Tag: Modding
Random Good Lord, This 3-Screened Mutant Game Boy Is Utterly Cursed
Plays GB, GBC, GBA and DS games
Retrofitting Game Boys with better screens and superior batteries isn't a new thing, but prolific modder HaihaiSB isn't content with simply making these vintage systems better – he wants to take things to extremes, as is evidenced by his latest, twisted creation: the DMG-105Z. Using the o
News This Crazy Mod Turns The Game Boy Advance SP Into 2003's Nintendo Switch
Joy-Con support! A dock! TV-out!
We've covered the incredible work of Macho Nacho Productions before on this site, but the channel's latest project is one of its most ambitious yet. This new mod turns the Game Boy Advance SP into a Switch-style system complete with Joy-Con support, a 3D-printed dock and even the ability to play on your TV. Using a...
Random Check Out This Game Boy Color And Nintendo DS Mash-Up
Two-in-one
We've seen plenty of cool retro mods over the years, but this latest effort from Game Boy Custom really stands out – mainly because it's fusing together a Game Boy Color with a Game Boy Advance and the internals of a Nintendo DS. Still with us? Good. The Aussie modder has sent a proof-of-concept prototype to our friends at Retro Dodo,...
News The 'Thicc Boi SP' GBA Mod Offers Bluetooth Audio, Better Stamina And Wireless Charging
Update: Plans afoot to sell as a DIY kit
Update: Macho Nacho Productions – the outfit behind the amazing 'Thicc Boi SP' mod we covered in August – have revealed that it has not only improved the design to include a better battery (4,500 mAh lithium polymer), but it's also going to sell it as an upgrade kit so that people can install it...
News This 'Simpsons Hit & Run' Fan Remade The Game In A Week Using Unreal Engine
"If something is hard to do, it's not worth doing" (Homer Simpson, 1992)
Although it has some issues, The Simpsons Hit & Run has gone down as something of a classic since its release almost 20 years ago. The game took the GTA template and added America's most dysfunctional family, creating a fun romp which found a solid audience on PS2, Xbox and...
News New Zelda: Breath Of The Wild PC Mod Makes The Game Look Better Than Ever
8K visuals and ray tracing - but there's more than one catch
Zelda: Breath of the Wild looks amazing on Switch, but modders – using an emulated version of the game – have been working on making it look even more fantastic via the magic of PC hardware for the past few years now. Take German modder Digital Dreams, who has managed to get Breath of...
Random The Game Boy Has Finally Grown Up To Become The 'Game Man'
You're a man, not a boy
The Game Boy turns 32 this year, but, unlike most entering their fourth decade on this planet, it has remained surprisingly small. Thankfully, the Grumpy Modeler has decided to change that by forcing Nintendo's handheld to grow up – in more ways than one. Using a combination of parts – including a 3D-printed case, NES...
News A Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Fan Has Created A Super Mario 64-Inspired DLC Expansion
And they're releasing it for free
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild remains one of the Switch's greatest titles almost four years since its release, providing us with hours of fun across its main campaign and DLC expansions. But what if we could get even more content to enjoy? Well, a modder by the name of
News Zelda Modder Performs The Ultimate Renovation On Breath Of The Wild's Hyrule Castle
Hyrule Town comes next
With Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity showcasing what Breath of the Wild's world looked like before it was all ruined by Ganon, it was obvious that modders would leverage the new assets to painstakingly "rebuild" the kingdom in the 2017 title. Now, a modder named banan039 has reconstructed the famous Hyrule Castle using the...
News Switch Emulator Adds Online Support, Then Loses It Double-Quick In Embarrassing U-Turn
"We apologize to our community for the confusion"
This week, the development team behind Switch emulator yuzu added support for online multiplayer. However, a week later, the function has been removed from the emulator – with no reason given by the developers. The following message was posted on a blog relating to the emulator: We are saddened...
Random This Unofficial Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Mod Makes It Pad-Smashingly Hard
Anyone order a few Golden Lynels?
Zelda: Breath of the Wild contains some pretty tough enemies, but the Lynel is one of the hardest – and the Golden Lynel is even more difficult to overcome, making it a kill that only truly skilled players can obtain. If you're one such player, then you might be interested in upping the stakes a little with a new...
Random OK, We Really Need This Pokédex Game Boy Advance Console
The bespoke mod to rule them all?
Nintendo's handhelds have been the focus of fan-made mods for years, with industrious individuals doing everything from fitting better screens to creating entirely new case designs to make their Game Boy, GBA or DS stand out from the crowd. However, Rose Colored Gaming has been doing this for longer than most, and...
Random Check Out This Amazing "Skyview Temple" Custom Dungeon For Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The first custom dungeon available on (modded) Switches
Prolific modder Waikuteru – the same person who gave us Skyward Sword's Sandship Dungeon and a Mario Kart course in
News Modder Shrinks The N64 Down To The Size Of A Game Boy Advance SP
And it plays original carts, too
Portable N64 mods – where the console's internals are placed in a handheld shell complete with an LCD screen and battery so you can play Super Mario 64 on the road – have been around for years, but this latest effort has to rank as one of the most impressive yet. GmanModz has taken the guts of the N64 and placed...
