Screen problems on original GameBoy [Archive]

PanMan

02-23-2007, 01:35 PM

Hey guys, since you are all pretty knowledgable about games and systems, I was hoping you could help me out with a little problem I have with my classic GameBoy. Essentially the screen is getting ruined. I cannot see what is happening on the left side and the right side. I have some pics below to help illustrate my point.

Before:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n114/panman328/GBbefore.jpg

After:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n114/panman328/GBafter.jpg

It seems like it is getting worse over time, but I don't know what is causing it or what to do to slow it down or stop it completely. I assume there is no way to fix it without replacing it, but was wondering if anybody here had any insight. I keep a game in the slot all the time and the GameBoy is stored away from dust and at room temperature if that helps. There are also no batteries in it and there is no physical pressure on the screen or anywhere else on the GameBoy.

Thanks in advance for any help.

ThirdMarioBro

02-23-2007, 01:40 PM

The LCD screen is wearing out. It's just how they are made. Mine did that eons ago, and it became unplayable because of it.

Sorry man, it's just time creeping up. You best not replace it with another. It will do the same thing. Get an SP or something.

Ecto Jedi

02-23-2007, 02:20 PM

The LCD screen is wearing out. It's just how they are made. Mine did that eons ago, and it became unplayable because of it.

Sorry man, it's just time creeping up. You best not replace it with another. It will do the same thing. Get an SP or something.

Well, couldn't he find a Gameboy for like $5 or $10? Granted, it'd probably eventually do the exact same thing again, but he'd at least be able to play his games again for a while.

PanMan

02-23-2007, 03:45 PM

That's too bad. I figured there was nothing you could do to fix it, but is there anything you can do to slow down the process? I've noticed it got worse over the years, and I haven't been playing it at all.

I was thinking of getting a copy of Link's Awakening, but I'm not sure if I will be able to play it now. I wonder if Nintendo will put up GameBoy games on the Virtual Console, or something similar. I would be really interested in a DS if it could play all GameBoy games, but unfortunately it can only play GBA games. Maybe they can make a GameBoy 'Virtual Console' for the DS so you can download the classics through WiFi and play them on the DS.

ThirdMarioBro

02-23-2007, 03:56 PM

Don't expect to see that until the DS's eventual successor. DS doesn't have enough RAM to efficiently run emulation software. Don't go out an buy Link's Awakening either. The battery backup is probably is either dead, or will die before you finish. Wait for downloadable copies in the future.

It's a sad affair, I know. :(

PanMan

02-23-2007, 04:02 PM

I might still get it anyways if I can get it for a few bucks. For that price I can take the risk.

Speaking of battery back-ups, this is more of a GameCube related question. I have a GC memory card and use it to play GC games on my Wii. It is a third party card and I always have it inserted into the slot. Should I keep it out of the slot to preserve the battery, or does it even matter at all? Does it use up the batter when it is inserted, even though the console is off or it is not being used?

ThirdMarioBro

02-23-2007, 04:18 PM

I don't think it matters. The batteries have never been rechargeable to my knowledge.

PanMan

02-23-2007, 04:25 PM

Alright, good to know. Thanks for your help.

discordiatookie

02-24-2007, 06:33 AM

If I were you, I would buy a gameboy advance sp. They're backwards compatible with old gameboy/gameboy colour games, which is nice! I've got a sexy 'nes' style one...

Cure

02-24-2007, 01:11 PM

If I were you, I would buy a gameboy advance sp. They're backwards compatible with old gameboy/gameboy colour games, which is nice! I've got a sexy 'nes' style one...

Yeah, the sp's are pretty cheap now, too.

BigApple3AM

02-24-2007, 06:45 PM

Yeah I got the classic NES gameboy as well, I don't have a DS but my brother does and I prefer the sp and the gba games. I like 2d stuff more when it comes to gameboy (the only ds game I like so far is New Mario Bros).

I love that classic NES style gameboy, even the box was retro so I saved it.

discordiatookie

02-24-2007, 09:30 PM

I must say that I love playing my Gameboy Advance (sp) games on the DS. Its just cos of the brightness of the screen. Here's an example (although its from DS to DS Light, this was the first time I seen the difference) : I had been playing Animal Crossing for the DS for ages. Then I got a DS Light, and when I put it into the DS Light, there was colours in there I had never seen before. It was amazing. Like it was a totally different game. It went from being nice to being beautiful. (This was the difference between DS and DS Light games, so imagine the difference between GBA and DS Light!) So I play my GBA games on the DS (Light) just because of the brightness levels. Its like being in a new world. And I play my old Gameboy games (as they are non-compatable on the DS) on the GBA, only because the DS don't play them...

LogicDonny

02-25-2007, 02:12 AM

I must say that I love playing my Gameboy Advance (sp) games on the DS. Its just cos of the brightness of the screen. Here's an example (although its from DS to DS Light, this was the first time I seen the difference) : I had been playing Animal Crossing for the DS for ages. Then I got a DS Light, and when I put it into the DS Light, there was colours in there I had never seen before. It was amazing. Like it was a totally different game. It went from being nice to being beautiful. (This was the difference between DS and DS Light games, so imagine the difference between GBA and DS Light!) So I play my GBA games on the DS (Light) just because of the brightness levels. Its like being in a new world. And I play my old Gameboy games (as they are non-compatable on the DS) on the GBA, only because the DS don't play them...

yep I would agree with you on ds games looking better with the ds lite.

When I got my ds lite for hte first time, the system was just beatiful to hold and look at, when I played mario kart on it, I was like drooling over the colors I never noticed.

I couldn't believe how amazing it was.. Heck the ds lite r button broke down a few weeks later so i had to get a 2nd one.

First time of a handheld ever breaking down for me like that lol.

Krang

02-25-2007, 03:46 AM

I must say that I love playing my Gameboy Advance (sp) games on the DS. Its just cos of the brightness of the screen. Here's an example (although its from DS to DS Light, this was the first time I seen the difference) : I had been playing Animal Crossing for the DS for ages. Then I got a DS Light, and when I put it into the DS Light, there was colours in there I had never seen before. It was amazing. Like it was a totally different game. It went from being nice to being beautiful. (This was the difference between DS and DS Light games, so imagine the difference between GBA and DS Light!) So I play my GBA games on the DS (Light) just because of the brightness levels. Its like being in a new world. And I play my old Gameboy games (as they are non-compatable on the DS) on the GBA, only because the DS don't play them...
I agree, the difference between the screens of the DS and the DS Lite is incredible. Actually, there is a newer model of the SP that has a backlit screen like the DS Lite, so you might be interested in that for your original GB games. I have one, and it's just as much of an improvement over the original SP as the DS Lite is over the original DS. There is no difference in the name or shape of the new model, but the box mentions that it has a brighter backlit screen:

http://gbamedia.gamespy.com/gba/image/article/654/654407/backlit-game-boy-advance-sp-hands-on-20050928102243601.jpg