Retro game stuff talk

lilbud

@obsidianspider Did you ever think of doing a GBA SP instead of a GBA?

obsidianspider

@lilbud Not really. I own a AGS-001 from when they were new and I was never a huge fan of the form factor. (Yes, I realize I'm looking at making something from an Altoids tin, which is essentially the same kind of thing). My hands would tend to cramp up after a while when playing. I dunno, it's just not my favorite.

In setting a Zero on my SP it looks like it might fit, but from what I've seen done in the past by people attempting a Pi in a SP, the screen is the big challenge, along with the ribbon cable.

lilbud

@obsidianspider Still have my Pearl Blue clamshell GBA.

edmaul69

@lilbud i prefer the original gba. They actually make a cable to be able to use a gba sp backlit screen inside an original gba. My buddy did one with the newer nicer gba sp backlit screens.

obsidianspider

@edmaul69 @lilbud I'll be doing the AGB-101 mod to one as soon as I get a cheap, functional AGB. I have a bid on one and I'm watching a few more. The AGS-101-style screens are the most expensive part, at around $40. I've also been looking at damaged but working AGS-101s to use for the screen, but those are harder to find.

obsidianspider

Aside from eBay, shopgoodwill, and CraigsList, does anyone have any good suggestions for looking for retro stuff online? Unfortunately, near me there aren't a ton of brick and mortar stores selling old stuff. GameStop is expensive and doesn't really go back past the DS/Wii era.

edmaul69

@obsidianspider i actually dont like the original frontlit gba sp screens.

obsidianspider

@edmaul69 I had an AGS-001 when they first came out. The screen is not great, but it works. I didn't know the AGS-101 was even a thing until about 5 years ago.

edmaul69

@obsidianspider i liked the gameboy micro too because it had the nice backlit screen as well.

obsidianspider

@edmaul69 I don't know that I've ever seen a micro in person. I do know they are going for quite a lot on eBay.

In other news, my free Zero W just arrived from Zipcar's Pi Day giveaway. Woo hoo!

FlyingTomahawk

@obsidianspider

If you need info on dimensions or a video of them in action I have 2 Micros sitting around. Famicom version and a green one.

Regarding that Nes Classic, let me check my savings but I think I'm a few bucks short.

A Former User

I would love to have the dimensions of the US SNES.

obsidianspider

@itsnitro I thought you bought one. You posted a photo of it.

obsidianspider

@FlyingTomahawk yeah, I'm not calling that guy for the NES Classic either.

The micro is more of a curiosity than anything. With even beat to heck ones selling for $50+ I don't need one any time soon. I don't know that a Zero would fit well for a Pi project either. Then again, I am putting one in a VMU, but $6 is a lot cheaper of a device to chop up. Something like this seems like a better option for a micro-sized build.

obsidianspider

@FlyingTomahawk How many Famicoms are you soaking right now? What were the results after a month?

FlyingTomahawk

@obsidianspider

Right now I am not soacking any. The last one I did was edmaul's one with good result.
I need to put it back together, pack and weigh it once to give him a shipping estimate.

My Famicom is still waiting for that Mausberry circuit.

Then there are 2 or 3 Famicoms left, all nice and yellowish.

Why you ask? Need one?

edmaul69

@FlyingTomahawk so on monday u.s. time i will be able to pay for the famicom.

obsidianspider

@FlyingTomahawk Just curious more than anything. I don't need a pub yellow Famicom, but I also don't want you to soak one and then reconstruct the decals. I saw some that were whiter from your previous Hard Off trips, but that was right around the time when life got busy for you and you'd also been to pretty much every one in the area. I totally get both of those things.

I keep looking at eBay for those "gray" (DMG-colored) pockets. I wish I'd known they made reproduction screens back when you saw the one with the small scratch on it. I would have told you to snap it up. Even the broken ones are pricey.

FlyingTomahawk

@edmaul69

Roger that.
I just assembled your Famicom and took the most good looking front label that I had. (The red, long Famicom emblem) See images below.
Please send me your address via e-mail so that I can get you an exact shipping quote.
(find my e-mail address in my profile)

Be aware that I am not able to ship the Famicom the whole next week. Here in Japan we gonna have the so called Golden Week National holidays and nothing moves during that time. The earliest shipping date will be after May 8.

alt text

@obsidianspider

Yeah, I have been a bit busy with a lot of things lately so I didn't visit those stores recently. Look at edmaul69s Famicom pics above, that is how it looks after a 3 week bleach bath and brand new label stickers.
Those white Famicoms that you mean were around 3300 Yen (around $30)
I still have some yellowish ones if you like but they are not in good condition at all.
Even the red long label at the front is a bit beat. The last good one I had I put on edmaul69s Famicom. His one looks even better than mine.
I will keep my eyes open regarding that grey GB Pocket. I haven't forgotten your guys wishlist. ;)

obsidianspider

@FlyingTomahawk No worries. It's more of a "if you see one while you're out" kind of thing. I never intended for you to be actively seeking stuff for me. I'd say $30 is the high end of what I'd want to pay for a Famicom. I don't need it to work, so if that affects pricing, even better.

If you end up seeing one when you're out, great. If you never see one, that's also totally fine.

I wish I could read Japanese as there is a ton of cool stuff on Yahoo Auctions, but that's not in English, and my ability to use that site is very limited.