Modder finally illuminates the Game Boy Pocket

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 3rd 2009 at 3:30PM }

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to modder Michael "Bibin" Moffitt -- for years now, our eyes have undergone irreversible damage due to being frequently strained in order to play our Game Boy Pockets in ill-lighted environments. Using only an LED, some perspex and a diffusive layer, Bibin managed to add a backlight to his beloved Pocket, leading to illuminated rounds of Dr. Mario with little effect on the system's battery life. Good going, Bibin!

(Okay, seriously, nobody tell this guy about the Game Boy Light or GBA SP. It sounds like he worked really hard on this, and we don't want to ... ) Oh, hey, Bibin! You're still here! Sure, we'd love to play some Mario's Picross! What's that? Your mom made Rice Krispie Treats? Awesome.

Tags: backlight, bibin, game-boy-pocket, michael-moffitt, mod

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Obie @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:37PM

This would be a great story, if it were ya know...1996. :p

Temidien @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:57PM

Dude, it's still a great story. I love Rice Krispies Treats...

Mitsuo @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:42PM

wouldn't be surprised if Ben Heck already did this. But instead of a back light he made it into it's own console. With buttons built into it, a nice batter life, and a screen. All in one. Cause that's how good Ben Heck is.

Will @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:42PM

Ben Heck probably did this mod as something to do while on the toilet when he was bored

Turd Ferguson (formerly antsmarching) @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:56PM

he actually modded a full sized fold out toilet into a gameboy

Haggard @ Jan 3rd 2009 10:00PM

Which converts your waste products into extra battery life.

Turd Ferguson (formerly antsmarching) @ Jan 4th 2009 1:19AM

please be realistic, haggard.

Rob Accomando @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:44PM

Time to say goodbye to the snake light

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:55PM

I always wanted a snake light, but I always ended buying a game instead of the accesory.

(>'.')>

ApolloIV @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:35PM

I always used a flashlight Also what Fernando is back?

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:43PM

Well... I have been idle for like 2 months, but I read Joystiq every day, just like before.

But I don't comment a lot anymore... but that's my new year resolution. Starting Monday, I will be back to the Joystiq comment section....

I have received a lot of comments on my MSN by almost 50 persons from Joystiq that wants again to post here on Joystiq.

Also... visit MySpace. I just created an account and I need gamer friends.

http://www.myspace.com/fernando_rocker

ice~ @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:59PM

Fernando, ya gotta get with the times mannn...facebook is all the rage, myspace is dead lol

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:06PM

=(

My MSN is rock_rules20 at hotmail. If anyone wants to chat, feel free to add me.

Right now I'm talking with sheppy and Gun Barrier.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:41PM

Fernando? in your Joystiq?

Is more common than you think.

(Welcome back Fernando)

MowDownJoe @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:02PM

ice, I'm pretty sure Fernando has a Facebook page. Either that, or there's someone in the JPAG with the likeness of his original avatar named Fernando.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:08PM

I do have a Facebook account... and I'm member of the Joystiq group. But I don't use Facebook a lot.

=p

ice~ @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:15PM

Lol, sorry, i didn't know. I was just sayin, everyone who used to be on myspace on my friends list, switched over to facebook and myspace is pretty much dead, well among my friends and school it is

zuburi @ Jan 4th 2009 5:54AM

Dammit.

Morisato @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:45PM

Step 1 complete.

On to Step 2... introduce color!

Moptimus Slime @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:52PM

Heres his official checklist

1. LED
2. Color
3. shoulder buttons
4. foldable, laptop design
5. 2 Screens?

Morisato @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:09PM

You forgot the most important step... step 6 PROFIT!

Moofree @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:26PM

Profit would be step 7 on that list.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:43PM

I have an idea! what about a touch screen?

Just one because two would be totally stupid I mean who needs 2 touch screens when you can have just one.

