Inspiration & Concept
Interest in retro gaming is at an all-time high, with Pokémon Emerald, my childhood favorite, turning 20 years old, the boom in custom handheld consoles from the likes of Ambernic, and Apple’s new relaxed App Store regulations due to anti-monopoly measures, the space is moving quickly.
Eager to get back into my childhood classics, I acquired an Ambernic RG35XX handheld emulator towards the end of 2023. After installing the MinUI operating system, my Ambernic device became the go-to for retro gaming on-the-go.
The recent news surrounding Apple’s anti-monopoly adjustments resulted in Delta, a retro gaming emulator, rocketing to the number one spot overnight in the US. Delta’s ability to emulate classic console games such as NES, N64, and Game Boy highlighted the growing demand for nostalgia-driven gaming experiences. I wanted to delve into what my own retro gaming experience could look like. Meet emeraldOS.
Vision
Driven purely by personal nostalgia and a love for Pokémon Emerald, I embarked on a journey to develop my own retro handheld console operating system, emeraldOS. The project aimed to encapsulate the essence of classic gaming while infusing modern usability.
Early Design Iteration
Drawing inspiration from MinUI, modern design trends used by the likes of linear.app, and retro aesthetics. I quickly crafted an initial home screen prototype for emeraldOS.
From here I was able to solidify the design direction, I created a brand sheet, taking key elements from the home screen prototypes to maintain consistency across all UI elements.
Feature Planning
Prioritising the Gameboy format, like the early prototype, I envisioned a user-friendly interface with Netflix-style carousels for game browsing. The home screen displaying categories such as “all”, “recently played” and “favourites” were scoped for inclusion, with potential for further refinement through console type filters and custom user tags.
As part of my project goals, I wanted to develop a game statistics screen, providing insights into each game played. Given the vintage nature of these games, the statistics were limited to basic metrics such as date downloaded, release date, and hours played. Reflecting on my time with Pokémon Emerald, a game that took up a big chunk of my childhood, I’d love to know now how much time I spent playing it. That's why this was a must have feature for my project.
A Touch of Personality
Infusing personality into the UI was important to me. Drawing from fond memories of the Gameboy Advance start-up sound, I planned a loading animation for emeraldOS, attempting to mirror that nostalgic feel upon launch. Additionally, personalised phrases cycling in the top-left navigation area aimed to enhance user engagement.
UI Development
UI elements were crafted with a singular focus: to provide users with a engaging and consistent experience. Whether it was navigating loading screens or interacting with gameplay interfaces, the design prioritised familiarity and ease of use.
The project was driven by the goal of getting users into their games quickly just like the classic Gameboys, minimising barriers between them and their gaming experiences. By presenting their game libraries in a familiar carousel-driven format, the interface aimed to allow users to manage their collections easily. The design aimed to create a space where users could easily immerse themselves in their favourite games, reliving those childhood memories with just a few button presses.
Landing Page Concept
Complementing the OS, a landing page prototype was created, mixing modern design visuals with nostalgic elements and the signature emerald green colour scheme.
Conclusion
emeraldOS started as a passion project inspired by the boom in retro gaming. The project let me get creative with modern UI design elements applied to retro style handheld consoles. Projects like these are always great as they allow you to tap into some nostalgic childhood memories while being able to flex some design muscles.
Credits
Thank you to JadeLune on deviant art for their great high-resolution recreations of the classic Pokémon box art designs used in this project.
Note: This project is a personal UI/UX design exploration and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with The Pokémon Company. All rights to the Pokémon brand, artwork, and imagery belong to The Pokémon Company. This work is intended for personal portfolio purposes only.
