i bought my gamebit off ebay and then modified it to fit my virtual boy. HERE are instructions.

you can also modify a screw driver by fileing out a notch at the bottom so that it can grip the security screws on 2 sides.

you should consider replacing the screws after you get them out. any hardware store should sell a #4 X 1/2 PAN PHIL screw. to make the job easier consider someting to magnetize your driver

good luck and welcome to the world of the virtual boy!

Oh, I’m sorry. I got the impression that you were going to start over from scratch on the same project. =P

This is really amazing. It is awesome that you are going to stick with it and try to get everything working. My Virtual Boy thanks you!

[Lester Knight]

Well, within driving distance is a nice perk. But in my opinion I think $150 is high just for a box. If you are willing to buy one off eBay, you should be able to snag something for around $100 or close to $150 with games and other things included. I guess it all comes down to how fast you want it and how convenient driving is vs. shipping. I’m a gamer, not a collector. So while I can see the appeal of boxes and mint packaging, they just end up in a closet where I won’t enjoy them until it comes time to sell them.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 9 months ago by Lester Knight.

My boxed VB was around $145. The box is in decent condition but it is nothing to be proud of. It came with all the inserts and everything, plus 4 games and the AC adapter tap. In the end, the box went into storage and the VB got its own case that I picked up at a thrift shop.

If you are just grabbing a new VB to replace the old one, what is wrong with the old one? Are you just getting the glitchy display issue? That can be fixed by soldering your cables. The new VB will probably have the same issue or develop it in time. The glue degrading is just a matter of time. So instead of a second system you might just considering picking up extra ribbon cables or asking someone to fix your current system. I’m sure one of the talented modders on this board would be happy to assist you in soldering your ribbon cables.

This is a neat tool. I like it. I haven’t written anything for the Web in ages, but can’t you just toss a meta tag in there with a 1 min refresh?

Glad I asked. =) Thanks!

I was just curious if this tool was still under development?

I am not sure who you emailed because you did not add that to your comment. The FB+ is built on a per-order basis. I do not think the FB+ was ever stockpiled. You need to contact the person who designed them, as he is the one who currently builds them. I do believe that the reproduction carts are the top priority right now, so there may be a wait to get a FB+.

Please see here for more info and his email address: http://www.richard.hutchinson.dsl.pipex.com/

Are you selling a FB or a FB+? If its a FB, what number is on the box?

[Lester Knight]

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/items-ov.html
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/replica-counterfeit.html
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/compliant-listings.html

you most certain can. i’m not sure who told you that, but it would appear that they have not read the ebay listing policy or perhaps are misinterpreting it. in the video game category you can not list a pirated/replica item that violates someones copyright. as long as the FB+ is blank and described as being a developers tool that allows the execution of homebrew software on actual hardware, you are not violating any rules. i recall something in the policy about devices that circumvent anti-piracy measures, but i am unable to find that now. with that said, this isn’t like the new generation of ds flash kits that require a portion of a copyrighted rom to circumvent anti-piracy measures. the fb+ ships blank and violates no ebay rule on its own.

this doesn’t mean that it won’t get reported and that ebay won’t pull the auction without digging for the facts. i haven’t read the updated policy before today, i am fairly certain that you will lose all auction fees if the auction gets pulled for a violation. you can fight it, but you would need to be really informed of their policy.

if someone else can show proof that they specifically list flash kits or non-copyrighted video game development tools in their policy, please do so. i would hate to be giving incorrect advice.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 9 months ago by Lester Knight.
• This reply was modified 12 years, 9 months ago by Lester Knight.
• This reply was modified 12 years, 9 months ago by Lester Knight.

i would assume it happens more often from abuse. don’t abruptly open the stand, don’t slam it around, etc. with that said, the plastic won’t last forever. eventually it has to give, but i feel like you can prolong that for a VERY long time if you are just careful about it.

Did you type “Buy Nintendo” intentionally, as in we should go buy a Virtual Boy or was this a typo for “by”.

Wyndcrosser wrote:
Reproductions are actually illegal… no matter how you look at it lol and it’s more annoying when they try to charge $400+ bucks for it. I found out who the seller is and that’s why I reported it. He’s sold under various names before, including this one…

Please help me to better understand. You reported it because you feel it is your duty to be the reproduction moral police or because you got pissed that this guy is asking more than you feel its worth?

No one seems to have an issue with those involved with making the reproductions, which are eventually sold on Tusk’s site. Who is reporting those individuals or sites to Nintendo, the copyright groups, the original copyright holders, etc? I feel that if someone is going to report a reproduction to eBay, but leave every other site alone, that this person is acting hypocritically. Don’t get me wrong, I love what has happened to this scene and hold much respect to those involved with it. I’m not suggesting anything by what I just typed, only using my examples as a means to make my point.

