I'm Still Buying The Game Boy Color In 2021...Here's Why 

Nintendo needs to start releasing a line on Classic(Mini) Handhelds. It would be awesome to own a collection of games on a system with a back light screen actually made by Nintendo.

I remember getting a Gameboy Color for Christmas 23 years ago along with a copy of pokemon yellow. That was back when pokemon was really popular and was taking the world by storm. It was an awesome system for it's time and when you compare it to the Switch, it's amazing to see just how far hand held systems have come since 1998. The one thing I didn't like about the Game Boy Color was that it never had a built in backlight for the display so you were fairly limited as to when you could play it.

This was my first actual project involving soldering. Did a little bit of practice work on an old 360 mother board. I had almost no issues and was extremely happy with how it turned out. I’d definitely recommend this as a first project.

I bought the GBA to tv out mod it's coming next week, going to be my first mod. I actually was going to do this one until I found out about the GBA mod. Always a fan of the channel looks awesome tho.

Strongly recommend using the original membranes. They give the the gameboy that nice responsive feel.

That’s awesome, I was think about getting this. Now that I see how easy it is I’m definitely buying one

Modded my Gameboy advance sp during the height of the pandemic, was super fun reshelling it and adding a better screen. Was so good to do and a lovely project to kill some time, made my old SP feel brand new again.

As someone who just installed this, I think you got the start and select pins reversed. The logo has 3 sections because it allows you to change 3 different settings, not change each word a different color. The first section is for verticle orientation which you can adjust left and right with select and start (This is now the opposite for me), the second is for horizontal, and the third is for the color of the words. Also if you touch and hold the touch sensor you can change the display to give it more of a retro look. Also, they just released a new 2.1 version where it has a touch antenna, not sure what it's for, but it does push the touch sensor against the wall of the console so you don't have to tape it, so that's nice. I could have gotten the wires mixed up somehow, but if you could check to see if your settings are opposite as well, then it might help someone else out.

Funny enough before this you released this video I bought a Gameboy color and all the parts couple of weeks ago. Great job covering this project, fun to see people getting into retro modding except for the prices for everything has shot up.

I've got an IPS screen modded GBA. I love owning it but I have more GBC games that GBA. I love the GBC design; great looking little bit of tech. If the GBA was a portable SNES the GBC was a portable NES. Home of so many of the best 8-bit games ever.

Ever since it came out, I've been using a GBA SP to play GBC games. I like the rechargeable factor as well as knowing when it needs charged. Plus, all the GBA SP screens light up (unless they're broken).

When holding start and select you end up in the function menu: When in the function menu press the touch button shortly to change mode. When Game is selected you can shift the screen up and down with select and start, when Boy is selected you can shift the screen left and right, when Color is selected you can change the color of the logo. To shift between the screen effects you have to hold the touch button (look carefully because the effects are very subtile they are just scanlines varying in thickness). Just touching the touch button shortly changes the brightness.

Dont worry about a buzzing noise coming from your gameboy after you mod it. It was there before and since the screen is also sucking power it will be louder. The more power running though the gameboy the louder it will be. Also get a new speaker for your gameboy if you plan on modding it, there is a good chance your old one rotted away even if the rest of the gameboy looks prestine.

I miss my GBA so much. I remember playing that thing as a kid when my parents used to go on a lot of road trips.

I still have your video "The Game Boy Color NEEDED This" in my "liked" videos. I modified a second-hand case to fit the larger screen just as you did. The result was almost as good as the new video here. I used an atomic purple shell so the larger screen lights up beyond the borders of the intended screen. I like it because it shows the mod with a subtle feature not visible if I'd used a solid color shell.

The gameboy advance is still my favorite to mod. The form factor is by far the most comfortable and it plays all gameboy games. Always gets me though how all the gameboys I own still work to this day and I have back to the original brick from 89.

When game and boy are highlighted, you move the alignment of the screen with start and select, you cannot individually color the words in the logo. The touch sensor is used for brightness and also enabling the various grid modes (tap and hold for 5 seconds).

29 years from now: I'm still buying the Nintendo Switch OLED in 2050...Here's why

I find the replacement shells are made from a cheaper plastic. I do all my mods with OEM shells. Even the original buttons feel better. The original GBA feels the best to play on. Screen, speaker, and rechargeable battery mods make it the ultimate of all Gameboys.

