From the release of the DMG-01 in 1989 until the final Micro variant hit store shelves in 2005, the Nintendo game kid line represented the epitome of handheld gaming for hundreds of millions of players. but that’s not to say there weren’t a large variety of other handheld systems that aimed to chip away at the Japanese gaming giant’s monopoly. SEGA and Sony released state-of-the-art systems that brought excellent technical innovations, while Tiger electronics famously took the opposite technique with ultra-cheap handhelds that leveraged simplistic games based on popular children’s franchises.
[Chris Downing] had to make make with these budget Tiger games as a child, and now as an adult, he’s figured out to made things ideal with the Tiger kid Advance. As the name implies, this retro hybrid combines the look and feel of a branded Tiger game with the power and software compatibility of a legit Nintendo game kid development (GBA) circa 2001. It even sprinkles in some modern niceties, like USB-C charging and a backlit display. While a lot of of its charm is probably lost on any individual who didn’t grow up within a fairly narrow range of years, the video below seems to verify that even modern kids can appreciate this one-of-a-kind creation.
From an electronics standpoint, the system is essentially just a gutted GBA crammed into a 3D printed approximation of an old Tiger game from around the mid 1990s. but what makes this project special is the nostalgia-fueled attention to detail that [Chris] brings to the table.
Take for example the custom-made manufactured faceplate that combines artwork from some of the era’s best known games. getting the image printed on the back of the CNC-cut piece of clear acrylic verified to be quite a challenge, but the final result looks exceptionally professional. instead of using the GBA’s stock buttons and directional pad, [Chris] made a decision to 3D print replacements that simulate the look of the original Tiger controls. it all culminates in a device that perfectly recreates the special look of the original Tiger games.
Some will argue that he’d have done better to equip the system with a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 and the current build of RetroPie, and frankly, it’s easy to see the appeal of going that route. but [Chris] didn’t make this for us, he built it to encapsulate a very certain time from his own childhood. We’re just thankful that the technology now available to the individual maker allowed him to turn this particular dream into reality.