The GameBoy You Never Knew Existed

[@Gameboygenius]

Hi. I looked into this device 10 years ago now, in 2014. I did a teardown as well as dump and disassemble the boot ROM. This was not a video but just photos and a blog post. I can confirm that it's running at the correct speed unlike many clones, and that the ext port is just a link port with a special connector. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

[@JB2X-Z]

Are we still able to find your blog with all the details?

[@JB2X-Z]

Oh, yep, you have a link to it on your channel. Cheers!

[@TheSushi739]

Does that Link Connector actually work with an original Gameboy through an adapted cable? That would be wild.

[@Gameboygenius]

@@TheSushi739 I haven't tried actually building an adapter and trying it. But I've beeped out all the signals with a multimeter and it's all there so it should work.

[@JMSB-ei1zx]

Thank you for your servises my man

[@acomingextinction]

What a beauty. I don't think I've ever seen another clone that both nails the Nintendo aesthetic and adds its own high-quality design. Someone put a *lot* of time and effort into this.

[@paxhumana2015]

I wonder if someone that worked at Nintendo actually bought one of these video game devices and then used that as the base line for the GBA?

[@lafcursiax]

My friend in elementary school and I pretended that the black bar scrolling down the screen was a Mario-themed curse word.

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

8:34 Most definitely is a genuine cartridge. Hong Kong licensor MANI published several official Game Boy games in China in the late 90s, with this being a special Irem compilation cart.

[@tenchuu007]

I remember being on a plane, to the UK IIRC, with my Gameboy and there was a girl on the flight about my age (maybe ten) and she had one of those Mavi multicarts. It was a 16 in one. She was from Hong Kong and it blew my mind that such a thing existed.

[@thetigerman]

Did you bone her?

[@flibblesan]

I saw one of these in a random shop in Malta back in the 90s and I really, really wanted it. Didn't get it but I've never seen another one until today and all these years I honestly thought I imagined it.

[@WolfTheDog]

A really well built knockoff console is a refreshing sight.

[@crispin5741]

Funny Playing should copy that case, and an alternate layout for the FPGA. They would make a killing. Maybe toss in a second speaker..

[@ericpode6095]

Considering how expensive that "Gameboy" is I think it's very brave of the owner to let you pull it apart! 😮

[@claimhsolais3466]

I learned about the TacoBoy from AssemblerGames forums about 20ish years ago. And while it used to be affordable in the time, that's not the case for some decades now. Well done Elliot!

[@tysonpestner]

We need a project that basically recreates this exact aesthetic and feel with an IPS screen, asap. Would love a horizontal DMG

[@thefray123]

I've missed the gameboy content so much!

[@Retromicky82]

Me to

[@ChicagoMel23]

@@Retromicky82*too

[@NipplesTheEnchilada2323]

That Game Boy Cartridge is indeed a real, official game cartridge, and is officially licensed by Nintendo. It is called the 4 in 1 by Irem, and was officially released in 1995 in China, and I believe it is exclusive to China as well, specifically Hong Kong, judging by the information I've been looking at. That game goes for like $160 loose, and $300-$400 USD in box on Ebay.

[@bland9876]

$160 loose!? I think I can get all four of those games for cheaper by getting the regular cartridges.

[@johnaraya3761]

thanks boss lol i was hoping someone looked it up lol

[@creeperfun12]

and one of the games is called "元祖ヤンチャ丸" (Ganso Yancha Maru) in japanese

[@LaFu3000]

Ninja Spirit alone goes for the same price or more. Loose.

[@levi-young]

​@@bland9876I don't think the actual content of the games is what makes it so desirable, it's probably just rarer

[@ZILtoid1991]

Note: those are not "membranes" but rubber domes. The membrane that are in the keyboards are two very cheap plastic sheets with circuits separated by a third plastic sheet with holes where the contacts are.

