Hey peeps, it has been awhile. I've done a number of projects since my last uncompleted post but we're back(mostly thanks to the encouragement of a close friend). I want to do another post listing those, but in the meantime I'll be writing about my most recent job: Installing a picoboot into my Gamecube!
My younger brother and I shared an indigo Gamecube covered in felt fuzzy squirrel stickers. I played a good amount of classics on the console. In a solo setting I spent some hours on Metroid Prime, Super Mario Sunshine, Twilight princess and Luigi's Mansion. Jovial times were had with family and friends when Smash Bros. or Mario Kart Double Dash were inserted into the disc loader. Warm memories still hold strong when that geometrical machine comes to mind and yet there are still experiences to had! I've yet to play the various pokemon games among other classics like Viewtiful Joe, Wave Race, and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance!
I don't know where our original console went, so I decided to pick up this silver painted one off the second hand market! Thankfully it came in good condition with all functions working. I also bought a copy of Metroid Prime 2 along side it as I still want to play the rest of the prime series(Awaiting Prime 4, Retro Studios...).
At any rate, I decided to pick up a picoboot board due to how cheap it is for the features I wanted. The board itself is about $8 itself which is pretty nuts. Outside of common project tools and wires, all you need is the SD2SP2 SD card adapter and an SD Card. The resources I used would be the following:
Surprisingly, my replacement GBC, and GBA SP speakers, butttons were just delivered. Currently, The speaker to the GBA does not work, and despite the headphone jack providing audio. Along with the replacement parts, I also ordered a tool kit to open these devices and the DS Lite. Time to open up the GBA and see what we've got.
I currently bought this GBC of a goodwill auctions along with a DS Lite. The GBC is in much better condition, only having the issues of a broken speaker and missing battery cover. My brief soldering kits experience helped me feel at ease doing this breakfix.
Recently, I've been getting into retro games. More specifically retro handhelds: GBC, GBA, GBA SP, PSP. Nostalga hit me hard as a video regarding modding the SP with upgraded screens and metal shells popped up in my youtube recommendations. I had to have one. With the goal of modding/repairing retro handhelds, I picked up soldering tools and started to practice after watching some youtube videos on beginner kits.
Test post! Thinking about posting retro gaming or tech stuff here starting with the documentation of modding various gaming handhelds I received recently.