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Game Boy Advance

GBA GEM SP

Game Boy Advance

GBA GEM SP

This item is no longer available

The GBA GEM SP kit turned a Game Boy Advance SP into an unhinged handheld like the original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Color. The GEM pulls inspiration from these original Game Boys, handheld emulators like the RG35XX, and the original Gameboy SP Slab.

The GEM started as a final “sunsetting” feature push for our Remixed Slab but ultimately was scrapped and started over from scratch in order to make the best Unhinged SP we could without the limits of someone else’s design files. We consider the GEM to be the spiritual successor to our Remix Slab kit and so it improves on it’s many unique features we designed like the angled L & R soft tactile buttons, front light pipes, brightness button, and the custom button PCB that press fits the speaker like the original SP. All of these features will make building this project that much easier and enjoyable! 

We want to thank everyone who voted on social media for the speaker grill’s design and placement (we were team “B” by the way) as well as other ideas like the lanyard slots (thanks b4retro) and properly oriented “L” and “R” text on the shoulder buttons (thanks zosejelaya)! This was truly a community driven design!

Features

  • Custom button PCB with integrated FFC sockets and press contact speaker pads like the original GBA SP motherboard
  • Designed to look like the original DMG Game Boy
  • Designed for Game Boy Color buttons and silicone membranes (not included)
  • Smaller footprint than the Slab: 119mm x 80mm x 22mm
  • Brightness button
  • Front facing light pipes
  • Lanyard wrist strap cutout
  • Top and Bottom shell fit together like a real Game Boy with overlapping edges to keep your GBA SP safe
  • Screwless slide and lock battery door with the “GBA GEM SP” logo stamped in it
  • Uses very few screws from the original Game Boy Advance SP
  • Integrated slide and lock top back panel without the need for screws
  • Large, angled L and R with soft tactile buttons
  • Volume slider and power switch lettering
  • Tall and odd shaped cart support like the Game Boy Camera
  • Accessory cutouts for the Wireless Transfer Adapter
  • Full D-Pad range of motion for spot on diagonal movement in games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
  • No need to remove the original Game Boy Advance SP L and R tactile buttons from the motherboard

Assembly Video

Shell Overview