I got a Gameboy Color because of Pokemon. It was my first Gameboy EVER. Pokemon Yellow was my first Gameboy game that my cousin got me for Christmas. It was a fun memorable experience.

Cheers! John, there was no link to the case mod.

I really enjoy your videos over the years! I'm way into Game Gear currently and have modded 3 of them so far! A modder named Bennvenn is also creating an display kit for the VA4 & 5 and that's got me excited! I'd love to see you do a modding of the Game Gear on your channel (unless you already have)!

Jon please make more VIDEOS LIKE THIS...

I love this mod! I recommend trimming the game cart pins if you didn’t already because it causes a lot of shorts for that mod specifically! Great video though :-)

I hope Nintendo brings GBA to switch. I would seriously play that.

I have a couple GBC’s with this particular mod, and favorite feature is that there is no gap or space between the screen and lens, giving it a premium look much like the iPhone.

I bought a Psvita Sapphire Blue import straight from an Ebay seller in Japan. It came in vell well condition. I've modded it already added tons of games also had it for 3 weeks now. Man I'm enjoying it everyday 😄 Vita is LIFE!

I remember getting a gameboy color around the same time that pokemon gold and silver came out. I remember we got our copies of the game almost 3 weeks early but back then street dates didn't really matter and I remember we were the coolest kids in school for 3 weeks.

For anyone wanting to do this mod, I wholeheartedly recommend Mach Nacho Productions video. He really knows what he is doing with this mod and gives you a proper tutorial for what the controls for the mod do. I did the mod last month after watching MNPs video and, as soldering novice, I managed to do it just fine. 100% recommended

I much prefer just using my 2005 backlit GBA-SP for Gameboy and Gameboy Color games. You get all the bonus features of the GBC (colorizing older games and such), and also bonus features that the GBC doesn't have (like GBA-only features in a few GBC games). My backlit GBA is currently unmodded, but if something ever happens to the screen I'll put in a modern aftermarket screen with LED backlights. The battery life on that GBC will be more than you expect...modern LED backlighting uses MUCH less power than it did with older displays.

Just recently brought mines earlier this year ...collected about 20 games so far still going. Was also thinking about putting a new casing but this original atomic purple is still prestine 🔥🔥🔥

Decided to revamp my GBC. The modding community has gotten insane with what you can do with it. Though the aftermarket cases still don't feel exact or better than the original Nintendo ones. I love how the Color hits that sweet spot of being a bit better portable version of the NES

I was insanely lucky to get a gameboy color not too long after it was released in the US with a copy of Pokemon red when I was seven, my Grandfather was a thrifty fellow, he loved to ride around towns in his golf cart looking for yard sales out in AZ, one particular morning he was out to do some moseying around when he found a purple GBC just sitting out in the road hugging a curb, it was a little scuffed up and was missing the battery plate, so someone must have dropped it, but, no one was around and my Grandfather had other ideas about who might love to have such a thing. He sent it through mail the next day and in about a week, I had it out in KY. It was a godsend at the time because I lived in the literal sticks, not many kids, nowhere to go that wasn't "privet proptah", and with the GBC I was introduced to Pokemans, something that only one other person in the whole town knew about, so I was really able to just get lost in the game without having to be bombarded about it at school. Really meant a lot at the time, RIP OG Grandpa

"Yeah, HI-DEF!. Now let's play some 8 bits."

I'm a millennial born in 1988. I never grew up with a handheld. When I was 19 bought a Pearl Blue GameBoy Advance SP (AGS-101), love it. Watching Gamers RU-vid during the pandemic and alot of them my age and older talked about the struggles about the no front/back light and the use of the worm light. I felt like a loser, left out, jealous cuz I never got to experience that struggles that my generation experienced so I bought a Kiwi Green GameBoy Color in 02/2023, I love it. Every time I play a GameBoy/GameBoy Color games I play it on the Color or my Glacier Advance (AGB-001) so I won't fade or mess up the label on the cartridge. The Color and the Advance SP (AGS-101) is my favorite handhelds. I never played a GameBoy or Pocket. One day maybe

Awesome! I might Actually try this. This looks Clean !

It’s really nice for you! I never get to play Gameboy Color sadly.

I'm still watching Spawn Wave videos in 2021... here's why

I just asked myself "sith lord, what do you think about this?"..... and I said to myself "well sith lord, this is cool, pretty damn kewl. John always makes great videos and yet again, this is another great video. I'm definitely glad we hit that notification bell.". Well that was fun talking to myself after watching this video. Fare thee well.

