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.
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.
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.
@@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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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!
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.
1:25 The second I saw this shot, I already knew I hated this shell because the developer messed up the placement of that spinning knob. Without even watching the rest of the video, I already know there's custom wirework and soldering involved to make this shell work, so why did they decide to put the knob there when it could have been put literally anywhere that made actual sense?
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!
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!
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
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.
I really like this, but i gotta wonder, whats the point? A modded OG Gameboy Advance has the same form factor and can play every generation of Gameboy game.
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.
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.
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
The power button and volume wheel are honestly stupid. It’s redesigning things that don’t need to be redesigned. I also don’t like the exposed cartridge. That’s a great way to damage the label on the cartridge. I could also see someone breaking their cartridges if they grabbed it or slid it out of their pocket and the cartridge gets snagged on something
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The project is not actually open source! Yes, we can order stuff but the PCBs are private, can't thinker with those, the 3D files are STLs which are not editable. So no open source.
This is really nice looking, and I appreciate all the work that went into it, but they made the same mistake with B and A that the Dogbone NES controller made. Having B lower than A isn't how the thumb naturally sits for games where you need to press both.
@@Kalvinjj yeah I get that, it’s just something I assume would be corrected when making a custom PCB is all. If we were sticking with the original PCB isn’t not something I would bring up.
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.
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.
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
I like big conspicuous knobs as much as the next person, but having it directly under the face buttons isn't great. Otherwise I think this looks really cool!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
The FrogBoy Color has BOOM processing, the GameBoy don't! What's BOOM processing? [Montage of various GB & GBC games set to awesome 90s music) FrogBoy does what Nintendon't!
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.
If anyone plans on making or using one of these, find a way to mod in a plastic shield for the cartridge slot, unless you want to ruin your cartridge labels.
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 would like some kind of plexiglass to protect that cartridge if you ask me. While if you're careful nothing will happen but one weird snag on your pants or something like that and you can rip that cartridge along with its connector right off the PCB
Since its thinner than the gbc, he could make use of the original gbc size, and use it to make some sort of transparent shielding for card slot that both protect the labels and keep the card properly seated, without losing the ability to easily what game is on it, no reasone to make i thinner, just make original gbc thick and use on the shell to make what i suggested, would fix 2 issues with one design change.
Ordered one of these pcb's when the project first released, and now I really wish I'd have ordered it assembled even with that extra cost it would have been worth it.
I also am wary about something happening to the cartridge with this design. I love that you can see the cartridge art, but wish that it was just a window. This could be achieved by having the design include cartridge slot bracing at the top. BUT I have some sort of mental block with analog volume control. I want to have repeatable volume steps 😂
@@JaredClarkBoaz or go the route of clear GBC shells - have the shell cover most of it. The cartridge art isn’t THAT obscured, and you never see it while playing anyways.
Only thing I think would REALLY improve it is that, since GBA can play GBC/GB games, doing this for a GBA instead would open the door to a wider audience. I personally only own 8 GBC games as opposed to 116 GBA games, so it's not for me, but I do like how it looks regardless.
i'd rather have a slim gear style of volume knob sticking slightly out the side like the DMG. literally just needs a notch in the case shell and to move the pot over some. and maybe not even the moving part, if its done right. and yeah, its not used much, but the ir not being there is a bummer. i have literally no other complaints, its slick work.
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
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 ;)
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
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
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.
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
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.
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'
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.
The cartridge slot really needs something like a clear plastic covering that protects the cart while still being able to see the label.
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
Was sitting here since the moment I saw the volume wheel, yep, knew accidental bumping was coming up as a con
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 title made me think some shade was being thrown at Gunpei Yokoi and I'm glad it wasn't. RIP king.
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
Not with that volume knob. No way.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
This has been my favorite GBC build for sure!
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.
Making the volume wheel sunk like all the other buttons would help a lot.
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 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.
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.
1:25 The second I saw this shot, I already knew I hated this shell because the developer messed up the placement of that spinning knob. Without even watching the rest of the video, I already know there's custom wirework and soldering involved to make this shell work, so why did they decide to put the knob there when it could have been put literally anywhere that made actual sense?
Biggest gripe is move the volume nob to the top or side, also prefer start select one side or bottom.
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!
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!
Such a bummer, the the exposed cart label and volume wheel placement completely ruin what could have been the absolute perfect Game Boy Color..
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
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 😉
I really like this, but i gotta wonder, whats the point? A modded OG Gameboy Advance has the same form factor and can play every generation of Gameboy game.
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?
WOW thats a very solid 3.3v rail in 7:27
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.
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.
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 think this is very creative and awesome! The volume button isn't in a good spot but still cool.
