Game Boy Pocket Backlight & Bivert Mod - Retro Console Restoration
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 9. 10. 2020
- In this video I work on restoring a Game Boy Pocket and modding it with a backlight. Even though I've had the parts for this repair for a while, this is one of those projects that I needed to keep on hold until I felt my skills had improved to increase my odds of success.
The Pocket is in great working and cosmetic condition, albeit there is a huge burn mark on the screen. This is sometimes referred to as "screen burn" although technically this is not the same as CRT burn-in, but a degradation of the front polarizing film.
I've repaired "screen burn" DMGs and Pockets on this channel, and I've modded a DMG with a backlight (and bivert) mod, but I haven't done the backlight mod on a Pocket. The backlight on the pocket is a little more challenging due to the size of the bivert chip, which is about 1/4th the size of the DMG bivert chip.
Both front and rear polarizers needed to be removed for this project. This is always the most dreaded restoring DMGs and Pockets. The soldering went smoothly and I felt very comfortable and in control despite the minuscule size of the bivert chip. I couldn't have dreamed of doing something like this a year ago, but practice and higher quality soldering tools have certainly helped.
As is often the case with restoring consoles that are decades old, I ran into a bit of a hiccup along the way. I was able to recover from it quickly having experienced this issue previously and knowing exactly how to tackle it. All in all I'm thrilled with the outcome. A backlight and biverted Pocket has got to be the best way to play original Game Boy games. The form factor is perfect, the screen is beautiful and correct for the period (compared to a modern IPS for example) and the overall experience is just fun and enjoyable.
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Ikson - Paradise / ikson
/ ikson
Affiliated links below to some of the tools I use if you'd like to support the channel:
đ§ Toolkit
Screwdriver Set: amzn.to/2X7s0Gj
Automatic Wire Stripper: amzn.to/30F5TJm
đ Soldering Essentials
TS100 Soldering Iron: amzn.to/2YIJZUR
No Clean Flux Syringe: amzn.to/2NFUZvQ
No Clean Solder: amzn.to/2NHEAqQ
Desoldering Braid: amzn.to/312Grws
đ Soldering Add-ons
Tip Tinner: amzn.to/31w2EF4
Helping Hands Soldering Aid: amzn.to/3ihgksP
đź Backlight Mod (Hand Held Legend store)
10% off Backlight and Bivert from Hand Held Legend Store: bit.ly/2SSzZVa
The code also works for the rest of their inventory! - Hry
This guy deserves way more subs! Excellent job. Love the attention to detail, and the excellent video capture!
Thanks for the kind words, cheers.
These mods almost complete each other, it's such a nice result. And very tidy looking with this new small chip as well. Great video!
Thank you bud, Iâm glad you enjoyed it.
I have seen a bunch of Gameboy Pocket restorations on CZcams but none of them had so much attention to detail as yours.
I'm quite surprised that you could remove the glue residue from the screen with that blade without scratching it. Is the screen of a Gameboy Pocket this resistant? :)
Anyways it is good to know that we can fix vertical lines on a Pocket the same way we do for the DMG.
Thanks my man. The screen is glass so a clean razor shouldnât scratch it, but the flex cables are too close for comfort and itâs one of the ways I damaged a pocket screen previously so scrape away with caution! Now that Iâve done a few of these Iâm still undecided on my favorite approach to remove the film. I liked desoldering the screen altogether like I did in the DMG mod video because it gave me more control, but its still fragile and risks ripping a pad. I havenât tried any products like Chip Quik (very low melt solder) but I think that might be worth a shot next time. Should allow for easy desoldering and making quick work of the polarizing film without high risk of fraying the flex cable.
I have recently stated doing these type of restorations...started doing original Xbox...thanks for the help :)
Good for you my man. Once you start you canât stop :)
Really appreciate your tutorial. I had to remove the front polarizer due to burnmarks. Removing the glue of it can make a grown man cry. Using a scratching tool for a ceramic hot plate did the trick.
This mod is so much cooler than an ips. Well done!
The Pocket is such a great model
Indeed, I think so too. My favorite way to play Game Boy games.
I like the original gameboy because it's easier to hold and it takes AAs not AAAs so it's easier to find a couple sets of fully charged NiMh batteries.
Very nice work!
Hermoso wow great new screen
Great work!đ
Thank you! Appreciate your continued support.
After watching so many of your videos where you fix tracers, it's odd seeing you intentionally breaking some. :D
Nice job. I wonder if a hot bean bag on the screen for a bit would help with the removal?
With this mod the gameboy pocket looks like a gameboy light! :O
But how much does the battery last with this mod?
What if the back reflective piece is damaged and you used the new backlight screen but just used as a replacement to that reflective piece with no light? Would the screen look close to oem? New to modding and learning as I go
I found it electronics cleaner melts adhesive like it was nothing. Thereâs a video here on CZcams showing how to use it to remove Apple retina MacBook Pro battery and works like magic.
Looks great, So far I don't have any portable console
Very different from working on an Xbox or PSX but satisfying and worth the end result. Maybe youâll pick up a retro handheld eventually :)
What do you use to test connection? What is that tool called? Is it an altemeter?
Where can I buy a front polarizer with the adhesive part I'm trying to fix my original Game Boy can you please make a video about it I want to get myself the front polarizer with the adhesive please help me
I think you should maybe start a discord server seeing as how your channel is growing
Ha do you want to manage it for me? :) Probably too much work given the channel size right now but if it continues to grow Iâll consider it.
@@BorderlineOCD yeah i think i can ive managed servers in the past
Aparecieron los famosos anillos de Newton despues?
are there any ways to mod an old GBC with game storage/emulators and the like? I'm very unfamiliar with modding haha. Last thing I did was change the LED's on my old 360 and controller, never game wise though.
Check out EverDrives. They are expensive but the knock-off ones from AliExpress do the same thing.
How did you not scratch up the screen with that blade? I'd imagine it takes alot of skill and experience to achieve that
Fur future reference, glass is harder than the blade or steel so it doesn't get scratched.
Oh yeah.. OH YeAH... OHH YEAHHHHH ....
OHHHHHHHHHHHhhHHHhHhH
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Youâre comments are quite entertaining. Iâm happy my videos tickle you in the right spots.
@@BorderlineOCD I enjoy gaming restoration content, and mostly Gameboy stuff. :0
I also own a pocket and i managed to get one with the box in blue
Sweet, boxed units are hard to come by and worth quite a bit more. Take good care of it!
I tried to remove the back reflector and cant seem to remove the hardened sticky part. I tried isopropyl alcohol, i tried wd40. Nothing. Both the front and back polarized had the burn..
It is indeed very difficult to remove. It's been a while since I worked on this console but if I recall that step took a couple of hours. Goo Gone and/or IPA will soften the adhesive. You can use a thin spudger or a razor if you are comfortable, but be very careful around the ribbon. It's terribly easy to fracture.
@@BorderlineOCD im not even sure if mine still works, i have no way of testing if lines are present... im comfortable using my fingernail or guitar pick as spudger. I will try to look for the adhesive softener. Thanks mate.
Hey were can I find cheap game boys that are broken like these. I live in greece
I don't have a single go-to source, but these are plentiful on eBay. Just filter "for parts or not working".
Ok thanks!
it's a lot safer to put the front polarizer ON the screen itself first, and not the front case
Itâs not the sticky kind. Makes no difference. Iâd rather have some control on placement and adhere it to the adhesive strips surrounding the front case.