Gamebuino META Could Be the Hacker Console We’ve Been Looking For

A little over a year ago, the PocketCHIP by Next Thing Co. was announced, and it created a lot of excitement within the hacker community. The idea was to create a handheld game console and computer that was hacker-friendly, at an affordable price. Unfortunately, supply problems have meant that eager hackers can’t actually get one (I, myself, have been waiting months).

Luckily, there will soon be an alternative that looks even better: the Gamebuino META. This attractive little handheld resembles a Game Boy Micro, and that’s almost certainly intentional—the META is, first and foremost, designed to play games. The D-pad and buttons are all high quality components that are purpose built for great tactile gaming feel.

But, the META isn’t just a game console, it’s also an Arduino-based hacking tool. Standard Arduino-compatible shields can be attached to the META, making it ideal for all of the various projects you’d normally use an Arduino for. While actual technical details are light, it uses a color display and can accept SD cards for storage expansion.

Software details are, oddly, also missing. There is no word on what kind of OS is actually running on the META, but the teaser video promises that you can expect to quickly switch between games. Gamebuino is also making programming new games a priority, and plans to launch free courses to teach even beginners how to get started coding.

The Gamebuino META is in the crowdfunding stage on Kickstarter, and still has far to go before it reaches its goal. The campaign lasts until December 23rd, and early birds can snag a META for about $93. Units are expected to start shipping in December.