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Portables (Games) Entertainment Games Hardware

Turn Your GBA Into A Game Console 136

Posted by simoniker from the almost-the-size-of-a-nomad-now dept.
Kon writes "Here's a site that has photos and describes some very nice mods for the GameBoy Advance (original model), which make it function more like a video game console, yet still remaining portable. These mods include a Neo Geo joystick attachment, power management mod, and an RGB LCD monitor attachment. If you're not too squeamish you can try them as well, using the instructions which are provided."
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Turn Your GBA Into A Game Console More

Turn Your GBA Into A Game Console

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  • Less trouble that way.
  • I already killed one GBA when I tried installing an afterburner. Never ever ever ever ever again! (I think I moved the canned air too close to the LCD and the extreme cold killed it)
    • PA said it well in their Addendum To The Manual [penny-arcade.com]

      (Warning : contains a bad word or two)

    • Well then, (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Absurd Being ( 632190 )
      I would have imagined hooking up the dead GBA to an external LCD screen would have been on the top of your list of priorities. Or are you one of the people who has that "common sense" thing everyone's talking about, and threw out/had professionally repaired/exchanged that GBA.
    • It wasn't that bad, it's just not something you can do without thinking it through...
      My first mistake was not putting that film on the LCD, looks like crap if you do that. Took it apart again, put the film on and looks great now! I like to think I saved myself $100 for a new GBASP
  • Styx rocks! Come on everyone, You know the words:

    Too much time on my hands...
    Too much time on my hands...
  • Buy the gameboy advance player for 40 bucks and hook it to your gamecube.

    GBA player + (used) gamecube ~= 120 bucks.

    There is, however, a TV tuner with composite inputs for GBA available. Anyone have a link to the thing? It'd sure come in handy next time the power goes out.

    • There is, however, a TV tuner with composite inputs for GBA available. Anyone have a link to the thing? It'd sure come in handy next time the power goes out.

      Here's the TV tuner [success-hk.com] that I know of. Not too expensive, but I haven't tried it to know how it works.
    • Buy the gameboy advance player for 40 bucks and hook it to your gamecube. GBA player + (used) gamecube ~= 120 bucks.
      Some Wal-Marts are selling the Cube with the GBA player for $99.

  • What a fantastic idea! (Score:5, Funny)

    by jt007 ( 459122 ) <jt007&bruce-lee,com> on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:03PM (#7086705)
    Coming next: how to buy a Sony Walkman and nail it to your wall!!

    Is it just me ir is this completely missing the point!

  • That's, um... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by SandSpider ( 60727 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:05PM (#7086720) Homepage Journal
    ...well. From a technical achievement, that's very good. Impressive, lots of good stuff going on. From an 'improving the GBA' perspective, that's really kinda dumb. If you're going to do all that, just get a PS1 for the same price and not all the work, and you've got just about the same amount of portability.

    The idea behind the GBA is the portability. Seriously. Tacking on all that extra stuff does not make the GBA better.

    =Brian
    • The GBA may be portable, but can it make popcorn? i think not! however with my simple, step by step instructions, you too can turn a simple handheld videogame into... A self integrated, magical, home corn popping machine! get real, the GBA is a perfectly fine machine as it is. while i have nothing against creating, the whole idea behind the GBA is portiblity.
    • The idea behind the GBA is the portability. Seriously. Tacking on all that extra stuff does not make the GBA better.

      The original concept of the Gameboy may be portability, however "better" is in the eye of the beholder. By modding/adding the jacks/ports you do NOT strip the GBA of it's ability to go portable. You make it somewhat dual purpose. If you're at home, the ability to - not waste batteries, use a larger display, and use a gamepad controller - are useful and practical, in the eyes of many. Plus
      • - forgot to mention that you can just use a Television adapter, instead of buying a PS1 LCD screen. So it isn't necessarily too expensive.

  • PocketNES (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Zendar ( 578450 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:05PM (#7086722)
    Don't forget about the PocketNES [pocketnes.org] emulator for the GBA that allows you to play over 8000 NES games on the GBA in full speed. One 256Mb flash cart can hold over 1000 NES games.

    • Re:PocketNES (Score:1, Insightful)

      by Cowclops ( 630818 )
      How can 256 mbit of flash hold "over" 1000 NES games? You couldn't even hold 850 copies of the original Super Mario Bros. And Dragon Warrior 4 was an 8 mbit game, so you could only squeeze 32 of those on.

