Retro game stuff talk

[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

[SgtJimmyRustles]

@ruckage

The GP2X's are super expensive now. I think the only consoles they have now are those ones that act a bit like a shield portable.

[obsidianspider]

@sgtjimmyrustles It doesn't help if I don't have the necessary wires. :-P

[SgtJimmyRustles]

@obsidianspider

Yeah, sorry man. I figured you could maybe find alternatives cheap on ebay.

[obsidianspider]

@sgtjimmyrustles No worries. I'm not in a rush. I have a saved search and keep my yee out on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Finding retro game stuff in the wild around here is almost impossible.

[SgtJimmyRustles]

@obsidianspider

Try this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Genesis-32X-Add-On-MK-84000A-w-Spacer-AC-Adapter-Crossover-Cable-VA1/152904046970?hash=item2399ca997a:g:AZQAAOSwRE5agJKo

Looks like it has all you need.

[FlyingTomahawk]

The last two days were a blast. I needed to go to Nagoya for work. Meaning a whole new territory and a whole bunch of Hard Offs and other 2nd hand stuff stores.
We visited at least 10 different stores within two days. The co-worker is a hard core Hard-Off fan and he prepared a list with all stores on the way. lol Freak!

Unfortunately, there was not so many cool stuff around at least nothing that I haven't posted here yet. Except for this...

Released by Irem a collection of dog tags embeded inside glass. The dog tags are engraved with the image and model number of each R-Type plane. It looked beautiful and would have looked nice displayed somewhere inside my Game room.

I also was able to collect all the necessary pieces to get my Famicom running. Found a brand new RF unit for 108 Yen! Brand new never used! A over 30 year old device! Insane.
And also the original Nintendo AC unit for 540 Yen. And Super Mario and Super Mario 3 for 540 Yen each.

Famicom 324 Yen
AC unit 540 Yen
RF unit 108 Yen
Games 1080 Yen

Total 2052 Yen

The image quality sucks but that is something I accept as part of history. We got used to all that HD stuff and easy forget that things were not that sharp 30 years ago.
At first I didn't wanna bother getting the Famicom at all since I have everything on my Pi but playing the real thing is a different feeling that no emulator can replace. You hold a part of history in your hands and it feels just great like a time slip into the past.

[lilbud]

@flyingtomahawk said in Retro game stuff talk:

but playing the real thing is a different feeling that no emulator can replace

In all honesty, playing on original hardware is so much better for certain systems. Like the early Nintendos and Segas, its better to play on original. But for some newer systems (PSX onward) emulator is the way to go IMO.