As many have been keen to point out, the pixel grid on the Funnyplaying kit can be toggled on and off by holding the adjustment wheel for a few seconds. Turning it off also improves the contrast, to about the same level as the RIPS kit. The Funnyplaying installation instructions include trimming the display cutout in the shell; I didn't do this as I didn't find it necessary. I suspect their suggestion comes from the fact that they expect users to install the kit by adhering the display to the shell with double-sided tape, which may not result in perfect alignment. The 3D-printed bracket is a much better way to go as it's much more precise in getting the screen image to appear in the middle of the display cutout, reducing or eliminating the need to trim it.
This is very satisfying news; I was originally just thinking of Version 2 after seeing that crazy looking primitive display on Version 3. But if it truly can match the feel of Version 2 just by holding down the brightness knob like a button (which should be a function on more mods and devices in my opinion), that makes it the winner for me. I personally feel like widescreen displays should be saved for widescreen devices; I just don't like the idea of extra bits of screen going completely to waste, and obviously you can't just trim them off like with the bits of the shell. I'm probably not going to be buying anything like these screen mods anytime soon due to budget and also the fact that I don't have the tools required for even the simple ones yet; I'm not great at modding, as when I tried to put a region wire into my Sega Genesis, I ended up sticking it permanently into Japanese Mega Drive mode. Either way, your content is well made and fun to watch, seeing how far modders can bring older tech into the next generation. Personally if I ever do want to buy a mod like this, I might try one for the Game Boy Light instead, as it's the only one that was even meant for a backlight (so I won't feel too much like I'm ruining its original feel). Plus, the battery life being reduced to half or less with these mods on the original feels pretty scary; I like the bulky feel of the original, and a heap of battery life on it pretty much completes the picture.
You want to cut out the shell a little bit. The screen is 11% larger and its awesome! Im glad I bought the larger one from funnyplaying. The screens are tiny to begin with, so anything bigger is a huge win
Nope, you have to trim with the FunnyPlaying kit. In the video it’s clear that some of the image is going in to the frame. On a non-transparent case you would be missing some of the image.
Hey Colin, quick question for you. I noticed you mentioned how you didn't see a need to trim the shell with the FunnyPlaying Retropixel kit. I'm wondering if I can get away with not trimming my shell with that kit or if it is absolutely necessary. What's your opinion on it? I'll be using a classic gray DMG replacement shell, so not translucent. Am I going to notice the display cutout blocking some of the screen when in use or is it pretty negligible?
I do like the more contrasty image much better. Having it available for on / off toggle feels better than just having it as the only option, as I imagine there might be a few games out there that would look better the other way, or at least it would be fun to see how they went with that mode. Besides, Version 3 has the gray shades fixed; there's a fix for Version 2 that can undo that mistake as well, but of course it's better to have the damage eliminated right out of the box with a new mod.
Great video as always Colin! The dot matrix mode can be turned off on the FunnyPlaying kit by holding in the multifunction toggle switch for a few seconds. Also, on a side note, I just got a Thinkpad x220 from watching your video on it and I’m enjoying it immensely. The keyboard is so nice! Cheers dude!
SuperLuigiSixty4 Yeah, I never noticed it until I updated Gambatte for the RG350M and turned on the new DOT MATRIX 3X scaler. Omg, it’s so much better now and I could never go back!
As soon as someone comes up with solderless upgrade kits for these screen replacements the amount of old handhelds that'll be getting upgraded will be incredible.
Here's the video of the build that Colin was working on in the video! Thanks for sending it over brotha ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lrFSOmMHte4.html
I'm so glad there is always a video to cover even my most obscure interests and curiosity 🤣. I was making a cart for all the components I'd need to do a new screen on my DMG and when I saw these exact two opinions I put the ordering on hold for research.
Great review thanks. I’ve been backlighting old dmgs for years and did my first IPS mod a few months ago, it really is astonishing what these people have achieved and support for the gameboy is stronger than ever it seems.
This video comes just at the right time for me! I recently received an old DMG off of eBay, fixed the display up (It had the ol' blind display columns issue), cleaned out the cartridge port with isopropyl alcohol (some crud made it unable to read any carts) and did a custom LiPo mod (the DMG may expect 6v from the battery terminals, but I can confirm that it happily takes 5v as well, so you can just use a generic LiPo/LiIon charging circuit with 5v output and a compatible battery pack - I happened to find a local vendor on Amazon that sold one that ALMOST fit, literally just had to shave a few millimeters off from the battery bay. Whole mod cost me like 15€). However, using a DMG again after decades makes me realize how absolutely dreadful the screen is compared to modern displays, so I was already looking into modern replacements, and the Funnyplaying kit looks like the best candidate.
This is great! Thanks for the explanation. You have a good way of connecting with the audience. Also that game Tetris that you briefly showed, looks amazing! And really makes me want to buy that game and also makes me want to mod my gameboy.
Thank you for showing these two mod variants. I have a gameboy that I might put through one of these now. Your video shows that it is actually quite doable to do.
Thank you very much for this helpful and valuable content. The video production is superb, the explanation is clear and the voice very calm and relaxing. Great work!
I've been a big fan of your channel for some time. I've actually purchased certain mods based on your review and nothing has failed me since. I've been an active modder for some time, but never had anyone check out hardware before I purchased the mod. I can't wait to try this new DMG mod, I put a backlight using the old, strip the reflective back method, this looks way better.
