Retro game stuff talk

[FlyingTomahawk]

Thanks for the game recommendations. (thumbsup)

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@ruckage

I don't "really" hate Mario I just can't see it anymore. If Nintendo's game line up is 70% Mario, 10% Zelda, 10% Donkey Kong and 10% ports like COD and other "adult-ish" games that are available on other consoles then it gets kinda boring. I will look into Galaxy though since I have heard only good about it.
I have the Metroid Trilogy now which is absolute fantastic. 3 titles and all can be played with the Wii controls which is something rather new to me. I am used to PS4 and Microsoft controllers.

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I finally got my Gamebit drivers and I did the laser adjustment. The old type GameCube (DOL-001) suppose to have a range of 450-600 Ohm. Mine had 558 Ohm so I turned it down to 525 Ohm first but it still didn't read the Japanese discs consistently. I finally went down to 508 Ohm and now it does read all Japanese game discs. It does struggle with the Freeloader disc though but since I am gonna install the Modchip I won't need to worry about it.

Once the laser was set I moved on and installed the modchip. Anyone out there saying it is an easy or even very easy install is lying or just damn good with the solder tools.
I have soldered various consoles and did a couple of console mods for example on these here.

SNES 50/60Hz switch
PSX
Dreamcast
Xbox (SmartXX)
PS2 (Matrix Infinity chip)

And I really struggled with this GameCube modchip. That thing is about the size of an adult man's thumbnail. So imagine how tiny and narrow those damn solder points are.
They recommend to install the chip directly by putting it in its position and just drop some solder on it. I tried that but it was just not clean and you can't see if the solder touches any other pad or points which it shouldn't.

I decided to go with the wire install version which was not an easy task either. I really got old or I was very nervous and my hands were shacking like a 80 year old Granny.
However I got it done and it does work as it should. (Phew! Lucky.)
Now I can play games from any region like US or PAL without the Freeloader. And all Zelda games run without issues.
Here an image of my finished work. It looks messy but that is mostly the Flux that I put on. That driver is a Philips 00 so you can imagine how tiny that stuff is.

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@obsidianspider

The chip not only makes the console region free but it allows you to play backup games if needed.

[Rion]

@flyingtomahawk Have you considered using SD Media Launcher/SD Gecko to launch homebrew?

More info here

[FlyingTomahawk]

@rion

Thanks Rion. I'll look into it.

[FlyingTomahawk]

Went for a stroll at Hard Off today and found this.

324 yen! Couldn't let that one pass.
It still works and looks far better than my current Famicoms that I have at home. The front and rear labels look like brand new.
Guess I'll swap out the cover on my FamicomPi

[obsidianspider]

That thing is gorgeous! And so cheap!

must find an excuse to go to Japan for work or something and buy an extra suitcase to bring home sweet retro goodness

[FlyingTomahawk]

@obsidianspider said in Retro game stuff talk:

must find an excuse to go to Japan for work or something and buy an extra suitcase to bring home sweet retro goodness

Super light suitcase, extra large around 5000 Yen then just stuff it full of goodies.
You wont need money for hotels, my place is big enough. :)

[ruckage]

@flyingtomahawk said in Retro game stuff talk:

Super light suitcase, extra large around 5000 Yen then just stuff it full of goodies.
You wont need money for hotels, my place is big enough. :)

You heard him everyone, mass meetup at @FlyingTomahawk place ;) (hope you have lots of spare beds).

[obsidianspider]

I haven't updated here in a while, but as far as cool stuff I've done or acquired lately, here's a summary photo:

On the left are two "Nintendo Mini Classics" keychains. The top one is Super Mario Bros and it stinks like cigarettes (ew). The bottom one is Mario's Cement Factory, still in the packaging. Both were pretty cheap on eBay, but those things often go for quite a lot. "Stink Boy" was purchased with the intent of either modding, or just keeping on my keys. I'm not sure how it will go yet. I wish there was a way to get the smell out of it. For now it's hanging up airing out, away from my cabinet that I keep my gaming stuff in.

The Gameboy Advance is a AGB-101 that I bought on eBay for cheap a while ago. I got rid of the horizontal lines that were on the screen by adjusting the trimpot on the motherboard. Those repro screens are actually really good once you get them dialed in.

I also finally decided to tackle adding a LiPo. It went pretty well. I now have a 1600mAh battery in there with a TP4056 charging board and an adjustable voltage regulator feeding 3V to the Game Boy. Retromodding makes a nicer, more complex solution, but theirs is $40, out of stock, and has a smaller battery. This was $12 in parts, and it's fun to tinker with stuff. It's something I'm going to try to recreate on some other Game Boys now that I know it works.

My other two Ever Drives that I ordered in November finally arrived.

