NOW IN TIME is an independent retro-inspired project where old technology, forgotten formats, and vintage aesthetics are turned into something new. We make and curate a mix of handmade objects, custom pieces, digital products, and browser-based creative tools. Some items are meant to be used, some displayed, some collected, and some do a bit of all three. Made for collectors, retro-tech lovers, designers, pixel artists, modders, writers, readers, and people looking for gifts that do not feel generic. A bit of everything retro, but always with the same spirit: old technology reimagined in a new form, giving the past a new function instead of treating it like a museum piece.

The product page should make that clear. Physical products are made, packed, and shipped. Digital products are delivered as downloads or files. Browser-based tools are used online directly from your browser. Since the catalog includes all three types, it is always worth checking the individual product page before ordering, especially if you are buying something unusual or highly specific.

Often, a mix of those worlds. Many products are handmade, made to order, customized, or built from vintage or repurposed components. Some are newly produced with a retro spirit, while others start from real, old materials or objects and are adapted into something new. This is not anonymous mass-market nostalgia. Small-scale work, experimentation, and real material history are part of the identity of the shop.

Yes. Custom work is a real part of the project, not just an extra option added here and there. Several products can be personalized, especially the more collectible, giftable, or one-of-a-kind. If your request fits the existing options on the product page, you can usually order directly. If it is unusual, highly specific, or based on your own material or idea, it is better to get in touch first so everything is clear before production starts. There is also a dedicated Personalizations section with custom GBbooks, custom 3D prints, custom Game Boys, and customizable logo objects.

A GBbook is a real Game Boy cartridge made for reading a book on a Game Boy, screen by screen, like a tiny retro e-reader. The idea is very simple: no apps, no notifications, no multitasking, just buttons, text, and a physical cartridge dedicated to one reading experience. It is meant to feel closer to an object you live with than a file you forget in a folder.

Yes, that is the intended experience. The GBbook is designed as a real cartridge for reading directly on actual Game Boy hardware. If you use a specific setup, accessory, or modified console and want to be extra safe before ordering, ask before ordering, but the whole concept is built around the physical console experience.

Yes. That is one of the main reasons the personalized GBbook exists. You can request a specific title and have it turned into a dedicated Game Boy reading cartridge. If you already know exactly what you want, great. If not, or if you are unsure whether a title is suitable, you can ask first and figure it out together.

Right now, the focus is on physical cartridges. ROM-only sales were removed because this project is meant to stay tied to the physical object and the tactile side of the experience. That choice is deliberate: the cartridge is not just a container, it is a core part of the concept. Things may evolve in the future, but for now, the emphasis stays on the real, physical format.

Yes. That is a big part of the catalog: 3D printed apps and brand logos inspired by old computer software and brands, designed as desk decor, wall decor, paperweights, keychains, or lamps, but also other retro-inspired objects as gifts, or simply for people who like old software culture and iconic visual design. More broadly, the shop is built around unusual physical-digital hybrids, so if you are looking for something less generic than standard merch, you are in the right place.

Yes. The catalog includes browser-based tools as well as free digital resources such as fonts, 3D models, games, dev tools, and other downloadable or interactive items. Some tools and games run directly online, while other digital products are files you download and keep. That means the site is not only a shop for physical retro objects, but also a small creative resource space for people working with retro aesthetics, pixel art, design, and experimental workflows.

There is no single answer, because many physical products are made to order, customized, or prepared by hand before they are shipped. This is not warehouse-style instant fulfillment. Some orders are straightforward and made in a couple of days or less; others need more care. Shipping itself may take 3-10 days, depending on the destination. If timing matters, especially for gifts, deadlines, or custom work, it is better to ask before ordering instead of assuming standard mass-retail timings. All packages are tracked.

Because handmade and unusual physical items do not ship like generic mass-market accessories. We ship worldwide, but packaging, destination, tracking, weight, carrier rates, geopolitical situation, and production scale all affect the final cost. Shipping costs cover only the actual cost of the courier service, which has skyrocketed, especially for shipments to the United States, due to the geopolitical situation and tariffs. Shipping costs do not include taxes or customs duties, which are the recipient’s responsibility since we cannot calculate them in advance; these amounts must be paid on the courier’s tracking page. We do not make a profit on shipping costs. If you want to optimize shipping, it often makes sense to group items in one order. We can discuss different solutions directly.

It should look very close, but not necessarily identical in every tiny detail. Handmade work, custom production, repurposed vintage components, and ongoing refinements in packaging or assembly can all create small differences. Minor marks and scratches, slight variations, or signs of age can also be normal when older materials are involved. They are not a defect in themselves; they are part of the object’s real-world history and material nature. That is not the downside of the project; it is part of its nature of being handmade, customized, or based on adapted vintage components. You are buying something real, not a factory-perfect stock clone. We also keep fine-tuning the packaging and creation process, but we do not always update the pictures.

We try to be sensible, even on a small scale. Most of the objects we work with are used, vintage, repurposed, or recycled rather than newly manufactured from scratch. When we make 3D-printed parts, we currently use PLA, which is widely considered one of the less problematic materials commonly used in consumer 3D printing. We also try to reduce waste during production and reuse leftover material whenever possible, including for protective packaging. More broadly, a big part of the project is about keeping older technology in circulation instead of treating it as disposable just because it is outdated. We are not pretending this makes us perfect, but it is a real effort, and if the project grows, we would like to support more concrete and serious environmental initiatives.

Probably yes. NOW IN TIME sits right at the intersection of retro tech, design, customization, experimentation, and strange little objects that are hard to classify in a normal store. If your idea is specific, nerdy, nostalgic, impractical in the best way, or somewhere between design piece and functional object, there is a good chance it belongs here. Better to ask than assume it is too niche.