Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Martinus on June 21, 2004, 03:43:50 pm
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[color=66ff00]Been keeping myself busy with 'hands on' stuff since I'm not in a reading mood (which is a pity because I have a copy of 'Feersum Endjinn' and 'In search of Schrodinger's cat').
So I've fixed a computer, a laptop, a mobile phone, a lawnmower (my dad was a bit overzealous and managed to mangle the blade) and finally, I decided to have a go at upgrading one of my favourite toys; my GBA.
Your run of the mill GBA has one glaring problem that is so well documented and complained about, it made one guy think up a solution and made nintendo release a second version of the handheld.
This probem is of course illustrated in the picture below.
(http://www.3dap.com/hlp/staff/maeglamor/gba/gba1.jpg)
You can't see the blimmin screen in the dark, in the light, or pretty much any time.
So a little wiring later:
(http://www.3dap.com/hlp/staff/maeglamor/gba/gba2.jpg)
And I am now the proud owner of a GBA that I can actually play whenever I feel like it:
(http://www.3dap.com/hlp/staff/maeglamor/gba/gba3.jpg)
I couldn't take any photo's of the afterburner screen light installation as the whole thing has to be done very quickly and quite carefully. You pretty much have to keep the whole thing dust free which is anything but easy, you also can't touch any surface on the afterburner otherwise you leave glaring marks on the screen.
The photo of the mainboard shows the wiring that I had to do and a dimmer switch, so the whole thing's internal and there are no asthetic killing knobs or switches sticking out of the case. You hold down select and press B to dim the light and A to increase the light. It was challenging but fun and took a good part of two hours I'd guess.
The only thing I'd say is that the people selling these things often make the installation sound terribly easy which is not the case. The colours do get a little washed out but it's a small price to pay for being able to play the thing whenever I feel like it, unfortunately the photo doesn't really do it justice due to reflection and a little glare (I turned the light down, it's normally quite a bit brighter).
Anyhow, thought I'd share. :)
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I traded my Advance to get an SP, it was worth it for the light, but the battery pack makes it even better.
I am so addicted to Yoshi's Island it's not even funny anymore.
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[color=66ff00]Very, very understandable. I have a copy for my SNES, usually one copy is enough for anyone but I was in what can effectively be called a pawn shop in Belfast and saw the GBA version for a tenner. Was practically a steal at that price.
Pity I can't keep my saves between the two consoles, play the SNES at home then move to the GBA for train journeys and the like.
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Thing is, I completed it months ago, I'm just going for the full deal, all five flowers, all the coins and all the stars on all the levels, It's not easy.
It's a shame I missed this game first time round, I'd love to see it on my big TV because it's one of the best looking games (art style, not technologically) I've ever played.
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Oooh, I loved Yoshi's Island. One of my favourite games ever. Got 100% on everything. (Would still be playing it but my SNES controller is busted. :() Haven't played it for Game Boy yet, all my time with that is spent with Fire Emblem right now. :D
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aah...simple electronics are fun:nod:
nice stuff dude:D
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Originally posted by 01010
It's a shame I missed this game first time round, I'd love to see it on my big TV because it's one of the best looking games (art style, not technologically) I've ever played.
(http://www.game-revolution.com/games/hardware/game_boy_player3.jpg)
also, I've been thinking about an afterburner installation myself. gotta teach myself how to solder (better/properly) first, and get the stuff too. I'm too lazy. maybe I'll get a DS instead.
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soldering is prety easy, as long as you use lead bassed soldering and a good tip and not higher tempertures then 350 C...
Personaly i love weller soldering stations and there tips are good quality.
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weller isn't really cheap, but yeah, they're nice.
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Originally posted by kode
(http://www.game-revolution.com/games/hardware/game_boy_player3.jpg)
also, I've been thinking about an afterburner installation myself. gotta teach myself how to solder (better/properly) first, and get the stuff too. I'm too lazy. maybe I'll get a DS instead.
Not quite the same as a SNES controller and I don't know if the image quality would be that good. I'm happy enough with it on the GBA though, I can take it with me wherever I go.