The power button and volume wheel are honestly stupid. It’s redesigning things that don’t need to be redesigned. I also don’t like the exposed cartridge. That’s a great way to damage the label on the cartridge. I could also see someone breaking their cartridges if they grabbed it or slid it out of their pocket and the cartridge gets snagged on something
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
Guys will see a Frogboy Color and go "hell yeah".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The project is not actually open source! Yes, we can order stuff but the PCBs are private, can't thinker with those, the 3D files are STLs which are not editable. So no open source.
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.
This is really nice looking, and I appreciate all the work that went into it, but they made the same mistake with B and A that the Dogbone NES controller made. Having B lower than A isn't how the thumb naturally sits for games where you need to press both.
Not wrong just needs to be reversed so the lower button is under on the right, not left
I agree it can be argued that the height difference is too much, but literally the entire Game Boy lineup has it that way (less pronounced tho).
@@Kalvinjj yeah I get that, it’s just something I assume would be corrected when making a custom PCB is all. If we were sticking with the original PCB isn’t not something I would bring up.
The retro handheld gaming community never ceases to amaze me.
The volume wheel is insane - but otherwise its an awesome device.
That volume wheel placement 💀
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.
The pros and cons are always what I look forward to most, mainly due to how honest you are with the cons lmao
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.
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
we need a frogboy2 that fixes the game cartridge slot, changes volume wheel, and adds the infrared feature
To me, this is how you build the ultimate Gameboy. You can pretty much replace all the peripherals.
That volume wheel is this frogs wart.
I like big conspicuous knobs as much as the next person, but having it directly under the face buttons isn't great. Otherwise I think this looks really cool!
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.
tito is lowkey showing off his soldering skills
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!
This with OLED and Volume wheel placed inside the system like the OG Game Boy Color.
This is so cool… also, it kinda looks like a frog with the start and select buttons lol 🐸
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.
This is where one would hope, two projects could collide and become something beautiful: A frogboy/fpgbc collab.
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.
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.
The FrogBoy Color has BOOM processing, the GameBoy don't!
What's BOOM processing?
[Montage of various GB & GBC games set to awesome 90s music)
FrogBoy does what Nintendon't!
Now I can finally play For Whom The Frog Tolls on my Frogboy Color while I sit on my froggy chair in my frog onesie and frog slippers. 🐸
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.
If anyone plans on making or using one of these, find a way to mod in a plastic shield for the cartridge slot, unless you want to ruin your cartridge labels.
This is an extremely satisfying build. It's been a while since I built a modded Gameboy. Might be time to dive in again.
I wouldn't mind that volume knob if it had a spring loaded latch so you could press it in flat.
Awesome design and craftsmanship on display throughout the video but my god the cost of making it like shown is eye-watering for a gameboy color.
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 would like some kind of plexiglass to protect that cartridge if you ask me. While if you're careful nothing will happen but one weird snag on your pants or something like that and you can rip that cartridge along with its connector right off the PCB
Since its thinner than the gbc, he could make use of the original gbc size, and use it to make some sort of transparent shielding for card slot that both protect the labels and keep the card properly seated, without losing the ability to easily what game is on it, no reasone to make i thinner, just make original gbc thick and use on the shell to make what i suggested, would fix 2 issues with one design change.
Ordered one of these pcb's when the project first released, and now I really wish I'd have ordered it assembled even with that extra cost it would have been worth it.
Not a fan of the cartridge slot being so exposed like the Analogue Pocket, but I can live with the volume wheel.
I also am wary about something happening to the cartridge with this design. I love that you can see the cartridge art, but wish that it was just a window. This could be achieved by having the design include cartridge slot bracing at the top. BUT I have some sort of mental block with analog volume control. I want to have repeatable volume steps 😂
@@JaredClarkBoaz or go the route of clear GBC shells - have the shell cover most of it. The cartridge art isn’t THAT obscured, and you never see it while playing anyways.
Aside from maybe 3 issues, I love the Frogboy design. Fix those as indicated in the video and comments and it would be SS tier.
Only thing I think would REALLY improve it is that, since GBA can play GBC/GB games, doing this for a GBA instead would open the door to a wider audience.
I personally only own 8 GBC games as opposed to 116 GBA games, so it's not for me, but I do like how it looks regardless.
i'd rather have a slim gear style of volume knob sticking slightly out the side like the DMG. literally just needs a notch in the case shell and to move the pot over some. and maybe not even the moving part, if its done right.
and yeah, its not used much, but the ir not being there is a bummer.
i have literally no other complaints, its slick work.
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
Don't like the volume wheel there, but the rest is absolutely perfect. I'll wait to see if another version comes out.
The shell reminds me of an upside down Gizmondo. I love it.
This is pretty cool. Unfortunately, it uses the terrible SP clicky button domes.
I like how the styling is partly based on the sega game gear
The frog boy looks good in my opinion