Feature The Game Boy's Biggest Rival Gets Revived By The Modding Community
Where there's a McWill, there's a way
In the early 1980s, portable gaming was mainly limited to LCD-based games. Companies such as Casio, Grandstand and Tiger Electronics would all release various watches and devices to keep us entertained on those tiresome journeys. Nintendo wasn't really known here in the UK back then, but it stood out from the...
Video This Pocket-Sized Portable Plays GameCube And Wii Games
But you can't buy it
Portable Wii consoles aren't a new thing – we've seen one that fits inside a coat, lest we forget – but few fan-made mods come as elegantly packaged as this one. The PiiWii Pocket is the creation of YouTuber Shank Mods, and uses actual Wii internals rather than emulation. It comes with a suite of controls, internal cooling...
Feature How One Man Is Turning Dead DS Lites Into Gorgeous Game Boy Advance Systems
Say hello to the Neon Advance
Humanity has been troubled by many great questions during its time on Earth. Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? Where do all those bloody odd socks go? However, none of these perplexing quandaries is more troubling than the ultimate question: which is the best Nintendo handheld for playing Game Boy Advance...
News This Replacement Shell For The Switch Is Clearly The Best
Switch it up
Do you have fond memories of the N64 era of gaming, where limited edition translucent consoles were all the rage? It's mind-boggling why this isn't so much of a thing these days - who wouldn't want to see the internal gubbins of their electronics as they play their favourite game? Step in AliExpress seller MYRIANN, who have...
Random Should The Rumoured SNES Classic Be In Short Supply, This Modder Could Help
Nintendo wouldn't do that again though, right?
Nintendo hasn't officially stated if we're getting a SNES Classic Mini yet, but rumours suggest that it's happening. The company has apparently learned its lesson from the NES Classic and will hopefully, you know, actually make
Random Mario Kart 8 Mod Adds Everyone's Favourite Pink Blob To The Starting Grid
Kirby Air Ride 2?
Thanks to the modding community Kirby is the latest character to join the Mario Kart 8 ranks on Wii U. Previously we wrote about Sonic the Hedgehog and Captain Olimar from Pikmin joining the roster, now it's the pink puffball's turn to join the race - albeit unofficially, of course. This is not the first time Kirby has been...
News The Game Boy Color Is Finally Getting The Backlight Mod It Deserves
There's light at the end of the tunnel
Handhelds like the Game Boy may be as old as the hills these days but they're being supported by an active community of modders who are adding new features such as screen lights and prosound functionality. We've covered these mods extensively in the past and always wondered why the Game Boy Color never got as...
News Fan-Made HD Twilight Princess Update "On Hiatus" Following YouTube Takedowns By Nintendo
Entering the twilight zone
Last year - around the same time that Nintendo announced it was releasing a HD remake of Twilight Princess - we spoke to Tomoya Hamasaki, the leader of a team working on its own fan-made upgrade of the esteemed title. The project was incredibly ambitious, with the aim being to use the incredible power found in modern PCs...
News The Classic NES Lives On As An Awesome PC Case Mod
Pimp my NES
The iconic Nintendo Entertainment System was hardly a design classic back in 1985, but it holds special memories for many of us. What better way to keep the spirit of the humble NES alive than with a custom PC case mod? A PC Gamer reader gutted an old NES which he had lying around, went to work with a dremel and sandpaper and gave the...
Weirdness Splatoon Has Been Impressively Recreated In Team Fortress 2
Modding madness
Splatoon has been a critical and commercial success for Nintendo, and has introduced an entire generation of players to the concept of an online, team-based shooter. In fact, it has turned so many heads that even PC gamers - the chaps who live and breathe this kind of game - are paying tribute in their own unique way. A team of...
News Modder Creates A Bluetooth-Ready Game Boy, Because Why The Heck Not
Fantastic retro-fitting fun
If you're familiar with the world of Game Boy modding and music, then the name Joe Heaton should be known to you. This UK-based tech genius has been featured on the site in the past - both as an interview subject and to offer sagely advise to prospective modders - and he's back with his latest amazing creation. Heato
News You Can Now Create Your Very Own Game & Watch Handheld
Soldering skills required
While some believe that Nintendo's domination of the handheld market started with the Game Boy, it was in fact the Game & Watch series which really kicked things off for the Japanese firm. The brainchild of Gunpei Yokoi - the same man who created the Game Boy - these simple LCD portables sold millions during the '80s...
News We're Over The Moon With This Zelda: Majora's Mask Game Boy
You've met with some awesome paint, haven't you?
We love a good custom paint job of classic gaming hardware here at Nintendo Life Towers, and this Majora's Mask Game Boy is one of the coolest mods we have seen in a while. French artist Oskunk has given this tired old Game Boy a refreshing new lease of life by bringing it bang up to date with a...
News Modder Makes Chrom Playable in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Just because...
