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GB Operator excites the collector in me, giving you a small device to plug into your PC or Steam Deck, allowing you to play real Game Boy cartridges.

Costing $49.99 (plus shipping), it gives you a device that supports cartridges for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color and the Game Boy Advance. Along with their cross-platform Operator application, with a tightly integrated version of the mGBA emulator so you get plenty of features.

Honestly, I hadn't heard of this until it started appearing in my Twitter feed. The developers of the device mentioned:

It’s official - enjoy your childhood cartridges, now on SteamDeck! Today we validated at the office that GB Operator and the Operator app are fully compatible with Steam OS and run impeccably on SteamDeck. This makes the experience fun and portable, we're happy to support it 💪🏻

Picture Credit - Epilogue.

It's been around for some time too, so it hasn't just suddenly appeared and a lot of people seem to quite like it.

I have one ordered and on the way so I can see what all the fuss is about. Seems like collecting Game Boy cartridges is going to turn into something I end up doing now…

The creators are also currently working on a SNES version.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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21 comments
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Kelvinhbo Oct 16, 2022
The Gabe Boy?
StalePopcorn Oct 16, 2022
Excuse the language—that's fking awesome!
pete910 Oct 16, 2022
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This ain't going to make Nintendo happy, especially now the Deck is rather popular
d0od Oct 16, 2022
Oh yes, this is AWESOME.
emphy Oct 16, 2022
Then you may also be interested in the Retrode 2, a snes and genesis cartridge dumper with plugins for gbx, sms, and n64. It also allows one to connect the classic controllers of the respective consoles.

It's available irregularly at several online retro-game shops.
pb Oct 16, 2022
> Picture Credit - Epilogue.

Hm, so this was basically a product placement? https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/y2va0r/steamdeck_just_arrived_today_couldnt_resist/
Liam Dawe Oct 16, 2022
> Picture Credit - Epilogue.

Hm, so this was basically a product placement? https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/y2va0r/steamdeck_just_arrived_today_couldnt_resist/
Looks like they were pretty clear in the comments on that post that they work for the company. They could have mentioned it in the title but a small company with an excited employee i guess.
slaapliedje Oct 16, 2022
I would love something like this for the Switch. I would much rather play the Switch games on the Deck...
Viesta2015 Oct 16, 2022
THE GABE BOY... IS REAAAAAL!
ElectricPrism Oct 16, 2022
Throw on some velcro for a back mount and you're set.

I could see these manufactures making various cartridge "JetPacks" for the Deck. A lot of people would buy these.
Philadelphus Oct 16, 2022
I would love something like this for the Switch. I would much rather play the Switch games on the Deck...
Doesn't the Switch used microSD cards? (I don't have one.) Just need an emulator on the Deck that can detect when one's been plugged in if that's the case…
Pengling Oct 16, 2022
Then you may also be interested in the Retrode 2, a snes and genesis cartridge dumper with plugins for gbx, sms, and n64. It also allows one to connect the classic controllers of the respective consoles.

It's available irregularly at several online retro-game shops.
I dropped in here to post exactly that. I got mine way back when they first became available - neat little piece of kit!

Doesn't the Switch used microSD cards? (I don't have one.) Just need an emulator on the Deck that can detect when one's been plugged in if that's the case…
For digital releases yes (and the card specifically has to be formatted on the individual Switch console it will be used with), but generally no, it uses its own cartridge format.

I no longer have a Switch, but have a couple of games still hanging around because local stores won't accept imports due to them not carrying the nationally-accepted age-ratings, so here's a picture;




Last edited by Pengling on 16 October 2022 at 11:02 pm UTC
slaapliedje Oct 16, 2022
Then you may also be interested in the Retrode 2, a snes and genesis cartridge dumper with plugins for gbx, sms, and n64. It also allows one to connect the classic controllers of the respective consoles.

It's available irregularly at several online retro-game shops.
I dropped in here to post exactly that. I got mine way back when they first became available - neat little piece of kit!

Doesn't the Switch used microSD cards? (I don't have one.) Just need an emulator on the Deck that can detect when one's been plugged in if that's the case…
For digital releases yes (and the card specifically has to be formatted on the individual Switch console it will be used with), but generally no, it uses its own cartridge format.

I no longer have a Switch, but have a couple of games still hanging around because local stores won't accept imports due to them not carrying the nationally-accepted age-ratings, so here's a picture;

The real annoyance as that for some, it really seems like they did the same thing as Postal III did, basically shipping with physical media, that then gets replaced by digital, so you still end up having to download the whole thing. Not all did this, but some do.

Still haven't spent the time to figure out how to dump a game and play it on an emulator... haven't fired up my switch in ages.
elmapul Oct 17, 2022
the only downside seems to be this cable floating arround, someone need to invent an way to wrap arround the deck nicely.
someone with an 3D printer for example
StoneColdSpider Oct 17, 2022
I no longer have a Switch, but have a couple of games still hanging around because local stores won't accept imports due to them not carrying the nationally-accepted age-ratings, so here's a picture;

Did you try and eat a Switch cartridge to see if they tasted bad???
Pengling Oct 17, 2022
Did you try and eat a Switch cartridge to see if they tasted bad???
I can confirm that Switch cartridges do indeed taste of what I assume to be Bitrex.
Philadelphus Oct 17, 2022
For digital releases yes (and the card specifically has to be formatted on the individual Switch console it will be used with), but generally no, it uses its own cartridge format.

I no longer have a Switch, but have a couple of games still hanging around because local stores won't accept imports due to them not carrying the nationally-accepted age-ratings, so here's a picture;

Oh, OK. Maybe I was mixing up the cartridge with full-size SD cards. Thanks.
Ardje Oct 17, 2022
All it needs is a 3d printed case to attach it to the deck so it is like inserting a cartridge into your deck.
Lachu Oct 17, 2022
Connect this cartridge connector with dock, please.
MexicanDandy Oct 17, 2022
This is great for video game preservation but also is sad that the responsibility goes to the gamers and not the company owner of the original hardware and software.
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