Jim Pez Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 I want to get a Gameboy color. There is a guy on eBay selling a refurbished one with a glass screen and new buttons for $50. I have also seen some Gameboy clones. So the options I have are buying a used one, refurbished or Clone. What option do you think is best ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtmonkey Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 (edited) I'd stay away from the clones. They might have nice quality backlit screens, but they have all sorts of problems (incorrect aspect ratio, incorrect resolution, inaccurate sound). Gameboy Color doesn't suffer from the capacitor issues of the Lynx and (especially) Game Gear, so I'd think that a used one in nice condition should be just as nice a refurbished one. However, that means you need to rely on the word of the Ebay seller, so refurb might be safest. Edited January 19, 2019 by newtmonkey 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonGrafx-16 Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 I would just use a GBA... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 There's only one good GBC clone, but getting the good one of it is a crap shoot. The GB Boy Color has a lit up screen and the same general dimensions of the GBC, but it's got a few games where audio can get wonky a little, and a lesser few games that don't work. The issue really though is that some do have and some don't have a battery problem. If you get a bad one, powered down it still draws the life from your batteries and fairly fast too so if you leave them in there for a little while they're dead. $50 isn't great for a new shell/newglass lens GBC but it's not awful. You'll need an external light source but you know it will run everything. The best choice though depending on what you want to invest in a handheld, or for comfort sake would be either the GBA SP 101, OR, find someone to stuff that 101 panel in an original GBA style shell. That would get you the best viewing experience and comfort playing too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg2600 Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 stock, the best option is probably the AGS-101 backlit GBA SP, but the prices are going up and up. modified, I personally prefer a standard GBA with a modded, backlit screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonGrafx-16 Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 stock, the best option is probably the AGS-101 backlit GBA SP, but the prices are going up and up. modified, I personally prefer a standard GBA with a modded, backlit screen. I really do prefer the form factor of the standard GBA to the SP. Especially when playing original or Color games (they stick out too far on the SP). I really need to do the backlight mod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Or just get this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Retro-Handheld-Console-400-games-in-1-Color-black-white-red-blue-Gameboy/163487397740?var=462849210683&hash=item26109bb76c:g:WqwAAOSwoDFcHpOL:sc:USPSPriority!60062!US!-1&LH_BIN=1&redirect=mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Gemintronic Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 The Gameboy Advance SP has the best screen and size for a GBA. Use it all the time for GB games. Surprisingly, I've found the GB Boy Color asian clone system is the best "real" gameboy. it uses batteries and has a backlight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoshiChiri Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 https://www.retromodding.com/ Give these guys a whirl- it's pricey, but they'll custom up a nice modded unit to your specifications. Metal Jesus has a couple GBAs from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Or this looks good and has tv out support. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Retro-GB-Station-Game-Boy-Advance-GBA-SP-AGS-101-Backlit-Clone-8-Bit-US-STOCK/362508741329?hash=item5467346ad1:g:kVgAAOSwoEFcEr02&LH_BIN=1&redirect=mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Pez Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share Posted January 19, 2019 The gba is great but I like the design of the original and color Gameboy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Usotsuki Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Never had a GBC or GBA, but I like my GBP better than the Brick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtmonkey Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 I'd avoid the GB Boy Colour if you care about visual accuracy. The screens are of very nice quality and backlit, but they have the wrong aspect ratio/resolution, which causes scaling issues (diagonal lines are not rendered correctly, for instance). Here's a good (brief) review of these units: https://youtu.be/BjtD1mOZlPc?t=3036 If you value having a backlit modern screen over visual accuracy, it would probably be a better choice than an actual GB Color, though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 I still have my original color with box. Works great. No ratio or line issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Like I said before, get a modded original GBA with the 101 panel in it for the best experience for screen that is lit along with controller like grip comfort. If you're more into having things work on things designed for them, a GB Pocket or GB Light(expensive) are the best for pre-color GBC games, and GBC you have no choice other than it or the wonky GB Boy Color. GBa lots of options from stock to 101 fixed GBA to the SP (101 best) or the tiny but amazing Micro. It comes down to taste and use for the function you want. GB is my thing I've got all the system models of the things and in most cases 2 of them for keeps and general use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenixdownita Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 ... I throw it out there .... how about a GameCube with Game Boy Player? Not portable by any means but you play on TV with a decent controller .... and it covers GB/GBC/GBA (obviously some of the gimmicky games with special HW in the cart won't be as playable GBP#Compat) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Black_Tiger Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 The bighter (backlit?) GBA SP is my favorite to play everything on as a portable. I bought one refurbished and a square carrying case just large enough to hold the GBA with Everdrive sticking out. The whole thing fits in my (large) hand and is super convenient. Bitd I bought the blue GBA at launch and later the Onyx SP when it was released, the brighter version when it was released and a Micro once it was discounted. Each model replaced the previous as my main setup, except the Micro. The novelty was neat, but it's harder to control and the image quality is inferior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F34R Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 I have a atomic purple GB Color, but I rarely use it at all now that I have my GBA AGS-101. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 (edited) I find when I just want original style GB, this really fits the need quite nicely. The green softens the sharpness a little, but when in no light GB pocket style mode it's crisp. Also the GB micro doesn't have a less crisp screen than the 101, it's just smaller. If your eyes can't focus as well to it, that would be a problem. I would agree on the GB Player though, if you can't or don't want to get wrapped around using a handheld it's a great choice. Edited January 21, 2019 by Tanooki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsGamesWhatever Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Inexpensive option: Nintendo DS Lite for GBA games Expensive option: AGS 101 for GB, GBC & GBA games. Maybe modding or 3rd party units gives you a better experience but I prefer 1st party hardware unadulterated if I have the choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Even original bricks are going up in value. I bid on this yesterday. The red one does not even work. Bad screen. And they grey one is not mint condition either despite kind of working. And I saw some other crummy ones still getting bids. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Game-Boy-1-Red-1-Gray-5-games-1-Cartridge-Game-Boy-READ-DESCRIPTION-/292919949569?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newsdee Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 I may sound like a heretic but I like the GB Boy. It's pretty cheap and works with the GB Everdrive. If you find yourself using it a lot you can upgrade later. I also have a GBA modded with the better screen, it's great but it is getting more expensive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Even this crummy used one is getting bid on. Why would anybody buy that in such a bad shape. Are they really getting that hard to find. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Nintendo-Game-Boy-DMG-01-for-Parts-or-repair-g5/233095708638?hash=item3645963fde:g:wAIAAOSwvytcPg2i&redirect=mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punisher5.0 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 I find when I just want original style GB, this really fits the need quite nicely. The green softens the sharpness a little, but when in no light GB pocket style mode it's crisp. Also the GB micro doesn't have a less crisp screen than the 101, it's just smaller. If your eyes can't focus as well to it, that would be a problem. I would agree on the GB Player though, if you can't or don't want to get wrapped around using a handheld it's a great choice. Very cool. I just found out about the Gameboy light last week. I cant beleive it never left Japan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Very cool. I just found out about the Gameboy light last week. I cant beleive it never left Japan. I never knew either as a kid. I only found out after joining here a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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