Nintendo’s Missing Link Between The Game Boy Color And The Advance
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
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This is the Game Boy that Nintnendo never made, but that I wish they did! It has a horizontal formfactor like the Game Boy Advance, and other modern features that make it truly unique. So, let’s take a close look at it!
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Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:43 Frog Boy Color Parts Needed
5:24 How To Build The Frog Boy Color
14:26 Features
16:14 Pros and Cons
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Disclaimer: This video is only for entertainment purposes. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of tools, equipment, or from the information in this video is the sole responsibility of the viewer and is to be used at the discretion of the end user/viewer and not Macho Nacho Productions or Tito Perez. If you are uncertain about any step of the process or feel unsure about your skill level, seek a more authoritative source.
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#FrogBoyColor #LeggoMyFroggo #MachoNachoProductions - Hry
Imagine if there was a piece of see-through plastic over the cartridge port so you could still see what cartridge you're playing but it would be more protected that just seems better to me.
Or glass. I like the idea.
@@jon4715 I was thinking the same kind of stuff they use on PC cases and for the lenses of video game systems when they aren't glass.
yep, first thought too.
when i saw the cartridge protruding, it became more obvious
Or a hi-def screen showing in real time the label with a micro camera pointed at the label 🤡
@@jimbotron70 Aight, I’m good with just a full aluminum cover with no cutout ;)
Love the video, super happy you built one! Just FYI for anyone interested that the next shell revision will be going up on PCBWay soon, which addresses(among other things) the power button, cart slot, and allows for a shallower volume wheel.
Can't wait to see it. You're a legend for this.
Can’t wait to check the latest revision! Will it be compatible with the existing motherboard?
@@MachoNachoProductions Yes!
@@leggomyfroggocan you make a back version which covers the cart label to protect it from damage whenever you put it down/in your pocket? I'd be worried about damage to my carts with the current design
@@viridionwavesif it was clear so you could still see the label that would be so cool
That volume wheel placement choice is mind boggling.
What an odd placement, I can't imagine it not being in the way. Your thumb will be resting on top of it which seems like it would be uncomfortable after some time. Like you said mind boggling placement.
Very poor choice indeed.
I don’t feel or notice it any time I’m playing
@@SampsonitedFroggo also said so, but everybody holds their controllers/handhelds differently.
At the very least the volume cap is removeable
LeapFrog done right…
Yes
Was just about to say, that looks like one of them VTech handhelds
Damn right
@@TwinFamiProductions icons of the toy isle, I swear
TBF the LeapFrog does what it set out to do and it did it well enough. As a former 4-year-old, I can attest that it satisfied my Planck-length attention span. Edutainment consoles tend to age really poorly by design, but it’s LeapFrog’s forte and there was no way they could’ve competed in the same portable space as Nintendo.
Biggest issue with this kit is that the designer is really bad at taking criticism or even just questions about design choices. So the comment about "this project being a one man project" really sums up the whole issue of the designer living in their own echo chamber and not even thinking about taking feedback from others, creating a product with really odd design choices.
Yea the volume wheel needs to be moved or redone, not just made lower profile. It's an obvious eyesore and they're missing out by not fixing it.
The biggest deal breaker for me is the exposed game cartridge. It makes me not want to take it outside or even put it in my pocket for fear of damaging the game label.
Yeah, it looks nice, but just a coin in your pocket getting behind the cart can cause damage to the port
Gat a flash cart and a game save writer. keep ur precious games stored 👌🏼
@@Mohenjo_Daro_What sort of psychopath would put a system like this in the same pocket as coins?
@@TheBroz Someone with pockets that likes to use them. But even dryer lint could cause issues if there's enough
I think the best solution would be for the shell to cover most of the cartridge with a cutout over the label, and to protect the label there would be clear plastic in the cutout.
It doesnt even look like a diy project. A lot of these diy projects have choppy edges and the buttons/connectors are usually exposed with large gaps all around. This project looks like it came from a career design team and I love it
15:22 Never heard Tito get more heated in his disapproval of something. Deeply scathing.
Did he throw it against a wall and say fuck it??