I think the price is exorbitantly high, and I would have had the commonsense to research the game before buying it at that price. I won’t feel sorry for anyone who snatches it up without spending 5 minutes using Google; that is on them. With that said, it’s his property and he can ask for it what he wants. It’s just like me walking down the street trying to sell a half chewed bowl of synthetic fruit for 7 grand. It’s ridiculous, bordering on stupidity, but its mine and I can ask what I want for it.

morintari wrote:
It’s guys like this that make it harder on the rest of us. Where would we be without MineStorm? I’m glad that one bad apple is’nt going to spoil the bunch!

Regardless of what this guy may or may not have done in the past, how is listing an item on eBay, describing what it actually is (a reproduction), and asking a ridiculous price for it making it harder on the rest of us? A few years ago when Richard was trading games for donors, yeah, I would agree, as this is the very thing that ended that program. Yet now the end product is generating a small profit (please correct me if every reproduction cart sold is for a loss), it is allowing for a coding competition to have a reward, it makes it possible for translations, hacks, and prototypes to get into the hands of gamers, it is promoting our favorite obscure console, and it is helping to bring more interest to the somewhat stagnant VB homebrew scene. I really don’t think that if anything I typed is true, that those involved will pack up shop because a few carts hit auction sites. Auction sites and public sales are inevitable. Humans by nature are a greedy bunch, someone is always looking to cash in on the work of others.

As long as the product is listed as being a reproduction then the person should be allowed to do with their properly as they see fit. My only issue is when someone misleads the buyer with false information or by selectively omitting information that is 1 Google search away.

The link that Dreammary posted causes me a bit of concern. The seller is tossing around the term “reproduction” as if it was an official Nintendo release. “Then Only So Many Copies Were Translated Into English hence Reproduction.“ They incorporated the use of past tense to their advantage. “Reproduction Games Were Not Sealed Like The US Game’s Were.” I also have an issue with the item being listed as “brand new”, which further upsets me because nothing unsealed can be brand new. It can be near mint or new in box, but not brand new.

Sorry if I’m getting uppity or annoying about this subject. It just upsets me when someone decides that they want to play the moral police. I’ve been in the homebrew scene for a very long time and I have seen some great projects get scrapped after someone took the moral high ground.

These type of auctions are all the more reason that all future releases need to state that they are reproductions, made by fans for fans, and everything that this entails. The very first page of the manual should explain what the cart actually is. We shouldn’t try to focus so closely on making actual reproductions that look like the real thing. Something should be done to set them apart so sellers can’t try to pass them off for something they are not.

Its called a reproduction in more than 1 area of the auction. He attempts to explain what it is. Regardless of the fact that he probably knew what it was when he bought it, and even probably bought it from Tusk’s site, I see no reason to report it. There is enough info in the auction for a buyer to Google “sd gundam virtual boy reproduction” and find out everything they need to know.

It is his property and he can ask what he wants for it. He isn’t misleading the buyer. Some people exclusively use eBay for their purchases, and have no idea that this exists elsewhere or that they could have purchased it for much cheaper. If someone wants to pay that price for it, then that is up to them.

virtual boy playing cards: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Club-Japan-Virtual-Boy-Playing-Cards-Promo-Item-NEW-SEALED-/171121410808?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d7a182f8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Virtual-Boy-Mario-Tennis-Playing-Cards-/271208239315?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item3f254550d3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Virtual-Boy-Marios-Tennis-new-unopened-Nintendo-brand-playing-card-promo-sealed-/151119358585?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item232f6a6a79

mario clash japanese demo: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mario-Clash-Japanese-Demo-Version-Virtual-Boy-Game-/271206594402?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item3f252c3762

I am really excited for the fact that you refer to your project as a “faithful remake”. The VB has some great demos and smaller homebrew projects, but not much beyond that. The system has a lot of untapped potential. There are so many great games that would work well on its hardware, using its 3D effects. The Vectrex has more completed homebrew than official releases. There is no reason the VB can’t be the same way. Keep up your efforts, and thank you for your progress report.

Make sure you check out the 1st release of Hunter, a game I wish had been finished. It does some really impressive things with the VB 3D. I remember feeling immersed the 1st time I played it.

Don’t forget that you can also enjoy hacks and translations. I’ll recommend the Mario Clash controller fix hack by DogP. http://www.planetvb.com/modules/games/?r006d

Any idea on what the final cost might be? Will you sell these as a set or allow us to pick up one or the other? Will they come in any color choices? Do you guys have plans to include a homebrew or two?

Cheers!

i’ve read that the emu was never completed. the key binding is still set up for a pc keyboard. there should be no way to get past the warning screen on the psp.

sorry!