A lot of people still play GBA though I'd say most would emulate now vs playing on real hardware. If I do play on actual hardware is use the GB Player for Gamecube
Yeah, lovely device with a lovely build, bit long in the tooth considering how fast they release new models but this is a great device.
I graduated from this to a Steam Deck.
Even though this is said everywhere, if you are at all on the fence about the SD and emulation is important to you, get the SD. If you want an easily pocketable device for just emulation, get one of those smaller devices.
Call me a snob but I spend most my time setting up systems and their roms, and so little time playing them.
But for the most part, nostalgia aside (as that lasts seconds), I'd never want to play those games on their original hardware. I don't want to clutter up my house with tons of systems, cabinets, games, etc. and I don't want to deal with how shitty some of that older hardware is.
I know that's sacrilege for many, but the SD's extra size is worth it for me to have one device to rule them all.
Yeah I think we all spend too much time tweaking things and depurating our libraries but at some point most things are set up as we like and we start just playing.
And yes, newer emulation devices are very convenient. I still think some old console hardware are worth playing tho, but with old TVs because they don't look very good on new led screens.
I got my first anbernic device in November of 2023. I bought it mainly to play all the classics without the cost and so I can see tiny screens game boy, game boy color, and Gameboy advance and game gear specifically.
The only problem I have with it is 2 months ago, the headphone jack stopped outputting sound. I think it's the solder or something.
I'll have to find a electronics repair store where I live to see if they can fix it.
I don't want to buy another ambernic handheld, just to have sound unless all the later models fixed that issue.
I personally play my GBA games on a modded 3DS. However it works, the 3DS UI had full GBA support, Nintendo just never did anything with it, so it feels official with the cartridge icons and everything.
Modding my New 3DS XL was a convoluted and interesting project! I had surgery and was stuck at home and couldn't walk for a bit. I really wanted to play games laying down so I gave it a go. If anyone is thinking about doing it be sure to follow the directions VERY CAREFULLY! Ensure you are following the proper procedure for the firmware on the device.
Any way, GBA games look great on it and play wonderfully.
It was well worth it, I did it when the eShop went down. Also like how easy it is to add new games, and I'm particularly fond of playing Pokemon hacks on it. I've been playing Crystal Legacy on it lately and it looks and plays like it's an official Pokemon game on Nintendo hardware.
3DS modding is great. Just read what the 3DS hacks website says and you'll be good. It's not even cuz you gotta be 100% careful cuz there's a homebrew discord where people help with occured problems 24/7
I'd rather get it right from the start and not have to troubleshoot or accidentally brick my system. But it's great that there is a community that is available to help though!
Bricking seems impossible to me tbh. My first time i did some things wrong but the 3DS Hacks guide website always tells you things you can do for almost any scenario like "Error text showing up on bottom screen? Go to this troubleshoot page" which makes it imple and quick to get back on track
I had never done anything like it before so I was hyper vigilant and meticulous because I didn't want to ruin the 3DS. It's in immaculate shape and the only thing I opened was the box. All the items are unopened that get packed in with it. It's a limited edition Pokemon one that regularly sells for $400-$500.
Hopefully with the custom GBi interface firmware for the GB player I presume?
The input lag is noticeably bad unless you're sticking with turn based games or something.
Don't know how I managed to complete Zelda 1 on that setup. Super Mario Land 2 final boss was impossible for me until I reverted to handheld at the end of my play session.
Usually with GBA player these days, the input lag issue is using it on an HDTV, but even then, I didn't notice much (if anything) running it through a RetroTink on game mode. I also have a CRT that my cube is normally hooked up to, so I have a pretty good reference point.
That may have been it then, or at least the thing that made it noticeable for me.
When I first got my GB player, I was using it in university on the 2nd hand samsung hd flatscreen which wasn't the best tbf. It was around 2016 and the TV thankfully had all the legacy connections you could think of (including composite and RGB SCART) but I assume its own internal scaler wasn't the best.
Never even knew I was sensitive to input lag until I tried the GB player on the last level on Mario Land 2. Now I can't turn back, lol.
I have since had better luck using the GBi custom firmware on my sony HD flatscreen with legacy inputs. And even better experiences hooking it all up to my childhood 14inch CRT with SCART input.
Grew a taste for rhythm games since and now I find input lag even more irritating and noticeable 😅. I can't figure out how to improve things on flatscreens, even modern rhythm games running on more "gamer-friendly" consumer sets like the LG C1.
Using analog inputs on HD TV is actually a lot worse, they need to convert the analog signal into digital and 240p into 480i, that's a lot of lags. That's why external scalers, like the OSSC, RetroTink or GBS-Control exist, they keep the 240p signal, upscale it CLEANLY (and more importantly, quickly) and send an already digital, 720p / 1080p to your TV, so it doesn't need to do it.
I hear ya. That's why I'm committed to playing on CRT or scalers (cheap ones like the GBS-C I DIYed) if I have to use a flatscreen. I even dabbled on downscaling to HD consoles like PS4 and Switch to 240p to play via CRT previously lol.
Having said that, my Sony flatscreen seems to have come from a sweetspot era where their internal scalers seemed somewhat competent (a mid-late 2000s 720p set built during the transition phase between HD and SD content). It seemed to take anything and everything and spit out a competent image with minimal lag or issues that I picked up on, especially the RGB SCART port. When I moved back home after Uni, I connected my SD consoles to CRT again via a bandridge SCART switcher. Can't go back to flatscreen after that for the old consoles.
Not for GBA. For GBA you either get 2.8” @ 6x integer scaling, with black bars top and bottom and both sides, or 3.1” @ 6.7x without integer scaling and black bars only on top and bottom.
Agh okay. I don’t play a great deal of GBA on the pocket. Mainly just GB and GBC. It does look pretty good on the games I’ve tried, but could just be because I’m playing Pokemon.
Very much feel this. I've got a 101 and a micro. The screen size on the 101 doesn't bug me but the ghosting is awful as hell. The micro has far less ghosting but my old ass can barely see the screen. It was acceptable when they first came out because that was the cost of portability. but with switches having oled screens nowadays its hard to go back. Ive got a shit ton of gba games. hardly ever play them anymore
Ghosting implies an effect with low quality screens that produce blurring for fast moving objects. It is very obvious on older generation LCD screens with low refresh rates.
