Aftermarket Game Boy Color... From Scratch (Funnyplaying FPGA GBC v1.0)
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
- Now available from RGRS(affiliate link): retrogamerepai...
My previous video on this device was showing pre-release hardware and prototype firmware. Retail hardware has since released and has a few miniscule differences (largely just finishing touches motherboard printing and shell printing) but I also show updating software.
My firmware repository (only contains encrypted binaries, no source code): github.com/mak...
Note: Updating REQUIRES a Windows 10/11 PC. Older will not work at this time, nor will any macOS or Linux devices (this includes iPhone/iPad/Android/ChromeOS/etc.)
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New from Funnyplaying -- A Game Boy Color that uses 100% aftermarket parts, even the cart slot (yes, they had custom OEM compatible cart slots made).
Comes with small bezel screen with no power LED cutout or logo but if you insist on having both (there is still no power LED on these console motherboards), you can purchase a replacement screen meant for other kits and use that instead. The replacements do NOT support the "full" screen mode due to the larger bezel but they are otherwise drop-in: www.aliexpress...
The yellow printed shell I used on the other console is here (affiliate link): retrogamerepai...
Newer version of the RetroCNC buttons I used: retrogamerepai...
If out of stock and you're interested, sign up for in-stock notifications.
Game compatibility is mostly hit though there are a few misses. Most games seem to work fine via a specific combination of menu options. Those specific options may require experimentation to find. Original Game Boy games tend to work better on the GB core and newer games tend to work better on the GBC core.
Everdrive and EZ Flash Jr MAY or MAY NOT work, depending on your specific hardware variants. It's basically down to luck of the draw. If this is a red flag for you, consider skipping the cart emulator entirely and stick with an Anbernic or Miyoo or similar. You'll have a much more consistent experience.
This console ONLY works with game carts. You can not load ROMs and run them directly.
Pre-release state of the FPGA Game Boy Color: • FPGA Powered Game Boy ...
The original state of the FPGA Game Boy Prototype: • FPGAmeBoy -- First Har...
The actual GBC I compared against these units I worked on here: • Laminated Game Boy Col...
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Please be sure to check my website for more information including some handy links for useful resources, tools I use, and my socials: makhowastaken.com/
I got my kit when they first came out, and I have absolutely loved it. Gorgeous and tightly made little product, I have been playing it so much. So happy to see my FPGA options coming and hope to see more from FunnyPlaying
I laughed so hard at the end when you said this was only meant to be a 15-minute video. 😂😂😂😂. I think it is great that this exists in 2023. I wonder if they'll do a GBA FPGA?
> I wonder if they'll do a GBA FPGA?
That's the plan. Eventually.
I'll be all in on the dmg and gba when they release. The future is great. 🎉
do you think a gba kit will release?
Just received mine today after what felt like a long wait. I was in-between smoke black shell or atomic purple ... So I ordered both shells. I ended up assembling with the atomic purple as it kicked in more of the nostalgia vibes.
So far pros are
- quality shell and materials (for most part)
- speaker is super good and loud (too loud)
- screen is great... I love the full screen mode
-usb c rechargeable
- knock off ever drive flash cart works
- feels like I'm a kid again
Cons
- I had to file some poorly molded plastic off battery connector to get it to connect. Took 20 minutes of trying before figuring out that was stoping it.
- minimum volume is still too high for me... Like I would like 3-5 options softer. I'm playing Pokemon on the lowest volume and it's still too loud to play in bed next to the wife...
- ordered 2 cases but they only sent 1 set of stickers
- my board is a newer revision 1.1 and there are not other firmwares. They have also changed the boot logo to a horrible funny playing logo that looks like absolute crap!!!
There is more firmware now.
Imagine if makho did manage to make a 15 minute video. I'd be asking who this guy is.
Tell FunnyPlaying to add open FPGA and put it in a DMG case (with a black lens so it hides the different aspect ratios) and call it FPGAme boy (officially FPGA Me Boy, but secretly the FP Game boy, FP meaning FunnyPlaying)
This right here
Funnyplaying cannot (legally) make anything "openFPGA" because that is a proprietary system that Analogue owns. The name is confusing but the back end "openFPGA" system is very not "open" unlike the software that said system is intended to support.
As I've mentioned, Funnyplaying has stated that they intend on making DMG and MGB formfactor versions of the GBC FPGA hardware.
@@makho oh sorry, I just assumed it was what they called what the Mister cores ran on, so I'll just say Mister FPGA cores in the future I guess.