      Most of the better games are either 2mbit, 3mbit, or 4mbit. For the 115 NES roms i've got, it takes up about 25.9 megabytes on my hard drive, so you could probably fit about 160 average games on there. But not "over 1000."
      • Depends on which mathematical model you use. I opt to use the New George Bush math. Therefore, each level of each game counts as a separate game. As you will see, the original estimate of 1000 is rather small. I estimate that we should be able to fit over 2500 games in this system, more if you count the "undocumented" secret levels... :D
      • Maybe he meant MiB. You can probably squeeze the rest into all those extra bits...
      • Unfortunately, for whatever shmuck modded me down as "flamebait," 256 megaBITS is the biggest Gameboy Advance flash size they make. If he was referring to a 256 megabyte GBA flash cartridge, he was referring to something that doesn't exist.
      • From the PocketNes FAQ [pocketnes.org]:

        How many games you can use with the menu?
        There are no limits in the menu program or otherwise in how many roms you can include, so the limit is with the space of the flash card. Considering most NES games are between 25-300kB you could fit 25-300 games on a 64mbit card, 50-600 games on a 128mbit card, 100-1200 games on the 256mbit card, or 200-2400 games on the 512mbit card! Note that the Gameboy Advance itself can't handle roms over 256mbit, so if you have a 512mbit card you need

    • Yeah, except that screens are either cropped or scaled, making the games visually awful and often unreadable.
      • The screenshots [pocketnes.org] look pretty darn good and certainly readable. BTW, they are scaled OR cropped, but the cropping mode allows the screen to scroll up down as needed (called "following"). This can be done automatically for you, similar to some games where when you jump the screen scrollsup.
    • sir, you are horribly mistaken.

      i am lucky to get 100 NES games on my 256Mb card.
    • Well, you all managed to slashdot the PocketNES server already, but luckily a nice friend of mine donated some bandwidth for a mirror at http://pocketnes.fuckingpimp.com [fuckingpimp.com] (no it's not a joke despite the domain name ;)

      Also, apologies for the somewhat theoretical FAQ entry (this one [fuckingpimp.com]) that seem to have got you so upset. You can indeed fit 1000 25k NES roms on a 256 mbit flash card, but there probably are less than 200 25k roms, so yes, it's all theoretical. In practice, if you stick to old school games you sh

  • I sure hope... (Score:3, Funny)

    by LordoftheFrings ( 570171 ) <null@NOsPaM.fragfest.ca> on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:06PM (#7086729) Homepage
    he's didn't make a webserver mod for his GBA, cause with the roughly 3 megs of images, the slashdot effect will be like dropping a 600 tonne boulder on an ant.
    • like dropping a 600 tonne boulder on an ant.

      Oddly enough, chances are pretty good the ant will not get squashed because the surface roughness of the boulder will provide pockets of safety (ever step on an ant to have it survive because of the slots in your tread?). Whether the ant will starve/suffocate, however, is another issue entirely.

      It all depends on your perspective...and mine is wierd.

      • Er, wouldn't the ground pressure of a 600t boulder cause the ground to deform and close off those little "pockets of safety" I guess if the boulder weighs 600t but is a cube with 1000km sides or something the ant could surivive.
      • OK here is what we need a boulder, an ant, a maggot the size of a man's thigh, and a dog.

        Who me no I have not been reading Quicksilver not me. :)
    • [fivemouse.com]
      It's been done before, too.

      Be very afraid [fivemouse.com]

  • hmm.. practical applications.. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by gl4ss ( 559668 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:09PM (#7086765) Homepage Journal
    perhaps one could use units like this to demonstrate gba games..

    a bit polishing though.. but at least it would be an eyecatcher for sure.
    • perhaps one could use units like this to demonstrate gba games..

      Except that for most demonstration purposes, the GameCube GBA Player is a better solution. This is only slightly more portable than the gamecube + gba player + mini television.

      a bit polishing though.. but at least it would be an eyecatcher for sure.

      Eyecatcher in that "Living mother of God! My eyes! My eyes!" sort of way.

  • Bummer! (Score:1, Funny)

    by DrFlex ( 711207 )
    This kinda voids my LCD joystick project.
  • Here are some very cool modules.. not mods but i doubt anyone could make one of these themself

    Game Boy Advance goes wireless [mobilemag.com]

    Gameboy Video Phone Module [mobilemag.com]

  • Cool (Score:3, Funny)

    by FrostedWheat ( 172733 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:13PM (#7086794)
    I'd be even more impressed if they could make a portable Gamecube. That would even be useful aswell as cool!
    • Considering that they sell LCD screens and cigarette lighter adapters for the GameCube, I'd have to say it would only be a challenge if you built both of those parts yourself.

      Optionally, I guess you could try to power it on D cells or a rechargable battery pack.

      The Cube certainly doesn't fit in your pocket, but then neither does the PS1 LCD screen he put on that GBA.