@@garystinten9339yeah and then he screamed tripped fell over and weeped for 10 minutes. Kinda weird they didn't edit that out.
@@kastastrophe34 Odd considering they did edit the part out where they ate it in anger
Didn't think he'd go Super Saiyan 2 over this
I was at 15:17 when I saw this comment. I don't know why this made my day as hard as it did. Just sayin'
I like it but would really need to have a version with the cartridge slot covered... Over time i think it would inevitably damage/wear the label from putting it down/in your pocket/resting your fingers on it. Hopefully he provides an alternate back cover for those of us who want to preserve our cartridges more than see them in the back (which I understand, but not my preference).
This is fantastic. I agree the volume knob needs relocating and the cartridge could use a bump out back to secure cartridge and also protect the cartridge artwork as it can easily get scratches and worn from fingers overlapping back
The way the cart fits in is clever. Kind of like how Analogue Pocket deals with the problem.
I in other hand don't see the reason why it doesn't have any ridges on the sides to hold it, since it won't ever fit the shorter GBA cards like the Analogue Pocket has to. It just leaves it prone to damage without anything on the sides to hold it, but it would increase printing/machining complexity, unless cleverly using the rear steel shield, like Nintendo themselves did it, to completely avoid a complex mold, instead it can be made on a two part only one.
While it looks nice, I wouldn't trust using it at all. The console's form factor and power button lend itself to being put into a pocket, but I doubt the cart port would stay undamaged if you put it in your pocket with carts in it often. It's a very big surface with little support, and even a coin getting wedge under a cart could cause damage. That's why the original had the back support for the cart
And that's one thing i don't like about analogue pocket.
TBH, the only nintendo handheld I felt good with that didn't cramp my tiny hands was the Advance.
The only other handheld that I played that didn't cramp my hands, was the PSP.
Just the two perfect handhelds ever produced
man, that looks super clean. love the rounded form factor with the exposed cartridge slot and the recessed power button is nice in theory, too. great video tito; always bringing quality content!
The cartridge slot really needs something like a clear plastic covering that protects the cart while still being able to see the label.
Was sitting here since the moment I saw the volume wheel, yep, knew accidental bumping was coming up as a con
The title made me think some shade was being thrown at Gunpei Yokoi and I'm glad it wasn't. RIP king.
This is by far the coolest Gameboy mod I have ever seen, holy crap! Very well done LeggoMyFroggo, this is absolutely stunning. Really look forward to a second iteration, because I would 100% build this if the volume adjustment was in a different location.
Amazing stuff. What we're able to achieve these days with the democratisation of once high end tools/services just blows my mind. Well done to Froggo. The volume could definitely be recessed with a flatter wheel similar to the A/B buttons with a side cut out to allow adjustment. I'd also like to see some slight recessing to allow for product stickers on the rear to add that finished touch but hey who am I!!! Amazing work.
Wouldn't an internal volume wheel be better on the bottom? Also the Sticker of the game should be protected, therefore should be closed as much as possible. If you leave it like this, every sticker will be damaged over time because of the fingerprints.
Of course, these are obvious and logical improvements.
I find the soldering SOOOO satisfying! What I love is how you follow the tip of the iron up to the top of the pin, which helps the heat evenly distribute and helps to get air out of the solder ball, for a better, long lasting connection. That nice cone shape the solder makes is GOOOOOOD!
Great video Tito!
I have a few things to share regarding the cons you mentioned!
The cartslot shield- as opposed to just loosening the screw, I added an m2 washer between my cart shield and shell. This gave me ample room for all of my whacky, 3D printed carts and they were able to sit flat (thank god for the cgb cart slot)
The power button- before you close you FBC up and even before you sinch the pcb to the front of the shell, nudge it as far toward the bottom of the shell as possible. I had that same issue with my personal FBC and this was my remedy!
Me and Jack are accepting orders on these just like the dmgc and mgbc, so feel free to give a shout!
Not with that volume knob. No way.
That frog green is so freaking cool.
