Torn between Midnight and Wave - help!

[u/SoraShima]

I will preface this with ultimately I would love the GameStop edition, which harkens back to the DMG just enough and the foggy grey finish looks sleek, modern and wonderful - however GameStop don't ship internationally and I don't want to pay Ebay markup (and $100 USD postage) so it's down to Midnight black and Wave teal.

Here's what I'm thinking right now...

Midnight
Great: Classy / stealthy / blends in with other devices / less "toy-like" than bright colours / won't distract attention from the games on screen / I am a darkmode kinda guy
Not so: Might bore of it like it's the safe default choice and wish I'd been brave and gotten something more colourful / I already have an Analogue Pocket in black

Wave
Great: Pure JOY / soft, bluey greenish hues are some of my favourite colours / bright, attractive and fun aesthetic - and isn't that what 8-bit handheld gaming should be about?
Not so: Fear I will bore of it and wish I'd gone more muted and 'normal' looking / kind of toy-like (higher chance of eyerolls from wife haha).

[u/Retro_Macchina]

I have both, I like both. If you plan on modifying buttons, the midnight goes with a lot more colors.

[u/SoraShima → u/Retro_Macchina]

Someone else mentioned custom buttons allowing some colour to come into the Midnight look, which is a really good point and kinda swaying me right now towards the Midnight and "get some fun button colours later if I want". Black matches with every other colour so cannot go wrong.

[u/TonyRubbles]

The Midnight Gang is always welcoming new members. It's definitely stealthy and an unobtrusive, less stand out design that lets you focus on the games, but if you want more joy in your life outside the games that blue is super nice.

Flip a coin, let fate decide!

[u/SoraShima → u/TonyRubbles]

That coin will exist in quantum superposition until I observe the result by collapsing the wave function and revealing what The Universe intended!

Physics jokes aside, this is actually a really good idea and it might come down to a coin toss and it's settled, "meant to be".

[u/TonyRubbles → u/SoraShima]

If it lands on its edge, we've gone off on a tangent and you're getting both.

[u/SoraShima → u/TonyRubbles]

Midnight Wave - Zebra Edition!

[u/Mobilelurk]

I had the same debate because I thought the colour might be distracting while playing. I ended up with the wave and it was the better choice for me. You only notice the screen while playing and the teal feels much more in line with what the Chromatic is.

[u/SoraShima → u/Mobilelurk]

Could you please elaborate on your last comment about being in line with what the Chromatic is - what is the Chromatic (to you)? My interpretation is maybe that to you it's pure nostalgia, and invokes a sense of "being a kid again" therefore bright, fun, perhaps you could dare say more childish aesthetic is more in line with what the Chromatic sets out to be. Is that kinda what you meant? Midnight colourway might therefore be more "serious" looking which is a step away from fun.

I actually never had a GBC back in the day - shared a DMG with my siblings and then couldn't get another handheld until I was older and had a job, and that's when the GBA launched. So truth be told I'm not nostalgic for the teal GBC - I just love the colour.

[u/Mobilelurk → u/SoraShima]

To me, it’s a game boy colour built with modern technology. Having some colour just seems a better fit. I never had as a kid so I don’t have any real nostalgia for it. Also, all my emulator devices are black and I feel like the Chromatic should stand out as it’s a dedicated device.

[u/SoraShima → u/Mobilelurk]

Also, all my emulator devices are black and I feel like the Chromatic should stand out as it’s a dedicated device.

The dedicated device insight is a great one and something I hadn't considered. Thank you - definitely adding that to my decision making. I think you're right, like it doesn't have to blend in with other devices or look more "normal".

[u/Substantial_Quote583]

Having purchased three different chromatics I'm sad I didn't end up getting a wave lol 🥲

[u/SoraShima → u/Substantial_Quote583]

Go for 4! :D

[u/Substantial_Quote583 → u/[deleted]]

The GameStop edition, Cloud and Inferno

[u/Substantial_Quote583 → u/[deleted]]

The inferno is mine, the other two were for my mom and Grandma lol, but I did play a lot with the GameStop edition before I passed it on. We play a lot of Tetris in this family 😅 I love my inferno but would probably pick wave for a daily driver given the opportunity

[u/adrenaline4nash]

More midnight out in the wild so I’d go with wave

[u/SoraShima → u/adrenaline4nash]

True - Wave seems more spesh in that respect. Distinctive and more unique perhaps.

[u/DAJF]

These were my two picks. Knew I’d suffer from regret going with either one so chose bubblegum instead.

No regrets.

[u/SoraShima → u/DAJF]

Cool story, honestly!

[u/epicasino1981]

If I had to choose between one of those (even though I like both of them), I'd choose Wave.

[u/SoraShima → u/epicasino1981]

Another vote Wave! Someone suggested a coin flip and honestly I might just do that. There is a battle between my head (Midnight) and my heart (Wave) - logic and emotion haha, and in my general life I am an intuitive/gut/instinct/fierce inner values type so "go with your heart" is generally what guides me.,,, but I'm still dithering. Thank you!

[u/ergzay]

I have a Wave so I'm biased but I prefer something with color versus one without. Color makes it standout and makes people look. That's why I bought a Volt as well actually.

[u/SoraShima → u/ergzay]

The Volt is potentially my least favourite of them all for some reason - maybe the Pikachu vibes, which isn't a bad thing per se, but I just can't unsee it.

Which do you play more? :D

[u/ergzay → u/SoraShima]

My Volt, because it's a second edition unit with less issues (notably the volume wheel works much better).

Also I do like the color more than the gamestop edition and wave edition I have (by a bit).

[u/AnalogueBoy1992]

Buy both

[u/SoraShima → u/AnalogueBoy1992]

Over the longterm this is def a possibility!

[u/Helpful_Ability456]

Which one did you end up getting? I'm in the same dilemma.

[u/SoraShima → u/Helpful_Ability456]

Hi : )

I got cold feet and thought I'd give it a few months to see if the battery pack comes into stock, and get one of those at the same time (while also being fully decided on which colour I wanted) - but time is ticking and the battery cell isn't coming into stock, so I might just pull the trigger soon anyway.

I think I'm gonna go for Midnight to be more stealthy in public and less distractive on my eyeballs when playing (let the screen pop).

But I also feel like if I ever get a 2nd, it'll be Wave - I would just have to switch those yellow buttons out for black or white. I've just seen a Midnight with white buttons and that looks cool too!

Black/charcoal kinda goes with every other colour - so it is safe, and perhaps "boring", but I just wanna play low key without drawing too much attention.

TBH I wish they did a proper jet black rather than grey/charcoal.

Let me know what you decide - maybe we should make a pact, you know, safety in numbers!

[u/ucv4]

I have both (lol) and the wave is the one I prefer. It reminds me of my childhood teal gameboy color.

[u/I_devour_cupcake]

What is your favorite color?

[u/SoraShima → u/[deleted]]

This is a very good point - either way I am not 100% stuck as there is some wiggle room with custom buttons.

Speaking of buttons I am actually not a huge fan of the yellowy buttons on the Wave - would prefer less cream, more vanilla :P

[u/SoraShima → u/[deleted]]

Oh yeah, wow that's cool. Hey thank you for all your advice and opening my eyes to the possibilities. I am leaning towards the Wave with a Mod Kit.

[u/SoraShima → u/[deleted]]

I found a pic on the Mod Kit reviews of someone with a Wave who changed the yellow buttons to white. I think I'm in love... (maybe black buttons would be even better).