[@bland9876]

This device looks like what I would expect an official Game Boy to look like if Nintendo had come out with one of these versus that other thing he showed with the burn in on the screen. For a split second when I saw the thumbnail I thought this was going to be one of the mods where you remove the chips from an official Game Boy and put them on a horizontal circuit board.

[@spouik_]

I thought that this video should be called "I made the Gameboy Horizontal for no reason" but oh it's a real product

[@GreatSageSunWukong]

back in the day a lot of the chinese companies making parts used to do a few for themselves on the sly using the same molds so its posible all the buttons and things are the same and the same quality pastic for the shell just a bit rejigged to try to get away with being cheeky

[@gunma747j]

the 4-in 1 is a legit cart released specifically for HK,Mani is the official distributor during that time.I have a taito version which features the same loader.

[@MrVolksbeetle]

As cool as it is, I can’t help but notice that there is still only one speaker. It shouldn’t bother me, it really shouldn’t. It just does.

[@roflBeck]

Yeah, but that's how all Game Boys were. Wasn't until the DS that they came with multiple speakers. Game Boys do output stereo through the headphone port though!

[@MrVolksbeetle]

@@roflBeck Right. What I'm saying is that if you were going to go though all the trouble to make that thing, I feel certain that another speaker would have been possible. Nearly expected and necessary given the "landscape" orientation. I'd have put another speaker in it, no question.

[@Metaphor9696]

Did you just say "crenellations?" Bravo good sir. Primitive me would just say grooves but I see someone has been using their word a day calendar 😄

[@EjitWebDesign]

Could you take a mold of this and make a new case? Maybe with a 3d printer? I love the fact that the pads and buttons all look official

[@AlessandroCussino]

GREAT VIDEO ! ❤ I can confirm that the speed of the device is accurate to the speed of an original GB.

[@nurifu_nightly]

7:28 These flashing line artifacts also appear on my original dmg when it's being turned off, so i don't think that's specific to hardware clones but just a sign that the hardware is old and worn off, mostly because my dmg has missing lines as well

[@prk55]

Thank you for a very interesting video. I’ve missed the GB videos.

[@BoanergesTWELF12]

I love the orientation, its the main reason why i ended up expanding my Zelda G&W flash to add GB/GBC games. Thanks to one of the previous videos i also added the headphone jack expansion

[@OccyP]

PLEASE make a dmg mod that just makes the buttons and dpad REALLY long like the gamefighter's start/select.

[@TheSkaldenmettrunk]

This looks really really good.. I think it's technically possible to make the same shell and use the OG DMG Parts.. next project, maybe?

[@hyakin7818]

So the artiffacts might be normal, my original dmg does the same thing, maybe it's because of age and wear or a cheaper chip they used later in the lifespan to cut costs The design looks like they just used 2 gameboys and flipped it to the side so the screens are the closest, some glueing and cutting, putting the monster in resedue and made molds from that and reused some of the buttons switches, etc.

[@Gggrrrrrrrr23]

The display on the DMG is so much clearer and that's not a high benchmark.

[@BenStinson1]

Love this. What attention to detail... Its like a big-handed Chinese love letter for the DMG.

[@brunoramos9747]

No lie I've never seen a Game Boy like that That's awesome😳🤗🙂

[@Albert-ru7ob]

Just got my first gba sp after about 1 year of collecting dmgs/pockets. Thanks Elliot for getting me into this hobby!

[@lankyGigantic]

So surprised this isn't on the main channel

[@pokemaniacalex8031]

Is that a Start Button, or is that Gameboy happy to see me?

[@Christophersanchez1326]

😁

[@punchtrees3022]

Bro I just said it in the way the song in the rookie was sang😭. Arrest me but make it sexy

[@frenat]

There is currently one on ebay listed for $2490 or best offer.