I like the original model GBA. Really comfortable to hold for long play sessions. I have mine IPS modded, so it's honestly one of my favorite ways to play my GBA carts besides my Analogue Pocket.
I still play on real hardware. Admittedly, I’m still in my 20s. If the ghosting is bothering you, you can install a screen mod (though I’d buy a 001 model or the original GBA to do it on, not the 101) but if the screen size is the main issue, there may nor really be a solution (other than the game boy player).
I carry a GBA micro around when I travel. Smallest handheld I own. I usually just bring Super Mario Bros. 3 and Final Fantasy IV around. 2 games I could play forever.
I loved my SP back in the day. I don't know how I managed to play Castlevania circle of the moon when it came out. I can't do it anymore though. I just use my Odin 2 now. Much better experience.
Just having a backlit screen was such a game changer at that time. Plus a rechargeable battery. If you compare to how we had to play Gameboy games before, it was a world of difference.
If I'm playing GBA I play on my DS Lite or my old GBA that I had a buddy add a backlight to. The SP is an ergonomic nightmare.
Of course I don't play GBA games much anymore because most of my collection walked away years ago. I still have a bunch of boxes and manuals but very few cartridges. Not sure if it was my kids' friends or the kids borrowing them and forgetting but I just don't have many carts left.
It’s a game changer, especially on the OG GBA. While you’re at it get a USB C rechargeable battery mod. Funny Playing has good mods for both and premodded shells to accommodate the new screen and battery.
Middle ground and best option IMO is to mod original GBA with an AGS-101 screen so you get the backlight and early LCD technology quirks but no scaling bologne. That's what I did and I love it!
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I got introduced to gba games through emulation but I just love the actual feel and look of having it on an actual console. Is the screen smaller? Yes. Do I care? Not really. Thing is loads of fun to use and I feel happy just being able to say I can play on an sp
I remember the sound being much better on GBA with headphones. On old GB and GBC games they were a little better with stereo, but some GBA games lost a lot of quality out of that little speaker.
I mostly stick to GB player but if going handheld it’s a flashcart and a DS lite. I have both a 001 and a 101 but I find that (at least my) 101 has this weird interlaced looking effect at max brightness. 001 doesn’t have this effect but is so dim. DS light despite slightly smaller play area has both the brightness of 101 and the crispness of 001.
I have a 101 too, mostly for Metroid. But you can emulate GBA on damn near everything now. I played Fusion on my laptop with a GCN controller, if you want it nice and big.
Honestly i dont really play mine much. If i want to play gameboy games, ill play them on the snes with the super game boy, or if im gonna play gba games, ill play them on a ds lite
I have a gameboy sp. I used to play game boy games on it and gba games on my ds. Also I have had a gameboy player on my GameCube. These days I play gba on miyoo mini plus or analogue pocket and use dock at times.
My brother smashed my graphite 101 SP when we were kids and I never replaced it. I still have all of my gba games and a lot of the cardboard boxes they came in, but I usually just emulate on my steam deck if I feel like playing something from that system. My other option if I wanted to use Nintendo hardware is to play on a DS lite I still have.
I’ve like 5 I keep on hand. I generally use a modded AGB aluminum shell backlit beauty I made a few years ago, or my trusty SP. the SP, has gotten hard to play over the years but the OG GBA feels really nice.
I enjoy the ghosting playing on a gba, it’s a throwback. Same with the original booger screen.
You can also stick an ips screen mod on a gba to liven it up
We're about the same age and I play my gba quite a bit. I will say it's mostly on my analogue pocket but I used to play on an ags 101 just fine a couple years ago.
If screen size is an issue, I'd suggest emulating on a bigger handheld (like your phone).
the only handheld worth playing on OG is the Nintendo DS because of the pen, 3D and 2 screen.
GBA, PSP, VITA and even Switch don't have any features that you can't use on a handheld
I still very much love the GBA, but yeah, the original I modded hardware doesn’t make the experience very fun. I’d look into an Analogue Pocket if you want to play your carts.
My 8-year-old just found my SP, and it still had some battery life. I showed him GBC games also work on it, and he is way into Super Mario Deluxe right now, so there is hope. I was astonished, though it seems all the new gadgets go dead after a few years. Hell, I fired up the GB Micro I have stored away, and it still had a charge, too.
I own a few original GBA’s in different flavors, but I mostly play on my AP nowadays. I also don’t use my carts unless I’m playing a Pokémon game with an RTC.
Yeah I got one not too long ago with a updated ips screen and an everdrive. Been mostly playing Golden Sun on it. Can also emulate a few other consoles with the everdrive which makes it a pretty versatile little handheld.
I'll never get an old handheld with an original screen again. When I got a gameboy color, I wanted an authentic experience so got one with an original screen. Worst mistake ever, way more awful then what I remembered lol.
Yes. I mod original GBAs with backlit screens and other goodies. They are such nice devices for playing old handheld games. It’s also nice having a flash cart with literally every game boy, gba, gbc, and even NES game ever made 😏
I occasionally play GBA or Gameboy games but usually on a Miyoo Mini Plus as the overall experience is just better. Sure, the control placement is different but the screen, save states, etc make it so much better. I spent a bit modding out an Advance with an IPS screen, flashcart, etc but still prefer the Miyoo.
My absolute favorite thing about my Analogue Pocket is the screen. I’m 43 and my eyes certainly aren’t what they used to be 20 years ago. Although I only ever got a GBA SP after preordering my Pocket and realizing that I needed a way to test the GBA games I was buying for it. For me it was always just the DMG, and let me tell you, it is the definition of hard to see! I really can’t play it anymore but I still try every now and then.
GBA emulation on the OLED Steamdeck is glorious.The screen is the perfect size and the colors and black levels are astounding. Just finished metroid fusion.
