This guide walks through sourcing the parts, modifying the Game Boy shell, wiring the boards, and final assembly. (Work in progress — sections below are placeholders to be filled in.)
Parts you'll need
Replace the links below with your preferred Amazon / AliExpress listings. Prices/sellers drift, so generic search links are fine.
| Part | Qty | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYD2USB (ESP32 + 2.8" display) | 1 | buy ↗ | The "Cheap Yellow Display". Main board. |
| Gamepad MCU — ESP32-C3 or RP2040-Zero | 1 | buy ↗ | Reads the 8 DMG buttons. Either works. |
| Tactile buttons | 8 | buy ↗ | D-pad + A / B / Start / Select. |
| Speaker (28 mm, 8 Ω) | 1 | buy ↗ | + a 100 µF electrolytic cap in series. |
| PAM8403 amp (optional) | 1 | buy ↗ | For real volume in the shell. |
| micro-SD card (optional) | 1 | buy ↗ | FAT32, 32 GB or smaller. |
| 5 V power supply (≥ 2 A) | 1 | buy ↗ | A 500 mA charger will brown out. |
| Game Boy DMG shell | 1 | buy ↗ | The enclosure — original or replacement. |
Tools
- Soldering iron + solder
- Hobby knife / rotary tool (for shell cutting)
- Files / sandpaper
- Small screwdrivers
- TODO: add anything else you used (hot glue gun, multimeter, calipers, 3D printer…).
Files & templates
Cutting templates, 3D-print files, and the layout reference.
⬇ Cutting templates & STL files
TODO: describe what's in the bundle (screen-window template, speaker grille, mounting brackets) and how to use it.
Build steps
Modify the DMG shell
800×600
TODO: which areas to cut/file (screen window, speaker grille, USB port, button posts), tools used, and cautions.
- Step detail…
- Step detail…
Buttons & gamepad MCU
800×600
TODO: how the 8 buttons wire to the gamepad MCU, the shared ground, and the single UART data wire to the CYD (GPIO22). Note 3.3 V both sides, no level shifter.
- Step detail…
Speaker & audio
800×600
TODO: speaker placement, the 100 µF series cap, and the optional PAM8403 amp wiring (with the mute caveat).
- Step detail…
Mount the display & boards
800×600
TODO: aligning the display to the lens window, securing the CYD + gamepad MCU, and routing the wiring.
- Step detail…
Power
800×600
TODO: how it's powered (USB-C pass-through? internal supply?), the ≥2 A requirement, and any on/off switch.
- Step detail…
Final assembly
800×600
TODO: closing the shell, screw order, and a finished-device glamour shot.
- Step detail…
Flash the firmware
With the hardware assembled, flash the firmware and load the SD card from the install page — it does both in the browser over USB.
Troubleshooting
TODO: common gotchas — no display (check the lens alignment / driver), no sound (cap polarity / amp mute), buttons not responding (UART wiring / common ground), brown-outs (underpowered supply).