GameBooster

The GameBooster is a unique device that allows Nintendo 64 owners to play the Game Boy games they love on the big screen in their house. The GameBooster is not too dissimilar from the Super Game Boy, which allowed the play of Game Boy games on the Super Nintendo.  There are some good things, but mostly TERRIBLE things about this little piece of software conversion hardware… and there’s some weird stuff in there too, for good measure.

The GameBooster was designed by Datel Design & Development Ltd in the late ’90s. Some of you may remember Datel for the wonderful, albeit odd and ugly-packaged, Action Replay (which provided a considerable boost in the Sega Saturn’s abilities). This little odd piece of gaming action is, however, mostly a piece of shit… and when it’s compared to the abilities of the Action Replay, you can take the word “mostly” out of that last sentence and replace it with the word ENTIRELY. Because this GameBooster is entirely a piece of shit and should have been called LAMEBOOSTER instead. Actually, you don’t even need to compare it to the Action Replay. As a standalone unit, it reminds me of the internal anguish one feels when they watch Kids in the Sandbox for the first time…

First off, the cartridge barely fits into the N64 cartridge slot opening. Why would that happen? Why would they create it this way? WHY!? It just doesn’t make any sense. Why in the hell would they even release this monstrosity?  It’s like the developers said “Well, it almost fits. Fuck it. Just jam that bitch in there real hard and we’re gonna make a million dollars.” Anyway…

Second: You can’t just plug a Game Boy game into the cartridge and play a game (see picture above). You have to plug a Nintendo 64 game into the BACK of this pile of monkey dump.  Why? You might ask. Because the GamePooper is an unlicensed product, and Nintendo 64 developed lock-out chips required for all of their released games. This is a good thing, however, because this gives Nintendo control over what does and doesn’t hit the market. Too bad Datel is too smart for us. By inserting a Nintendo 64 game into the back of the GameRooster, they can bypass the lockout chip.  But wait, how come my GameTrouser doesn’t work when I put Diddy Kong Racing in it?!  That’s because only certain games that have a 6102 CIC chip work. Good job Datel.

Third: The Game Boy cartridge doesn’t feel very secure when inserted into the GameLoser. I mean, don’t worry. As for the GameBlooper… that bitch ain’t goin’ nowhere. It’s jammed up in your N64 slot tighter than a baby’s bottom (wait… is the term “smoother than a baby’s bottom”…? I can never remember). But as for the Game Boy cartridge, it feels loose and flimsy. Almost to the point where you’re afraid you’ll snap something if you try to push it in harder. This is one of a whole slew of major flaws to this device, but it’s far from the worst one yet.

Fourth: The stupidest thing about this entire floppy dong mound is there’s no sound available from your Game Boy game. Yup. That’s right. You just bought this thing so you can play Heiankyo Alien on your big TV, but instead of the fun cutesy music, you’re left with this despicable atrocity known as “fuck you we don’t care music“… It’s really embarrassing.  It sounds like your Nintendo 64 just caught a stomach virus and took a massive buttpiss dump right into your earholes.  Datel, you just successfully converted the Game Boy game to the big screen via the Nintendo 64 yet you geniuses can’t get the sound to carry over? And to make it worse, you force THIS on me?! It’s better on mute, so get your thumb ready on the remote.

Click below to hear this monstrosity of shitsound from Datel. Fast forward to 14 seconds.

Fifth: This unlicensed Game Boy converter only plays licensed Game Boy games. How ironic. It won’t play Game Boy Color games either.

Now that we know the awful parts about the GamePlooper, what’s good about it?

The GameFluster has it’s OWN built-in game called Rebound Mission. This game is by no means legendary, but it is a simple little game that actually would have been kinda fun on the Game Boy. It reminds me of a version of brickout or pong. It’s fun but very short-lived.

Included in the cartridge are some Action Replay cheat codes, the ability to input your own cheat codes, a trainer menu, and some color modification menus.  With a simple color palette modding screen, you can actually change your black and white game images into shades of blue, green, red, yellow, etc.  It’s pretty neat but doesn’t really make the experience any better.  There are some decent borders for the games, like the cool borders from the Super Game Boy.

Overall, NONE of the good things about the GameDuper can outdo the absolute horrid design flaws and bad decisions that Datel made. I feel like a freegin’ idiot for buying this thing. Just stupid. I got duped so hard. So that’s why I’m here. Trying to make sure you don’t fall into the same trap that I did. Stay far away from this piece of junk. It WILL give you herpes and HIV.

Reviewed and Hated by NerdBerry

Written by Nerdberry

What’s up yall? David “Nerdberry” here! I am the founder of Nerd Bacon and the current co-owner (and CEO) along with partner David “theWatchman!” I hail from North Carolina, hence my love for all things pork! Oh, you’re not familiar with NC? Well I’m not 100% sure, but I am pretty confident that NC and VA lead the nation in pork production. I could be wrong, but even if I am, I still love bacon!

Come enjoy some bacon and games with us yall.