There's an issue using flash carts on Game Boy Pockets, especially when backlit. Thanks to a blog post by BennVenn I learned that the problem can be solved by putting in a 5V voltage regulator so the cart always gets 5V. It was a pretty straightfoward mod and it works really well.

I also finally got around to doing teh CGB-101 mod on the sweet green Color that I got from @celly in trade. I broke the glass lens :( but I will be ordering a new one soon. I also didn't want to glue the case shut, so that's kind of "just there" , but BennVenn has developed some brackets that can be 3D printed that will allow you to screw the case shut. Once he has a "final" revision he said he'll be releasing the STLs, so I am hoping I can tackle that. I'd also like to look into adding a green power LED and a LiPo.

I try to post up new pickups on Instagram, so if you're into that, you can also follow me there.

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage said in Retro game stuff talk:

@flyingtomahawk said in Retro game stuff talk:

Super light suitcase, extra large around 5000 Yen then just stuff it full of goodies.
You wont need money for hotels, my place is big enough. :)

You heard him everyone, mass meetup at @FlyingTomahawk place ;) (hope you have lots of spare beds).

Oh boy! Maybe my comment was a bit premature? :-))
We sleep on the floor here in Japan. If we can cram up say 10 guys per room I could probably fit 50-60 people? 0_O

@obsidianspider
Man you really should stop buying handheld stuff. What's the current count? 50+ devices?
Save some money and come over here. We can go on a Hard Off safari. :-)

[obsidianspider]

@flyingtomahawk 50? Nah. Here's a photo of my shelf that has most of my gaming systems.

I am still working on a sketch for a custom TV console based on this to hold my non-handheld systems. Once the weather warms up (it's cold in the garage) I will be migrating those systems from the bottom shelf.

If I ever get a chance to go to Japan, I will definitely let you know.

[SgtJimmyRustles]

@obsidianspider

Is that a wonderswan I see there?

[obsidianspider]

@sgtjimmyrustles I count six. Well, five regular ones and one WonderSwan Color. The three on the top shelf don't work. I bought them "for parts" on eBay with the intent of putting a Pi in one.

The green one on the bottom shelf has a slightly burnt polarizer, but works well and is apparently a Gundam one? The smoke gray one is in great shape. The blue one on the bottom shelf is a WonderSwan Color.

I only have three games so far: Puyo Puyo Tsuu, Gunpey (CIB), Turntablist (CIB)

I'm still on the lookout for a SwanCrystal and a few games: Kaze no Klonoa, Makaimura, Rockman & Forte, Tetris, and who wouldn't love the unicorns of Dicing Knight. and Judgment Silversword? But the last two games are regularly selling for $1000, and well, I don't love any game that much.

[SgtJimmyRustles]

@obsidianspider

Your collection is larger than mine, that's for sure. You know what I'd want to get? A Gamepark 32.

Some of those portable linux gaming consoles if you know what I mean.

[obsidianspider]

@sgtjimmyrustles Oh wow, those look really cool, but good luck finding any games for them. :-/

I recently heard about the PocketSprite and I kind of want one. Not for $55 though.

[SgtJimmyRustles]

@obsidianspider

That's the thing, they're just emulators.

[celly]

Been a pretty productive week. Got my hands on a Nintendo Mini (Mario’s Cement Factory). An impulse buy thanks a lot to @obsidianspider

Also, did a reahell job to a pocket from Retro Modding.

Then last night, I got this beauty, CIB.

[SgtJimmyRustles]

@celly

Nice pickup man.

Makes me wish I still had my Sega Genesis and Gameboy.

Especially my accessories like the HandyBoy (What a monstrosity) and the Gameboy Charger (Worth it's weight in gold.)

Oh, and my 32X (Not worth the plastic it was made from.)

[ruckage]

@sgtjimmyrustles said in Retro game stuff talk:
You know what I'd want to get? A Gamepark 32.

Some of those portable linux gaming consoles if you know what I mean.

I never had a gamepark32 but I had all the follow up consoles (GP2X, wiz) , I was quite involved with that scene at the time and made quite a few games for it (some of my games were even built into the Wiz which was really cool). I kind of miss it, I should get back into game development at some point.

[obsidianspider]

@sgtjimmyrustles Funny you say the 32X isn't worth the plastic it's made from. I'm trying to find a working one to use with my EverDrive and I can't seem to find any for under $100 that actually work.

[SgtJimmyRustles]

@obsidianspider said in Retro game stuff talk:

@sgtjimmyrustles Funny you say the 32X isn't worth the plastic it's made from. I'm trying to find a working one to use with my EverDrive and I can't seem to find any for under $100 that actually work.

It was more of a pain in the ass than anything to be honest.

This might help.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Genesis-32X-Console-only-MK-84000A-No-Cables-Extender-for-Genesis-2-Model/173156776910?hash=item2850f2bbce:g:usAAAOSwO~VagjMK