  • Um... the GBA is a game console already (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Psykechan ( 255694 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:15PM (#7086821)
    The GBA is a game console, albeit a portable one. I can turn a functioning GBA into something not a game console, but turning one into a game console when it's already one is -1 Redundant.

    • I usually insert a game and use the power switch to turn my GBA into a game console. Works with the GBASP too.
    • "The GBA is a game console, albeit a portable one. I can turn a functioning GBA into something not a game console, but turning one into a game console when it's already one is -1 Redundant."

      Somebody please explain to me why this is insightful? Not only is he nitpicking a not so relevant point (i.e. console has more than one definition), but he's also missing the point of why this project is cool. So please, explain to me why this is insightful?
    • The GBA is a game console, albeit a portable one. I can turn a functioning GBA into something not a game console, but turning one into a game console when it's already one is -1 Redundant.


      Coming on Slashdot next:
      "Turn your MS Windows into on operating system"

      "Turn Slashdot into a news for nerds site"

      "Turn your +5 Funny posts into something funny" ...and other great stories.

  • I hate to say it... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Raptor CK ( 10482 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:15PM (#7086824) Journal
    But this one *does* feel pointless, even if it's marginally cheaper than the alternative.

    Gamecube + Game Boy Player + Battery pack + LCD screen.

    That's maybe 3-5 hours of game time on a single charge, but you can then play any GBA/GB games as well as the full GameCube library.

    Granted, it suffers of a horribly reduced hack value, but for some reason, I'm OK with that.

    • You'll also need a PlayStation Dual Shock controller and a nYko Play Cube adapter. Nintendo unwisely chose to put the GameCube controller's digital cross pad in a hard-to-reach corner. Using a PlayStation controller instead swaps the cross pad and the left stick to place precise digital control right where you need it. (Compatibility warning: The Play Cube adapter works with PS1 Dual Shock controllers and PS2 Dual Shock 2 controllers but does not work with dance pads or other PS1 digital controllers.)

      I

  • This is just stupid. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Raven42rac ( 448205 ) * on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:17PM (#7086845)
    This has to be like the dumbest "mod" I have ever seen. If the regular GBA isn't big enough or have a full featured gamepad, get a gameboy player, see you can get a screen for the gamecube and a battery pack. That would cost about the same and not void any warranties. This mod is moot.
    • This has to be like the dumbest "mod" I have ever seen. If the regular GBA isn't big enough or have a full featured gamepad, get a gameboy player, see you can get a screen for the gamecube and a battery pack. That would cost about the same and not void any warranties. This mod is moot.

      Consider this. Why do people modify old cars when they can just go out and buy a nice new one? It's the 'I can' factor. It may not make much economic, or functional sense, but is for the enthusiast that did it, it's a perso
      • Ok let's put it like this. This would be like making a camper shell for your truck out of papier mache and duct tape, and having it look ugly as shit, or just buying a damn camper shell. OR, like putting your home stereo in your car's backseat and running cables to your receiver, instead of buying a car cd player. I realize the "I can" factor, but why waste the time and effort when an easier solution is out there.

  • GameCube? (Score:3)

    by breon.halling ( 235909 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:19PM (#7086861)

    With the GameCube [amazon.com] now priced the same as the GBA [amazon.com], one might as well just skip the "turn your GBA into a console" bit and go straight to owning a console! =)

  • Its a bit too expensive and impractical to do. I like the idea of it and I give props to the people who took the time to do a bit of reverse engineering. Ill probably end up doing the controller part of it in my spare time for fun, but the screen is just not worth it.

    I was hoping somebody figured out how to get a neogeo pocket D pad on there cuz that would be amazing. I have yet to come across a better hand held controller.
  • -after all, the gameboy advance was essentially designed as a scaled down SNES

    • That would work for a few titles but not all titles. The set of titles available for the Game Boy Advance does not equal the set of titles available for the Super NES, and neither is a subset of the other. GBA Game Paks hold more data than Super NES Game Paks held, and frame rates in 3D games using the GBA's ARM7TDMI processor are better than frame rates in 3D games using the Super NES's Super FX processor.

      Just get a GameCube ($100), a Game Boy Player ($50), and a nYko Play Cube adapter ($10), and use y

  • He is my GOD!!!!!11111111 (Score:5, Funny)

    by Frac ( 27516 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:24PM (#7086910)
    I'm serious, that guy is a genius.

