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View Full Version : Old-school game cartridges are coming to your smartphone



wraggster
September 21st, 2015, 21:00
http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/10247303495de6ffec524b97d66e9ee3/202674653/beatrobo-pico-cassette.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/21/beatrobo-game-cartridges-for-smartphones/)
There have been many attempts at bringing classic gaming (http://www.engadget.com/2015/08/19/final-fantasy-vii-lands-on-ios-with-built-in-cheat-codes/) to smartphones, but they all lack the most visceral part of the experience: the satisfying ka-chunk of plugging a cartridge (http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/31/legend-of-zelda-prototype-cartridge-hits-the-auction-block/) into your console. You might get that vibe back if Japanese startup Beatrobo has its way. It's launching the Pico Cassette (https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fpicocassette.com%2F&edit-text=), a game cartridge that you plug into your phone's headphone jack. Unlike the vintage carts of yore, though, these don't actually hold games -- instead, they transmit an inaudible tone that unlocks content you've downloaded. No, it's not just a nostalgic approach to anti-piracy measures. The technology also enables saved games that sync across multiple devices, so the cartridge will feel more like your unique copy than a mere dongle.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/21/beatrobo-game-cartridges-for-smartphones/