I do own a Gameboy Color, and a Gameboy Colour (an alternative from China with backlight). I do like the system, but to be honest, I like more to play on my TV, because I can stay in a better posture, playing portables tend to hurt the spine/back, so I now avoid. Also, you need a very good screen, otherwise you need to keep the portable into a specific position that is not always confy.

Me: (looks at the shelf next to me covered in all generations of Nintendo handhelds) HA! Cute.

the first bit in your video is 100% correct I had Pokemon Yellow and Blue and my sister had Red and Yellow (I gave her my GB Pocket cause I got a color) and we would watch Toonami and play Pokemon. Sums up my entire childhood haha!

Love the Gameboy Color, but doing a screen mod with soldering is not my cup of tea. So I bought the GB Boy Colour.

Even though I wasn't even born in gameboys Era, my first console and such was my moms old gbc and I think that's why I love retro games so much tbh

I haven’t bought any gameboy stuff in years, the prices have been insane. Passed on some for cheap at thrifts and now they’re expensive, I always wanted to make a backlit advance

Nice! I remember getting one to play on the bus going to work, then trading it in because I had trouble seeing the screen. I have a GBA SP I need to work on, but this might be a fun one too.

I tried to move a gameboy screen and all its innards to a fake polemon gameboy shell. I was as careful as I could be following Shawns instructions to get the screen out. Upon turning it on in the new shell, the screen was completely shot. It seems to be a lot harder to do without damage than it appears. I'd love to just replace/upgrade the screen but that costs too much for my interests.

Seems like it could be an interesting project if you could find a GBC for cheap

Tbh, i was never really a fan of CBC.. the colour was so minimum, and the visibility could not top my pocket. The GBA felt like a real upgrade, so Id stick to the pocket till then. Then the sp came along, its form factor made that thing go anywhere I went, including the rechargeable batteries and lid screen made I my choice as a kid to carry around. I still play on it sometimes♥️ The switch is the first console in a long time making me feel like then.

It's that the new GameBoy Color OLED?

I like the GameBoy advance SP the most because of the technology advances. The Advance SP was the only gameboy with a stock backlight (other than GAMEBOY Light and the miniature gameboy). also with the clamshell design it was easier to protect the screen and it was more portable. You could easily fit it in your pocket. And what was cool is that you could play all the different generations of games. It's also one of the only ones with a rechargeable lithium ion battery. There are plenty of mods you can do to other GameBoys to have the same tech but i personally don't want to go through the trouble It's honestly my favorite GameBoy. I've never had any other type of gameboy other than the Advance SP and that probably led to why i like it so much but i just think its coolest.

Spawnwave: The soldering is not that bad! Also Spawnwave: Doesn't show actually soldering the wires.

I remember finishing crystal in 2020 on a dowloaded copy from the DS eshop and after finishing the two pokemon leagues i was able to obtain the item to get a celebi. I was so surprised because 20 years after the even it was still possible for some reason

I was just looking at the mod when you uploaded the video! Gonna grab it soon.

I have a Pokémon edition of the Gameboy Color that is in pretty good shape but I definitely thought about getting a better screen and probably a battery mod for it. I'm good with soldering stuff Ieam I used to be an electrician for this kind of stuff so easy mods are not something I specifically seek out or need.

On Macho Nacho recommendation I did drop in no solder mods for GBC and GBA, they both have screen brightness adjustment and both look awesome, just used the original cases.

I just got into modding my gameboy this last year. Got led screen, custom buttons, stickers, speaker, etc. I’ve been playing original pokemon, tetris, and others. Going to cut it soon and do a large LED mod.

The screen is the last thing I would replace on a gameboy. Colors look off (horribly bad) if gbc is on backlit screens. Backlit screens don't work in sunlight, the gameboy is made to be played it direct sunlight, that is why it has batteries instead of a cable.

I need the link , please !!!! My son is really getting into the old handhelds amd is sitting under a lamp every night to play his Gameboy Color . Lol .

2023 & I still use mine! My phone from back in the day.

That new screen looks insane!

I bought the mod kit, just a week ago. Can't wait for it to arrive. It's my first time soldering.

Me: I cant wait to try my new modded gameboy color! Gameboy: low battery

I've always wanted a Gameboy color. As a kid I used to watch another kid play with it. I'm 27 n I still wish I had it.

Man.. those veins💪💪 I'd watch videos of your workout regiment.