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Originally posted by 01010
Not quite the same as a SNES controller and I don't know if the image quality would be that good. I'm happy enough with it on the GBA though, I can take it with me wherever I go.
you know, I have an answer to that too (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-23-70-21i-4-7-buy.html)...
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I bought my Advance with the afterburner already installed. The one time i've ever used ebay for anything other than laughs. I love it, although there is a bit of dust under the screen, its not really noticable during gameplay.
I havent picked up any of the mario advance games, mainly because I already own them on SNES. But what im really looking for is the new Harvest Moon. Gotta love the simple pleasures.
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[color=66ff00]Soldering onto the GBA board is a bit of a niggly job, the contacts are very small and there's a real danger of lifting them off if too much heat is applied.
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Works better on a transluscent GBA front:
(http://www.n6tech.com/gba/with_ab.jpg)
:D
But I'll stick to my SP. I do want a PSP though when it comes out :D Handheld FF7 ;7
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[color=66ff00]PSP like PS2 looks like a 'look I'm a shiny looking box you can impress the rest of your twenty something mates with'.
I'm holding out for a DS, playstation is an image choice, Nintendo is a gaming choice.
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I think the DS is going to be interesting in the very least, I'll get one for bluetooth gaming alone.
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Originally posted by Maeglamor
[color=66ff00]I'm holding out for a DS, playstation is an image choice, Nintendo is a gaming choice.
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:ick: Nintendo hasn't been the same since the SNES. I choose the PS for gameplay and not so much for image. Nintendo only has a select few good games while the Playstation has a good range of good games.
Personally I just dont like 95% of all games that come out on the Nintendo platforms. While on the playstation entire series of games I like come out like
- Final Fantasy (this series has given me countless and countless of hours of fun)
- Syphon Filter series
- MGS series
- GTA series
- Medal of Honor series
- .hack series
- Prince of Persia
- Xenogears/Xenosaga series
- etc etc etc.
And those are but a few of the massive collection of awesome games. Seriously, saying that the PS is not a gaming choice is just bull**** to the max.
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Originally posted by Tiara
Personally I just dont like 95% of all games that come out on the Nintendo platforms. While on the playstation entire series of games I like come out like
- Final Fantasy (this series has given me countless and countless of hours of fun)
[color=66ff00]Great up to 7 but it's been spoiled by over long cutscenes.[/color]
- Syphon Filter series
[color=66ff00]A bit samey, good for a while but once I saw the sequals are little more than number one with bells and whistles...[/color]
- MGS series
[color=66ff00]The first one was great, the second one has so many painful ailments.[/color]
- GTA series
[color=66ff00]Ugh, boring.[/color]
- Medal of Honor series
[color=66ff00]Good granted, but It's the same as syphon filter, play the first one and the rest seem a bit samey.[/color]
- .hack series
[color=66ff00]Not familiar with this one[/color]
- Prince of Persia
[color=66ff00]Multiplatform so I can't say it's a good reason to get a PS2[/color]
- Xenogears/Xenosaga series
[color=66ff00]Don't know this one.[/color]
- etc etc etc.
And those are but a few of the massive collection of awesome games. Seriously, saying that the PS is not a gaming choice is just bull**** to the max.
[color=66ff00]PS2 Does have a few good games like Ico, Pro Evolution soccer (which isn't my bag but its popularity speaks volumes). Most of the others are multiplatform and thus, in my mind, do not warrant shelling out for a PS2. Sony are image centric primarily, they bet on 'tried and tested' whereas Nintendo really just want to be known for making great games. Sure there's 200 times the number of games For PS2 (worth noting that this is largely due to backwards compatability and almost zero quality checking). But nintendo release gems, I've never enjoyed a platform so much since the dreamcast.
My main beef is the tired rehash syndrome, they started off with a handfull of great titles like Silent hill, MGS, FF7 Gran Turismo, Tekken and with very few exceptions they've gone one step forward, two steps back. It has to be said though that by comparison Sony shines when you compare their platform to the Xbox.[/color]
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Seriously, your taste in games differs from mine with a magnitute of a few million or something.
