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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
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The Game Guy Mini, Upgrading the Unportable Game Boy! -- Episode 577

element14 Community member Joe Ostrander saw the "Unportable Game Boy" that Andy made in a previous video, and decided to make a new and improved version. In this episode, Andy builds a console from Joe's upgraded design and demonstrates its features, including several enhancements that were requested by viewers.

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Supplemental Content:

Bill of Material:

Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit
SMD Level Shifter SN74LVC245ANSR TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 1 Buy Now
Crystal, 4.194304 MHz, SMD, 11.5mm x 4.7mm, 30 ppm, 18 pF, 30 ppm, ABLS Series ABRACON 1 Buy Now
CAP, 27PF, 50V, MLCC, 0201 MURATA 2 Buy Now
Surface Mount Tantalum Capacitor, 1 µF, 50 V, 1411 [3528 Metric], ± 10%, 6 ohm, B KEMET 2 Buy Now
Raspberry Pi Pico, Microcontroller Board, RP2040, 32 bit, 2MB Flash, ARM Cortex-M0+ RASPBERRY-PI 1 Buy Now
RES, 10K, 0.5%, 0.1W, 0603, THIN FILM ROHS COMPLIANT: YES YAGEO 2 Buy Now
RES, 1K, 0.1%, 0.1W, 0603, THIN FILM ROHS COMPLIANT: YES YAGEO 3 Buy Now
RES, 500R, 0.1%, 0.1W, THIN FILM, 0603 ROHS COMPLIANT: YES YAGEO 3 Buy Now
Surface Mount Chip Resistor, Thick Film, RC Series, 47 ohm, 100 mW, 1%, 50 V, 0603 [1608 Metric] RoHS Compliant: Yes YAGEO 2 Buy Now
Surface Mount Thick Film Resistor, RC Series, 180 kohm, 100 mW, - 1%, 50 V, 0603 [1608 Metric] RoHS Compliant: Yes YAGEO 1 Buy Now
SMD Chip Resistor, 510 ohm, ± 5%, 100 mW, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, General Purpose VISHAY 2 Buy Now
SMD Chip Resistor, 1 Mohm, ± 1%, 100 mW, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, Precision PANASONIC 1 Buy Now
 

Additional Parts:

1 x Super Gameboy Famicom cartridge
1 x NESPi case
1 x Gana VGA TO HDMI
7-pin NES socket1 x 
1 x 32-pin SMD GB cartridge slot
1 each x Custom Main Board, Power Dist, and NES Socket PCBs (Designs Available on Github)
1 x  4-Pin SMD 3x4x2.5mm Tactile Push Button (optional)

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  • This has been a fun project to put together.  I added parts to the pcb design to include the Game Link connection.  I am waiting on a second Tetris cartridge to come in so I can see if it works.  I wanted to make a Gameboy Console when Andy made the original project, but didn't have a faulty DMG-01 or NES case to use.  With Joe's version I really wanted to make one as it includes various things I wanted to get some practice with.  

    image

  • in reply to markeno

    Tetris did come in, I wired in the Link Cable to test with.  It wouldn't start a 2 Player game though.  I have not played a linked game on the Game Boy in decades.  I believe the process is to connect the Game Boys together with the cable, turn them on with the same cartridge and choose 2 Player Game.  It just won't start the 2 Player game from either device.  

    I rechecked the wiring on the cable.
    I checked the Diode Array Datasheet.
    I checked the Game Boy DMG Schematics against the new board schematics.

    If anyone has any suggestions let me know.

    I am thinking I will check one of the spare boards to make sure all the points are connected properly on the board.  Then I'll have to pull the board out and check over the solder and if the diode arrays etc are all good on it.  It seems only pins 2 (SOUT), 3 (SIN), 5 (SCX)and 6 (Ground) are used to create a link.  Pin1 is VCC after a Diode, but it looks like it is only used by the 4 Player Adapter DMG-07.

    Beyond that it has worked great as to how Joe had set it up.  I made it to Level 10 in Tetris.  It is still an oddly appealing game.

    Provided it had worked the cable from the DMG-07 does fit through the hole in the back of the case meant for the 3.5mm jack from the Pi3 the case was originally designed to hold.  The cable is a bit to short though to be very practical.  I was going to use it for testing though.  If I find the issue, I have designed a breakout board for the Linkport and found a good place for it in the bottom of the case. 

  • in reply to markeno

    The problem with the Multiplayer Link was using the DMG-07 cable, Pin 2 and 3 needed flipped.  I wasn't aware the regular cable has them flipped and Joe pointed that out.  So it is working great.  I just need to work out installing the Link Port in the case and I am done with it.  I don't like having that cable hanging out, and it is a bit short to be pracical.  Thanks to Andy for inspiring Joe to make this project.  It has been a lot of fun to work on and learned a few things that will help me with other projects.

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  • in reply to markeno

    The problem with the Multiplayer Link was using the DMG-07 cable, Pin 2 and 3 needed flipped.  I wasn't aware the regular cable has them flipped and Joe pointed that out.  So it is working great.  I just need to work out installing the Link Port in the case and I am done with it.  I don't like having that cable hanging out, and it is a bit short to be pracical.  Thanks to Andy for inspiring Joe to make this project.  It has been a lot of fun to work on and learned a few things that will help me with other projects.

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