Moral Dillema (Involving a GBO)

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:57 pm

I am making a NESp in a GameBoy Original case, like G-force did, and Turbo is currently doing. I was originally planning on framing the GBO guts, as I don't want to ruin such a piece of history. I mean, there are no other hand-held gaming systems that have survived a bombing, and the lack of surface mount components is wonderful. All parts are through-hole, and you just don't see anything like that nowadays.

On the other hand, I want the mushy feel of rubber contacts on a smooth surface, not on tact switches. I got some great new ones if I have to.

Is there a way to remake one of these boards? Tim has a bunch of etching things, but it seems awfully expensive.

Can I make something with normal blank PCB that would work 100%?

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:32 pm

Why not use the pads from another controller? They all work on the same principle.

You could always have the original GBO guts set in a solid block of acrylic. That would be interesting. (We did something like this with an old badge and some specialty tools when my grandfather retired.) It would be even better if you can have an external connector (or at least some contact pads on the outside edge of the plastic) to allow a hacked NES pad and batteries to work with it.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:47 pm

I was thinking of something like that (about the guts), but to do an external controller mod would, well, need me to modify it. Which I don't want to do.

As tempting as a block of acrylic is, I may save that idea for something a tad...smaller. Imagine how big and heavy that would be, not to mention awkward to place in a room. I was going to fold the back board up, so that it's splayed like a fish, and you can see all it's glory. The screen, button contacts, and cartridge slot will all be on the same side. If I get the right shadowbox I'll show it to you all.

As for using controller contacts, how would I align them? Especially since I'm only going to be using the stuff I get in the Super Joy 3 package. Basically, the 1st player controller. I was hoping for one neat board, as space is a critical factor. Is there a way I could use normal board (the kind with the holes ringed with copper on both sides) to accomplish this? I'm struggling with ideas, mostly because of the 3rd dimension factor. Will the mushy pad touch all the needed contact all the time?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:07 pm

If you wanted to there was one guy that built a VCSp and put the rubber pads over tact switches. The only other option I can think of is if you were to order a PCB designed to fill this need of your's.

I'd say try the first one, it's the easiest one to do. The second one well it would be very professional... the price would be high and I doubt you have the funds or desire to invest the additional money.

benol · Post by **benol** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:20 pm

With the guts, make a gameboy in a massive case with big buttons. Then show it off to everyone at school.

Ben Cebhrem · Post by **Ben Cebhrem** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:08 am

Would it be possible to cut up a third-party controller, such as a yobo controller, and use that? Seems like an easy solution, if being a long process to make it a strong again PCB.

loup · Post by **loup** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:15 am

My personal suggestion would be to just buy another GBO off of ebay to hack apart for the controls. If destroying the controls of a working GBO seems offensive to you, there are usually one or two auctions for broken ones (there is a broken one for sale right now, but it also happens to be more expensive than many of the working ones.)

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:29 pm

At loup: Peter Griffin Says "Hey! Hey! Hey! Stop it! Stop!...Okay? Okay." (Youtube took it off because it was the scene with Jesus being whipped and apparently violates it's terms of use. In other news, Youtube is spammed with the Jesus finger trick video, and videos of people doing the Jesus finger trick).

CFC: The problem with that is that the buttons may not align for the d-pad. If that's the case, I need to cut out individual contacts and the likes.

Sparkfist: I would use tact switches but I want the mushy feel. Mushy = God. (I typed that correctly). I will If I have to but would prefer not to.

I'll see what I can fit in there without modification. Maybe I CAN cut out individual contacts, and glue them on to another 1-piece board. That would work.

dudex77 · Post by **dudex77** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:40 pm

Kurt_ wrote: I would use tact switches but I want the mushy feel. Mushy = God. (I typed that correctly).

Sig'd

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:36 pm

How about scanning in the circuit board, doing a quick mspaint job, and etching the part where the buttons are.

etching is practically free.

marshall did it once for the n64 controller.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:57 pm

I thought etching was expensive...

Post by **Sparkfist** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:41 pm

Kurt_ wrote:I thought etching was expensive...

If you have a company do the work, yes it can.

If you have the tank and all the equipment, not it's actually very low cost.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:45 pm

Then I do believe I have a solution.

Now where could I buy printable silkscreen?

loup · Post by **loup** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:21 pm

Kurt_ wrote:Then I do believe I have a solution.

Now where could I buy printable silkscreen?

use a laser printer (not inkjet) to print on the shiny paper found in magazines, it will iron off onto your board and the etching solution won't eat through it (unless you let it etch for way too long.)

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:59 am

I know how to etch. If I don't, Tim can show me. That post was kind of a change of topic.

What I want to know know is: "Where can I buy some printable silkscreen to create official-looking decals after I finish the paint job"?