@@makhowill they ever do anything GBA styled?
@@basicallysnake That's the plan
Great video by the way, and an amazing project yet again🎉
I always find it's hilarious when he brings up why are you playing a flash card on an analog pocket, and my use case is I got 25 original hardware consoles and one analog pocket. I am not the person he's talking about. I don't want to open sealed games and carry around five cartridges because I may not even end up playing one of them.
I just got a 1.1 kit in the mail today and put it together. let me know if you have any questions in the event you don't have one yet.
I asked FunnyPlaying about EZ-FLASH compatibility and they said that they're 'working on it', so that's a good sign.
This is awesome. I have the pocket, it's great but I never liked that it has 4 face buttons but is meant for GB games. Egonomics don't feel right. I'll pick one of these up for my GB carts. Analog is mostly used for SNES or Genesis at this point.
Would love to see a similar product for GBA.
I would like to see a version of the GBA with FPGA, I think that would be an excellent deal.
I know at least two different vendors working on that. Well, one is using a FPGA for sure, not sure what the other is using. We'll see.
Hi makho, totally agree FPGA Cores are Emulation, if they weren't we would have 100% accurate 1-to-1 functionality of the original device, but that definitely the case as we see with both Analogue Pocket (I have a Black one) and FP device here there are bugs/issues/incompatibilities etc. also as with SW Emulation FPGA allows new functions to be added etc.
I have just completed my HW Ver 1.1 build. I had to wait 2 extra weeks, bought direct from FunnyPlaying but the forgot to include the Screen in the initial shipment . All good now!
Updated to the v1.04 FW and prefer the NEW Splash Screen in v1.04 but don't like the OSD Font!
I have sent these direct to FP but wondering if you have access to the DEV team?
1. Can we have a USER Created LOGO so the customer can replace the FP-CBG Logo?
2. Can we have a better font on the OSD Menu please?
3. Is there a way to populate the INFRARED tx / rx components, i.e. a components list?
4. Does the FPGA Core support the INFRARED function if the components are installed?
1: No because there's no way to update the logo once compiled and FP is not going to share the source for these for people to compile it themselves.
2: Do you have a specific suggestion? They just asked for feedback last night.
3&4: I don't have a list and I doubt the software support is there anyway.
@ just noticed there is new HW1.1 ver 1.06 with something that makes me very happy ;-) And they fixed the Game Boy Game Colour Palette selection when in GBC mode too which was broken ;-) Very Very Happy with my FP FPGA GBC!
I am really leery of purchasing this right now. It almost seems like they are having people beta test their products for them. The fact that they have had 3 different PCD renditions since they created this, and no longer support previous hardware iterations makes me nervous spending close to $100 on this. I hope they polish it and stop making differences in hardware and only software going forwards. Your input is welcomed on that :)
The early adopter tax is real. FP says they plan to backport the fw for hw 1.1 back to 1.0 once it is "stable", whatever that means.
Have you noticed the face of Dixie is missing part of her face on Donkey Kong land 2?
Did you toggle the sprite fix?
@@makho I will try when I get home, but I think I did toggle all the options back and forth with no success! I’ll let you know if it works. Cheers
When you have time can you replace your 1.02 firmware for the 1.1 revision? I updated with it and it caused some black screen issues. After some troubleshooting and lots of retries with different windows computers and usb cables and I found the issue. The update.bin file is less than half the size of the one posted on the funnyplaying fpga googledrive file for 1.02 1.1 revision. The one on the funnyplaying google drive worked perfectly. Just took two tries before I got the new boot screen and revived fpga gameboy.
Please read the release notes on my github if you're going to use the firmware from it. I have already added the new firmware but there were clear labels on there that I uploaded a test version.
Just a question from a fan who enjoys your channel a lot I was wondering about how many Gameboys do you think you have? I have five and an analogue pocket I got into mods because of you, and a few other channels that I watch. I don’t always keep my Gameboys. That’s why I was asking sometimes I make them for friends or sometimes I make them for sale. Just thought it would be a good question.😊
I haven't counted recently. It's gotta be at least three digits though.
i just got mine in, after a few min of playing i noticed it looks like theres some kinda glue inbetween the glass and the screen, only noticed it when the screen has a dark color....
I’m more of a rom game player over carts. I just wish there was a handheld in this form factor with the 1:1 screen. I do have the rgb30 and i know there’s a new vertical version coming soon. But i dont want the analog sticks and all the shoulder buttons. Kinda wish the retro pixel pocket was brought back, or if someone will bring something similar to the market.