I have installed both and the Funnyplaying kit is substantially better. The larger screen and faithful reproduction of the original style alone are the selling point, but other things not covered in this video is the superior adjustment dial for the screen modes, the ipsv3 kit is the kit with shorter (by an hour) battery life due to the larger screen (it still takes power to energize the dead area of the display) and unless you are installing a GBamp, the ipsv3 circuitry seems to add audio buzz from the backlight driver or something through the controller interface PCB. A GBamp (which I feel is never really necessary on a DMG due to its larger 29mm speaker) obviously fixes this but it’s a necessary added cost in my opinion if buying the ipsv3 kit.
Ordered the Funnyplaying IPS kit, a new shell (IPS ready), glass screen, rechargeable battery, battery cover, speaker, and motherboard battery terminals to rebuild a broken DMG-01 and will order another set for a second one along with a couple of those DC boards in case they go out.
You should do a video on the latest GBC IPS Kit from Retro Modding & FunnyPlaying. It’s the definitive LCD mod for the GBC. I’ve installed it for myself and I have to say it is hands down the best screen mod for the GBC.
Yes, hold the toggle wheel in for about 4 seconds. Also pushing the wheel in once (without holding it down) switches between brightness and color adjustment.
ngl I wasn’t sold on the funnyplaying one until, as you mentioned, I realized that the aesthetic (no pun intended) was trying to ape the old screen. The color choices don’t hurt either.
I bought my stuff from Hand Held Legend and Retrosix for my GBA because of your video of the IPS V2 screen mod!!!! Thanks bro!!!!! I prefer them over Retro Modding. I never understood why their GBA mods like the MetalJesus GBA was so expensive with the AGS 101 mod. Now I have the same and it cost me under $180. I built a gba on their website an it was over $400. 🤷🏻♂️
Is that a 3d printed bust behind you? If it isn't, you'll eventually print one. Or twelve. I'm still hyped to see you join the 3d printing community. Those Prusa machines are nice, they just work
I hope one day, they'll sell the same kit but this time with the speaker intact. And I think it's possible it's an amplified speaker to improve the sound as well!
I prefer the ips screen. I get wanting to see the pixels, but there’s something about a crispy gameboy picture. Also I really want to get a uv printer and make custom shells. The first company that offers that service gets all my monies
I've done a normal backlight mod and bi-vert on one DMG and now just this week did a V3 IPS. No contest for me, I love the v3 IPS mod. Grab it on Aliexpress with the screen bracket super cheap :) mine arrived to the UK from china in only 1 week :)
My v2 version was really bad. My contacts were polished silver and had to be scuffed. I’m sure someone else has said this already, but you made two big mistakes on the FunnyPlaying kit. First you didn’t trim the frame for the screen. Second you were in retro pixel mode. Hold the brightness wheel down to turn it off.
Pretty sure there is an option to turn off the pixel grid on the funnyplaying kit. I installed the same IPS screen (with a different board) into a GB pocket and it has an option to turn off the grid.
I think no matter what we go with these days its going to look better then the OG screen. :) I have dmg ver.2 and its greats make me want to play gameboy again.
Wait so you don't have to cut the window open? The funnyplaying instructions said to do so. Also you can turn the pixel grid off which was a feature previously on their GB Pocket kit.
Because the image fills up the whole screen cutout, I think they recommend trimming the opening in case the display didn’t get centered properly. Everything looks great to me using the bracket to install the kit.
Looks like you just hold in the brightness dial on the Funnyplaying one to turn off the pixel grid. I can't believe two of the colours were flipped in V2 of RIPS, glad I didn't pick one up early as that would have drove me crazy!
It’s possible to fix the flipped colors on the V2 kit, but requires careful soldering on the DMG’s motherboard. Definitely not a viable option for beginners at modding sadly.
Sadly my shell didn't come with battery contacts or even a screen lens. I thought it also came with replacement buttons but nope. I already ordered some matching buttons and screen lens. But other than that im very happy
i really want to see comparisons in battery life of TFT and IPS displays. I recently put together a clear gbc with a clear lens and went with the tft so i wouldn't have to trim the case and noticed it lists longer battery life than an IPS, but by how much? id think the most extreme case would be in a gameboy pocket with the AAAs but I couldn't find any good tests on them. Only have 1 of each gameboy myself or i might do a test
the fact that now a days you can make game boy look like in the adds, its amazing to me, it looks like tec got just that good over the 20 or so years and why wouldn't it, but man those screens are a bit too pricy, i mean sure i have a GBA sp ags-001 that i could mod to have a 101 screen but idk how to solder and i want brightness controls, a bit of a mess with me but yeah, amazing what you can do for a 20 year old lcd screen.
hold the contrast button down for 4 seconds to turn off the screen door on the funnyplaying kit i think. these also have pallet swaps as well that you didn't even touch on!
I still have an OG Gameboy with the clear shell. One of these kits would really breathe some new life into that bugger. However, I don't know if I should modify a perfectly working vintage model.
Could you show us the Retro Pixel screen with its' "pixel grid" disabled? According to the product page: "When the grid line mode is turned on, some game scenes will flash when switching", which implies it can be turned off
I do't know if I got a bad board of the V3 but I still have issues with button contact. Tried different membranes, loosening the screws as some have suggested and tested it out with Donkey Kong Land 2 and found it unplayable. Very disappointed.
It’s PLA from a company called Coex. Seems like good-quality filament, and I also like that they sell off-color spools for like $18, which is great for running test prints.