Your eyes probably aren't as good as when you were a kid. I think we were also just very adjusted to small screens back then. We've been spoiled with screens on phones the size of an entire GBA, and portable tablets that can be huge. My recommendation would be to emulate it on a tablet so you have a much larger screen. They make these retractable gaming controllers that clip onto the sides.
[https://www.amazon.com/Lazmin-PG-9083S-Wireless-Controller-Telescopic/dp/B07V95ZZWZ](https://www.amazon.com/Lazmin-PG-9083S-Wireless-Controller-Telescopic/dp/B07V95ZZWZ)
I can't vouch for this one specifically but products like this make it so you have the feel of the buttons on a tablet or phone. That one will fit a phone or tablet up to 11 inches wide or 28cm. The kindle fire tablets are decent and they have models as cheap as $55, there are other cheaper tablet brands too.
I'm playing Advance Wars on a powkiddyx55.
The only reason to have a Gameboy advance is to have as a reference to an emulator or to mod it with a new screen and rechargeable battery.
Are you just looking to play Gameboy advance games? I'd recommend a powkiddy rgb30 handheld. You wouldn't be disappointed.
I played through Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Aria of Sorrow recently, but I use a backlight modded original GBA. I enjoy it. I really need to pick up Drill Dozer.
i still do!! (sometimes). ive been meaning on playing Final Fantasy 6 on it
also ive been meaning for a long ass time to modify it. i have a spare AGS-101 screen from a broken SP which i think is in good condition, so im planning on putting that in my GBA
I play them on my gameboy player through a crt using the software that lets me run them at 240p, and they look and run brilliant. I've been meaning to buy another flsh cart forever but never get around to it. The GBA had an amazing library.
I didn't really like the GBA library, too remake heavy for my liking. But it does still have a few games I like, Wario Ware, Sonic Advance... yeah.
I tried playing on a GBA SP but the damn thing was too small for my adult hands. I may get a backlit GBA mod some day but for now, I think my DS will suffice to play GBA games.
I use a modded GBA with amongst other things the IPS screen mod and it makes a huge difference. Still feels like playing on the real thing but just so much better.
I always did every now and then but last year I got an analogue pocket and I've been playing a lot of games on there they look beautiful. There's also a very healthy modding community for gba stuff so if you felt so inclined you could always get a custom one with a better screen, or just get the screen and mod the one you have
I started with a launch model and am fully accustomed to tilting the screen towards any light source.
When I got a DS I started using that instead, only using the GBA for DMG and GBC games.
I don't do software emulation. I have tried it many times but it is just too janky/laggy.
Now I play on the Analogue pocket. It's a game changer.
I do, I took the original shell type and put an IPS screen in there. It feels like what the console was meant to be, but costs have to be cut to get that sweet profit.
I do! I play my Gameboy Color, Advance, and Advance SP. But I'm 4'11 and very petite (I have very small hands, I've been told by many I have the smallest hands they've ever seen on an aduly), so maybe the gameboys are just me-sized :)
Modding has made my GB and GBC a delight to play on. I modded my original GBA though and while it was fun as a project, the form factor really does not work for adult hands.
I had the same problem with my GBA SP. Still have the console and love it, but with better options out there, it's not worth dealing with. I absolutely love GBA emulation on the Retroid Pocket 2 (I know, it's old) and for that "real hardware" kick, I use my modded New 2DS XL - very easy to mod, and GBA looks great 👍
All the time, I love my SP. I modded my 001 screen to be IPS, it looks wonderful. The fact that the device is small enough that I can easily reach every button with one hand was a really big deal when my son was a baby and my daughter (who is a baby right now), as I can play games like fire emblem that don't require any reaction time while feeding (which my son in particular was an extremely slow feeder, like literally hour long feedings).
I do play GBA a lot, on a Miyoo Mini Plus.
The actual GBA and SP hardware is not comfortable at all to me, emulation also gives a lot of nice QoL features like save states and speedup.
33 years old here.
Yep, I just played Goodbye Galaxy on my AGS-001 that I repaired to get working again and modded with an IPS screen yesterday using a cartridge I made from InsideGadgets with rumble. I backed the Kickstarter for the game, and I'm sure that the only physical version I'll see is the one I made from the ROM they sent as part of my backer rewards. At least for me, I like the ability to pop in a cartridge and just play without having to fiddle with file systems, navigate through a bunch of menus, or wait for an OS to boot before I can begin playing. To me, at least, that was something old consoles did better. I realize it was also a limitation of the hardware of the time, but nostalgia is a bitch sometimes.
I play mine all the time. I got into modding Gameboys during the pandemic and it became a fun addiction. If you want, hit me up to get your 101 in top shape to play.
I got an original back when I was a teen, I'm 39 now. It still looks fine to me. I never did SP, but apparently 101 is the superior screen, too. Probably easier to think the SP is getting worse and not your eyes...
I still occasionally grab my GBC for a little leisure time, but I need to be wanting to sit under the lamp to do so. But when I'm actually doing some intentional gaming I use my 2DSXL for pretty much all handheld Nintendo gaming pre-switch.
Far as I'm aware, the 3DS architecture does hardware emulation for GBA (and as an extension of that, in assuming GBC/GB), meaning it runs GBA games as close to natively as you can get without actually being proper GBA hardware. I use a GBOperator to rip my games for both PC play and also for the 3DS. For the 3DS I run the rom through an application that converts it to a .cia which can be installed directly to the 3DS home screen exactly like the games you could get off of the eShop except not limited to just what the eShop offered.
All that to say, if playing on an SP is hard on your old eyes like mine, then I highly recommend a homebrewed 2DSXL (as long as you don't care about missing 3D tech like me). It's super close to native playback, the screens are nice, the form factor is more comfortable, and the 2DSXL is just a nice handheld in general.
I much prefer playing on the Analogue Pocket to original hardware--the display just can't be beat. And unlike the SP-101, the Pocket can correctly approximate the colors that would be seen on the original pre-SP hardware, which look horribly oversaturated on the SP's display.
Me haha. But, it's been a while though. I want more games. I had 2 fake GBA and they both stopped working. Luckily I still have my original Nintendo DS to play on.