This ips made me go find a Game Boy Color again. Loved the ease of install !

i think best way to play GBA games is in GBA SP or Original 3DS, because original 3DS are cheap to get and no mod require for Backlit, but you gonna miss Gameboy Form factor

Just gonna wait on my analogue pocket 🤣🤣 any year now

This mod looks so sick! Honestly tho, I think the GBA mod would be overall better cuz you could play GBA games lol but this looks so clean!

I'll never forget the Christmas where I got my Game Boy Advance.

I actually prefer the GBC over the GBA SP due to several reasons: - AA battery support (yes technically it should be a negative but i'm putting it as a positive due to how bad the GBA SP handled the launch of rechargeable batteries) - Much better battery life - Non-backlit screen (i do like because it hurts my eyes less) - Headphone jack - GBC still has good games - much more

Im going to hold out until there is a drop in screen without any modifications that has the exact same screen size

Ive done it without the funnyplaying shell and cutting the shell definitely takes some work

I still have my original Pikachu Yellow edition GBC in like-new. I was a careful child. Lol

I will be getting my Funny Playing screen in MON, but mine is for the DMG Gameboy, as that is what I have to work with. cant wait to see how my GB turns out with all the mods I will be doing to it... if it still works when I am done lol

The Funnyplaying Website is missing some seriously needed Descriptions. "What is a DMG or a GBP or even a CGB ?! .." What Display i need in which Case with which Buttons ? So much Items thrown on a White Webpage.

While you're at it, you should hunt down some of those indie Game Boy games that are being developed, such as from Spacebot Interactive and Incub8. Modern Game Boy games for a modern Game Boy.

I have the atomic purple one Made in Japan un modded but still fun. The atomic purple one Made In Japan is harder to find then ones made in China and it has the battery cover intact to.

These videos is why I appreciate and do not like the gaming community, one person or a group of people will say "omg I got a gameboy" or "I got a ds" which is awesome dont get me wrong, but then the community will consume so much of it that it's almost impossible to find a decent or even correctly priced one due to others seeing it as a right to overprice items. I was just able to get a gameboy color for around 80$ lowest cause every shop and person online and in person is pricing them so heavily due to demand. Love your vids though man very informative and best wishes to the community in their retro hunt

Cool vid man I might try this! Do the controls included in the mod kit feel like the original GBC?

I will do this when there’s a clean juice USB C battery pack

I have done 3 gbc like that and 2gba and 1sp with those mods. Love it.

These titles confuse me. "I'm still buying"? Like present tense? Like, you keep on buying these things even though you already have one? Not playing, just buying the thing, over and over again?

The Retroad 5 Plus with the GB/GBC Extension Converter from Ali-Express works with the Everdrive GB X7 and the NES/SNES Online controllers if you use the 8bitdo SNES dongle. Just saying. HDMI out is a Plus too.

I cleaned my old GB Color, put a new glass screen on and I still play often.

A big part of this is just that Nintendo shipped a lot of really great games. Many of them are just as playable and fun now as they were then. - Nintendo totally dominated the handheld gaming scene before android smartphones. They really showcased what could be done with low resolution, a limited color palette, and a very simple control scheme.

It’s a real shock to go back to that screen unmodded

Damn this looks good. Well done sir !

you didn't link it down below

I'm waiting for a backlit screen that is the same size as the original and doesn't require cutting the shell in any way. So far all of the backlit screen options require one or both of these conditions.

HELLO I'm new to the soldering thing. What soldering iron would you recommend in amazon ? "Thanks in Advance "

I think a better deal would be the Nintendo DS Lite, it plays the Game Boy Advance and DS cartridge. It is sold 60$ on Ebay

I like the gameboys too ,after the gameboys stopped being made i didnt bother ,i dont even know what the nintendo handheld is after

Snagged a boxy unhinged SP. I’m so excited to use it!

The white is cool and knew you'd be doing a screen mod once saw new case

Jon, you need to do a short video sometime as an introduction to soldering

GAMEBOY ADVANCE SP IS THE BEST GAMEBOY

Pokémon Red or Blue? You mean Pokémon Yellow! 👍🏾 Duracell Ultra is the best for long game sessions. Unfortunately my GB Colour is dead. Wish I could resurrect it.

I ALWAYS have my gameboy advance on me, still my favorite way to play games on the go

a shame we couldnt get the gameboy lit up like that when i was a boy. if you didn't have the light attachment for it, you were screwed at night.