Hmmmm I think i would prefer the volume wheel on the side of the console, maybe have the start and select buttons as shoulder buttons or have them on the bottom right of the console. Also a nice little touch would be to have a clear plastic cover over the cartridge so it is more protected but still visible.
Just gotta say Retro gaming channels have the best intros on youtube, and yours definitely comes out on top. Its an absolute joy to hear your intro music and visuals!
I would personally prefer the volume wheel to be on the side like the GBA or a volume slider like on the GBASP. Not that it doesn't look cool as is but like you said it seems pretty easy to bump into or just being uncomfortable depending on how you rest your hands on it while playing. Or maybe have it recessed like the A, B, and D-pad. For the cartridge slot just extend the shell to cover it more. Seeing the cart sticker is neat but I rather have it protected from my finger oils or other damaged. Picking up my GBA it looks like my fingers would be resting on the cartridge sticker while gaming.
Hell yeah dude. Was hoping you'd tackle the project. Great looking project. I'm partial to the plastic case though
This has been my favorite GBC build for sure!
This looks like the missing link between the GBC and GBA in the evolution chart and it's gorgeous!!! Nice video as alaways Tito!!! ❤
Lookup Neo Geo Pocket, seems like the love child of GB Color/Advance and NGP. The recessed buttons are definitely taken from the Neo Geo Pocket.
The "newer" Q10 amoled laminated screens seem like a good obvious upgrade for this mod. Interested to see what improvements are made to it in the future for sure. Thanks for the video.
Using Blackberry Q10 screens? Loved that phone, but it had horrendous PWM flicker and a very visible Pentile subpixel arrangement (that is not good looking).
I think this is very creative and awesome! The volume button isn't in a good spot but still cool.
Another flaw I'm not seeing people mention in the comments here is the location of the select button - some games make heavy use of the select button during gameplay, and I wouldn't want to take my finger off the D-pad for that. It'd be far better to have it in maybe a diamond orientation, like start and select right above the A and B buttons.
I love how the power button is so recessed it's almost TOO far out of the way but then there's the volume wheel that's just smackdab right there like F YOU WHAT YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT.
The cart port is even more exposed than the pocket though and that also makes me nervous, I would prefer even the pocket had a deeper recess but that's just me.
Props to the guy for making it, I could mod all day but never would do a PCB like this from scratch, but ever since pics first came out I could just never get over that volume wheel
Love it, if I could do anything to change it, I’d put the cartridge slot slightly recessed just enough to implement a 2 mm lip for the cartridge to slide in, be exposed, yet stay rigid.
18:12 He has to add a chamfered cone around the button to give it space and be more easily pressed. It’s that kind of detail that a designer can easily miss by fault. Overall the arch below the frame of the screen is an awesome choice. I applause mr Chris.
Another potential con is that the dual batteries are soldered directly to the board and not more easily replaced. It's minor, but obviously, batteries that can be more easily replaced would be preferable. That said, this is a very cool project that I'm interested in seeing evolve.
Just wiggle the wires untill they come off and solder on some new batteries. A beginner could solder them on.
@@bland9876 I can't solder at all, so that wouldn't be an option. It would just end in a mess. Not everyone can solder, even with practice.
I wasn't able to find the size of battery I wanted with low profile connectors, which is why it ended up the way it did. There are footprints for JST connectors for each battery, but you need much smaller batteries to make use of them.
@@adrenaliner91 swapping out those batteries look super easy because it's literally just hold the wire to the point and touch it with your soldering iron that has some solder on it and just do that like four times.
It looks easier than replacing a battery in a Game Boy cartridge which I have done before and is the only thing I've ever done literally.
If you have no skill soldering then this is not the project for you regardless. I wouldn’t worry about replacing batteries.
Chris' button pad replacements allowed me to not only revive a GBC, but also to revive my childhood game boy pocket!
I'd move the volume wheel to the edge somewhere like the original color, move the power switch to the top and make it a sliding switch, and add some ridges to guide and hold the games in the cart slot but still showing the label.
Making the volume wheel sunk like all the other buttons would help a lot.
Biggest gripe is move the volume nob to the top or side, also prefer start select one side or bottom.