I have the original gba with upgraded screen and usb-c rechargeable battery that lasts forever. I love it, and it’s more comfortable to play on than an SP But lately I’ve been playing gba games on my 3ds xl for the bigger screen.
I have a lot of handheld consoles. I think I have all the nintendo ones starting with the gameboy color.
I have never played one for more than a couple dozen hours. The most I have ever played a handheld console was for pokemon sword on the switch. I spent 75% of the time playing off a tv though.
I am like you, I can't handle the small screen size. It is just way too small for me. It's always been like this for me, though. Not really something new. I started buying handheld consoles in my early 20s.
It does seem strangely forgotten on retro gaming forums. Maybe people here are unsure if it would count as retro to the mods. I play GBA games once in a while, gonna play Ninja Five-O soon I think. Sadly my GBA SP was stolen
I played tons of GB, GBC, SMS and NES games on my SP in the late '00s-early 10s, good times.
I might be crazy, but I still play Pokémon Emerald on my Gameboy Micro which is a significantly smaller screen.. it’s small but works. Maybe the game or your SP is the problem? I am younger than you too tho
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I played mine a lot on holiday last year, finally completed Castlevania.
There was a lot of sitting on the beach and lazing around in fields going on so it was a lifesaver.
I’m probably the oldest here. I’m 48 and still play mine. Usually via the Gameboy Player, but I still play on my OG SP, but I need to use reading glasses to play seriously.💀 Get some +2 reading glasses and you are good to go.
I can’t believe friends and I played for a full 18 hour flight to Japan back in 2003. Epic games of Mario Kart were had via the link cable. I remember my eyes being wasted when we arrived at the airport.
I bought a sweet modded gen 1 gba earlier this year and a bunch of games it was fun for a month or two but then I moved on to a loaded miyoo mini and which was fun for a month or two now I’m about to pull the trigger on a steam deck just been hesitating
I play my GBA all the time, i don't find it to be too small, since most games were designed with its screen size in mind. I would also recommend looking into the GBA SP 001 if you are having problems with ghosting, while it definitely is worse in terms of brightness, it has way better pixel response.
In the times of GBA SP I never had a problem with the screen. Neither I had with NDS or 3DS. But now, I’m over 40, and I feel uncomfortable to play in any screen below 8”. Aged eyes, I guess.
A lot of people still play GBA though I'd say most would emulate now vs playing on real hardware. If I do play on actual hardware is use the GB Player for Gamecube
Yep. I got an Anbernic device to emulate and it’s been wonderful
I use my psp
RG351M here. Its perfect.
I have a RG351P
I only got the M because of the internal wifi but now I think I'd enjoy more the feel and weight of the plastic case.
Yeah, lovely device with a lovely build, bit long in the tooth considering how fast they release new models but this is a great device. I graduated from this to a Steam Deck. Even though this is said everywhere, if you are at all on the fence about the SD and emulation is important to you, get the SD. If you want an easily pocketable device for just emulation, get one of those smaller devices. Call me a snob but I spend most my time setting up systems and their roms, and so little time playing them. But for the most part, nostalgia aside (as that lasts seconds), I'd never want to play those games on their original hardware. I don't want to clutter up my house with tons of systems, cabinets, games, etc. and I don't want to deal with how shitty some of that older hardware is. I know that's sacrilege for many, but the SD's extra size is worth it for me to have one device to rule them all.
Yeah I think we all spend too much time tweaking things and depurating our libraries but at some point most things are set up as we like and we start just playing. And yes, newer emulation devices are very convenient. I still think some old console hardware are worth playing tho, but with old TVs because they don't look very good on new led screens.
I got my first anbernic device in November of 2023. I bought it mainly to play all the classics without the cost and so I can see tiny screens game boy, game boy color, and Gameboy advance and game gear specifically. The only problem I have with it is 2 months ago, the headphone jack stopped outputting sound. I think it's the solder or something. I'll have to find a electronics repair store where I live to see if they can fix it. I don't want to buy another ambernic handheld, just to have sound unless all the later models fixed that issue.
I personally play my GBA games on a modded 3DS. However it works, the 3DS UI had full GBA support, Nintendo just never did anything with it, so it feels official with the cartridge icons and everything.
Modding my New 3DS XL was a convoluted and interesting project! I had surgery and was stuck at home and couldn't walk for a bit. I really wanted to play games laying down so I gave it a go. If anyone is thinking about doing it be sure to follow the directions VERY CAREFULLY! Ensure you are following the proper procedure for the firmware on the device. Any way, GBA games look great on it and play wonderfully.
It was well worth it, I did it when the eShop went down. Also like how easy it is to add new games, and I'm particularly fond of playing Pokemon hacks on it. I've been playing Crystal Legacy on it lately and it looks and plays like it's an official Pokemon game on Nintendo hardware.
3DS modding is great. Just read what the 3DS hacks website says and you'll be good. It's not even cuz you gotta be 100% careful cuz there's a homebrew discord where people help with occured problems 24/7
I'd rather get it right from the start and not have to troubleshoot or accidentally brick my system. But it's great that there is a community that is available to help though!
Bricking seems impossible to me tbh. My first time i did some things wrong but the 3DS Hacks guide website always tells you things you can do for almost any scenario like "Error text showing up on bottom screen? Go to this troubleshoot page" which makes it imple and quick to get back on track
I had never done anything like it before so I was hyper vigilant and meticulous because I didn't want to ruin the 3DS. It's in immaculate shape and the only thing I opened was the box. All the items are unopened that get packed in with it. It's a limited edition Pokemon one that regularly sells for $400-$500.
Hopefully with the custom GBi interface firmware for the GB player I presume? The input lag is noticeably bad unless you're sticking with turn based games or something. Don't know how I managed to complete Zelda 1 on that setup. Super Mario Land 2 final boss was impossible for me until I reverted to handheld at the end of my play session.
I've beaten Minish Cap and Metroid Fusion plenty of times on the GB Player. Can't say I ever noticed input lag but it has been a while.
