Now I remember why I hated it so much...

[0078265317]

The first gameboy was great but the color was so much better. I got a used original one off ebay for 10 bucks free shipping untested and it works great. I thought it was broken but the contrast was up all the way so it looks as if its broken. After adjusting it it works. I see the nintendo logo and works all games. except color ones of course and above as gba, etc.

 

But I remember why it was so horrible now. The scree is hardly visable. Its not broken. The screen is good. Both internal and external. The inside is good, no lines. And the outside thing that says "DOT MATRIX WITH STEREO SOUND" is in very good shape. A few light scratches but not bad for 24 years.

 

So its not broken just really hard to see no matter how I do the contrast. But I remember form back in the day the pea-soup green screen was awful and lots of eye strain.

 

Anyhow a few things.

 

1. How to get rid of battery corrosion. There is a little. Not too much but a little under one of the metal springs. Best way to clean??

 

2. Why does Hexcite and NBA Jam work. Both are color games but work on the original gameboy.

[+Gemintronic]

It's the developers choice whether to back down to black & white gracefully. If they are nice but lazy they just tell you to get a better gameboy. Some just intentionally lock up after a check.

 

I was extremely bummed getting a backlight modded Gameboy Pocket. it's NOT the fault of the seller. The mod drains the batteries such that the backlight fades when sound or heavy scrolling happens. it's unusable in the dark: which is practically the whole point.

[goldenegg]

I was extremely bummed getting a backlight modded Gameboy Pocket. it's NOT the fault of the seller. The mod drains the batteries such that the backlight fades when sound or heavy scrolling happens. it's unusable in the dark: which is practically the whole point.

 

It's the fault of whoever modded it. There's no reason for that to happen, other than an improper mod. Either that, or you're using NiCad batteries, which don't have sufficient voltage.

 

I have an original and pocket which are backlight modded and neither have that issue. For anyone looking to get a modded system, I highly recommend Kitsch Bent.

 

http://store.kitsch-bent.com

[0078265317]

Also how to clean battery corrosion. Best way?

[goldenegg]

Also how to clean battery corrosion. Best way?

 

Electrical contact cleaner

[+Gemintronic]

Electrical contact cleaner

 

The stuff I use makes plastic brittle. Any kind he should use in particular?

[goldenegg]

 

 

The stuff I use makes plastic brittle. Any kind he should use in particular?

 

I've used both DeoxIT and this

 

http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Hardware/Automotive/Fuses-Wiring/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/150g-Electronical-Contact-Cleaner/_/N-ntjgq/R-I8618888

 

Never had any issues affecting system casings in any way. I use this to clean games as well.

[Osgeld]

dont hose your plastics down with it like it was hornet killer on a wasp nest outside your front door

 

spray some on a scrap chunk of wood or whatever and soak it up with a toothbrush, clean contacts, then repeat with something to remove the contact cleaner

 

honestly though a toothbrush with some iso will get rid of it most of the time

[+Random Terrain]

honestly though a toothbrush with some iso will get rid of it most of the time

 

You might want to add a disclaimer about not brushing your teeth with it after. You never know who might read that and try to sue you later if you don't have a disclaimer.

[Osgeld]

disclaimer, don't be retarded with your toothbrush

[Austin]

The original GB pretty much required a good light source, otherwise it was pretty much useless.

[atarilovesyou]

Anybody remember that light that clipped onto the system, almost the same colour? I think Nuby made it. I remember playing that Zelda game in the dark, being just amazed! Now I cringe a little. But boy howdy wasn't the GB a SELLER for Nintendo...without it, I doubt it would have survived past the Super NES.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

Gameboy / Gameboy Color Worm Light

 

[0078265317]

Gameboy / Gameboy Color Worm Light

 

 

I had one of those. It broke.

[Andromeda Stardust]

Gameboy / Gameboy Color Worm Light

 

I had one of those. It broke.

That's the way to go. I had the exat same translucent purple Game Boy with matching worm light. I remember playing my Game Boy Color in the dark with a worm light and headphones in spring 1999 during my senior at boarding school when I was supposed to be asleep. No better way to play Tetris IMO than in the dark with a worm light. Chrystal clear screen with both B&W or color games. Unforunately, my Game Boy Color suffered a two foot drop in 2004 and the internal speaker broke, relegating my usage to headphones. At least it finally gave me an excuse to get a Game Boy Advance. Nowadays, it's 3DS/DS or Game Cube Concole w/ Game Boy Player for me.

 

If you insist on gaming with a monochrome Game Boy, get a Game Boy Pocket. It uses two AA batteries instead of four, and the screen is crisp grayscale instead of lime green. It's actually got a clearer display than the Game Boy Color IMO.

[atarilovesyou]

That purple GB Colour was the one I used to use...it's was a friend's, however. Memories! Can't say I have many good things to say about the lame worm light. Didn't cost much, however...I guess that was a plus.

Edited July 1, 2013 by atarilovesyou

[Seob]

I bought a purple see through gbc back then, but returned it the next day, since the case is so reflective it distracted me while playing games. Got a blue/green version instead. Still have it.

[jmetal88]

I had the solid green Gameboy Color way back when. Sold it when I was short on cash one time. I finally got a GBA SP recently so I could enjoy Gameboy games on the go again, but I'd still like to go back and get another Gameboy Color sometime.

[+wood_jl]

Gameboy / Gameboy Color Worm Light

 

 

 

That combo (GBC/Worm Light) was QUITE an advancement in the Gameboy dept! I still have my original setup and it works great! I bought some spare Worm Lights from Ebay back when they were worthless. What an era that was! Super Mario Bros Deluxe with this setup was a dream come true!!!!

 

I have a couple nice original Gameboys, and I like to take them out once in a while to remind myself how far handheld gaming has come. Even though it's not the easiest thing to see, the original Gameboy underscores the fact that games (good games) are of considerably more importance than the system; RC Pro AM is still fun today, on that crappy little poor-contrast pea-green screen!

[toptenmaterial]

As much as we can complain about the lousy Game Boy screen today, I found it amazing as a child. I still remember Christmas night (1989?) playing Tetris and Super Mario Land by the fireplace.