I really do love the Gameboy Advance design. I know everyone has favorites but that one is mine. I just believe the screen in the middle and controls on the sides is the best layout of a handheld console.
I still want to get a modded one with a larger backlit IPS screen, louder speaker, and rechargeable battery. Ideally with a modern USB port. I want one so bad but at the same time I don’t trust my own skill to be able to build it.
TFT is better tho 😉
WOW thats a very solid 3.3v rail in 7:27
This looks amazing. Do you have a video of the tools you use for any of the modding you do on your videos. If not would love to see 1 and an explanation of why you recommend specific tools.
This is an extremely satisfying build. It's been a while since I built a modded Gameboy. Might be time to dive in again.
Oooh that's pretty! Would definitely love to see this with one of those Q10 oled panels.
Volume wheel is striking, however placement isn't great. Could potentially swap its position with the select button, but then it throws off the design even more.
The volume wheel can just go on the side like all other Game Boys.
I'm definitely not a fan of the volume wheel location, and it's made even more baffling that the designer chose to deeply recess the power button to prevent accidental presses, but put the volume wheel in precisely the location most likely to cause accidental activation
Beautiful design aside from the volume wheel, and I hope v2 is released soon that fixes the flaws
I also would prefer to have the option to use jst connectors for the batteries, sure it requires disassembly regardless, but having the batteries be easier to replace would be a positive
Love the video Tito!! Do you know if the new HISPEEDIDO OLED screen will work with this kit?
I don’t agree with open cartridge slot like that, fingers will rub on cartridge labels and damage them for sure
Not to mention a wayward finger swiping along side the top could cause it to bend at the connectors.
So glad FroggoCustoms gets the love they deserve.
If it were me ide have a clear back plate to hold the game in place or some kind of cart throat to secure it, I can see potential bending of the pins the way it is. I’d also do a digital pot with button presses for the volume up and down maybe on the side or back and a power button on top less recessed but other then that this thing is amazing I love the look and design!
The design looks polished and well though out except for that volume wheel. A discrete -/+ volume button on top would have been more appealing and practical imo.
Really cool build! I’d honestly call the fully exposed cartridge label a con though, those are very vulnerable to wear through scratches or hand moisture like this.
Great video! One thing I noticed at 10:08 is that CPU pin 25 and 26 (SOUTH) are bridged. IDK if you fixed that later... but just make sure is not bridged. Greetings!
This has to be the best mod I’ve seen in quite some time and this looks like it would work with the new amoled screen for the gbc.
Hopefully having Tito talk about it will get more made and people selling them on eBay. Been trying to buy a premade one for a while now. If this had the IR port it'd be perfect
Your soldering skills are incredible, it's one of the many enjoyable things of your videos. Always great work
Thank you very much!
Hey very nice video. I actually really like the aesthetics of the volume knob, but it's in the complete wrong place. You can't put it right in the way of your button pressing thumb! If they moved it it would be perfect.
I'd like to give a pro soldering tip; When desoldering pads, you shouldn't swipe the wick sideways across them. You should only place the wick down and lift it up. Swiping wick from side to side, can catch the corners of pads and cause them to lift, especially when applying soldering heat. I have had it happen myself. In this application, it's probably not much of an issue. It's a brand new board that's never had any components on it, but if you were trying to restore an old board they are often fragile and can be much easier to damage by doing little things like swiping wick sideways. That's it. Just wanted to offer that tidbit. Thanks for the video!
0:31 hey Tito, this has happened a number of times in your videos. I know the drop syncing up with the intro cutaway is aesthetically pleasing, but these transitions from the start of the song into the timed drop are super jarring!
Hm... I can see where certain parts could be moved around, like taking the charging port and putting it on the bottom to make room for the IR sensor, putting it where the charging port currently is, or alternatively just have the IR sensor on the left hand side. The potentiometer could be moved over for having a dial on the right hand side, just like the original design had, and the power button could be moved to be on the same surface as the control buttons, with all that free space. The cartridge slot could also have two 2-3mm wide strips on either side (probably 0.5mm thick?) to make the game fit snugly while still keeping the cover art open for view, as well. They wouldn't necessarily have to sit flush with the rest of the surface on the back, either.
