Endgame's Game Boy Adventures

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About Over the course of the next few weeks I'll be working on some Game Boy mods. I thought it would be fun to share. <3 Projects Refurbished DMG A refurbished Dot Matrix Game Boy with a yellow backlight housed in a case made by SMILETRON All parts have arrived Transferred parts from case to case Staying after school to solder backlight next week Piggy => MIDI MIDI interface for the GP2X Waiting on one part Arduino Boy MIDI interface for the Game Boy Arduino Mini has arrived LSDJ Keyboard Screwing with an old PS2 keyboard so it can be used with a Game Boy

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Refurbished DMG


About

Awhile back, my hero, SMILETRON, sold me a Game Boy case. It's awesome.

The internal components are coming from a weathered old Game Boy I won on ebay. Additionally, I've purchased an assortment of custom buttons, a shiny new screen protector, and a DIY backlight mod. I'll be soldering the backlight as soon as I have the chance.

I had a lot of fun putting this together! :D


Materials

Weathered Dot Matrix Game Boy
SMILETRON Case
VC Backlight (Uni) $13.50
DMG Button Set $2.89
Modern DMG Screen Cover $3.79
DMG Black Start/Select Buttons $3.00
Tri-Wing Screwdriver $2.00
Cross Screwdriver $2.00

Procedure

		I'm swapping the hardware from the Game Boy on the left to the Game Boy case on the right. lol its really simple
		Opening up the Game Boy! You don't need to unplug the ribbon cable, but I found it to be easier to work with the parts separated. Plugging the ribbon cable back in is another story entirely.
		It's just like Christmas!
		The screen has been disconnected from the old case...
		...and has been transferred to the new case!
		Oh hey, what's that?
		It's the metal shielding! Better not forget that when I put the board in the new case!
		Next step: removing the battery contacts. I was unable to remove them with the equipment I had on hand, so I had to dig up a flat-headed screwdriver.
		...And it ended up looking like this!
		Whoops.
		Around now I was making a vow to never unplug the ribbon cable again.
		<3
		Finished! For now... lol I'm really excited Some things that I've noticed and may revisit: It is HEAVY. My original, heavily-modified DMG is weightless compared to it. It feels unnatural; but I'm not using it for gaming, so whatever, you know? Additionally, the start/select buttons need quite the jab. I'm not sure if they're authentic or replicated - I'll be asking the retailer. I'll most likely be dyeing them too - they're not exactly the color I'm looking for. Dyeing silicone is a sinch. When I get around to it, I'll record that process as well! Overall, I'm loving it so far. Disclaimer: I didn't mod my original DMG, Justin Thursday did.

[Renekar]

that is a beautiful format

[Night Fox]

someone knows how to use tables

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Thank you! I'm glad you like it.

[Crispy_]

bump, this looks cool

so wait what do you need a keyboard on it for?

what will you be using your modified game boy for?

[Flamecannon]

looks great, hope the outcome is fantastic
also tie balloons to it so it weighs less

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looks great, hope the outcome is fantastic
also tie balloons to it so it weighs less

Thanks!
Hadn't thought of that one, I'll give it a shot. ;P

bump, this looks cool

so wait what do you need a keyboard on it for?

what will you be using your modified game boy for?

Thank you!

All of these mods are being used in chipmusic production. More on that later, but to answer your questions:

The DMGs are both running a tracker called LSDJ. Another instrument in my setup, a GP2X, is running a similar tracker, LGPT, which is essentially a sample-based LSDJ knock-off.

LSDJ has a built-in interface that allows you to use any old PS/2 keyboard to not just navigate the program, but as a four-octave keyboard, complete with an instrument selector/editor and allows you to mute keys - all "live style". I thought it would be neat for improvising or percussion. And if I ever play live it will make me look like I'm actually doing something lol

I'll update the OP with some more info on how the setup works.

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Bump.



My Engineering and Design teacher is lending me a soldering iron. Lotsa work to do. >:D

I'll probably backlight the DMG and solder the rest of the Piggy=>MIDI components I have tonight. I've ordered the majority of parts for the Arduino Boy - just need to put together a way of programming it. -_-

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Well stuff. I ripped one of the wires out of the backlight as I tried to trim it after a day of plying the polarisation film from the back of the glass screen.

RIP $13
April 2013 - May 11, 2013
Never forget

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Not a lot of interest? Oh well.
4 posts in a row lol

Replacement parts for the DMG, a 4-player adapter, and basic link cable just came in.

I'm planning on requisitioning everything I need to modify the keyboard, as well as an Arduino and breadboard to program the Arduino Mini with this weekend. Should be fun! I'll post another image dump.

And as it turns out, the backlight I broke was the last yellow uni-verted backlight in existence. There are other brands but the newer models are extremely unreliable. For now I'll be rolling with a clamp-on light/magnifier that I got with a plethora of other goods for the cost of one backlight. Sorry!