Interest in a new Game Gear?

[T2KFreeker]

Seriously. I don't know about yous guys, but I love my Game Gear. Was a cool little system with some awesome stuff. The thing is that the mono sound and lack of a high end screen really bums me out. What would the interest in a new design with a high quality screen, stereo sound and a rechargeable battery be? I know I would be down. Thoughts?

[Colorado Rockies]

Seriously. I don't know about yous guys, but I love my Game Gear. Was a cool little system with some awesome stuff. The thing is that the mono sound and lack of a high end screen really bums me out. What would the interest in a new design with a high quality screen, stereo sound and a rechargeable battery be? I know I would be down. Thoughts?

Sounds interesting. Are you proposing to make one?

[T2KFreeker]

Nope. BUT, with all the clones and stuff shuffling out, maybe someone will hear our plea and do one. I know for a fact that Game Gears in working order are getting harder and harder to find. The screens are going bad, the sound is going out and there are so many games out there that something like this would be a god send to a degree.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

They are going to be releasing Game Gear games as downloadables for the 3DS. I imagine these will look sharp on a modern screen. If it wasn't for these upcoming releases, I think Game Gear's legacy would have slowly died off.

As for making an entire system from scratch, I'd probably be interested if one came out. I kind of neglect my Game Gears because I'm afraid the screens are going to wear out.

[TonyTheTiger]

Really? Game Gear on 3DS? Sounds neat.

I don't think a clone is likely, though. Other than a few highly invested hobbyists, there's sadly just not even close to enough interest in Game Gear to build one. Certainly not to the extent of the recent Genesis clones.

[kedawa]

I don't think there's enough demand to make it worth it. There are already a million and one portable devices that can emulate the GG/SMS just fine.
It would be cool, though.

[T2KFreeker]

I see the point on emulation and the like, but for people like me that have a relatively nice sized Game Gear collection, it would be nice to play the games again on real hardware with the real carts. I get tired of emulators, to be honest. Why pay again for something I already have? I'd get a new Game Gear if it had stereo sound the new style screen, and a rechargeable battery because it would be a upgrade from the system I have.

[allyourblood]

I'd prefer a consolized Game Gear by far. Only thing is, it's about as likely to happen as an updated GG handheld clone. Seems like it wouldn't be too hard to make one myself. Playing Game Gear games on original hardware, output to my TV and using a Genesis controller???


Bliss.

[Rickstilwell1]

I wish a clone would be made rather than always having to repair the thing. One with TV out like the PSP had. I am going to have to pay someone $100 just to mod mine for TV out when a clone would probably cost $60 new.

[vintagegamecrazy]

There are several online repair shops that will mod a GG with new caps, fixing the screen and audio and can also do AV output mods to work on a TV.

[theclaw]

Any word on an English/Japanese mod? It's a common misconception GG has no region differences, when that's by all accounts NOT the case. Some games do behave differently between ENG and JPN mode. Like how the same Streets of Rage or Bare Knuckle toggle happens on GG as the Genesis version did.

[kedawa]

I noticed the region differences when I got a Master Gear Converter. On my friends japanese GG, many of the games would start up with the Sega Mark III logo and have japanese text in game.

[retroman]

allyourblood...they already have one...its called the Sega Master System...the GameGear is nothing but a portable Master System..

[allyourblood]

allyourblood...they already have one...its called the Sega Master System...the GameGear is nothing but a portable Master System..

Huh? I'm talking about playing Game Gear specific titles on a television with a controller -- my Master System does not allow me to do that.

And while yes, you can play Master system games on your Game Gear, if there's a way to do the reverse, please enlighten me. 'Cause that would be awesome (but I already know it can't be done; there are too many differences in the hardware).

[Rickstilwell1]

There are several online repair shops that will mod a GG with new caps, fixing the screen and audio and can also do AV output mods to work on a TV.

There are? Link me to one who will do all of those things for under $100 then. And only if the mod for TV out is the full color RGB one. Not that crappy monochrome DIY piece of junk.

[orakio_rob]

Have you seen this?
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/game-gear-mod-handy-gear-adds-bigger-screen-rechargeable-batt/

It looks freaking amazing.

[Emuaust]

allyourblood...they already have one...its called the Sega Master System...the GameGear is nothing but a portable Master System..

This statement is a little wrong, while I myself am a huge sms nut and do think most of the best gg games saw ports on thee sms that Id rather play for the ability to play on a large screen.

The GG is more then simply a portable sms. It had a larger color palette and stereo sound for starters.

[A Black Falcon]

I wish a clone would be made rather than always having to repair the thing. One with TV out like the PSP had. I am going to have to pay someone $100 just to mod mine for TV out when a clone would probably cost $60 new.

Why not get a Majesco one, like your sig says you want? They're not that hard to find on ebay really... Yeah, they aren't perfect (no TV Tuner support, no video out obviously, still bad battery life, same large form factor), but they're better than the Sega models for sure thanks to not having bad caps.