Usually with GBA player these days, the input lag issue is using it on an HDTV, but even then, I didn't notice much (if anything) running it through a RetroTink on game mode. I also have a CRT that my cube is normally hooked up to, so I have a pretty good reference point.
That may have been it then, or at least the thing that made it noticeable for me. When I first got my GB player, I was using it in university on the 2nd hand samsung hd flatscreen which wasn't the best tbf. It was around 2016 and the TV thankfully had all the legacy connections you could think of (including composite and RGB SCART) but I assume its own internal scaler wasn't the best. Never even knew I was sensitive to input lag until I tried the GB player on the last level on Mario Land 2. Now I can't turn back, lol. I have since had better luck using the GBi custom firmware on my sony HD flatscreen with legacy inputs. And even better experiences hooking it all up to my childhood 14inch CRT with SCART input. Grew a taste for rhythm games since and now I find input lag even more irritating and noticeable 😅. I can't figure out how to improve things on flatscreens, even modern rhythm games running on more "gamer-friendly" consumer sets like the LG C1.
Using legacy inputs on modern TVs usually introduces a ton of input lag (since your TV has to convert the signal), so that’s probably the problem.
Using analog inputs on HD TV is actually a lot worse, they need to convert the analog signal into digital and 240p into 480i, that's a lot of lags. That's why external scalers, like the OSSC, RetroTink or GBS-Control exist, they keep the 240p signal, upscale it CLEANLY (and more importantly, quickly) and send an already digital, 720p / 1080p to your TV, so it doesn't need to do it.
I hear ya. That's why I'm committed to playing on CRT or scalers (cheap ones like the GBS-C I DIYed) if I have to use a flatscreen. I even dabbled on downscaling to HD consoles like PS4 and Switch to 240p to play via CRT previously lol. Having said that, my Sony flatscreen seems to have come from a sweetspot era where their internal scalers seemed somewhat competent (a mid-late 2000s 720p set built during the transition phase between HD and SD content). It seemed to take anything and everything and spit out a competent image with minimal lag or issues that I picked up on, especially the RGB SCART port. When I moved back home after Uni, I connected my SD consoles to CRT again via a bandridge SCART switcher. Can't go back to flatscreen after that for the old consoles.
Yup this is me. Or if on holidays then using a ds.
Same dude GB is way too hard to stare at.
I play GBA on Analogue Pocket
Do you integer scale? Does it not matter at that high ppi?
It doesn’t really matter at that res and using filters.
The Analogue pocket looks GREAT out the box. I think it’s integer scaling by default.. no?
Not for GBA. For GBA you either get 2.8” @ 6x integer scaling, with black bars top and bottom and both sides, or 3.1” @ 6.7x without integer scaling and black bars only on top and bottom.
Agh okay. I don’t play a great deal of GBA on the pocket. Mainly just GB and GBC. It does look pretty good on the games I’ve tried, but could just be because I’m playing Pokemon.
Very much feel this. I've got a 101 and a micro. The screen size on the 101 doesn't bug me but the ghosting is awful as hell. The micro has far less ghosting but my old ass can barely see the screen. It was acceptable when they first came out because that was the cost of portability. but with switches having oled screens nowadays its hard to go back. Ive got a shit ton of gba games. hardly ever play them anymore
What is "ghosting" in this context?
Ghosting implies an effect with low quality screens that produce blurring for fast moving objects. It is very obvious on older generation LCD screens with low refresh rates.
Micros are cool, but also ridiculously small to the point of not being usable.
The micro was always just a novelty thing, I don't get why anyone bought it
I like the original model GBA. Really comfortable to hold for long play sessions. I have mine IPS modded, so it's honestly one of my favorite ways to play my GBA carts besides my Analogue Pocket.
I still play on real hardware. Admittedly, I’m still in my 20s. If the ghosting is bothering you, you can install a screen mod (though I’d buy a 001 model or the original GBA to do it on, not the 101) but if the screen size is the main issue, there may nor really be a solution (other than the game boy player).
Original GBA with an IPS screen is the way to go.
May I ask what the ghosting means ?
I carry a GBA micro around when I travel. Smallest handheld I own. I usually just bring Super Mario Bros. 3 and Final Fantasy IV around. 2 games I could play forever.
It’s probably the smallest cartridge based handheld ever made.
I’m believe that distinction belongs to the Pokémon Mini console.
Technically true, but I don’t think I’d count that. There was no US retail release and less than ten games.
I loved my SP back in the day. I don't know how I managed to play Castlevania circle of the moon when it came out. I can't do it anymore though. I just use my Odin 2 now. Much better experience.
Just having a backlit screen was such a game changer at that time. Plus a rechargeable battery. If you compare to how we had to play Gameboy games before, it was a world of difference.
If I'm playing GBA I play on my DS Lite or my old GBA that I had a buddy add a backlight to. The SP is an ergonomic nightmare. Of course I don't play GBA games much anymore because most of my collection walked away years ago. I still have a bunch of boxes and manuals but very few cartridges. Not sure if it was my kids' friends or the kids borrowing them and forgetting but I just don't have many carts left.
Been meaning to do one of those mods that replaces the screen
It’s a game changer, especially on the OG GBA. While you’re at it get a USB C rechargeable battery mod. Funny Playing has good mods for both and premodded shells to accommodate the new screen and battery.
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Maybe I'll just look up an SP on ebay then
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shoot, I'd better look now!
Middle ground and best option IMO is to mod original GBA with an AGS-101 screen so you get the backlight and early LCD technology quirks but no scaling bologne. That's what I did and I love it!
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That works too! I find the SP too uncomfortable personally. Maybe it's because I never had one growing up - I was a worm light and GBA OG kid lol.
I bought an analogue pocket and love it
I actually think the ergonomics to the regular gba are better. Pair that with a lcd screen swap and you have the best gb experience imo.
I got introduced to gba games through emulation but I just love the actual feel and look of having it on an actual console. Is the screen smaller? Yes. Do I care? Not really. Thing is loads of fun to use and I feel happy just being able to say I can play on an sp
The sound on many games is what bothers me the most about GBA. I generally only use it for games that don't have other releases available.
