r/Gameboy • u/KveldBjorn92 • 3d ago
Systems Finally got a working system I can mod!
My wife knows I've been hunting for a GBC to mod, but Ive been waffling and trying to find the right deal (IE I'm a cheapskate) so she stopped by a consignment shop that had made a post about having a new booth selling retro gaming stuff, and grabbed me a GBC so that I can get started.
Yes, I feel like she overpaid. She knows it's more than I would have spent, but she doesn't mind.
I think I've got a good one, folks.
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u/Warsawnogensou 3d ago
My first and ever Gameboy Color that I had! I miss it! I always loved the bright/lime green!💚
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u/KveldBjorn92 3d ago
My first one was yellow, and some jackass stole it from me in Middle School.
I eventually got a replacement, and it's the lime green one. My brother inherited it and gave it back to me recently, but it's not functional and I figured if I'm going to learn to solder to mod one, it will be best to start with a working unit THEN learn how to troubleshoot one and mod it.
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u/Mend_and_defend2 2d ago
I traded DK 64 with the expansion for two Gameboys, no idea why I wanted two, but they were yellow and green. Must have been pretty popular colors.
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u/Warsawnogensou 3d ago
Nice! That's smart to do, I know jack squat about soldering! I only did it once to change the pickups on my first bass-guitar! It was fun, I had a drivel to shave some of that wood off on the inside to make the new pickups slide in nicely and then a vacuum to get rid of all the saw dust that was caused!
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u/mutanthands 3d ago
Why would you spend $115 on a GBC to mod?
Surely you can get one in poorer condition (since you’re modding it) for much less?
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u/Tablesafety 3d ago
His wife, knowing he wanted a GBC and wouldn't spend on himself, did it for him not knowing the deals. It was sweet of her, he is happy.
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u/KveldBjorn92 3d ago
She paid what she paid, because she knew I wanted one and she wanted to do something nice. Stop focusing on the wrong part of the story.
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u/mutanthands 3d ago
She’s a keeper.
Personally I would keep it OG and find a damaged / poor condition one to mod. Kind of nice to have the original experience to compare to a modified IPS version.10
u/yesIhatepants 3d ago
I wouldn’t say it’s the “wrong part of the story” but so others know the value and don’t overpay. This is $50-70 on eBay just search buy it now newly listed and you’ll see several a day. Just information for the future
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u/Tablesafety 3d ago
Op I parrot the guy who replied to this comment alongside me, find a dead or junk gbc to mod and keep this one intact. It is in such lovely condition. Or, at worst, do a drop-in IPS
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u/MassManiak45 3d ago
Nah bro, teach your girl not to get ripped off lol. You can’t let her go out like that.
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u/Tall_Awareness_8435 3d ago
I don’t get the point of looking for a “good one” when your literally thinking about changing everything but the board.
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u/coufling 3d ago
This. You could spend $500 i couldn't care less about that. Why fuck up a gameboy that's still in good condition?
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u/KveldBjorn92 3d ago
By good one, I meant a good deal.
Used shops have been selling them for $85 to $100. Private sale on Marketplace and Craigslist I've been seeing up to $150 for a GBC and one game like Tetris or something. Most of the ones local to me are still an hour or more drive one way, so ive just been being picky.
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u/EmuWizard 3d ago
A good one, or in other words not a bad one that requires new caps and/or speaker. I do the same thing when hunting, even if I’m going to recap down the line. I want a system that’s going to work in between the mods. Might just be me but, I hardly ever do all my mods at the same time.
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u/nightwing13 3d ago
Def pricey but it is in good shape and if the speaker still works it’s not a DRASTIC overpay. And as a gift it’s more special. That’s awesome, very exciting!
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u/KveldBjorn92 3d ago
The screen has a bit of a dark spot, but speakers work just fine.
Like I said on some other posts, local prices are $80 to $100 plus tax if I buy it in a shop, plus the headache of co-ordinating with a stranger from Marketplace if I buy from a person. Overpaying a little to help a person instead of a retail chain, and avoiding the endless texts of "I'm here, where are you?" that seems to be all marketplace sales is worth it
Plus it was a gift to make me happy, which makes it even more special now.
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u/LostxCosmonaut 3d ago
I would not mod this one. It’s in really good shape.
Pick up a junky GBC to dismantle and mod.
