When it comes to technology, the gaming industry tends towards looking forward. Old consoles still hold a special place in our hearts but it is easy to fall for the lure of newer hardware. In a few years, beloved systems such as the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One will be obsolete as both developers and users move on to the next-generation counterparts. This is the life cycle for a videogame platform.Dana Puch is an indie developer who doesn't want the past to fade. Greenboy Games is a one-person studio that focuses exclusively on Game Boy games. These games are not just inspired by Nintendo's classic handheld. They are also released only as working Game Boy cartridges. Greenboy offers ROMs only to those who purchase the physical games. This is how serious Puch really is.Puch spoke to me about his commitment to the Game Boy, and a new game called The Shapeshifter. Puch's love for the handheld and desire to slow down in a fast-paced environment all go into it.Limiting creativity is a way to foster creativityPuch started developing video games back in 2012. Puch began his career by developing PC games and browser-based projects. He then started to experiment with mobile gaming. He was not satisfied with his work and turned to the platform that had been a major part of his childhood: Nintendo's original Game Boy. It was first released in 1989.Puch tells Digital Trends that many of us were born in 1980s and the Game Boy launch was something we felt with intense emotion. As a child, I had always longed to create a game for the Game Boy, but it was impossible for many reasons. It was much easier to develop for this console with the dev kits, particularly the GBDK. I tried it and fell in love.Puch was inspired to develop Game Boy games in 2017, thanks to this experience. Puch's first projects were more of micro-experiments than anything. Leo Legend was released in 2018. It is a soccer game where players simply kick a ball into the net or make saves as goalies. Submarine 9 was his next title. Players would tap the buttons to stop incoming torpedoes.They were not the most advanced titles, but they looked great. All of them feature faithful pixel art, and the same green hue as original Game Boy games. Puch finds inspiration in the limitations of the Game Boy, despite the fact that it is a basic device.It is often compared to OULIPO creativity through restriction from the 1960s, says Puch. With some limitations, creativity is required. You must be creative when working with Game Boy games. They have a 32kB to 1MB maximum size, 160144 pixels resolution, and 4 colors. There are 40 objects per screen. Limitations for objects per line.Puch is a champion of the challenge and is always striving to improve. His most ambitious game to date, The Shapeshifter is his latest. The Shapeshifter is a full-on adventure game where players can transform into various animals to solve environmental problems. Kickstarter successfully crowdfunded the game, achieving enough stretch goals for additional levels.Puch has three more games under development, including a sequel of The Shapeshifter. He won't be leaving the game industry soon. Puch doesn't think he would consider switching to the NES when he is asked if he would.This is not what I love the most. Puch says that I will continue to develop for Game Boy.Be true to the pastGreenboy Games' commitment to physical Game Boy experiences is what is most striking about it. Greenboys games are faithful replicas of classic Game Boy games. The games come in a square box that replaces Game Boy with Greenboy. It also includes a manual and a working cartridge. Puch, like many retro homebrewers, uses publishers such as Mega Cat Studios and Incube8 Games, which are known for their niche physical releases.Although it is a significant effort to create a niche project for passion, it also has deeper meaning for Puch than simple nostalgia.Puch says that it is a way to preserve the essence of the videogame era. My goal was to preserve the Game Boy console and cartridge games.Puch believes it is important that gamers remember the physical experiences that have brought them to where they are today. It's about taking the time to slow down in a industry that feels like it moves a mile per second. It is a rare moment in time when we can sit down and reflect on our gaming roots rather than always looking ahead to the next big thing.Everything happens in a very short time span, Puch says. All things appear and disappear surprisingly quickly. Trends, fashions, games, etc. There is still a lot to be done with retro machines. They should teach the future generations how to feel and touch the original video game systems.Greenboy Games is slow. We don't want to grow fast, run fast or expand fast. We prefer to slow down and enjoy every step.Editors' Recommendations