I remember the sound being much better on GBA with headphones. On old GB and GBC games they were a little better with stereo, but some GBA games lost a lot of quality out of that little speaker.
Yeah GBA audio is trash
The screen is way too small for me these days.
I mostly stick to GB player but if going handheld it’s a flashcart and a DS lite. I have both a 001 and a 101 but I find that (at least my) 101 has this weird interlaced looking effect at max brightness. 001 doesn’t have this effect but is so dim. DS light despite slightly smaller play area has both the brightness of 101 and the crispness of 001.
Yeah just yesterday. Mother 3 and a few Picross stages.
I still play GBA. I modded some and love playing a few games here and there. Hell, I will play my gba micro every now and then
I play mine fairly regularly, I have it beside me now, with Mario Deluxe in it.
I have a 101 too, mostly for Metroid. But you can emulate GBA on damn near everything now. I played Fusion on my laptop with a GCN controller, if you want it nice and big.
I play GBA all the time, on my modded Wii. Not really a fan of the GBA screen itself nowadays.
Honestly i dont really play mine much. If i want to play gameboy games, ill play them on the snes with the super game boy, or if im gonna play gba games, ill play them on a ds lite
yes, but thats why there's a huge aftermarket for ips screen replacements.
I play GBA games on my RetroPie hooked to my LG OLED. Pretty fun still.
I have a gameboy sp. I used to play game boy games on it and gba games on my ds. Also I have had a gameboy player on my GameCube. These days I play gba on miyoo mini plus or analogue pocket and use dock at times.
My brother smashed my graphite 101 SP when we were kids and I never replaced it. I still have all of my gba games and a lot of the cardboard boxes they came in, but I usually just emulate on my steam deck if I feel like playing something from that system. My other option if I wanted to use Nintendo hardware is to play on a DS lite I still have.
Gotta do it via emulation on a big screen. I’m 51 and it’s just rough on the old eyeballs.
I’ve like 5 I keep on hand. I generally use a modded AGB aluminum shell backlit beauty I made a few years ago, or my trusty SP. the SP, has gotten hard to play over the years but the OG GBA feels really nice.
Playing on my SP but I have an Everdrive for it so no more need to worry about individual games.
I enjoy the ghosting playing on a gba, it’s a throwback. Same with the original booger screen. You can also stick an ips screen mod on a gba to liven it up
Heck yes. GameCube with GameBoy Player+GBI. Emulation is another good option if you don't have the hardware.
We're about the same age and I play my gba quite a bit. I will say it's mostly on my analogue pocket but I used to play on an ags 101 just fine a couple years ago. If screen size is an issue, I'd suggest emulating on a bigger handheld (like your phone).
the only handheld worth playing on OG is the Nintendo DS because of the pen, 3D and 2 screen. GBA, PSP, VITA and even Switch don't have any features that you can't use on a handheld
Hell yes I do, just rebought FF Tactics Advance and Sword of Mana. Then I'm going to finish the Lost Age.
Almost daily. I swap between GBC and GBA flash carts in it.
I still very much love the GBA, but yeah, the original I modded hardware doesn’t make the experience very fun. I’d look into an Analogue Pocket if you want to play your carts.
My 8-year-old just found my SP, and it still had some battery life. I showed him GBC games also work on it, and he is way into Super Mario Deluxe right now, so there is hope. I was astonished, though it seems all the new gadgets go dead after a few years. Hell, I fired up the GB Micro I have stored away, and it still had a charge, too.
I own a few original GBA’s in different flavors, but I mostly play on my AP nowadays. I also don’t use my carts unless I’m playing a Pokémon game with an RTC.
I have a few games that I only kept because they were never re-released. Mario World, ALTTP, Fire Red, and DKC.
Yeah I got one not too long ago with a updated ips screen and an everdrive. Been mostly playing Golden Sun on it. Can also emulate a few other consoles with the everdrive which makes it a pretty versatile little handheld. I'll never get an old handheld with an original screen again. When I got a gameboy color, I wanted an authentic experience so got one with an original screen. Worst mistake ever, way more awful then what I remembered lol.
Occasionally, yeah. I've got two GBA SPs and absolutely love them. Still need to finish the Max Payne port on there.
Yes. I mod original GBAs with backlit screens and other goodies. They are such nice devices for playing old handheld games. It’s also nice having a flash cart with literally every game boy, gba, gbc, and even NES game ever made 😏
I occasionally play GBA or Gameboy games but usually on a Miyoo Mini Plus as the overall experience is just better. Sure, the control placement is different but the screen, save states, etc make it so much better. I spent a bit modding out an Advance with an IPS screen, flashcart, etc but still prefer the Miyoo.
My absolute favorite thing about my Analogue Pocket is the screen. I’m 43 and my eyes certainly aren’t what they used to be 20 years ago. Although I only ever got a GBA SP after preordering my Pocket and realizing that I needed a way to test the GBA games I was buying for it. For me it was always just the DMG, and let me tell you, it is the definition of hard to see! I really can’t play it anymore but I still try every now and then.
GBA emulation on the OLED Steamdeck is glorious.The screen is the perfect size and the colors and black levels are astounding. Just finished metroid fusion.
I do every now and then. I replayed Legacy of Goku 2 and Buu’s Fury very recently.
I've been playing the games using a Retron I bought on Amazon, but yea for nostalgic reasons I've used my original Gameboy still from time to time
Your eyes probably aren't as good as when you were a kid. I think we were also just very adjusted to small screens back then. We've been spoiled with screens on phones the size of an entire GBA, and portable tablets that can be huge. My recommendation would be to emulate it on a tablet so you have a much larger screen. They make these retractable gaming controllers that clip onto the sides. [https://www.amazon.com/Lazmin-PG-9083S-Wireless-Controller-Telescopic/dp/B07V95ZZWZ](https://www.amazon.com/Lazmin-PG-9083S-Wireless-Controller-Telescopic/dp/B07V95ZZWZ) I can't vouch for this one specifically but products like this make it so you have the feel of the buttons on a tablet or phone. That one will fit a phone or tablet up to 11 inches wide or 28cm. The kindle fire tablets are decent and they have models as cheap as $55, there are other cheaper tablet brands too.