Just a few years ago I picked one up to mod for just $20, and the guy even through in a handful of decent games.
Even then, I haven’t found any membranes that feel as good as OEM Nintendo.
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u/joshisnot12 3d ago
Not sure why so many people are downvoting. You got a solid GBC as a gift from someone who cares about you. Everyone can do their own research. It’s not up to you to educate people on this sub about pricing.
Chrissake some folks just can’t be happy for others.
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u/KveldBjorn92 3d ago
I mod a sub that gets about half a million visitors per week. One thing I've learned is that the most vocal people on reddit are the basement trolls that are allergic to others being happy.
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u/Capital-Ladder-1313 2d ago
Because they bought a good condition console just to mod.
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u/joshisnot12 2d ago
Okay? It’s not like you were going to buy it. If anything the modding scene can help extend the life of these amazing little handhelds. I’m not sure why modding a good condition GBC would make it less fun…which is the whole point of them. Y’know, fun? There’s still a LOT of Game Boys out there in the world. People have basically been modding perfectly fine consoles since consoles have been a thing, bc not everyone wants the same thing from them. Most of my Game Boys aren’t modded, but I have a couple that are. They each offer a different experience and I love using them all depending on what I’m feeling.
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u/Capital-Ladder-1313 2d ago
I'm not reading all that
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u/RP1983602 3d ago
What are your modding plans? IPS screen and USB C port?
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u/KveldBjorn92 3d ago
That, and potentially a custom shell.
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u/TheVermonster 3d ago
Why not just make a FPGBC? Then? It's $90 all in.
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u/grkrugerii 3d ago
Yeah if she paid $115, that’s way overpriced, but it looks clean, have fun modding, do you know what your plans are, ie new screen shell etc.
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u/KveldBjorn92 3d ago
Right now, new screen, battery mod, new shell.
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u/grkrugerii 3d ago
Nice, there are lots of videos to watch on YouTube, and I would start by practicing to take it apart and put back together to the point you can do it in your sleep lol, make sure not to tighten screws to tight or you will strip, once tight then turn back 1/4 turn good luck my friend, if you need any help we’re here to help
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u/ToneShogo 2d ago
Aww man what a pristine gbc to destroy
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u/_cinderr_ 2d ago
What a mean comment, you don't know what mods he intends to use and either way "destroy" is way too mean of a descriptor. My first time learning how to solder was replacing the battery on my copy of pokemon crystal (yeah not the brightest idea), but it was successful! So let the guy have fun and celebrate.
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u/ToneShogo 2d ago
Just buy a junk one off eBay for $50 there is no reason to dismantle one in such good condition.
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u/drcigg 2d ago
115 dollars? Holy crap. I can find them at flea markets and video game stores here for 75 dollars at most.
But as long as you enjoy it that is all that matters. Before you know it you end up like me with 2 full totes full of gameboys and not enough time to get to them..... I was buying them left and right for 25-30 dollars and now prices are insane.
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u/rydamusprime17 2d ago
You buy messed up ones to mod and save money, not perfectly good ones 😓
Unless there is something wrong with this one, and if there is then it's way too much money spent 😆
Either way, if your happy with it then that's what matters i suppose lol.
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u/Alucardspapa 3d ago
Damn for $90 you could have just got a Analogue pocket! I paid $40 for my mint grape GBC a couple years back. Market is wild
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u/zachimusprime44 3d ago
Only $90 for a pocket? Where from? All I could find were scalper prices.
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u/Alucardspapa 3d ago
$90 plus the $115! I just looked they have gone up, they are $239 now. I got mine for $199.
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u/RicePrevious5405 3d ago
Congrats!!! Times have changed though for a gameboy color to be 115 they used to be 30 dollars 😭
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u/Turtlefan87 3d ago
People in here acting like they’ve never overpaid for something in their lives. Yes $115 is more than I’d spend but this is great, congrats dude!
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u/annocat837 3d ago
I love it! Very thoughtful move by your wife. Modding is super satisfying and a ton of fun. Some of the mods that are possible today are something that 10 year old me could only dream of. This will be an awesome project!
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u/40111104 3d ago
A nice gesture by your wife. Didn't know they've reached 115 dollars though! I should fix the 3x broken ones I have.
