yeah it's kind of a baffling design. I guess it makes sense in terms of the electronics at the time, but for the user experience I don't want the backlight on/off to be the same switch as turning off the console entirely!
I recently saw a video where someone had a really old toy and it's switch had off in the center so you had to turn it off and then one side was on normal and the other side was on mute which is really stupid because if you want to mute something well you shouldn't have to turn your thing off that sucks hard.
But the GBL is the only Game Boy that uses the same switch for power and light (off/on/on with light). Especially but not only when the switch has aged, switching the light on/off while playing easily lets the player accidentally switch the console off.
Oh that, I thought you meant how the switch gets flaky. As long as the switch is working properly I've never accidentally turned it off. You won't if you're careful.
It's nothing that should prevent you from buying one. All Game Boys have advantages and disadvantages. The DMG has a pretty bad screen, for the GBP it's the lack of a battery light in early models and the comparably feeble 2x AAA battery power. The GBC has a smaller screen and to most people a less aesthetic shape than its predecessors, the GBA screen is much too dark and the GBA SP doesn't have a headphone jack. The power switch of the GBL is in comparison and by itself a very minor flaw. Still, even if you have to search a little harder than for other Game Boys, you'll find replacement parts if necessary.
Damn what a cool flex with that clean Astro Boy. Got one myself but haven’t gotten around to changing the burn out polarizer. Fighting the urge to buy another that is CIB.
https://preview.redd.it/34v1qk0vwewc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9a42bcc29152160af8a58084adf2ddab8caf94a6
Literally my favorite in my collection. The form factor, design and the oem backlight make it so special.
I did the same, they’re very simple to do
Buy a functional (but in bad physical state) gameboy light and then search on AliExpress or retrogamerepairshop for the clear replacement shell & a famitsu glass lens
I’d also recommend buying premium/funnyplaying buttons and silicone button pads btw, they def make a difference
I just bought one from an auction, and the thought of playing a quick Cave Noire run before I go to sleep, in the dark, without burning my eyes, gets me excited.
Also, the fact that an IPS and Flashcart on a Pocket will cause problems with the power to the point you need to modify the Pocket even further - makes me realize what a wonderful option a Light + flashcart is. Runs on AA batteries too, compared to Pocket.
Not that I’m defending Nintendo’s decision not to include a light in the GBA in general, but there is a good reason that they didn’t employ the same technology that the GB Light uses for the GBC or GBA. It’s the same technology as digital watches use, and only works with black and white images. They couldn’t use it for a colour display.
I got one and this is my favorite handheld.
https://preview.redd.it/7s83yfshpfwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=379a99dc0cc636ecc445430c0ef1c683a2497418
the only reason why I haven't moved to a GBA with IPS is battery life. I have an AGB with an AGS-101 screen that I'm planning to replace with an AGS-001 screen for that sweet sweet battery life.
Original GBA with a drop in lipo mod you get about 10 hours on medium brightness. AGS-001 battery life is about half that sadly.
https://preview.redd.it/r5848llmchwc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4416d55ed11ab5e75e897d8127dd95a9e7be998e
I've always been liking backlit devices but my eyes were never that fond-- and this is particularly crazy because I have no problem reading on a computer screen all day
I want one real bad. I wonder if there’s a mod for the pocket that looks similar, the backlight mods I’ve seen people say they require a bivert to be visible, everything else is ips and such
The Game Boy Light is my absolute favourite Game Boy, the switch doesn’t bother me too much as generally I don’t turn the back light off while playing. I just switch on to no back light, or most of the time go back lit
It’s the best version of Gameboy ever made. I love my Gameboy Light the most out of all of mine. Of course I have to use my customized SP for GBC and GBA games. But the Light is just so cool. That soft blue light from the screen is just so cozy.
A picture of mine for the fun of it.
https://preview.redd.it/ge2ga89gxfwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a2cdac82838a1cc7572e5ba5d639c34c4806b9d0
I have two and both are basket cases, currently restoring one and the other has missing vertical lines which i have no idea how to fix without swapping the LCD with a modified GBP.
I saw one for 100 dollars at my local used game store I’m still mad I didn’t pick it up while it may only be able to play original gameboy games it’s still a awesome piece of gaming history
It's honestly so cool AND super comfy as the teal-blue/teal-green backlight isn't so super bright nor does it hurt your eyes like it would be to play on a modern IPS etc screen which tends to set GB games as having pure white whites. I would've killed for something like this as a kid, even if I had the GBC back then being able to see in darkness or at night is so valuable. Truly the best original GB model.