I tried to flash the 1.08 patched bootlogo and it won't flash, just hangs on black screen. I have to flash back to the FP version. Tried with 1.06 too. What am I missing?
Make sure you're downloading the file properly. Some people have trouble with github because they're saving the web page instead of the .bin file.
After 2 motherboards, 2 screens and 3 ribbon connectors... my unit won't work (the screen never turns on but the LED light behind the panel is on) so don't know what to do to be honest...
The common factor in all these is you.
I hope they make a gameboy pocket shell comparable with this
That is under active development
@@makho do you think that the board it’s using is going to be upgradable to handle gba? Well I guess it wouldn’t work because no triggers on this device.
@@adrianfernandez7458 No, it's gonna be a totally different board. I suspect they are not even going to use the same FPGA since they've mentioned that they're already low on space with just GB and GBC cores.
I want a video of the fpgbc kit with the Q5 lcd screen logo "Gameboy Color" that you said was on aliexpress . I'm new to this and absolutely love your content on explaining everything. If you could create a video on how to build it, I'd greatly greatly appreciate it.
Just don't install the included screen and instead buy and install the other screen. The steps are identical.
I bought one when they first went on sale and have had it for a month or so. Plays great with all my original carts (about 30 or so) but my Everdrive x3 does not work. I tried all the available firmware and it would work with one of them but most games ran super slow with very choppy audio. I've been emailing with FP and they seem to indicate that there is a fix in the works but I have not heard anything in a few weeks now. If they can fix Everdrive compatibility this thing will be awesome, as of now it's cool but not great.
My FPGBC arrived last week, I put it together right away and found I have the one with new hardware revision with the FW 0.90.
It has a really weird problem that I can't seem to find other ppl talking about online. The OSD menu is really sensitive when pressing the A/B button. When i try to adjust the brightness/audio/palette, if i press A once, it will either increment by 1, 2, 3 or even to max. Same with B but descending. Basically A/B increments are all random. The A/B buttons works fine in game though, just has problem in OSD menu
Makho, do you know anything about this? Have you tried the 0.90 fw? I tried contacting funnyplaying, but it's been several days, but I haven't heard back from them.
Hey Makho, when are you going to do a video on the new board and fw? (that is if you even are going to)
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Okay, you got lost in the sauce somewhere, if you think using Flash-Carts is fine with one fpga-GB but not the other, and that to an Analogue Pocket with a Flash-Cart, a cheapo software emulator would be the go-to alternative. Obviously, it's the hardware emulation part of the Analogue Pocket (or the FPGBC) that people are interested in, regardless of whether they use original cartridges, a Flash-Cart - or with the Pocket also just an SD card.
I think you've misunderstood something I said and started ascribing things to me that are simply not true. Or maybe I misspoke. Not sure which specifically happened.
To be perfectly clear, I think it's a waste of money and electricity to use cart emulators with console emulators, regardless of who makes either. They're not designed to work together and the two layers of level shifters add extra latency that is extremely difficult to work around, especially on a high speed data bus. There are alternatives that provide a cheaper and more reliable experience for playing games.
I still use cart emulators regardless because I can still understand that they provide a lot of utility for testing. Tangentially, I understand that they are still very popular so I can use them to test the behavior of edge cases since if the works, the actual cart will too. The opposite is not always true.
I guess you misspoke or put it too bluntly (maybe only for me, who knows). For example: I see no problem with someone getting interested in the GB and GBC buying an Analogue Pocket and an Everdrive to start out, with the plan to start collecting carts. Also, I think you're mistaken about the latency, at least in a real world effect in actual measured time, even though I get what you mean by emulating both ends, of course, it's not the intended use of either device. Your message sounded more like a "political message", like an fpga machine would be wrong conceptually, to play ROMs instead of carts, and I think one should not exclude the other. I have no plans to at some point own all the GB carts ever produced, but I love checking all of the games out for a minute or two to decide which carts to look for online or at a yard sale or something. Plus: Romhacks.@@makho
@@fryke No, it seems you're misunderstanding.
I glossed over the issue but raw speed isn't the only challenge with these things. Timing is exceptionally important. These data interfaces expect certain things to happen at a precise time. Too early or too late is a failure just the same. Like I said, the two layers of level shifters add a certain amount of instability that is difficult to work around.
If you want to use a cart emulator with your game boy emulator, by all means. Since compatibility is not universal, however, it will never result in the seamless experience that is just loading ROMs into an emulator. From a gameplay focused experience, this is an important distinction. If you just like the idea of playing games without actually playing the games, this is obviously less important.
