Those of you who happen to follow the Game Boy modding scene will be aware that its relatively easy to tinker with your monochrome system and get a gorgeously sharp and well-lit screen these days, but the Game Boy Color is a harder nut to crack, largely due to the nature of its reflective display, which can't be lit with LEDs as effectively.
Last year, we reported that hacker BennVenn appeared to have hit upon the solution for this issue, and after months of research and development, he's finally ready to lift the lid on his mod. It involves taking a Game Boy Advance AGS-101 screen and cramming it into the shell of the GBC. A special ribbon cable has to be fitted so the console can "talk" to the screen, and some wiring and soldering is also required. It's not an easy job.
As you can see from the video below, the results are impressive - but there are a few catches. The least concerning is that the power LED has to be removed to fit the screen in, but a bigger problem is that the new screen is so big it's impossible to fully close-up the casing.
BennVenn says that with a little more work, it may be possible to create a better version of this mod, but after dropping almost $150 on parts - not including the Game Boy Color itself - it sounds like he's ready to move onto something else. Looks like we'll have to wait a little longer for a perfect GBC screen mod.
Comments 24
I have a backlit GBA SP to play all these games
Wouldn't you just be better off tinkering with a GBA instead? Modding a Gameboy Colour seems like a pain, is compromised and it doesn't work properly. Plus you can play more games on a GBA.
Id imagine its more a case of seeing if it can be done, as with a lot of mods, like running doom on a washing machine. There's no point but its proving it can be done
I've been interested in a GBC backlit screen mod for a while now. I was surprised when I first found out that none were available. I'd definitely be interested, but only if a more affordable and less hacky solution was found. I certainly don't want to chop up the plastic or risk shorting a board.
@Morph True, but in this case, there are complete idiots out there (...me...) that will buy things like this. Yes, the GBA SP AGS101 would be the easier, cheaper way to play, but there's just something intangible about using the original GBC hardware (Save for the screen) to play your games. I also find the GBA SP form factor to be less comfortable than the GBC. So sure, this will only appeal to a very small group of people, but it's pretty awesome either way. Nostalgia / collector mentality makes me do stupid things... I think I've already got 4 GBCs as it is.
EDIT: I do hope he simply sells his ribbon adapter/cables. Then I'd likely buy 5-10 of these to do some of my own mods.
Do all these AGS 101 mods (incl. ones added to original GBAs or AGS 001 SPs) use backlit screens from the actual GBA SP AGS 101, or are they 'new' cloned ones? Because if it's the former then surely we'll be running out of those GBAs soon.
Also those saying why not just use a GBA to play the GBC games, I believe the display screen of the games is slightly smaller when they're played on a GBA, plus does the GBA have all the different colour palette options that the GBC has by pressing different button combinations? I'm not sure but they could be the reasons for wanting to mod a GBC. Plus there's nothing quite like playing games on the original hardware they were designed for.
I have one of the GBA with 101 screen its FANTASTIC
But don't think I will get a Gbc no point
But I can see why they will try it if it's a cool as the GBA
@GravyThief As I understand it, the ags-101 screens either get taken from systems, broken in many cases, or from excess stock of screens that were not used. As the gba screen is higher resolution, the problem of gbc games not filling these screens still remains, I believe. I like the idea of putting these screens in original gba models since it's another gba that can play gbc games, but I'm not a fan of putting them in gbc. But that's just my personal opinion and people are free to do it.
Umm... no. i'm sure there's a better mod or one that will come along that enables you to close the case properly. Until then... Super Game Boy for the SNES works just fine for me for Gameboy compatible games.
@GravyThief They are most of the time left over Old-New Stock. They could have been stored from a warehouse from production era GBA SP's or from non-used stock that was meant for repairing devices. Some are from broken stock, but most of the time it is Old-New.
@Manjushri If you prefer playing on the original hardware then definitely get one, they're a delight to use. It's especially nice going back to older games that I struggled with simply because of bad lighting.
I'm not so sure if all this hard work is worth on the final result. For example, the console shell is not closing very well... Seems like this is a GBA screen inside GBC shell. Not sure if I would do that to my console...
I'd prefer having a GBA SP Brighter or a Micro instead.
Other than the obvious that's been stated, I couldn't imagine doctoring up one of these lol.
@Manjushri I actually modded one to have a backlight screen and a custom shell and buttons. It looks badass.
Ummm...ok.
@GravyThief
I used to mod and refurbish game boy advance's with backlit screen's. They used to manufacture backlit screen's ready for fitting, I'd buy them online. Then they dried up or got shut down or something and the only way to get the screens was to strip an so 101 screen, which ramped the price up on that model. That's when I stopped, just cost too much🙁
Hm.. thouse actually look pretty cool but I'm going to stick with my Gba Sp for now even though I prefer the feel of the Gbc. $150 plus the extra workload is just a bit much for me.
@ULTRA-64 I too have done several of the mods as well - I believe the prevailing theory is that new backlit screens were never actually re-produced, but a supply of new old stock was sold. The supply dried up, and now you are left paying $50-$80 for an LCD out of an AGS-101.
@able_to_think
I've got one too. Wasn't hard to do and the result is amazing. Best screen, best form factor and takes AA batteries so can use it in years to come.
I saw this mod several years ago. This is nothing new. I haven't watched the video... but the mod I saw put the screen in sideways. But the case could be closed.
So, the best would be to 3D print a new case for it.
Why in the world would you do that to an AGS-101 when it can play your Gamboy Color games anyway..... seems utterly stupid. Do you know how long and hard it was for me to track down an AGS-101 and manage to get it at the none crazy price they command. What a ridiculous idea. Back to drawing board come back to me with a better one.... sorry to be so blunt.
I'm waiting to see what alternative he can come up with. Honestly, the AGS-101 screen isn't really that great, the refresh is almost as bad as the DS Lite.
Something that doesn't have to be harvested would hopefully be a lot less expensive, too, and require less modifications to the shell.
I get the premise but given the GBAs increased usefulness I wonder why you simply just wouldn't use that instead
I have a GBA with a 101 screen, and a DMG backlit and biverted. I'm good, thanks...
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