GameBoy Camera Photography & Modding

A short summary of all the tools, software and features used to create photos with an enhanced GameBoy Camera for the instagram channel @gbcamdresden.

Gameboy Color - FPGBC

The Funnyplaying FPGBC forms the heart of the entire setup. This is a new version of the Gameboy Color on an FPGA basis. It is therefore real hardware simulation and not just an emulation.

The device can be bought as a DIY kit or as a ready-made console. I opted for the kit so that I could choose the housing, button and membrane color myself.

The FPGBC is a great value for money as it is nearly fully-compatible with all original Gameboy and Gameboy Color Games. It comes with an USB-C port to recharge the 1800mAh battery and even has a backlit IPS panel. The assembly requieres no soldering and is easy enough if you have the right tools.

FYI: I wouldn’t recommend the funnyplaying membranes/silicon pads as they are pretty stiff. Go with the AliExpress ones instead

Gameboy Camera+ Mod

Released in 1998, the GameBoy Camera is a playful accessory for the original Game Boy, functioning as a video game, digital camera, and chiptune audio synthesizer all in one. It uses a roughly 1/4" sensor to capture 128×112 pixel images in four shades of gray (2-bit).

The original GameBoy Camera has been slightly enhanced with the help of the Camera+ mod from 2bittoy. Neither the technology itself nor the camera sensor have been altered. It is still the original GameBoy Camera cartridge (MGB-006) - but with a few features to improve the image quality.

The modification is a custom shell for the camera module, which allows the use of CS lenses. The housing was 3D printed and the PCB of the original camera module has been installed into the new shell. I am using a generic Aliexpress 5-50mm zoom lens.

The image above shows a comparism between the original unaltered GameBoy Camera and the Camera+ Mod.

Gameboy Printer Emulator

To transfer the captured images from the GameBoy Camera to a computer, I am using the Arduino Gameboy Printer Emulator by Brian Khuu. The only two parts needed are an Arduino of sorts and an old GameBoy Link cable.

This project makes it possible to transfer raw data from the Camera module (or other games compatible with the GameBoy Printer) via a serial connection and convert it to a real image using a javascript online tool (see Gallery section for more Info).

I gave my Arduino a nice little 3D-printed shell to make the whole thing a little prettier.

Gallery

The images were taken with the Camera+ mod and exported using the Game Boy Printer Web by Andreas Hahn.

All images were upscaled with a factor of 4. The Game Boy Color Splash Left+A color filter has been used for all images in the gallery above.

Expenses

*tools and 3D-filament excluded