I would love one of these but based on the original DMG-01 Gameboy instead of GBA. A nice green LCD, back light and battery... I would get one or two for sure.
Great video! I Definitely prefer Horizontal handhelds!
For a cheap alternative I’d recommend an Anbernic Rg280M. One of my favorite ways to play gameboy on a premium device - without the risk of losing expensive parts/hardware. 😅
Milling down the volume wheel to somewhat flush i feel would be a better choice. Should still be able to turn it. And if you made the shell back slightly thicker with a thin plexiglass insert to protect the cartridge while still showing it off i think would answer most of the issues the comments talk about. But i love the design and think this is awesome
The pros and cons are always what I look forward to most, mainly due to how honest you are with the cons lmao
Great work and awesome video! Thanks for the tips and opinions ^^
There's enough clearance and empty space there, that I'd 100% leave the battery connectors attached to the batteries and instead solder on sockets for them
I've been waiting for this video has been a long time, next is oled gbc screen
I adore this thing and have wanted one of my own ever since seeing Froggo's prototypes. The only thing I don't like is the position of the volume wheel.
youi never seize to amaze me, Awesome keep it up TITO.
its sold out already :S
I like the stereo feature. Great for Pokemon Yellow, (earphone 1), Gold Silver and Crystal (stereo) options.
I gotta get a hot air station one of these days. Cool project!
Thanks for the update
In addition to what you and the other comments already mentioned concerning improvements (volume wheel, cartridge cover), I'd like to add another small detail that IMHO improves the build at least a bit: adding connectors for the batteries instead of soldering them directly to the board. There should be enough space (at least when you use 90° angled ones), you don't have to snip off the existing connectors from the batteries (which is one less safety risk), and it makes swapping batteries easier in case one fails.
Guys will see a Frogboy Color and go "hell yeah".
The volume wheel should be combination buttons input like up, up, B,A, A, B Left,Left, Right, Right for volume down and opposite for volume down. It will not work if the game is paused on the device is off.
Looks like there are not enough segments to the curve across the bottom of the shell, ideally it would be a smooth curve with no steps to it. Amazing project, and if you sanded it down and painted it I'm sure it's possible to fix. Amazed at what we can do as hobbyists these days. And air rework equipment is pretty cheap, say half of a AAA game!
Edit: Now I can see the segments in the curve of the bottom don't match up between the front and back shell. I would have to fix that. Also just add a washer under the cart shield and you'll be able to tighten those screws.
I wasn't going to see the whole video. Until I did...
Amazing project! Now a 7" version, or better, a GBA 7" screen version with the ergonomics of the ROG Ally. One cam dream, right
This is where one would hope, two projects could collide and become something beautiful: A frogboy/fpgbc collab.
Very well done. Only addtional wish for me would be an alternative board which was compatible with the Q10 screen AMOLED mods. Hopefully someone takes this design and uses it for an open source FPGA handheld. Maybe add two addtional face buttons and a couple shoulder butons. Move the volume wheel to the side along with the push button start to a slide. Minor changes which should make a fantastic device. I'm saving one Q10 screen hopeful for a future revision. Or maybe I should dio it myself if everything is open source.
The shell reminds me of an upside down Gizmondo. I love it.
I went into this impressed, then I was pissed when the IR part was omitted, but I was relieved to know the IR port is going to be in a later version.
You could call me a GBC purist in a way, because despite the seldom used IR scanner, it's still a part of the unit.
Now, if only something like this could be done for a GBA SP design, or an after-market 3DS with GB/GBC/GBA cart functionality with the DS firmware still in the 3DS firmware. I want to see someone make an aftermarket 3DS that can function like a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, DS, DSi, 3DS, and new2DS family systems.
I get heavy NeoGeo Pocket Color vibes from this. Love it!
If Nintendo had released the Color like that back in the day (minus the volume dial perhaps), people would have bought it even more than they did.
Looks like it would feel great in the hands
The volume wheel is insane - but otherwise its an awesome device.
What is that button layout? it should have been like Y B on snes controller.
