Community Resources

If you’re new to repairing or modifying hand-held video game consoles, you likely wouldnt realize that you’ve taken your first step into a global and interconnected community of modders, collectors, hobbyists, technicians, and more.

The goal of this page is to bring some of that community to your attention so that you can get a head-start on some of the best places to check out.

Technical and Hobbists

No matter if you are doing you first restoration/modification or have done dozens, these are some great resources for you… we’ve put them in alphabetical order and a brief description of added to each what the resource is… of course paired with where to find them.

::Hand Held Legend, HHL, Fix-It Phil, Facebook

Fix-It Phil Facebook group

Fix-It Phil is a great technical resource where the focus is on the more electrical and mechanical side of modding for gaming electronics, but not solely hand-helds. We’ve never seen any good question go unanswered in Fix-It Phil… they’re some of the most skilled and kind people we’ve seen.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/193924881096119/

Hand Held Legend, HHL, Retro Future, The Retro Future, Facebook

The Retro Future

This YouTube channel is where host Elliot covers a variety of topics all pertaining to retro handheld gaming consoles, with the occasional other hardware sneaking it at times. He’s always at just the right level of detail to demonstrate to viewers how to do things themselves, and brings a lot of personality to the show too. Highly recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCefAbzsWZE4uXU-mqQMrr4Q

Hand Held Legend, HHL, Retro Future, The Retro Future, Facebook

The Retro Future Community Facebook group

“The Retro Future” (see above) is a terrific YouTube channel all about hand held gaming console refurbishing, repairs, modding, and collecting… but also the occasional Walkman and other hardware makes it into the mix. This Facebook group is the online community related to the YouTube channel and quite likely one of the most welcoming groups you’ll find online. Stop by to join or check out the YouTube videos to see what you think.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheRetroFuture/

Colin Wirth, This Does Not Compute, Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy DMG, DMG, Game Boy Color, GBC, CGB-001, CGB001, Game Boy Advance, GBA, AGB-001, AGB001, Game Boy Advance SP, SP, GBA-SP, GBASP, AGS-001, AGS001, AGS-101, AGS101, Game Boy Pocket, GBP, MGB-001, MGB001, Game Boy Micro, GBM

This Does Not Compute

We’re long-time friends with Colin, host of This Does Not Compute, and easily recommend you head over to his channel as he covers technology, including retro gaming consoles, and also product reviews, DIY projects, and beyond. No matter what he’s focused on, you can count on plenty of information, thoughts, and insights on what he’s discussing.

https://www.youtube.com/user/cwwirth

Community Friends

Suffice to say there are a lot of great people and businesses in the community, and we’ve been glad to get to know many of them over the years. Here we showcase some of our closest friends in the community and glad to share them with you. We hope you’ll make some new friends along the way as well. Presented in alphabetical order.

8-bit Aesthetics, 8bitAesthetics, 8bit Aesthetics, Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy DMG, DMG, Game Boy Color, GBC, CGB-001, CGB001, Game Boy Advance, GBA, AGB-001, AGB001, Game Boy Advance SP, SP, GBA-SP, GBASP, AGS-001, AGS001, AGS-101, AGS101, Game Boy Pocket, GBP, MGB-001, MGB001, Game Boy Micro, GBM, Game Boy Macro

8bit Aesthetics

One of the best modders with regards to the quality of builds… and aesthetics, of course… of retro gaming consoles. A long-time friend, we feature 8bit builds frequently and recommend him highly.

https://8bitaesthetics.bigcartel.com

Roberto Gualan, Bob Gualan, Bob Mods, Bob Mods USA, BobModsUSA, Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy DMG, DMG, Game Boy Color, GBC, CGB-001, CGB001, Game Boy Advance, GBA, AGB-001, AGB001, Game Boy Advance SP, SP, GBA-SP, GBASP, AGS-001, AGS001, AGS-101, AGS101, Game Boy Pocket, GBP, MGB-001, MGB001, Game Boy Micro, GBM, Game Boy Macro

Bob Mods USA

One of the few community “Macro-Masters” who is most known for his Game Boy Macros, but also does well-made other consoles too.

A Game Boy Macro is, essentially, a repurposed DS Lite who’s life is extended to play solely Game Boy Advance titles.

https://www.instagram.com/bobmodsusa/

Jellybelly Customs

From beautifully custom parts to custom consoles, you can count on Jellybelly Customs to be the community purveyor of quality products. Stop by to see what he has built, what projects he working on, or even request something custom for yourself. Oh yeah, check out his “Supplies and Tools” section for on of the most thoughtfully selected and most affordable selections you’ll find!

https://jellybellycustoms.com

Perth Retro Gaming, PRG, Chris Duncan, Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy DMG, DMG, Game Boy Color, GBC, CGB-001, CGB001, Game Boy Advance, GBA, AGB-001, AGB001, Game Boy Advance SP, SP, GBA-SP, GBASP, AGS-001, AGS001, AGS-101, AGS101, Game Boy Pocket, GBP, MGB-001, MGB001, Game Boy Micro, GBM, Sony, PSP, Playstation Portable, PSV, Playstation Vita

Perth Retro Gaming

Perth Retro Gaming (PRG) offers a broad swath of fully restored and custom handheld consoles from Nintendo’s Game Boy, DS/2DS/3DS, and Switch to also Sony Playstation Portable and Vita ones too. They’re based in Australia and offer multiple Australia-only retro gaming consoles too.

http://instagram.com/perth_retro_gaming/