[@joemck85]

I think it is running at the right speed too, it just feels quicker because the screen has worse ghosting than an actual DMG. Also, that's an interesting choice of connectors for the link port. Is it a PS/2 port or S-video? If it's S-video, the 2 people out there that both have a Game Fighter and know each other can link up using a standard cable that's readily available. It should also be able to link with a normal DMG if someone wired up the right custom cable. Btw any chance of higher res photos of the main board? It'd be interesting to see what chips and other components are on it and how it compares to a DMG.

[@mariowario5945]

Hey eliot, are you concerned about the future of the dmg diaplays and the inevitable demise of them getting screenrot/cancer? Thw fact that noone makes a 1 to 1 exact replica replacement black and white non backlit stn display is upserting to me, as id like to keep the hardware as close to the original as possible, but with the screens being more than 30 now, its only a matter of time before they give out

[@lissybug0176]

When he was describing it before revealing it my mind was like “Did someone make a real life gearboy?” Hopefully others know what I’m referring to and where it’s from. 😂

[@SweetTodd]

a horizontal dmg mod would be cool

[@JS-oi5jt]

id be happy with just a cheap and easy GBC in DMG shell mod..

[@SweetTodd]

Best bet would be an fpgbc in a dmg style gbc case for now. Would be nice if the fpgbc came in alternate dmg and pocket pcbs like the mousebitelabs pcbs

[@RestoreTechnique]

ROFL at the sponsor segment 🤣

[@soridosnake1449]

the 4 in 1 is real and authentic. Mani is the authorize dealer at Hong Kong

[@banortwi]

It's 100% an original cartridge, and a rare one at that.

[@tenchuu007]

I'd expect this to be on the main channel but it looks like you haven't posted there in months...

[@bdillmore40]

Very cool video Elliot! This looks like a combination of the Neo Geo pocket Color, and a Game Gear!

[@BlackCatRedScarf]

Nice. It feels like it deserves to be 3D scanned and have a proper conversion kit for GameBoy and Gameboy Color... Perhaps even a GBA conversion with extra space for 4 AA or lithium batteries.

[@vlockley]

Glad you're back! Didn't know that existed, very cool!

[@richardtheblue6294]

Someone needs to make a clone board for this we can put official GB chips on. Some 3D printed cases, maybe mod the board for rechargeable batteries and usb-c and the new backlit screens, woulf look pretty good.

[@anrypettit3112]

did you abandoned your other channel? its been 3 months since the last update

[@LostinBenji]

Surprised this isn't on the other channel.

[@notjackiechan9420]

hearing you go on about how beautiful and amazing it is was so great xD haha, I totally get it. I never knew about this device but I really do appreciate high quality knock off handhelds. Like, someone actually built that thing and got it to play games at the right speed and everything. impressive.

[@gjphekkelman]

That connector at the top looks like a super video connector, smart, because super video cables were pretty common in europe

[@Gameboygenius]

It's not. It's a 6 pin mini DIN connector, often used for PS2 keyboards for example. Wrong number of pins, and the hole for the plastic alignment block is rotated 90 degrees compared to S video.

[@VideoGamer945]

Ass video cables are common in europe

[@gjphekkelman]

@@VideoGamer945 you certainly would know all about those, I'm sure...

[@gjphekkelman]

Who let.the stray cat in?

[@naikrovek]

hands down the best pcbway commercial i've ever seen

[@baltazard133T]

At 22:35 you mention about the strange part on the side of the game fighter. It is one of three things. An S-Video plug , PS2 keyboard / mouse plug or an early slr plug. My bet is on one of the first two.

[@EirkenElite]

What retro gaming content I haven't seen.....it's beautiful

[@UmbreWolf]

They get better battery life compared to the DMG too, test it out for yourself!

[@ankosgbx]

There's an old advertisement for these that shows what appears to be some pack in titles the company distributing it threw in. A golf game called Magic Ball and a puzzle game called Prince Yeh Rude. I haven't seen any copies that match the appearance of the ones in the ads, but the games got reprints by a company called Gowin

[@the_swest]

I keep seeing this on eBay for the “HOLY GRAIL” gameboy and was wondering what it was!!

