll definitely try to sue? Its really a shame, I never thought I'd see a…
giancarlostoro on HN
Legacy Bluetooth controller support
From 1 comment
What is the total cost for a pcb populated with components? Probably around 60-70 qty 100? I appreciate the blog post and the writeup, it might be nice to include it in the repo.…
sitkack on HN
Questions
Why FPGA rather than software emulation latency
From 2 comments
I have an Analogue Pocket, which works really well, but the fact that it uses an FPGA is essentially meaningless to me. Is there really any significant difference compared to…
LeoPanthera on HNAm I correct in thinking that FPGAs have an advantage over software emulators when it comes to latency? In particular the latency from the host operating system before input has…
pipes on HN
Why portrait layout instead of landscape
From 1 comment
This is fantastic! Perhaps I missed it but do you go over why you chose a portrait layout as opposed to a GBA-style landscape layout? With the existing equivalents in the FPGA…
Yossarrian22 on HN
Alternatives named
Analogue Pocket
From 2 comments
I have an Analogue Pocket, which works really well, but the fact that it uses an FPGA is essentially meaningless to me. Is there really any significant difference compared to…
LeoPanthera on HNYou have not only created an open source Analogue Pocket, which is amazing, but you’ve also perfectly voiced the problems I have with the MiSTer project: that as cool as FPGA…
tourmalinetaco on HN
MiSTer FPGA
From 2 comments
Why only GB/GBA? Mister FPGA support lot's of cores which can use the same Screen and controls: NES, SNES, various Sega consoles, C64, MSX etc. And any cheap Chinese…
ConanRus on HNAs I understand it this has already been done for several systems. The first time I saw such a device it was one of those bootleg "100 Games In A Joystick" things that Ben Heck…
alexjplant on HN
FPGBC
From 1 comment
Great, an open (and better!) alternative to FPGBC, which FPGA is locked to encrypted and signed configurations. There's also the Chromatic, but that one is not made to be cost…
snvzz on HN
Analogue Super Nt
From 1 comment
You're literally describing a product and a company that already exists (Analogue Super Nt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nt)
evanwalsh on HN