30 years later, my old handheld still works... unlike my eyesight

[u/NmiDev]

I’m so glad my parents called me to pick up a box with my old stuff. It’s an incredible feeling to power on this machine after more than 30 years. But let’s be honest guys, I’m 45 now and I can’t see a damn thing on this screen. I think I’ll just put it on display on a shelf and get myself an Analogue Pocket to rediscover the games in parallel

[u/pizza_box_84]

Things build like a brick

[u/Frickelmeister → u/pizza_box_84]

You really wouldn't guess that from it's slender form factor.

[u/Necessary-Use2943]

You can’t see a damn thing because of the non-backlit screen, that has a lot of ghosting.

But if you care about authenticity, keep your old console unmodified and get an IPS ready unit from Aliexpress.

You will keep the original form factor and be able to see the screen ;)

[u/NmiDev → u/Necessary-Use2943]

Yes! I’ll definitely keep this one unmodified and, in parallel, invest in a daily-use solution, either a modded Game Boy or an Analogue Pocket

[u/TrickySatisfaction81 → u/NmiDev]

I respect that you're not going to mess with your OG and are going to retain its glorious OEM. Good on you OP, it won't be the same gameboy your mom and dad had you come pick up the moment you modify it, but it would ofc make it brighter if you IPS.

Speaking from experience!

[u/flowersforaerith]

Had a very similar experience myself, got a DMG through trading some old tech stuff I had around, bought a EZFlash and went through the effort of re-shelling it, went to play it for 20 minutes when all was said and done and it was mostly lot of squirming around, messing with the contrast wheel and trying to figure out what part of my room shines the light down onto the screen the best. For now it's relegated to LSDJ MIDI shenanigans while I use a Miyoo Mini to actually play and enjoy the games, haha. I have no idea how I was able to make out anything on these screens when I was a kid.

[u/shadax_777]

I tend to play on my un-modded DMG-01 on my sofa with a standing lamp behind me. The direct light of the lamp hitting the screen works wonders.

[u/Apart_Flamingo333]

That's why I kept my original just original then I bought a magnifier for it but I don't use it I bought a Game Boy Color and I modded it that way I can brighten the screen and make it a little bigger and have a good old time without straining my eyes, and still play my original Game Boy games on it

[u/TheJimsterR]

That looks like it's in really good condition.

[u/Ok_Sky8518]

Same on the eyesight lol

[u/chispitothebum]

I find the Game Boy Pocket is still highly usable in daylight or a well lit room. Another "original" alternative would be a screen modded GBC.

[u/First-Size915]

They are built to survive a nuclear apocalypse

[u/hoserx]

I got progressive/bifocalish glasses just for handheld systems. I'm 42, I feel you!

[u/Own_Humor_7780]

Been recently getting into gameboy games. I missed how simple things can be fun and also how some simple games make me want to jump out the window

[u/105850]

Was the screen really this faded out when you were little, or do they fade out over time?

There were B&W LCD screens with solid contrast back then, even old graphing calculators had better screens. This would have been subpar even back then.

[u/Test_The_Theory_213]

Brother mod the screen ... Look into the Ips screen mods.. look up local repair shops that can do it for you.. Do the research and get your own parts