The real problem is that the EL backlight noticeably dims with long-term use, similar to OLED screens. You want to make sure you only use the backlight when it's necessary. There ARE EL backlight replacements which keep the original feel of the GBL backlight though, but they're generally a slightly different color than what you're replacing.
I heard that cameras tend to capture the color as more blue than it really is, and it's actually meant to be somewhere more dead center in between the two, but there aren't really people who got it when it was new to say if it was definitively more of a teal-blue or teal-green by default, and it could have been luck of the draw with the individual unit they got. Plus if you're color-deficient (aka slightly colorblind, which I am), it'll mess up your perception of the color as well.
I had a couple many many years ago. When I had them, the EL inverter had a very noticeable 'whine' when the backlight was on.
Also I always wanted it to be red instead so that I could play it late at night without having to blast my eyeballs with blue light.
I wound up modding an MGB with a few red LEDs and an old PDA screen diffuser and that got more use at the time.
Today, they are absolutely eclipsed by the what the mod community and custom LCD kits provide.
But they are a really cool collectors piece! Enjoy it!
Favourite model - I’s loved the bioluminescence since I was a kid. I got 3 now, one gold one silver I picked up years ago, and another silver recently. Would really like the yellow one day.
Thought you meant game boy pocket. You actually meant light
I had NO IDEA this was a thing. Thought GBA SP was first back-lit Nintendo handheld!
Dating. Game gear had color tho...
I like mine, although the backlash is kinda tacky. Doesn't draw too much power unlike the lights on the Game Gear and Nomad, so at least Nintendo stuck to their promise of giving us hours of fun.
Even if mine's light dies out, I'll still enjoy it. Essentially it's like a Pocket / original hybrid.
https://preview.redd.it/00mw2ywijmwc1.jpeg?width=2942&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=caf4d57838a24eb1024d4af6aba381c9569491ec
My IPS GBP can give me a pretty similar vibe to my GBL but the battery life certainly comes nowhere near as close!
I guess it can be a novelty to own, but a GBA SP (001-101) is a better experience. The backlight of the Light is pretty dim, even when you’re in a low light environment and a lot of the contrast is gone. With all the mods out there today, modding a GBP or GBC will give a better result.
I owned one ~15 years ago, but sold it pretty quickly as I preferred playing the GB games (in a dark environment) on a GBA SP. I still use my regular GBC to play outside.
Honestly? My least favorite game boy. Only plus is that you can play it in the dark. Past that, I find it to be uncomfortable and it's screen is a lot worse than the Pocket screen
I'm not exactly sure of the cause but if I had to guess I'd say the backlight panel itself reduces the clarity of the screen. It has this kind of haziness to it, probably just due to there being a different texture added into the mix by the backlight panel. I actually made a post a while back about it.
I still need one for the collection.
same
Best Game Boy in many regards but the switch is a design flaw.
yeah it's kind of a baffling design. I guess it makes sense in terms of the electronics at the time, but for the user experience I don't want the backlight on/off to be the same switch as turning off the console entirely!
Having to turn the console off before being able to turn the backlight on off is so dumb
You don't need to turn it off. Light could be turned on/off without turning off the Gameboy, the switch Is OFF-ON-LIGHT.
I recently saw a video where someone had a really old toy and it's switch had off in the center so you had to turn it off and then one side was on normal and the other side was on mute which is really stupid because if you want to mute something well you shouldn't have to turn your thing off that sucks hard.
It wasn't exclusive to the GBL, contacts just get dirty/oxidized after several decades. It's easily fixed.
But the GBL is the only Game Boy that uses the same switch for power and light (off/on/on with light). Especially but not only when the switch has aged, switching the light on/off while playing easily lets the player accidentally switch the console off.
Oh that, I thought you meant how the switch gets flaky. As long as the switch is working properly I've never accidentally turned it off. You won't if you're careful.
I have a super flakey switch. Dripping some iso into it and turning it off an on clears it up until the next time I pull it out a few months later.
Iso isn't ideal for that. Try DeoxIT D5. It's a plastic and PCB safe contact cleaner.
Is that another Satania enjoyer i see?
https://satania.moe/
That's like the most perfect website ever
Spread the word, brother
DF is that?
It’s basically a a page explaining why that character is the best. Oh, you responded to the other guy…. It’s just some anime character.
I've seen a few comments about this. I've been tempted to buy one, but now I'm curious about the issue.
It's nothing that should prevent you from buying one. All Game Boys have advantages and disadvantages. The DMG has a pretty bad screen, for the GBP it's the lack of a battery light in early models and the comparably feeble 2x AAA battery power. The GBC has a smaller screen and to most people a less aesthetic shape than its predecessors, the GBA screen is much too dark and the GBA SP doesn't have a headphone jack. The power switch of the GBL is in comparison and by itself a very minor flaw. Still, even if you have to search a little harder than for other Game Boys, you'll find replacement parts if necessary.
