Finished: PowerBoy - Powerjoy 3 in a Gameboy Original case

[grahf]

I know a couple of these have been made by other forum members, but it's worth a thread I figure. This is actually my 3rd completed portable, so maybe some kind mod could find it in their heart to give me a title .

Basically, its a Gameboy original case with a Hipgear lcd and Powerjoy board, using built in games only. It's the 7600-in-1 version, which actually has 76 unique games. Some good ones too, like Contra, 1942, Twinbee, etc. The games selection is good enough to make me not care to add a cart slot, even if it would fit.

The Gameboy case was origionally my fathers. It bought it new shortly after the Gameboy was first released. He played Tetris on it for years and years, but finally the screen went on it. About two years ago I asked him for it to use in a project. It was too sentimental to throw away. I'm using the original buttons and a piece of the original gameboy PCB. I wanted it to control like the original. I plan to fill the cart slot space with a dummy cart later. I also need a new LCD cover obviously, and will fill in the extra holes eventually. Speaker will go in as soon as I wire up an LM386 for volume control. The headphone jack is there, but not in the pics.

The screen is a a PS2 hipgear. I know some do, but mine wouldn't work on rechargeable batteries. No way I was going to use Alkaline batteries either, this is 2008! Just today I got a TI step-up regulator to give it a solid 5v. I trimmed the hipgear pcb a little so it would fit around the original GBO cases screw posts. Not LED modded, but I don't think it matters since this screen doesn't draw all that much.

I've actually been working on this as a side-side project for the last 16~ months or so. I only really sat down and worked on it a few times. I accidentally cut some traces on the first Powerjoy 3 I had, and just ended up buying another one 8 months later for $5. Today I finally had the regulator, so I threw threw the new Powerjoy board in and closed it up. Enjoy!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Wy ... X9Kg"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/rioninja/SOTwqEwaz ... 3.jpg"></a>

(Yeah, I know it's filthy. I cleaned all the old "glue" off after taking this pic)
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G6 ... xahg"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/rioninja/SOTwsnVi4 ... 4.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lI ... MdzQ"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/rioninja/SOTxFjxf6 ... 5.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/o0 ... hikQ"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/rioninja/SOTxHxbEH ... 6.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Nw ... ZhJQ"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/rioninja/SOTxKQpKn ... 7.jpg"></a>

[TheOnlyOneHeFears]

Great stuff! Looks like you made good use of the limited space in there too Are all the Game Boy features intact? (headphone, vol controll etc)

[grahf]

Great stuff! Looks like you made good use of the limited space in there too Are all the Game Boy features intact? (headphone, vol controll etc)

Headphone jack and original speaker are there, but no volume control yet. I just have to wire up an LM386. Im going to use the original wheel if it's within spec. I won't be hooking up contrast, since it's not really needed. It's at a good level already, and of course the Hipgear screen doesn't fade with low batteries like the original B&W screen did.

I'll take more pics once I clean it up and finish the small details. Old GBO cases are really cool, and I think perfect for NOAC projects. Keeps the whole Nintendo spirit .

[Gamelver]

Ah, good times though (that gameboy ).

And nice Gameboy/SuperJoy.

You should call it...the Gamejoy! Only one letter off from Gameboy after al !

[bicostp]

Good job! Are you going to get a new screen bezel for it?

[grahf]

Thanks guys. Yes, definitely getting a new bezel. As well as a junk game (hollow case) to fill in the cart slot hole.


Im kinda torn over what to do with the other open holes in the system (link cable, contrast). I mean, I definitely don't want to paint it. So bondo+sanding is out. I may try to carve up some plugs from an old SNES controller case, since it's about the right shade.

[grossaffe]

Thanks guys. Yes, definitely getting a new bezel. As well as a junk game (hollow case) to fill in the cart slot hole.


Im kinda torn over what to do with the other open holes in the system (link cable, contrast). I mean, I definitely don't want to paint it. So bondo+sanding is out. I may try to carve up some plugs from an old SNES controller case, since it's about the right shade.

the original gameboy actually had a plug for the link port... they've probably all just been lost.

[themadhacker]

Thanks guys. Yes, definitely getting a new bezel. As well as a junk game (hollow case) to fill in the cart slot hole.


Im kinda torn over what to do with the other open holes in the system (link cable, contrast). I mean, I definitely don't want to paint it. So bondo+sanding is out. I may try to carve up some plugs from an old SNES controller case, since it's about the right shade.

the original gameboy actually had a plug for the link port... they've probably all just been lost.

I had one of those. was stupid and tossed it in the trash in fourth grade thou

[m_lovitt]

KUDOS, im working on the same type of project..... im no where near compleation but still plugging away... it would help if I could soder i suppose lol

[Bibin]

Thanks guys. Yes, definitely getting a new bezel. As well as a junk game (hollow case) to fill in the cart slot hole.


Im kinda torn over what to do with the other open holes in the system (link cable, contrast). I mean, I definitely don't want to paint it. So bondo+sanding is out. I may try to carve up some plugs from an old SNES controller case, since it's about the right shade.

the original gameboy actually had a plug for the link port... they've probably all just been lost.

I had one of those. was stupid and tossed it in the trash in fourth grade thou

Mine still has the cover.