I just built my first ever Gameboy Macro!

This ended up taking me three hours of total build time. I took my time, followed along with Macho Nacho Productions assembly video, and everything went fluid. My only snag was my shell didn't come with the 3D printed pieces that his did to support the screen, but it doesn't seem to affect my build at all. I tried to make it look as DMG as possible. The resistor soldering was MUCH easier thanks to my new, smaller soldering iron. It's USB powered and I got it with my Funnyplaying order from yesterday. It heats up in 10 seconds and cools off in about 30 seconds. Well worth the $10!

This is using an aftermarket screen sold by Handheld Legend, and I'm glad I did research first. Apparently the original bottom screens come with insulation on the back, and the replacement screens don't. So many of the reviews of this screen on eBay was people not putting Kapton tape on it and blowing their fuses. So I not only taped the back of mine properly, but also added some thin foam behind it for support. Works flawlessly. My original screens were turning yellow and the top screen had some weird diagonal likes that I assume is some kind of screen rot. So that's why I put a new screen in. Looks premium!

I used the original volume slider, start and select buttons, and Dpad. The aftermarket black D-pad that I bought was too thin, and the left side kept getting stuck, which simply will not do, so I used the stock Dpad. I also ended up cleaning the insides of the lower shell because..... Yuck.

All in all, I expected this to be much harder than it was, and the end result is incredible. I expected the aluminum to weigh it down, but it's surprisingly light and fells good in the hands.

View attachment 254370

View attachment 254368

View attachment 254366
  • Like
Reactions: 21 people

Comments

Tha back is just a matte dark grey, almost black. Used a cobalt blue DS Lite. I like the matte finish in my hands better than the glossy ones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
@Lightyose I didn't have game consoles growing up, because my parents didn't want us hogging the TV. So we compromised with a Gameboy for each of us kids. It became my favorite thing in the world when I was a kid, and my love for them never really faded. I'm just in LOVE with all the cool new mods that have been coming out lately within the last 2 years or so, and I can finally buy them. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
I knew this was going to be a special build, so I thought I should get a protective case for it too. I'll get another case like this one for my hingeless SP when it arrives.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
I think the coolest part of this whole thing was making the light pipe out of hot glue... Definitely never done that before.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
Thanks mate! I think I'm gonna buy an EZ Omega cart for it so the cart sits flush. Then I can put this shitty old EZ 4 back into my Gameboy Player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Nice work! Very neat, very clean, but that looks hella uncomfortable. I know it follows the shape of the original console but that is also hella uncomfortable :P If they're making custom shells, could they make something a bit wider and a little bit more rounded?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
I have zero issues with comfort. Feels just fine to me. But as someone who loves the PSP, Gamegear, and OG GBA, I guess I'm just used to the form factor. If anything, the GBA SP is the least comfortable to me, but I have large hands.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
Ah, I see what you mean. I meant the form factor is fine, but the shape could be better. The PSP and GG and original GBA were more rounded, the Lite is a rectangle with sharp corners and edges, and I find it uncomfortable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person

Blog entry information

Author
Jayro
Views
457
Comments
54
Last update

More entries in Personal Blogs

More entries from Jayro

General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    Veho @ Veho: https://i.imgur.com/bG1pQld.mp4 +1