Shmil @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:03PM

Step 6: There is NO step 6
moving on
Step 7: ???
Step 8: Profit

Morisato @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:08PM

I dont think there's any mystery to the steps. Nintendo has already proven the course to the profit step.

vindication84 @ Jan 3rd 2009 9:32PM

you can't compare this to a ds, ds can't play original game boy games.. lol and yes i know you were being sarcastic.

jmarto @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:51PM

I feel like I have read this post before...

chispito @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:05PM

Perhaps you saw it on another blog? It was on Engadget, for instance.

tjordan0331 @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:13PM

You have probably seen this before since about 6 other gaming/gadget related sites did a post on this LAST WEEK.

Lee @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:06PM

Maybe because the backlit GBP was already out some years ago.

ice~ @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:03PM

I wish i could refurbish my sexy green gameboy pocket, i mean it still works and all....but when i was 8 or w/e I didn't really care for the condition of my gameboy....so it's in pretty poor shape, and the screen has some black stuff on the bottom, but to this day, i still play Pokemon Yellow on it occasionally, those gameboys were my entire childhood...along with transformers..

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:09PM

Call Nintendo.

You will be surprised by how great is the Nintendo Customer Service.

ice~ @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:34PM

LOL, would they really fix my gameboy pocket from 1996? Because I would definitely get it fixed.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:40PM

Just call them... I'm pretty sure that they will fix your 1996 system.

Moptimus Slime @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:42PM

well, seeing as how Nintendo.com still has a section for troubleshooting the original GameBoy, yes they will help you

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:45PM

Call them right now and tell us what they told you =p

ice~ @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:49PM

Lol honestly, I wouldn't even know what to say, Like "Hi can you refurbish my 1996 Gameboy Pocket for me?"......LOL imagine if it was still under warranty :D

Moptimus Slime @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:54PM

well, they won't refurbish it, but they might fix the screen

ice~ @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:00PM

I'm gonna go to the troubleshooting website first, because I'm not sure what is going on with the screen, if any of you are tech savvy I cud get a picture lol

Lee @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:05PM

They fixed my classic GB a few years back.

ice~ @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:19PM

I was on the troubleshooting website, and i was going to buy a replacement screen and battery cover...then it said they are no longer for sale =...( NINTY WHYYYYY

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:22PM

You need to call them.

I called them last April, telling them that I had a Gamecube without the digital component port (I have a Wii, but I want to play my Gamecube games on my Gamecube system).

I sent them my Gamecube, and they installed a component port for free.

ice~ @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:23PM

Would I have to pay for a replacement screen lens or batter cover? Not that they would cost too much, I just don't have a credit card at the moment :/

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:30PM

You can buy a VISA or MasterCard credit card in Walmart for the amount you need.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:46PM

Can they fix my PSP?

(Lulz but I seriously need to fix that, I would drive to Sony customer support to repair it but the amount of cash needed to do so scares me since is really busted)

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:50PM

Dr. Jekyl

Maybe you should drive to Sony Customer Service... if they are like Nintendo, they will replace you the PSP. Check this story:

http://fiendishgleeclub.vox.com/library/post/customer-service-gone-shockingly-right.html

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:05PM

No they won't. I called.

The guarantee is voided if you do a Mythbusters like video to show how many bricks you need to bust a PSP.

The answer just 1.

(Actually I dropped it to the ground and since it was a PSP lite instead of the wonderful normal PSP it cannot longer read UMDs because the quality of the PSP lite is fantastic. Hell I would love to pay a difference and change it to a PSP brite or a normal PSP, the PSP lite sucks so hard)

Kizzle @ Jan 4th 2009 11:51AM

I used to prank Nintendo's customer service line (1-800-255-3700!) back in the mid-90's ALL THE TIME. I have no idea why I did so much, I was an annoying kid, what do you want? I vividly recall such gems as "I found poop in my Super Nintendo" and "Sonic the Hedgehog is sneaking around in your offices" and "Is Mario there?," among others.

Fin.