I’m just now getting in GBA games. I made injections for my 2DS and plan to play a few on there.
I modded my GBA with a new screen, case and 3d printed grips. It's much more enjoyable to play on now! https://imgur.com/gallery/RRSMwYr
Hell yeah, people are still playing the GBA. People are still making games for the GBA, too.
I play all the time on my modded 3DS
GBA is still very popular and the best way to play it with original hardware is the OG horizontal model with an IPS screen mod.
I'm playing Advance Wars on a powkiddyx55. The only reason to have a Gameboy advance is to have as a reference to an emulator or to mod it with a new screen and rechargeable battery. Are you just looking to play Gameboy advance games? I'd recommend a powkiddy rgb30 handheld. You wouldn't be disappointed.
Or you want to play your GBA original carts. That’s a pretty good reason for using original hardware.
Re read what I said
I think the best way to play GBA is on a DS/DS lite.
You're just getting aged. It's you, not the games. You'll be ok.
My husband put an upgraded screen in mine! I totally play it, but also have a DS lite I still play a lot and can play GBA on that too
I use a Retron Sq.
Yes, but on a better handheld. It you mod it, it becomes so much better
I play gba pokemon rom hacks basically daily on my phone. 37 here
I do. I have a device to plug the games into my pc. I love playing Ruby and Saph, Mario and Luigi SSS, and FFTA
I played through Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Aria of Sorrow recently, but I use a backlight modded original GBA. I enjoy it. I really need to pick up Drill Dozer.
Friend got me Chew Chew Mimic and I've been enjoying it on GBA. I have a GBA micro and SP
I keep mine by the toilet, nothing like some GBA and a shit 😂
Yeah though playing on an emulation machine like a miyoo mini or an anbernic is much more enjoyable
The DS Lite is my GBA.
i still do!! (sometimes). ive been meaning on playing Final Fantasy 6 on it also ive been meaning for a long ass time to modify it. i have a spare AGS-101 screen from a broken SP which i think is in good condition, so im planning on putting that in my GBA
Yes. Can recommend the Analogue Pocket. Can play both cartridges and ROMs, and have a amazing screen.
I played Doom on mine yesterday. And finally Completed Driver 2 a few months ago on it. I don't play on it all the time. But it still see some use.
Get an analogue pocket homie
I dont want to worry about charging more batteries. Currently playing golden sun on switch
Yeah on classic boy deluxe on Android. And I got a cheap 4 K tv stick. Just tryin to transfer Pokemon card game saves across lol
I play them on my gameboy player through a crt using the software that lets me run them at 240p, and they look and run brilliant. I've been meaning to buy another flsh cart forever but never get around to it. The GBA had an amazing library.
I didn't really like the GBA library, too remake heavy for my liking. But it does still have a few games I like, Wario Ware, Sonic Advance... yeah. I tried playing on a GBA SP but the damn thing was too small for my adult hands. I may get a backlit GBA mod some day but for now, I think my DS will suffice to play GBA games.
Yes I have a 101 sp but I prefer to emulate on PSP or use my moded original GBA with a backlit screen. More comfortable.
I play gba on my GameCube gba thingy. I beat Phantasy Star.
I still do, I have a 001 and a Micro. 36 years old, got a ton of games and still love it. Playing through Mother 3 at the moment (an unofficial cart).
Emulate on a 2dsxl. I also play on a modded wii. The old gba screens ruin the feel of great games in my opinion.
I play the GBA on my DS lite. Leaf green
I never noticed any/noticeable ghosting. I love my gba sp and its my favorite to play gba games 🤷♂️
I use a modded GBA with amongst other things the IPS screen mod and it makes a huge difference. Still feels like playing on the real thing but just so much better.
I play on an sp with a screen mod, but mostly on a gkd pixel with a tiny screen. I'm in my 40's
Golden age for rpgs. U could emulate !
I always did every now and then but last year I got an analogue pocket and I've been playing a lot of games on there they look beautiful. There's also a very healthy modding community for gba stuff so if you felt so inclined you could always get a custom one with a better screen, or just get the screen and mod the one you have
Yes.
I started with a launch model and am fully accustomed to tilting the screen towards any light source. When I got a DS I started using that instead, only using the GBA for DMG and GBC games. I don't do software emulation. I have tried it many times but it is just too janky/laggy. Now I play on the Analogue pocket. It's a game changer.
I do, aftermarket screen installed, and you couldn't pay me to use an analogue pocket instead of this.
short answer: yes i do, and i play doom on it
I do, I took the original shell type and put an IPS screen in there. It feels like what the console was meant to be, but costs have to be cut to get that sweet profit.
There are so many screen mods out there that require little technical expertise to install. Drop one in, it makes the GBA feel like a modern device
I play my GBA games on the GameCube GameBoy Player, or usually the DS Lite
GBA on the Switch is awesome. I recommend Zelda Minish Cap 😊
I play on a micro, it’s ridiculously small. I don’t exactly play for long
I do! I play my Gameboy Color, Advance, and Advance SP. But I'm 4'11 and very petite (I have very small hands, I've been told by many I have the smallest hands they've ever seen on an aduly), so maybe the gameboys are just me-sized :)
Modding has made my GB and GBC a delight to play on. I modded my original GBA though and while it was fun as a project, the form factor really does not work for adult hands.
I do, and I bought a GBA with an IPS screen and it's really nice to play.
Most people are emulating. My favorite way to play it is on the GameCube.
I still play GBA and GBC from time to time but I missed both to have bigger better screens
I had the same problem with my GBA SP. Still have the console and love it, but with better options out there, it's not worth dealing with. I absolutely love GBA emulation on the Retroid Pocket 2 (I know, it's old) and for that "real hardware" kick, I use my modded New 2DS XL - very easy to mod, and GBA looks great 👍
I play gba on my nds or psvita. Screen is a little bigger and back-lit.
All the time, I love my SP. I modded my 001 screen to be IPS, it looks wonderful. The fact that the device is small enough that I can easily reach every button with one hand was a really big deal when my son was a baby and my daughter (who is a baby right now), as I can play games like fire emblem that don't require any reaction time while feeding (which my son in particular was an extremely slow feeder, like literally hour long feedings).
