I just recently got back into game collecting, and I’m going to different subs to see what the communities think the most essential game in their respective consoles are. List multiple games if you want, but I’d still like to see a top pick from your list too.

I had a faulty VA5 that was well beyond my capabilities to fix, so I decided to take the plunge and order an AliExpress motherboard and IPS screen kit, among other parts like a new case, etc.

Last night I installed the single ASIC from the old board, along with the cart slot, crystal oscilator, LED, and communication port. After installing all the components swapped from the old board and installing the new components provided with the new board I decided to give it a test run to see if it worked and it only showed static on the screen. I figured I messed up installing the ASIC, so I inspected it under 10x magnification and it was maaaybe a little crooked on one line of pins, so even though I didn't see any bad connections or bridges between pins I decided to remove it completely, clean and re-tin the pads, and re-flowed the chip and this time it's pretty much bang on, but I'm still having the same issue.

Because there are only really 5 original parts from the old Game Gear on this board and I don't have another IPS screen kit to swap out to see if the issue is on the motherboard or on the screen kit, I don't really know where to go from here for troubleshooting.

Has anyone ever used one of these motherboards before and have any insight? I've used the exact same IPS screen kit previously, but it was to install onto a VA1 with a broken screen, so the install process was a bit different this time around as the motherboard and screen kit were plug and play.

I'm really hoping it's something stupid that I forgot and someone will have some insight, because I'm a bit out of my depth on this one.

I bought a faulty game gear and the issues were the LCD shows green pixels on dark contrast and a game would only display after power cycling 4 times.

completed a full recap and I am still having the same issues. I think the LCD has had it but no problem, will replace with an after market one.

however, the power cycling 4 times to get a game to load issue is still there. strange it always seems to load it exactly 4 times.

the game is good and tested in a VA0 and loads every time on that unit. I have cleaned the contacts in the game slot but no difference. Not sure where I really start with this issue.

anyone got any ideas?

thanks

Hi, does anyobody know where i can download the image files for the Zega mame boy? The zarcade.uk website seems to have move,i cannot find them anymore.

Picked up a gg at a garage sale and did a recap.

Caps are all oriented correctly and of the correct sizing.

After turning on, the backlight and the LCD seem to be working, but the screen remains black and random pixels are lit, but remain static.

Went back over all my work and checked and reflowed the ram and asic as well. Still problem persists.

Power board pins all have the correct voltages as well

GG is a 2110 va1 single asic version

Whatsup yall!

I'm relatively new to the sub but all these mod posts of these sexy GG's has me wanting to get in on the action myself.

I had both GG for a few years now, got the JP one (Red) when i was in Japan and played it a few times and a few months later was gifted the black US version...Both are fully functional.

I want to start modding them both (or at least just one of them) as far as i can go but i'm not sure where to start.. looking for any advice, tips or point me in the right direction.

Much Appreciated from an old school GG owner 🤙 :)

Greetings all! I've always adored Sonic's Game Gear games despite also having played ones which are generally considered to be better in every way imaginable. As it turned out, spending 50 hours playing each of the games said system offers (and another 50 if we count the Master System versions) lead to me basically falling in love with the Game Gear and getting a few of Sonic's games for it (1, 2 and Chaos, although the collection will grow...) along with the console itself.

Because of this, I've been wanting to learn more about the console in both hardware (components, what they do and how they work) and software (programming in Z80 Assembly for the Game Gear), although I've had some issues when searching for where to... well, learn that stuff. I was hoping I could get some directions regarding this.

Additionally, I suppose it'd be necessary to mention that I do have basic knowledge as far as programming in high-level languages goes (I'm not sure how to exactly value said knowledge when speaking like this but I'm definitely familiar with such) but I'm not all too versed in hardware in general (though I'm more than willing to learn). Thanks in advance!

I have about eight audio boards that have been recapped with ceramic capacitors from retro six. All tested and working. Follow the link to my eBay store if you’re interested.

Transplanted the CPU from a dead Game Gear and got a USB C power board as well as a stereo sound board. Then I had to get a clear shell to show it all off.

There are some rly good hits in here as well like shinobi, the game gear needs new caps but other than that everything is in perfect condition

Xmodsgaming com

saw retrosix was doing a Kickstarter for new crystal versions of their shells

link

I'm interested in some repro games, possibly things like Mega Man. does anyone make these?

I've got about 50 more games to go for the entire loose American set, but this is by far the nastiest cart I've come across in the past year and a half of collecting! I don't usually pop them open any more, but the Q-tips kept coming back dirtier than toilet paper from a Chipotle poo, it made sense when I looked inside! Any ideas on what happened here? I've seen plenty of rust and gunk amongst various console carts, but this looks like chewing tobacco spit, bleh

Hi everyone,

I just finished fully recapping my second game gear (motherboard, audio and power), this time for a friend. I’ve used the exact same capacitors on both handhelds but with different results.

On the left is the game gear for my friend which I have just recapped, and on the right is my game gear which I recapped about a month ago. The screen is noticeably brighter on my game gear which I am confused over. I’ve also attached some photos of the motherboard in the dimmer game gear if someone can see a glaring issue that I may have missed.

For reference the contrast wheel on my game gear is at about 75% and the wheel is on 100% for the dim screen.

Thanks 😊

No experience modding (or inclination to learn) but I would love an updated Game Gear.

Has anyone reputable made a business out of updating and selling them?

Where toothpick is pointing. From negative (-) leg of C45 to C46.

During recap job these ended up bridged during cleanup and wicking and I can't seem to separate them at all.

Do not want to scrape anything before being sure.

Schematics seem to place a resistor R36 between them : https://retrosix.wiki/uploads/Game%20Gear%20VA1-1.pdf

However pictures of a clean board make it look like there is definitely a trace there under the white line : https://www.smspower.org/uploads/Development/Sega_GG_VA1_component_side_001.jpg

Need to sort this out with help from this sub.

Thanks fellas

So che è impossibile ma se qualcuno conosce ho ha un amico che ha comprato un game gear così mi possa dare il numero perchè non sono riuscito a trovarlo

Qualcuno saprebbe anche dirmi in caso dove posso trovare un game gear cib.

Hello,

It’s a VA1 Europe, ongoing recap.
Only a Little part of the mother board is severely corroded
Is it ok ? Should I test and/or resoldering ?

Got this today super hyped to own one of these never owned one ever. Also got some games for it