Sure – this might not be the “Game Boy Mini” news we might have wanted, but this thing is seriously cool. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced the Pokémon Red & Pokémon Blue Game Music Collection: Game Boy Jukebox (long name!) during the recent Pokémon Presents showcase, and it’s a really cool, if classically gimmicky, little device. Also, it’s out right now!
This roughly 1/3 scale Game Boy faithfully reproduces the design of the original handheld console does take cartridges, but it doesn’t play games. Instead, it plays music! Included in the box are a whopping 45 tiny faux Game Boy cartridges that each contains a piece of music from the Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue games.
As silly a concept as it seems, there’s a lot to love about the tactility and design here. I’m especially fond of the way each individual song cartridge has a screenshot printed on the reverse side of the moment in the game that its music stems from, so when it’s inserted into the mini Game Boy it gives the effect of that part of the game being played on-screen. It’s also just really neat to see these forgotten rituals return of popping in a Game Boy cartridge to play a game or inserting something tangible into a music player just to hear one song. Who said physical media was dead?
You can see the Pokémon Red & Pokémon Blue Game Music Collection: Game Boy Jukebox in action in the announcement video below:
But where do I get my hands on one of these beautiful little devices, Kieron? I hear you ask. Well, here are the links you need to secure one for delivery right away, across as many regions as I could cover:
Where to buy the Pokémon Red & Pokémon Blue Game Music Collection: Game Boy Jukebox
You can order the Game Boy Jukebox right now from the below links:
- USA – Pokémon Center Online Store – USD$69.99
- Canada – Pokémon Center Online Store – CAD$94.99
- ANZ – My Nintendo Store – AUD$109.95
- UK – Pokémon Center Online Store – £59.99
- Japan – Pokémon Center Online Store – ¥9,900
UPDATE: This has already sold out in the US, Canada and UK! Japan’s sales are through a lottery system that’s still ongoing, and Australian fans are still able to order locally.
What do you think of the Pokémon Red and Blue Game Boy Jukebox? Is this something worth adding to your collection?