The Japanese company is planning an official emulator

Nov 28, 2014 19:58 GMT  ·  By

Japanese game gear maker Nintendo has just filed an invention with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to devise an official “software emulator” to put Game Boy titles on iOS platforms.

It’s not uncommon for tech companies to file these patents, and most of them really never see the light of day, but this one just might. If the demand for a Game Boy emulator is any indication, everyone stands to win: Nintendo, Apple, and most of all, the customer. This finding comes via NeoGAF.

“High quality graphics”

Games like Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath are the perfect example of what old games can become on iOS. Do a little retouching here and there and you get an all-new experience that’s sure to impress millions of newcomers. Nintendo is most likely aiming to do the same thing with its official Game Boy emulator. The only problem is that it’s currently just a patent application. And it’s yet to be approved.

The “abstract” of an invention (reproduced below) usually acts as a good descriptor of things to come, should the invention pass through and make it into an actual application, be it hardware or software.

“A software emulator for emulating a handheld video game platform such as GAME BOY.RTM., GAME BOY COLOR.RTM. and/or GAME BOY ADVANCE.RTM. on a low-capability target platform (e.g., a seat-back display for airline or train use, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone) uses a number of features and optimizations to provide high quality graphics and sound that nearly duplicates the game playing experience on the native platform. Some exemplary features include use of bit BLITing, graphics character reformatting, modeling of a native platform liquid crystal display controller using a sequential state machine, and selective skipping of frame display updates if the game play falls behind what would occur on the native platform.”

Game Boy app store

Should the emulator come to fruition, Nintendo could easily develop an “app store” of sorts where avid fans of 8-bit gaming would download iconic classics like Mario, Metroid, and Legend of Zelda either individually or as a bulk via in-app purchase.

iOS supports third-party game controllers, which is a good thing when you consider some of the old ‘90s titles that involve button mashing. Nevertheless, many iOS gamers have no problem using on-screen touch controls.

In the case of the low-resolution Game Boy titles, the action doesn’t necessarily need to go full screen. But if the “high quality graphics” claim is to be considered, Nintendo might be aiming for a brilliant visual experience.

Any '80s kid owning an iPhone will already have said "yes" to this proposal. How about those of you born in the '90s? Who here has experienced the birth of portable gaming, and how would you like to relive all those memories, polished up and enhanced for today's hardware? Sound off in the comments.

Game Boy Gallery (5 Images)

1989 Game Boy
Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy Pocket
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