Chipzel Game Boy R-Type Music
Photo credit: Joe Sutherland / The Verge
Niamh Houston, also known as Chipzel, was fascinated by the Nintendo Game Boy when she received the console and Super Mario Land for Christmas many years ago. During those days, she plugged in a small speaker to amplify the Game Boy sounds. Today, she’s a big part of the chiptune scene, where you make new songs using old video game hardware, and for her, that means two Game Boy units.



Houston took a self-imposed exile from her trusty Game Boy in the past, where she studied music production in school for two years, learning the core components of music composition and sound design, while discovering new software tools. Previously, she only knew how to make electronic music with Nintendo’s classic handheld, but wanted to prove she could make other kinds of sounds as well.

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I remember the music the most. It was really raw and beautiful, and unlike anything else that you’d hear,” said Houston.

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A technology, gadget and video game enthusiast that loves covering the latest industry news. Favorite trade show? Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.