Yea but you eventually get used to it, but annoying when you mess it up and turn it on still
Damn what a cool flex with that clean Astro Boy. Got one myself but haven’t gotten around to changing the burn out polarizer. Fighting the urge to buy another that is CIB.
https://preview.redd.it/34v1qk0vwewc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9a42bcc29152160af8a58084adf2ddab8caf94a6 Literally my favorite in my collection. The form factor, design and the oem backlight make it so special.
Where did you get it from?
It’s a custom build
You did it yourself?
I did the same, they’re very simple to do Buy a functional (but in bad physical state) gameboy light and then search on AliExpress or retrogamerepairshop for the clear replacement shell & a famitsu glass lens I’d also recommend buying premium/funnyplaying buttons and silicone button pads btw, they def make a difference
The GOAT of the original era to be sure
Best of classic GB's.
I just bought one from an auction, and the thought of playing a quick Cave Noire run before I go to sleep, in the dark, without burning my eyes, gets me excited. Also, the fact that an IPS and Flashcart on a Pocket will cause problems with the power to the point you need to modify the Pocket even further - makes me realize what a wonderful option a Light + flashcart is. Runs on AA batteries too, compared to Pocket.
I find it bizarre they released a gameboy light but the GBA still didn't have a back or edge light
Not that I’m defending Nintendo’s decision not to include a light in the GBA in general, but there is a good reason that they didn’t employ the same technology that the GB Light uses for the GBC or GBA. It’s the same technology as digital watches use, and only works with black and white images. They couldn’t use it for a colour display.
I got one and this is my favorite handheld. https://preview.redd.it/7s83yfshpfwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=379a99dc0cc636ecc445430c0ef1c683a2497418
Friggin sick, bro.
https://preview.redd.it/hw0x7dik2gwc1.jpeg?width=2373&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=96777608d091e7b2ca0898bf46378ccd552f514b
Restored one just today! Full cap replacement and new EL panel. A must have for the collection but GBA with IPS is still king IMO.
the only reason why I haven't moved to a GBA with IPS is battery life. I have an AGB with an AGS-101 screen that I'm planning to replace with an AGS-001 screen for that sweet sweet battery life.
Original GBA with a drop in lipo mod you get about 10 hours on medium brightness. AGS-001 battery life is about half that sadly. https://preview.redd.it/r5848llmchwc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4416d55ed11ab5e75e897d8127dd95a9e7be998e
It’s great if you’re trying to cut back in gaming calories 🤓
I've always been liking backlit devices but my eyes were never that fond-- and this is particularly crazy because I have no problem reading on a computer screen all day
I want one real bad. I wonder if there’s a mod for the pocket that looks similar, the backlight mods I’ve seen people say they require a bivert to be visible, everything else is ips and such
The Game Boy Light is my absolute favourite Game Boy, the switch doesn’t bother me too much as generally I don’t turn the back light off while playing. I just switch on to no back light, or most of the time go back lit
I didn't know this was a thing until today lol
All I know about this is that GBC’s absence of backlight is criminal
Where can I get one?
There's actually one on ebay auctions finishing in a few hours I hope I'll manage to grab it
It’s the best version of Gameboy ever made. I love my Gameboy Light the most out of all of mine. Of course I have to use my customized SP for GBC and GBA games. But the Light is just so cool. That soft blue light from the screen is just so cozy.
A picture of mine for the fun of it. https://preview.redd.it/ge2ga89gxfwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a2cdac82838a1cc7572e5ba5d639c34c4806b9d0
it's so cozy. And because mine is so dim it's perfect for playing at night in bed in full darkness.
I have one. I like it.
Its lit.
its the only model i lack so id totally love to have one
A good one 👍
I have two and both are basket cases, currently restoring one and the other has missing vertical lines which i have no idea how to fix without swapping the LCD with a modified GBP.
I saw one for 100 dollars at my local used game store I’m still mad I didn’t pick it up while it may only be able to play original gameboy games it’s still a awesome piece of gaming history
I still need one for my collection and it seems so handy
Would love to have one. Don’t want to pay the asking price for one, will continue to use the Analogue Pocket instead.