[@richardbriansmith8562]

Awesome Video Elliot Coll🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@Chickenbreadlp]

That Ext. Connector is literally just a PS2 port, like one you'd find on an older PC mouse or keyboard. Tho that connector was used for many different things over the years. Used to have a PC speaker set where the desk remote (volume control, power & headphone jack) used this connector lol

[@WulffDen]

Aaaaah damn it now I want one

[@k.k9206]

The gameboy SP/Advanced runs gameboy games faster than an original gameboy, just for future reference.

[@xeno4665]

I never knew this exisited ...and yess that is a beautiful gameboy and retro technology ❤

[@Evercade_Effect]

I hope all is well and really enjoyed this video. 😀

[@MrCrossa]

Before I looked closer at the thumbnail, I thought this video was going to be about that Wide DMG somebody made. Interesting find!

[@Manzanus]

Probably one of the coolest consoles. They are very hard to find. To be honest, like the original Gameboy, it is hard to play on this due the dark screen and our tired eyes, but put one of this in a collector showcase and he/she becomes the most happy person in the world.

[@LeftyPem]

As an adult, with adult size hands, I would have loved a horizontal layout for the DMG.❤

[@trawis1983]

Hey! Can You scan the screen cover? I got one of those but without screen cover. I need to reproduce one

[@SudrianTales]

I genuinely love this look, i never got the love for vertical handhelds like the GB, i started GBA era, a clone of this design with GBA compatibility would be amazing

[@ComposerKuandohan]

Great video, as usual. Is there any particular reason why it’s not up on your main channel? It seems to be of good enough quality to me. Thank you.

[@susanfit47]

That horizontal Game Fighter just look the Nintendo Game Boy. It matches the Game Boy. Also can play all North American Game Boy games as well as black-colored Game Boy Color games.

[@RobaYnMcHero]

Is it not possible to own more than 4 double A Batteries at one time?

[@dcmodderful]

Played a lot of R-Type 2 on my gameboy color growing up, with R-Type DX and that sounds spot on to the original.

[@209tcgcollector6]

awesome video to see, thanks for sharing! Very well made clone.

[@soopafamicom]

I want to brasso that screen so much to buff the scratches out. Just imagine finding a box of these somewhere. There's one on ebay atm that has an IPS mod and they are wanting £2k for it.

[@svensoworka2389]

Could you please make a video of how to find the right suiting parts for any watch?? Im trying to build my own but am struggling with finding the right pieces.

[@MindBlow-9]

Would it be possible to install the ISP V4 in this thing?🤔

[@kimkrimson]

The screen in the knock-off is even worse than the DMG 😵 Gives me the shivers 🤣

[@Fortuna1]

Remember in 1996 see this game console, usually find more in Paraguay, but too other countries in southamerica in few quantities

[@Black_Revue]

Where did you get THAT and how do I get one in Teal Color?

[@philreed1605]

Interesting! Did I see a DIN socket for a comm port? Sorry if you already explained that bit and I missed it.

[@BRAVOROBINSON]

Have you abandoned your other channel?

[@FurbleFawks]

I also was wondering this. Hmm.

[@Retromicky82]

I thought that also has this normally would have Been on that 🤔

[@BGID7]

Seems like it

[@Thefactionsk8]

What’s it called?

[@perassma]

Great video as ever, thanks Elliot! What's your take on rechargeable batteries for game boy? Do you have any recommendations pls?

[@unclegamer3092]

It looks like the Gameboy and GameGear got drunk one night and this was the outcome lol

[@officialretroshell]

Today I learned! We will promote this in our next retro gaming news roundup - thanks for the video! (Link in bio)

[@lrac6301]

I have a rockman edition gba but i want to restore it the buttons are unresponsive. Do i need to replace the whole board.

