Before there were half-a-grand consoles and polyphonic ringtones, pre smart and arguably pre sleek technology, there was Nintendo Game Boy. While it may seem like being given the gift of a plastic brick with buttons on was some Victorian-era punishment, my late-90s childhood was enriched by that same situation.
Of course, those bricks were the original DMG-01 Game Boys. The non “Play it Loud!” mostly grey Japan-made variants had already been in production since 1989. But even ten years later they were still considered cutting-edge.
Production of DMG-01 Game Boys stopped in the early 2000s, making them somewhat of a collector’s item. Popular enough for a niche of techies to cotton on, unpopular enough that they were mis-valued by the general public as trash. During that period, Game Boys went through a glowing resurgence of popularity in the form of modding. Even in 2020, the modding scene remains booming.
Unfortunately, people seem to have woken up to their value on the second-hand market, especially since demand for this retro gold soared at around the time of the first covid-19 quarantine. If you don’t already have a DMG-01, fret not! there are still some bargains to be had, though only if you’re quick enough to spot them first.
Is it Worth Buying an Original DMG-01 Model?
Yes, absolutely and here are three major reasons why:
#1 – They’re Still Being Sold Off Relatively Cheaply
While quarantine was/is in effect, many have taken the opportunity to clear out their attics and drawers of bits, bobs, titbits, thimbles and thingmajigs, flocking to second-hand market apps and Facebook marketplace. Buy local or spares/repairs for the greatest savings. Their value will undoubtably increase over time.
#2 – While Second-hand Stocks Last
Search your memories for how well your Game Boy was treated back in the day. If the answer is ‘Very well actually’ and not ‘I kept it in a wet ditch for three years’ then that is a peculiar case. They were capable of withstanding a fair beating, sure, and it’s for that exact reason that a lot of people forgot to treat them with care.
Although roughly 120 million units of the console were produced worldwide (including the pocket, light and ‘color’ variants) many were lost. Be it in the aforementioned wet ditch, left in the sun, dropped in the bath, thrown down the stairs and out of windows etc. Add that to the fact: some of the OG Nintendo Game Boy DMG-01s are now over thirty years old. Like aged electrical fairytale damsels in distress, they require saving.
#3 – While you’re stuck indoors – learn a new skill
One of the benefits of working with old technology is that motherboards and circuits were simpler and larger then. It’s easy to tell your power PCB from your mainboard and display/sound daughter boards with a little light reading online, perhaps even using plain logic. Even learning that is an invaluable skill. Not to mention, this is one of the best consoles to practise hardware modding on.
There are a wide range of options, no tiny finnicky modern components and you can easily test the console while it’s in pieces due to its low current and design. If you’ve ever wanted to try hardware mods, take your nostalgia out for a walk and pick up one of these second-hand.
Many choose not to mod original Game Boys and if they’re in pristine condition or are of high rarity then that’s understandable. If you’re salvaging one though or if you feel no guilt, sky’s the limit. Repairing an original Game Boy is also a great starter project before diving into modding, though this works both ways.
Big Modder’s House: Power and Display Mods for the DMG-01 Original Nintendo Game Boy
Coming into this as a complete nintenmod newbie, there are still a few options open depending on how much time and/or money is on the table for this project. The most obvious mods are reshelling with custom buttons, for example. Re-shelling gives the console a new lease of life and cracking one open to clean it during the parts transfer does it a lot of good. This is just the tip of the modding iceberg.
A touch-sensitive IPS LCD costs a pretty penny but they look fantastic. The visuals are so much clearer, it’s not uncommon to spot details in classic games you may have missed as a nipper. Some LCDs have the option to flick between custom colours at the tap of a finger, with brightness dimming too.
A backlit screen utilises the original screen and requires swapping out the old polarising filter for a transparent one. This allows the light from the backlight to pass through. Some argue that a backlit screen feels slightly more authentic and original than an aftermarket LCD. It’s more cost-effective, too.
In order to improve the look of a backlit screen further, a bivert chip is the logical way to go. This literally inverts colours, black pixels become white etc. The new polarising filter (often supplied with backlight bivert kits) then serves to normalise this inversion, flipping the colours back (somehow) resulting in more clarity.
Improvements for voltage stability with a decoupling/bulk capacitor, wiring in an updated power PCB, recapping the entire system and a rechargeable battery are also very possible at an ever-so-slight expense. Tutorials are on the way to explain those terms and the processes more in-depth.
Big Modder’s House 2: Audio Mods for the DMG-01 Original Nintendo Game Boy
Sound mods are another kettle of decibels. One, nicknamed the Pro Sound mod, involves wiring the volume potentiometer (dial) directly to the earphone jack. This bypasses the outdated onboard amplifier. It’s a very easy mod and all that’s required is a length of wire and some light soldering. The result, much like what the bivert chip provides for visuals, is increased clarity.
There are other noteworthy audio mods aside from this. Like the bass boost mod and Pro Sound’s audio jack for those who like living vicariously through their earphones. At the crazier end of the spectrum are projects like converting a Game Boy into a MIDI controller for music. You can even use it as an effects pedal for a bass or electric guitar.
That was TechStomper’s intro to the OG Nintendo Game Boy’s modding potential. If there are any mods you feel should have been mentioned, please let us know in the comments.
In addition, is modding this console akin to desecrating a relic. Or does it add a new lease of life to something great? Let us know!