A cart emulator is a flash cart but not all flash carts are cart emulators. You can easily build or buy a cart that can run ROM hacks without any of the cart emulator pitfalls. I'm talking specifically about Everdrives and the like, not OEM carts that have had their MROM replaced with aftermarket flash.
ok@@makho
Makho, do you think there’s any chance of them releasing a firmware which is the actual clock speed? I really can’t get over the difference in pitch from the sound, it’s either too high pitched or slightly lower!
I also hate the new FP boot screen, I want the original GBC boot!
You can just install the other firmwares with the old boot screen. No one is stopping you.
I suspect that if it were easy to tweak the clock speed, they would have already done it. It's close enough that you really cannot notice in games.
Thanks! I realize now that the clock speed isn’t really as big of a deal as I’d first thought.
I have the 1.1 board, and I saw they adjusted the boot logo with the latest firmware. Maybe they’ll go back to the original at some point.
@@AdamDallas I doubt they'll ever go back to shipping these things with Nintendo logos.
@@makhothat’s a bummer, they still ship their shells with the logo on them, so I’ll quietly hold on with hope lol
@@AdamDallasThat is probably going away too and for the exact same reason.
Thank you so much for this video! I wouldn't have been able to put mine together without you!
EDIT: How did you make it display the Game Boy Color splash screen on boot?
Each core has a different boot screen styled after the console it's based on. Newer firmware has FP branded screens, older is emulating Nintendo OEM.
@@makho So short of downgrading the firmware, I'm stuck with the FP boot splash?
@@linktheordonianhero9098 For now, yes.
@@makho Thank you, for everything :)
Is the code for the firmware open for hacking?
I wonder if the cartridge slot can be desodered and buttons remapped to do what your saying in a DMG shell......
If you have a big collection of carts you probably already have a Gameboy so why not just put in a FP IPS screen which look fantastic or get an AP. I really want the FP FPGBC to be awesome and I don't regret my purchase but I was a bit disappointed.
alexorear exactly...or even a small collection of cartridges...i upgraded an AGB101 original GB Advance...when it was a recent development and a new upgrade back just before we heard of Coronavirus...non IPS non Laminated...budget 50 dollar LCD cheap Chinese AliExpress purchase...went ok...could've been slightly better with practise...it's fine...plays GBA cartridges and also GameBoy/GBC as standard...IPS screens are state of the art but they don't make gameplay any better...anyone who's old enough to have played handhelds in the 90's will tell you the same...they'll say go play 100 hours of a GameGear or PC Engine or Atari Lynx...a 2inch colour blur...and DMG's were almost unplayable when new...
Just curious if i could pop this in a boxypixel shell
If you cut your own USB C hole, sure. Probably.
Why is this video so bright? My brightness is at half and I’m being blinded.
I bought the fpgbc kit because I work somewhere bluetooth devices are not allowed. If Anologue offered a bluetooth free option I would have gotten that. I think that if there are enough gates on this fpga they should offer adapters for other systems. Also open up that firmware and let people hack on it.
Analogue Pocket doesn't have bluetooth. The dock does.
You think this could be done with a dmg shell?
most probably
FP is planning on making a version of this hardware but for DMG and MGB form factors too. You can mod yours if you like though, I don't see why it wouldn't be possible.
I wish there was a way to retain the Gameboy boot animation over the FP-GBC boot animation.
look at the latest FIRMWARE oby googling "fpga funnyplaying firmware 1.06" ;-)
any advice or knowledge on how to get the gameboy camera working on the FPGBC? I've got two and neither will boot at all
Try newer firmware.
Hey man, good stuff! Could you share where you got your button kit on the analogue pocket?
The metal ones I made, the plastic ones are labfifteenco.com/en-us/collections/analogue-pocket
Does it work with the FP flash cart?
Yes.
Built mine last week. I let funny playing know about the volume label on the case. I have another issue - i generally have a white noise or background noise coming from speaker and in headphones. The game sound drowns it out, but when volume is off it persists in speaker and ear buds - almost sounds like a bad filter or cap in a regular GBC conversion. Anyone else have this issue? Just go in a quiet place, turn your volume down and you should hear it
I discuss this in the video (though I fail to capture the sound itself) and I have already noted this in the firmware repository.
Is this a inhouse developed fpga core ?
Probably a port of some emulator. I don't know how to even tell.