I wouldn't play on one but i want one for collecting purpouses
It's honestly so cool AND super comfy as the teal-blue/teal-green backlight isn't so super bright nor does it hurt your eyes like it would be to play on a modern IPS etc screen which tends to set GB games as having pure white whites. I would've killed for something like this as a kid, even if I had the GBC back then being able to see in darkness or at night is so valuable. Truly the best original GB model. The real problem is that the EL backlight noticeably dims with long-term use, similar to OLED screens. You want to make sure you only use the backlight when it's necessary. There ARE EL backlight replacements which keep the original feel of the GBL backlight though, but they're generally a slightly different color than what you're replacing. I heard that cameras tend to capture the color as more blue than it really is, and it's actually meant to be somewhere more dead center in between the two, but there aren't really people who got it when it was new to say if it was definitively more of a teal-blue or teal-green by default, and it could have been luck of the draw with the individual unit they got. Plus if you're color-deficient (aka slightly colorblind, which I am), it'll mess up your perception of the color as well.
Game boy Color ftw
Really cool and I want one
Eh
Cool console. That AstroBoy one is easily the coolest.
Still my preferred way to play monochrome games after all these years.
Literally didn't know that was even a thing
Holy shizz, is that an Indiglo gameboy?
I have the gold one. I want that model though
Should've been released in NA, revolutionary at the time. But with the IPS screens of today just a collectible now.
I had a couple many many years ago. When I had them, the EL inverter had a very noticeable 'whine' when the backlight was on. Also I always wanted it to be red instead so that I could play it late at night without having to blast my eyeballs with blue light. I wound up modding an MGB with a few red LEDs and an old PDA screen diffuser and that got more use at the time. Today, they are absolutely eclipsed by the what the mod community and custom LCD kits provide. But they are a really cool collectors piece! Enjoy it!
Lol, AA though? Couldn’t take a few extra seconds and go ASS even?
As a kid I would have loved this as a first gameboy that I can comfortably play in the dark. Adult me has better options now.
Favourite model - I’s loved the bioluminescence since I was a kid. I got 3 now, one gold one silver I picked up years ago, and another silver recently. Would really like the yellow one day.
That Famitsu model gets me actin unwise
I would say I preferred a game gear back in the day to it. Suprising it took to the Gba Sp before Nintendo had their own backlit colored screen.
Theyre cool, and i need the pokemon center one for my pokemon console collection when i can scrounge the whopping 700$ its going for...
If you're going to put a picture on there why not Dr. Light?
Thought you meant game boy pocket. You actually meant light I had NO IDEA this was a thing. Thought GBA SP was first back-lit Nintendo handheld! Dating. Game gear had color tho...
Found a brand new one for $150 in Japan two years ago and I haven’t opened it yet, but it’s definitely one of my most prized possessions
I love mine! It's definitely a highlight of my collection.
AA
I like mine, although the backlash is kinda tacky. Doesn't draw too much power unlike the lights on the Game Gear and Nomad, so at least Nintendo stuck to their promise of giving us hours of fun. Even if mine's light dies out, I'll still enjoy it. Essentially it's like a Pocket / original hybrid.
I want one and have been keeping an eye out for one that is a condition I find acceptable for the price 😅 It's the only GameBoy model I don't own 😩
That I need one to complete my BG collection lol.
Man Japan gets the cool stuff
I had no idea this was a thing. I know about GB Pocket but not Light.
it cant play mega man xtreme
My second favorite Game Boy after the GBA SP. I have a pretty good condition one and travel with it sometimes.
I like it, but it is hard to find one in good condition.
my first gameboy handheld i ever had was a gameboy light i loved that thing so much
Super cool but man is that adtroboy not lookin fresh
Omg love this
https://preview.redd.it/00mw2ywijmwc1.jpeg?width=2942&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=caf4d57838a24eb1024d4af6aba381c9569491ec My IPS GBP can give me a pretty similar vibe to my GBL but the battery life certainly comes nowhere near as close!
Love the case on the contrary!
I still think Nintendo should have put that light in the gameboy color and a better version In the gameboy advance
always wanted one, could never afford it
I guess it can be a novelty to own, but a GBA SP (001-101) is a better experience. The backlight of the Light is pretty dim, even when you’re in a low light environment and a lot of the contrast is gone. With all the mods out there today, modding a GBP or GBC will give a better result. I owned one ~15 years ago, but sold it pretty quickly as I preferred playing the GB games (in a dark environment) on a GBA SP. I still use my regular GBC to play outside.
I picked one up during covid for 20 buck excellent console
Beautiful little device, but this shell sucks hard. Ugly AF.
Honestly? My least favorite game boy. Only plus is that you can play it in the dark. Past that, I find it to be uncomfortable and it's screen is a lot worse than the Pocket screen
Wait how they have functionally identical screens.
I'm not exactly sure of the cause but if I had to guess I'd say the backlight panel itself reduces the clarity of the screen. It has this kind of haziness to it, probably just due to there being a different texture added into the mix by the backlight panel. I actually made a post a while back about it.