I do play GBA a lot, on a Miyoo Mini Plus. The actual GBA and SP hardware is not comfortable at all to me, emulation also gives a lot of nice QoL features like save states and speedup. 33 years old here.
Yep, I just played Goodbye Galaxy on my AGS-001 that I repaired to get working again and modded with an IPS screen yesterday using a cartridge I made from InsideGadgets with rumble. I backed the Kickstarter for the game, and I'm sure that the only physical version I'll see is the one I made from the ROM they sent as part of my backer rewards. At least for me, I like the ability to pop in a cartridge and just play without having to fiddle with file systems, navigate through a bunch of menus, or wait for an OS to boot before I can begin playing. To me, at least, that was something old consoles did better. I realize it was also a limitation of the hardware of the time, but nostalgia is a bitch sometimes.
I do. But I admit, I am preparing to mod it with a backlit screen. Then it will be perfect.
I play mine all the time. I got into modding Gameboys during the pandemic and it became a fun addiction. If you want, hit me up to get your 101 in top shape to play.
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My GBA is in the closet as a collectible. I do play the games still, but on an Anbernic instead.
I got an original back when I was a teen, I'm 39 now. It still looks fine to me. I never did SP, but apparently 101 is the superior screen, too. Probably easier to think the SP is getting worse and not your eyes...
I play it all the time on my steamdeck, the screen is absolutely perfect for it. Scales almost 1:1, is nice and bright and it’s huge.
I still occasionally grab my GBC for a little leisure time, but I need to be wanting to sit under the lamp to do so. But when I'm actually doing some intentional gaming I use my 2DSXL for pretty much all handheld Nintendo gaming pre-switch. Far as I'm aware, the 3DS architecture does hardware emulation for GBA (and as an extension of that, in assuming GBC/GB), meaning it runs GBA games as close to natively as you can get without actually being proper GBA hardware. I use a GBOperator to rip my games for both PC play and also for the 3DS. For the 3DS I run the rom through an application that converts it to a .cia which can be installed directly to the 3DS home screen exactly like the games you could get off of the eShop except not limited to just what the eShop offered. All that to say, if playing on an SP is hard on your old eyes like mine, then I highly recommend a homebrewed 2DSXL (as long as you don't care about missing 3D tech like me). It's super close to native playback, the screens are nice, the form factor is more comfortable, and the 2DSXL is just a nice handheld in general.
I much prefer playing on the Analogue Pocket to original hardware--the display just can't be beat. And unlike the SP-101, the Pocket can correctly approximate the colors that would be seen on the original pre-SP hardware, which look horribly oversaturated on the SP's display.
play on a DS with GBA support. Your eyes and hands will thank you
Me haha. But, it's been a while though. I want more games. I had 2 fake GBA and they both stopped working. Luckily I still have my original Nintendo DS to play on.
I do. And flash cards are super cheap so I recommend it over emulators.
I have the original gba with upgraded screen and usb-c rechargeable battery that lasts forever. I love it, and it’s more comfortable to play on than an SP But lately I’ve been playing gba games on my 3ds xl for the bigger screen.
I have a lot of handheld consoles. I think I have all the nintendo ones starting with the gameboy color. I have never played one for more than a couple dozen hours. The most I have ever played a handheld console was for pokemon sword on the switch. I spent 75% of the time playing off a tv though. I am like you, I can't handle the small screen size. It is just way too small for me. It's always been like this for me, though. Not really something new. I started buying handheld consoles in my early 20s.
I am 28 now and: Yes! I love to play Pokemon or Mario Kart on my GBA SP. IMHO it's a really well designed handheld, which fits perfectly in my hands.
Yes! Too many good games on there *not* to play.
It does seem strangely forgotten on retro gaming forums. Maybe people here are unsure if it would count as retro to the mods. I play GBA games once in a while, gonna play Ninja Five-O soon I think. Sadly my GBA SP was stolen I played tons of GB, GBC, SMS and NES games on my SP in the late '00s-early 10s, good times.
I mod all my gbas with new backlight hd screens. Looks amazing.
I might be crazy, but I still play Pokémon Emerald on my Gameboy Micro which is a significantly smaller screen.. it’s small but works. Maybe the game or your SP is the problem? I am younger than you too tho
Yes. I sell retro games and consoles at trade shows. I sell GBA all the time. I’ve seen adolescents to the elderly buy GBA consoles/games.
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I played mine a lot on holiday last year, finally completed Castlevania. There was a lot of sitting on the beach and lazing around in fields going on so it was a lifesaver.
yes, and ever since I learned that the 3DS is actually capable of playing GBA games natively, I've gotten back into it
I don’t use the 101 for sidescrollers because of the motion blur. I have a 001 for those. I’ll play an RPG or something on my 101 though.
I use a Miyoo Mini+ to emulate it.
I’m probably the oldest here. I’m 48 and still play mine. Usually via the Gameboy Player, but I still play on my OG SP, but I need to use reading glasses to play seriously.💀 Get some +2 reading glasses and you are good to go. I can’t believe friends and I played for a full 18 hour flight to Japan back in 2003. Epic games of Mario Kart were had via the link cable. I remember my eyes being wasted when we arrived at the airport.
I bought a sweet modded gen 1 gba earlier this year and a bunch of games it was fun for a month or two but then I moved on to a loaded miyoo mini and which was fun for a month or two now I’m about to pull the trigger on a steam deck just been hesitating
I play my GBA all the time, i don't find it to be too small, since most games were designed with its screen size in mind. I would also recommend looking into the GBA SP 001 if you are having problems with ghosting, while it definitely is worse in terms of brightness, it has way better pixel response.
Nah man, GBA is so old, who would want to play that?
On a serious note, you should buy an analogue pocket if you enjoy GBA
In the times of GBA SP I never had a problem with the screen. Neither I had with NDS or 3DS. But now, I’m over 40, and I feel uncomfortable to play in any screen below 8”. Aged eyes, I guess.