Also, if you don't know the Xenogears/Xenosaga series, you should definately try it. (Unless you dislike japanese style RPGs)
And :wtf: 'spoiled by overly long cutscenes'?????? :wtf::wtf::wtf: It has more gameplay in it then 99% of all games out there. And those cutscenes are awesome I might add. They really add to the experience of the Final Fantasy world. Really, Final Fantasy has not been spoiled by overly long cutscenes if you compare it to the gameplay it offers.
As for the rehash syndrome, you need to play the so-called 'rehashes' before judging. I always hear people complain about Final Fantasy being a big fancy rehash but thats just not true. Especially the jump from 9 to 10. Totally new gameplay, totally new world, everything is totally new. Sure, it has the trusted old RPG ingherent qualities but those are essential.
I do agree on the rehash syndrome for arcade games such as Tekken and racing games. :ick: But that goes for all platforms.
Anyway, our tastes are obviously too different. Nintendo will never really appeal to me ever again untill they recapture their old SNES quality in games.
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SNES :YAY!!: uhh... :yes:
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Originally posted by Tiara
Seriously, your taste in games differs from mine with a magnitute of a few million or something.
Also, if you don't know the Xenogears/Xenosaga series, you should definately try it. (Unless you dislike japanese style RPGs)
And :wtf: 'spoiled by overly long cutscenes'?????? :wtf::wtf::wtf: It has more gameplay in it then 99% of all games out there. And those cutscenes are awesome I might add. They really add to the experience of the Final Fantasy world. Really, Final Fantasy has not been spoiled by overly long cutscenes if you compare it to the gameplay it offers.
As for the rehash syndrome, you need to play the so-called 'rehashes' before judging. I always hear people complain about Final Fantasy being a big fancy rehash but thats just not true. Especially the jump from 9 to 10. Totally new gameplay, totally new world, everything is totally new. Sure, it has the trusted old RPG ingherent qualities but those are essential.
I do agree on the rehash syndrome for arcade games such as Tekken and racing games. :ick: But that goes for all platforms.
Anyway, our tastes are obviously too different. Nintendo will never really appeal to me ever again untill they recapture their old SNES quality in games.
[color=66ff00]I have thorougly played through MGS 1+2, I've also played FF6 (3), 7 and a bit of 8. The story is good but the gameplay is a bit tired.
You really should check out Ico for the PS2, that is an epic.
You should also check out stuff like Viewtiful Joe, Meteroid, Monkey ball (multiplatform?), Rogue Leader and Wind Waker (though zelda does tend to fall into old trends too unfortunately) I can't wait to see what four swords is like. GC just has far more appeal to me.
I doubt anything will come close to the SNES for a long time (GBA really does get close on occasion though, advance wars is so much fun :) ), but the DS gives the player new gaming options that weren't considered before. I'm not saying the PSP doesn't have potential, I'm saying that due to Sony's track record you're likely to see a lot of the stuff you've seen before, nintendo is attempting not to create new games but to create a new way of gaming.
To me that's not only innovative but necessary.
Anyhow, I'm glad you've automatically assumed that it is all of course 'IMHO' (I really should use that before I rant). :lol:
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All you need to do now is add a cupholder.
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Originally posted by Tiara
- .hack series
- Xenogears/Xenosaga series
- etc etc etc.
Meh, that's the only thing I don't like with my MSboite: no japanese-style RPG :(
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I reverse-engineered my gameboy, all it took was a hammer ;)
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That's de-engineering. :p
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ICO is the only reason I will buy a PS2. I simply refuse to get one after it caused the premature death of the Dreamcast.
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Originally posted by Tiara
- .hack series
As in .hack//sign?
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I believe that that series was a prequel to the video games or something to that effect.
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Originally posted by Setekh
As in .hack//sign?
No, .hack//Infection (Part 1 and Paret 2 available ;))
http://www.redoctane.com/dothackps2.html