GBA tunes up to compete with GT4 Mobile

There’s no denying that GT4 Mobile for the PSP will be the most in-depth handheld racing game ever produced. If the comparatively backward GBA was to attempt such an ambitious project, it would inevitably be a bit rough around the edges. However, the GBA’s role in the eyes of petrol-guzzling grease monkeys may be about to elevate itself.

American automotive performance company Turbo XS has conjured up an entirely new use for the popular Nintendo handheld - the GBA car-tuning tool! The basic version of this peripheral, the DTEC, is described as “a revolutionary new product that turns your Nintendo GBA into a programmable, upgradeable, automotive performance tool for tuning, data-logging and diagnostics.” Presently displaying boost pressure, RPM and temperature settings, Turbo XS later intends on adding G-Force and knock-warnings to the list of measurements.

Considering that a laptop is usually used for such intelligent tinkering, this development is pretty impressive. Whether or not the DTEC actually helps cars go faster is another matter though. The gizmo is due for release at the end of the month, so we’ll be able to find out then.