We recall a character reveal for the latest Super Smash Bros. titles last year that caused some confusion, as a brief appearance of Chrom and a dodgy live feed made some - including this writer - mistake him for a 'new challenger'. He wasn't of course, but was rather just part of Robin's Final Smash move - one of the lead characters...
Video Guess What, Super Mario Sunshine Looks Amazing Running At 60fps
GameCube classic is remastered by fans
We're so used to Super Mario games running in silky-smooth 60fps these days - it's hard to imagine playing Super Mario 3D World in anything less - but 2002 GameCube title Super Mario Sunshine has always been locked at 30fps - until now, that is. Industrious hackers have modded the game so it runs at 60fps via...
Guide How To Create A Custom Game Boy From Start To Finish
The glorious rebirth of a handheld gaming legend
In this unique one-off feature, esteemed Game Boy modder Joe Heaton — also known as Joeteach — takes us through an entire Game Boy custom job. Over the last couple of years, since getting hooked on the Game Boy modification scene and sharing my creations on Instagram, I have been asked a lot of...
News Modder Shows How to Play the 3DS With a GameCube Controller
No need to smash up the system
One controller generally considered to go hand-in-hand with the Super Smash Bros. series is the GameCube pad, which many still use in the most recent home console releases. Of course, it'll be possible to continue that tradition with the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U, but it's not an option for the imminent...
Video These Hacked Mario Kart 8 Runs Show Tracks in a Whole New Light
Going off course
In recent weeks we've shared some videos from YouTube duo MrBean35000vr, which has followed up its modding of Mario Kart Wii with being the first notable team to hack Mario Kart 8. The modders have been keen to emphasize that their desire to not 'break' the game for others is making them think carefully on how to release the...
News Mario Kart 8's Hackers Open Up Over Their Plans and Ethical Dilemma
"The Wii U was a bit of a fortress"
Earlier this year we brought you the news of hackers that had utilised an exploit in the Wii U and Mario Kart 8, a workaround that broke through older firmware and the system's internet browser. The first video showed the duo manipulating sound and text in Mario Kart 8, before changing fonts within the Wii U...
News Mario Kart 8 Hackers Show More Mods and an Unused 'Track'
Still no plans, as yet, to make methods public
In early July we reported on YouTube channel MrBean35000vr demonstrating that it had hacked a Wii U and Mario Kart 8, showing changes to text within the game, the console's menu and WaraWara Plaza. The hackers made a point in expressing their opposition to 'cheaters' and stated it was working towards...
News Hacker Claims to Demonstrate an Exploit to Mod a Wii U System and Mario Kart 8
Utilises a browser-based workaround
The Wii and DS systems suffered from extensive hacking and unauthorised mods, which allowed people to create their own apps and, alternatively, download and use ROMS of games for free. The homebrew scene was one aspect, though accompanying piracy was a substantial problem that impacted software sales and has been...
Ninterview Joe Heaton on The Joy of Game Boy Mods and Chiptune Music
"Over time it’s achieved an iconic status "
Nintendo's unrivalled history and cultural impact in gaming is manifested in various ways, and brings together fans and enthusiasts of many kinds. A number of us enthusiastically jump into the company's latest systems and games, while others find the most joy in collecting retro equivalents. There are...
News A Tokyo-Based Business Will Get Your 3DS Running on a TV
Has had no problems or objections from Nintendo
The 3DS is an attractive little portable machine, and following on from its DS predecessors has further established the credentials of a small, dual-screen gaming system. For those that don't like to squint at their games there is the 3DS XL, but there's undeniably a desire for some to be able to hook...
News Nintendo "Confident" in PC Box Anti-Piracy Case Following European Court of Justice Decision
It's complicated
Nintendo has been involved in a number of legal cases to shut down and cease the sale of products used for "modding" its consoles, with the resulting uses circumventing the official functionality of the hardware. A current ongoing case in Italy is with PC Box, with Nintendo pursuing a case due to the company marketing and selling...
News The Portable SNES You've Always Wanted, But Can Never Have
NOT coming soon to shop near you!
Wouldn't it be great to have a mobile SNES that you could take with you everywhere? Well, until Nintendo decides to pull its finger out and launch the DSi Virtual Console service we're all hoping and praying for, you'll have to send begging letters to industrious French hardware modder darthchris13. This talented...
News 20 Years On, The Power Glove is Still Awesomely Bad
“I love the Power Glove. It’s so bad.”
When Lucas Barton uttered those immortal words in the 1989 movie The Wizard it made every single Nintendo fan on the face of the planet want one. The reality was a little less impressive, but thankfully modder Matt Mechtley is ensuring that this iconic peripheral isn’t forgotten; he’s tinkered around...
News Stupidly Cool Portable Famicom Mod Surfaces
Shame we don’t know how to use a soldering iron...
The stuff these crazy modders seem to dream up never fails to surprise us, and this latest endeavour is totally off the chart in terms of sheer genius. Modder ‘goteking’ has taken a business card holder shaped like a Famicom cartridge and skillfully inserted a media player with a Famicom...