Anyone having issues with playing gen 2 Pokemon, specifically Crystal, with the PC boxes (Box 1) getting glitched out and corrupted with this FPGA GBC and the FunnyPlaying flashcarts? no matter how many times i use the Burnmaster to flash the carts i always get this issue. is there any solution to this? i contacted FP directly but i didnt get an answer.
The only issues I've had with mine are that Alleyway simply doesn't work and that most of the sounds are missing in Chessmaster. In Alleyway the paddle just won't move so it's unplayable, but it's Alleyway so I don't care. I am still running the v.87 firmware that it shipped with however. Oh and also, super Mario Land crashed one time in the fourth level. Otherwise, i love this thing! I've had it about a month and play it everyday. I've put about 35 hours into a run in Pokemon Crystal with no issues. My alliexpress copy of Pokemon yellow didn't work, but I didn't really expect it to. I love the bigger screen size and louder speaker. Playing this has sent me down the rabbit hole of adding audio amps to my other Gameboys. I wish the battery life was a bit better and I wish it had the option to use AA batteries, but being USBC is convenient. Oh, and the reason i felt i had to buy this is the volume rocker and osd menu. My gbc with the FP q5 kit has had some issues with the touch sensors activating when I'm not touching them. I love having a physical button to operate the osd menu and change settings. Touch sensors should be left to people who are too scared to solder lol
what firmware do you have on your ezflash?
I updated to FW05 before they pulled it.
Do you have the link for the CNC buttons ? Was looking to get the same
The style I used is no longer available. I linked to the newer ones in the description, however.
how did you change the boot screen to nintendo from the funnyplaying logo?
Newer firmware has different boot logo.
@@makho yeah, figured it changed logos. im just having issues with phantom start presses while gaming. i cant figure out whats going on.
I just got mine today and can't get the screen to display, but everything else is working great including the backlight. Any ideas?
update to Firmware 1117(.89) I had the same problem
I had tried this but it failed over and over. Turns out you need to use a USB 2.0 port, fails in a USB 3.0 port.
Road Rash probably wont work on GBC mode but on GB mode
Can I use my childhood GBC shell tho?
no
yes, but you have to mod the screen part and dc, better getting a shell design for this as is only $10
Can we get a list of compatible flash carts that are SD card based that work on the FPGA as of now. I know everdrive x5 does not work and ez flash does not work, Funnyplaying says their working on it whenever I ask them.
Could we get the names of the ones that work?
EDGB Pro+ (AliExpress) works, I know cuz I have 3 of them.
Kinda hard to confirm as each version of the everdrive has had several different hardware revisions within each version. You would have to get each hardware revision for each model.
@@ALIEN19740why are you using a clone rather than the official everdrive that is supported by the original developer Krikzz?
I do have the EVERDRIVE so I do supported him... But to answer your question, for the same reason you use EVERDRIVE instead of original cartridges, convenience. I got the EVERDRIVE for the ANALOGUE POCKET, but it did gave problems, the clone ones works flawlessly. I have also the EZ-FLASH JUNIOR and OMEGA 😊@@nightwing179
My newer official Krikzz x3 doesn't work. I've Emailed FP multiple times about it. They have indicated that they know what the issue is and that they are working on a firmware fix but I haven't heard anything in about 3 weeks now. Works great with all my carts but I download and play lots of people's GB Studio games so I wish ED compatibility was better.
Looks like this product is still in alpha development when it comes to compatability. It's an interesting product but far ahead from being good.
Still keeping an eye on this product but it's not attractive at it's current state.
i dont see a link for the screen
Screen is part of the kit, so no buying that separately.
It‘s in the description.
ah thanks@@Wheels35
thanks i didn't know i couldn't buy it separately.@@James_D.
battery longevity?
Question?
is this legal? Seems like a lawsuit from Nintendo
as legal as the Analogue Pocket! and all the other Multi Emuiation devices that appear daily from China!
who cares. are you a lawyer or what
dude, Nintendo is in the process of suing YUZU and has anyways Nintendo has always been a pain
@@dedpxl
Retro game repair shop mark up is pretty disgusting
agreed! it's pretty crazy how much they mark up every single FP product
just go buy one from the other store that has them.
@@HighPower64 True, they are the only ones with stock, and $15 over the manufacturer's price with the coupon isn't too bad. Domestic resellers often face additional costs, and this premium reflects that. It's the price of convenience. If that's too much for you, you might want to reconsider investing in hobbies like this, to be honest.
there is no other store, RGRS got every single stock from FP@@HighPower64
If you're smart enough to realize it's a middleman and they're marking up, you're too smart to be their target demographic.