Nephew of ZX Spectrum Creator Unveils Gift-Card Sized Raspberry Pi Gaming Console, GamerCard, Featuring 4-Inch IPS Screen with Preloaded Arcade Games

Wow, so let’s dive into this whole retro gaming comeback thing. It’s like we’re living in a time warp, but instead of DeLoreans, we’ve got these slick handheld devices buzzing around. Seriously, it’s nuts. Reminds me of my uncle who still swears by vinyl. Anyway, where was I? Right—there’s this new gadget from Grant Sinclair, yes, the nephew of that ZX Spectrum legend. Talk about keeping it in the family. What, is it some retro royalty or something?

So, picture this: a gaming device the size of a gift card. Yes, you heard that right. It’s called the GamerCard®. I mean, who wouldn’t want to whip out a gaming system like it’s a Starbucks gift card? Pure genius or pure insanity? You decide. The thing’s built on a Raspberry Pi, has a 4″ screen—sharp-looking too. Buttons? Check. Pre-installed arcade gems? Double check. Got a few pals who’d love this for coffee breaks.

Oh, and the Sinclair touch isn’t lost here. If you squint hard enough, you might see his uncle Clive’s shadow. But I digress. The thing boots up with a custom launcher — all big icons, like it’s shouting, “Let’s play!” Supports a whole bunch of emulators, too. I can’t even keep up with them all—Recalbox, RetroPie, you name it. Plus, if you’re into coding, it speaks a bunch of languages. Though who codes on a game card? Brainiacs, I guess.

But get this, they’ve got games from other consoles to work on this little wonder. Games like Bloo Kid 2 and AstroBlaze DX—mind you, those were once cozy on the Nintendo Switch. Feels like a crossover episode of my gaming life. Bloo Kid’s all hop-and-bop while AstroBlaze shoots for the stars. Literally and figuratively.

The build is something else, though. Can you imagine? Only 6.5 mm thick! It’s like holding a whisper. But don’t let that fool you, it’s more tech-savvy than folks who still program microwaves. And guess what? Hook up a keyboard and mouse with ports they’ve jammed on there, and ta-da—you’ve got a mini-PC. Stacking PCBs instead of using a bulky case—it’s either brilliance or madness.

Okay, I’m going off-track here but hang in. So they’re selling this pocket powerhouse at £125—or for us on this side of the pond, around $170. Makes the purse strings a bit tight, especially compared to other handhelds that do the same tricks or better. Sometimes, it feels like paying for flair over functionality.

To be brutally honest, unless you’ve got a thing for all things retro—or gift card aesthetics—this might be a pricey nostalgia trip. But hey, if you’re into quirky tech, this little gadget sure knows how to turn heads. Creativity’s a charm, after all.