    I've actually been working on a similar project - turning a notebook into a computer. I don't have any pictures at the moment, but in a nutshell, it pretty much involves tying a ball and chain onto my PowerBook G4. How do you like MY apples?
  • 1) A good oven mit insulator.
    2) A retarded frisby.
    3) Think brass knuckles...
    4) Think brick...
    5) A shovel.
    6) A cause of eye problems.
    7) A mirror.
    8) The brunt of slashdot jokes ("In soviet russia. GBA's convert you", "Imagine what a beowolf cluster of them...", "What about gamegirls, you insentive clod!")
  • Gameboy? Nothing still beats the The GAMEMAN!!! [loungespot.com] 3-foot, 100+lbs full-scale working version of the Gameboy!

  • ten years ago... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by cloudship_tacitus ( 709780 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @02:38PM (#7087030)
    i would have found a sega game running on a nintendo platform using a sony ps1 monitor odd.

    amazing how the competitive markets change.

    • Ten years ago, I would have found "Sony" and "game console" in the same sentence to be a bit odd. The PS1 didn't come out in the States until September 9, 1995.

  • Here's the instructions [rahga.com] written with the help of a really bad webcam and MS Paint. I really need to get a digital camera one day.

    Why would someone do such a thing? This way, you don't have to import a Famicom to play your favorit famicom carts, which is a good thing if you decide to spend a ton of money [rahga.com] on importing the best darn Famicom game ever.... (Sure, some people would call me insane, but I consider it to be more valuable and far more rare than several of today's newest top games, such as Tron 2, Je
  • i actually modded my old version GBA with a tv adapter... works great.

    i also have the GBC rom copier "game jack" with a 128M cartridge.

    a game boy color and 15-20 game boy games comes with it... everything included.

    email mike at@at kristopeit dot.dot com if you are interrested.

  • Reminds me of (Score:4, Funny)

    by Gogl ( 125883 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @03:05PM (#7087315) Journal
    There's a Penny Arcade for every situation [penny-arcade.com]. God (or lack thereof) knows I'm not going to try a mod where chances are decent I'm just going to break my GBA. The mod gets point for geekness, but is definitely on the impractical side.

  • Turn Your GBA Into A Game Console, or... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by s88 ( 255181 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @03:12PM (#7087387) Homepage
    as I would title it:
    "Turn lots of time, money, resources, into a less useful GBA with a marginally larger screen."

  • This improves upon what? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by LoudMusic ( 199347 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @03:19PM (#7087459)
    I mean, what the hell. Make it 4x as large and 10x as clumbsey. Must be a second cousin to this guy - the Civic mod [ebay.com] .
  • They have WAY too much time on their hands.
  • Liberal and exotic usage of the words "nice" and "portable!"

    Get a far better effect by hooking a GBA TV-out convertor [lik-sang.com] to either an Olympus Eye-Trek or Sony Glasstron head mounted display.

    Honestly, the things can be had for right around $200 on Ebay. This person probably spent about that much on his little setup.
  • Hasn't Nintendo already basicly covered this area with the whole Game Boy Player thing? I mean it outputs to the TV with whatever video connection your GameCube has, and it allows you to use any GC controller while you're at it. I don't really see the point...
  • yet still remaining portable

    yeah right! [prodigy.net]

  • Portable Playstation Mod (Score:3, Informative)

    by mrpull ( 112590 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @03:57PM (#7087876)
    I saw this Portable Playstation [techtv.com] on TechTV the other day. It has the polish the GBA mod lacks.
    mr.

  • This is a mod? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Doppler00 ( 534739 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @05:51PM (#7088988) Homepage Journal
    I'm always disappointed when I see these 'mods' where all they do is rip out the internal components and solder a few wires to the controller. How much engineering skill does that really require? Just a drill, a soldering iron, and some basic electronics. I mean really, you can't do very much considering all of the GBA is integrated into mostly one chip. I think a more interesting mod would be where you actually interface with the GBA directly through it's game card slot or it's input ports. Sure it would take a lot of research studying protocols, but you could do so much more than just put a bunch of console systems together.

    I guess it's impressive though for what it is but I wouldn't consider it a complete solution for making the gameboy into a game console. It looks too bulky.

  • TV de Advance (Score:3, Informative)

    by Kris_J ( 10111 ) on Monday September 29, 2003 @07:42PM (#7089987) Homepage Journal
    Since there's a pre-built mod [lik-sang.com] that does S-Video/AV out and subsequently handles power nicely, PLUS the official GB Player for the GC that you add a screen and battery pack to, this mod is kinda pointless.

    Now, if the guy had produced a cartridge with a real, full-sized slot for, say, Atari 2600 (insert your favourite old console here) carts which were than played with an emulater, that would be a "console hack".

  • Im gonna try that, woot!!! I just hope my gba doesnt screw up like my last harddrive did acidently.. yes, it dropped from a window ledge into the toilet when i acidently knocked it. >. ~ChickenOut (Y)

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