How are you supposed to hold down B when pressing A?
I think it's pretty nice despite that volume knob heh, always thought Nintendo kind of made the GBC stillborn the way they didn't really make many innovations beyond the OG GB Eg. the better than NES system palette was nice though.🙂 Perhaps they were concerned about looking like a Sega GG but really the GBA design and release was way more exciting.
In hindsight I think the GBC should have had four face buttons Ie. how much did the Select button get used anyway on NES/GB..., 3bpp/4bpp graphics with 32 on-screen-colors like GG/SMS, and perhaps a TV output port as I think all handhelds dragged their feet on that matter Eg. only the Sega Nomad had that bitd iirc.🤔
Considering total PCB conversion some of that is possible, added buttons would mostly apply to homebrew games, and I'll have to check out that HDMI GBC.😉
I can imagine our friends from the GBC FPGA project to be using this as an option for future releases
I feel the power button can DEFINITELY be a bit more flush while still reducing risk of accidental presses. That volume wheel... eh. Definitely can be at the bottom as well like the traditional game boy usually had it.
I like that this is a project that if the guy died in a car crash tomorrow you could still get this as long as PCB way is in business even if this is done 50 years in the future. this is an amazing project and I'm sure V2 and any other variants will be greatly loved. This even with it's flaws is the best retro modding projects to date.
I love the look of this build
Don't like the volume wheel there, but the rest is absolutely perfect. I'll wait to see if another version comes out.
I'm picking one up as soon as the IR circuit gets re-implemented.
(I play a lot of pokemon tcg games)
I wonder if there'd be a way to integrate a rom chip socket to make cpu and ram installation easier? Probably would be too thick, huh?
Seeing other people's comments, it feels like a thin clear plastic layer over the cartridge slot would go a long way. Its heart breaking to see the cartridge stickers get damaged and this most likely is gonna cause more damage quicker than normal
Would love to see a version of this but with the FPGBC chips so in theory you wouldn't have to desolder an old GBC? That could be really neat if it is possible.
So nice idea... but that volume wheel... i mean....whatwas he thinking?? XD also some guidance on each slotside for catriges would be easy without distracting the view of label.
This is great. I love it. I am happy to see people out there doing things they are passionate about. Creativity, engineering, craftsmanship - all wonderful things.
One question, though.... how does this compare to a GBA? I mean, it looks a tiny bit smaller. But other than that, and being able to say "This is something I made, it's unique" - what advantages are there?
Again - not in anyway discrediting the work and talent that it took to create this. Just wondering if there are pragmatic advantages to this over a GBA - especially one with a modded screen.
Technically none, but it does have stereo speakers, and the cartridge doesn't stick out unlike a GBA.
@@Brodensson and i would guess the screen would be better suited for GB/GBC games with the proper aspect ratio. Thanks!
Amazing work. Would probably also add a couple of pertruding grips/"butt cheeks" to the back on either side for ergonomics, and they could also home larger internal batteries. The device is small enough as-is to not worry about the increased form factor and would make the device a lot more comfortable to hold and use over longer play sessions.
I’d love to see one of these custom case/form factor mods partner with the gbc fpga people to do a (probably small) batch of ready to go mother boards
My 2 issues is that the batteries and speakers are soldered to to the mainboard. For the speakers, it's not that much of a deal but for the batteris, I do not like non user replaceable batteries. I would have like to have seen the batteries be pluggable and easy to remove without have to take the handheld apart. Maybe a future iternation can use something like a 3DS battery that you can just place in.
I do agree that the cartridge needs to be better secured. If he is hard set on having the label displayed than maybe he can use a piece of clear plastic that is secured on the inside to keep the cartridge from accidentally coming out. Also the GameBoy games I play (mostly Pokémon) use the IR port.
Personally I would love to see someone create a modern version of the DS. Since Nintendo dropped the GBA slot starting with the DSi, I've been wanting a DS replacement as my DS Lite is not feeling that great these days.
Now I want to see a version where the volume wheel integrates with power button.
This is so cool… also, it kinda looks like a frog with the start and select buttons lol 🐸