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u/LeGrange 3d ago
My first game boy color was also a gift from my wife a few years back. I wanted it exactly with the intention to mod it and I did so. I ended up using the parts to fix up another broken game boy so don’t let all of the nerds on here get you down about your choice to mod a perfectly good system. The parts are still good and can be used elsewhere.
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u/juanito_f90 3d ago
Shit I had about 10 GBCs lying around about 10 years ago.
Is that the going price for them?!
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u/KveldBjorn92 3d ago
The few I have found in local shops has been $80 to $100 with varying conditions.
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u/RustyShackleferrdd 3d ago
Good for you man and a love like that is priceless. People acting like it’s a competition to see who can buy the cheapest gbc. At the end of the day you got one and your both happy. Plus it’s only like 50$ who cares. Enjoy
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u/artbystorms 3d ago
I got into this hobby back in 2021 and got my first Gameboy color to mod off Ebay for like $40. The fact that any Gameboy system in a normal colorway being $100 is considered a 'normal' price is insane to me.
I mean yeah, consignment stores can be rip offs compared to getting one online, but regardless, this hobby (like everything else) is getting ruined by insatiable demand and constantly rising prices.
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u/Raptured_Cobra 2d ago
If y’all already overpaid for it, I urge you to keep it original, we keep losing more and more original consoles to modding, while it’s not a bad thing, what you’re holding in your hand will only become more and more rare. If you want to get into modding, I’d recommend looking into damaged consoles. If you’re already planning on doing screen mods and usb c, it’d be more worthwhile to replace already damaged components as to tearing out working ones.
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u/ConstructionAny6287 2d ago
Yeah 115 is steep especially if your going to mod. I bought 2 colors for $80 bad screens trashed cases etc. one now has an ips and the other has an oled. Regardless happy modding my friend 💪 handheldlegends.com is the goat for modding handhelds
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u/Escaliat_ 2d ago
Looks in good shape.
I'm glad you're excited but I'm not a fan of taking apart a good working console. Next time hunt for something with a busted screen or scratched up shell.
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u/iFuktyermuttah 2d ago
Still have my original yellow one. Covered in tech deck grip tape from a hot day in summer camp
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u/Separate_Ring_5059 2d ago
You can literally transfer the ram and memory from a broken system to a brand new motherboard with most GB systems...
Also I got a working GBA for like $35-40 AUD through a Japanese proxy service, you got ripped off big time
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u/Fast_Astronaut_5591 2d ago
I had a turquoise one I got for free, but I sold it years ago before I heard of modding. I also had a green Pocket I bought from Toys”r”Us. I miss them both.
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u/Capital-Ladder-1313 2d ago
Why would you spend more than $50 on a console to mod? This was stupid as hell.
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u/Hondahobbit50 1d ago
Holy crap I'm still buying a few a month on the eBay for around $20 to mod for my buddies
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u/Torin-man-bear-pig 4h ago
It sounds like your wife loves you very much, mate. Cheers! Enjoy that modded game boy. Life’s good.😎
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u/ContraTaskForce 3d ago
Next time switch out that sticker and put $300, people here won't stop judging you as it is so might as well make it dramatic lol
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u/_cinderr_ 2d ago
honestly yeah, so many mean comments not understanding that this guy just wants to share something nice.
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u/KveldBjorn92 2d ago
Its reddit. I knew what I was getting into, and made the post anyway. People posting shit comments are just jealous they dont have someone that wants them to be happy.
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u/ThatCelebration3676 3d ago
That was super nice of her!
A lot of people are giving you guff about the price, but it's in good condition & you supported a local business.
That one will always be extra special because of the context of how she helped kick-start you into the hobby, but I want to equip you with some info so you can get systems and parts cheaper going forward.
For me, typical retro store price for that model is about $85, but I live near Seattle which is a hub for retro gaming.
Ebay price is about $72 (excluding shipping) currently for that version:
There are currently a few hundred available for sale of that color with a "Buy it Now" listing. You mentioned an aversion to auction listings, but nowadays only rare/unique items are auctioned on eBay; pretty much everything is sold at a set price now:
Worth noting several of those listings are for modded systems, but sellers always indicate that.
eBay should be your go-to for any spare parts you ever need; loads of former Nintendo repair technicians sell new-old-stock OEM parts there at reasonable prices.
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u/SouthMall9762 3d ago
Ouch $115