[@Jdbye]

I like this thing. It looks like a real product Nintendo would've made in an alternate reality. Apart from the screen being much darker than the DMG I think I prefer this one. If you could make an IPS screen work with it, it could be the perfect Game Boy. But these are too expensive to mod like that, unless you find one with a faulty screen for much cheaper.

[@silversonic1]

Remember that the regular Game Boy runs just shy of 60fps, while the original Super Game Boy ran at 60, causing a speed difference. The only way to do an accurate comparison is to record something like a demo screen running for a few minutes on it and a Game Boy. If they sync perfectly, boom. Best quality clone.

[@Gameboygenius]

It's a tricky thing using the SGB for this. The SGB has a slightly different clock frequency than a DMG. This frequency (and thus framerate) is also different between PAL and NTSC. The SGB also has a slightly different framerate from the SNES, and will drop or repeat frames. Finally as if that wasn't enough, the SNES has a slightly different framerate than a standard NTSC or PAL signal which can throw off recording equipment. A much easier solution is to record audio (from a DMG) and compare it to that. You could record a longer section and compare how they sync up, but instead you can just compare the pitch of the music, which should quickly tell you if they are out of tune if you have a musical ear. But I can just give you the answer. This particular clone is identical in this regard.

[@silversonic1]

@@Gameboygenius You may have misinterpreted what I meant(partially because I am a bit bad a communicating). I was just using the Super Game Boy comparison as a reference. It's a known example of differences in the speed of the hardware, where it all comes down to the crystal oscillator. I was using the demo screen loop as a comparison as that's what I've seen people use to show the difference in the Super Game Boy's speed. It would be a viable way of testing this handheld's speed as well. Also, I was having trouble comparing the audio in his gameplay demo because they weren't actually in sync. I found it hard to nail down a proper reference frame.

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

It doesn't really need to match up 100%. The music plays at very VERY identical tone, so the eventual speed difference in gameplay is already much less pronounced than in some other Game Boy clones

[@EffendiChung]

I remember these, as a kid I noticed a lot of my friends had these and its variants. Its really popular in asian countries, and a least in asian countries, the seller often bundled it with multi game cartridges. Always wanted one of these, but my dad noticed how it eats up batteries and opted buying me a bootlegged nes instead.

[@Danny.._]

9:27 this is a japanese game 元祖ヤンチャ丸 genso yanchamaru

[@AthanasiosJapan]

For the average westerner: Japanese=Chinese=Korean For the average asian: English=French=German

[@TheYardninja]

I had one of these as a kid, man, to know I had something so cool

[@Openreality]

Honestly i think i would have loved a game boy horizontal because it seems like it could house a better mother board CPU and potentially give us the one thing Gameboys lacked until the DS which was a backlit screen.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

This is the correct Gameboy form factor.

[@zaknafein641]

I've seen one of those before... 2 battery slots right?

[@windowsfan95]

What type of port is beside the cartridge port on the top?

[@Gameboygenius]

A link port, but using a mini DIN 6 pin connector. The same connector used for PS2 keyboards.

[@urbanknish]

Every time you said, 'completely smooth" I kept picturing that Marilyn Manson album cover for "Mechanical Animals". Can I recover? No.

[@LadySamurai88]

Wow! For a fake one this one looks soooo amazing!!! I can understand why every collector wants it! ❤

[@tails230]

That Cartridge did look legit. A lot of the time, games that aren't licensed don't show Nintendo on it. But the label, it even has the Nintendo Seal of Quality. So I wonder if its actually lisenced?

[@klotz__]

Man, I wanted that thing for years but it's impossible to find. Nobody would ever sell it.

[@steve.b.23]

Now, I'm just throwing ideas around here, but maybe get hold of more than one set of batteries.

[@MadameSomnambule]

Makes me think of the Gear Boy from Sally Face. A Gameboy/Game Gear hybrid turned ghost detector. ^_^