Still though, it would be pretty cool if some company made a new Game Gear. Just make it smaller and hopefully with better battery life please, those are the system's two main flaws... though a rechargable battery would help with the battery life issue, certainly, better battery life would be even better. :)

Also, TV Out would be amazing. Almost everyone who likes the GG would love to have something with TV out I bet!

[Rickstilwell1]

Why not get a Majesco one, like your sig says you want? They're not that hard to find on ebay really... Yeah, they aren't perfect (no TV Tuner support, no video out obviously, still bad battery life, same large form factor), but they're better than the Sega models for sure thanks to not having bad caps.

Still though, it would be pretty cool if some company made a new Game Gear. Just make it smaller and hopefully with better battery life please, those are the system's two main flaws... though a rechargable battery would help with the battery life issue, certainly, better battery life would be even better. :)

Also, TV Out would be amazing. Almost everyone who likes the GG would love to have something with TV out I bet!

That's not true, I do have a Majesco one now but with dead capacitors

[hellfire]

I would be interested in a new console, as long as its not bulky like the game gear is now

[Greg2600]

Frankly the makers of the Genesis portables should have gone the extra step and made them compatible with Game Gear games.

[mrmark0673]

I'd prefer a consolized Game Gear by far. Only thing is, it's about as likely to happen as an updated GG handheld clone. Seems like it wouldn't be too hard to make one myself. Playing Game Gear games on original hardware, output to my TV and using a Genesis controller???


Bliss.


This. I've asked about it in the past on other forums, and although it's possible, it is prohibitively expensive.

I'd love to see a Game Gear clone that had high quality video output and would pay $60ish without batting an eye.

[xelement5x]

I'd prefer a consolized Game Gear by far. Only thing is, it's about as likely to happen as an updated GG handheld clone. Seems like it wouldn't be too hard to make one myself. Playing Game Gear games on original hardware, output to my TV and using a Genesis controller???
Bliss.

I'm working on something along these lines right now, lord knows I have enough Game Gears from Craigslist to mess around with to make it proper. It's probably a couple months off from completion though since there are a lot of things I want to make sure it can do.

[Sabz5150]

I'd be all for a new Game Gear, so long as it does one thing: play SMS carts.

[allyourblood]

I'm working on something along these lines right now, lord knows I have enough Game Gears from Craigslist to mess around with to make it proper. It's probably a couple months off from completion though since there are a lot of things I want to make sure it can do.

Yep, I think I've got at least 5 or 6 lying around, myself. I care very little how it looks either; I simply wanna be able to plug it in to the TV, plug in a controller, and play. Hopefully I'll get some free time and I can give it a shot myself.

[djshok]

I also like the Game Gear library and would love to have a new system to play the games on. I mean there are emulators for the DS and 3DS downloadable games are alright and all, but it would be nicer if there was a system that played the acutal cartridges.

[Jorpho]

Reckon if you throw a few hundred thousand bucks at Ben Heck, he can take care of it.

[kedawa]

I would love a compact GG with Sega Saturn type dpad+buttons and an OLED screen. I expect to be disappointed.

[T2KFreeker]

Glad to see some interest in something like this. I often have wondered if it would work. I wish I could even find a replacement screen for my current system that was up to today's standards. Even with the nicer Majesco screen, it atill makes me sad to see it running next to a DS for example.

On a side note, I understand you can emulate the system, but still isn't as cool as having the actual carts on hand in an actual system that can play the original stuff.

[nickerous]

Reckon if you throw a few hundred thousand bucks at Ben Heck, he can take care of it.

Honestly, I'd rather see Jon Jandran take a shot at it. He transformed my Nomad with a high quality screen and rechargeable battery pack. Awesome work. His N64 in a GBA case? Amazing.

[T2KFreeker]

Honestly, I'd rather see Jon Jandran take a shot at it. He transformed my Nomad with a high quality screen and rechargeable battery pack. Awesome work. His N64 in a GBA case? Amazing.

If he's the guy that was doing the screen mods here, I'd love to see him do it as well. However, after asking him about both the Game Gear and Lynx, due to the fact that I believe he said, that the two systems do have have analogue out, he cannot do the systems where the new screens are concerned. Sad too, because that would have been awesome.

[Purkeynator]

Are you talking about a mod like this? http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=17415
I PM'd the guy to get my Nomad done earlier this year but never got any replies. Guess he must not do the mods anymore...

[omp!]

Here are some pics of my consolised Game Gear. It uses a Viletim (from SMSPower) video out board. The screen was shot, so I removed it to display said board. I thought to re-locate the cart slot to be a top loader. It also has a 2 player control port stolen from a stuffed MD2.

To get more battery life out of the old girl I replaced the backlight with one from a DSi. http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13132 I tried a DSlite backlight at first but really it is to small to do the job. Battery life goes from approx 1.5-2hrs to around 5hrs on the same type of batteries (Energizer 2500mAH rechargeables). I have to redo this mod as I damaged the screen, once I have done that this particular GG will be revived with another mod.

[allyourblood]

Here are some pics of my consolised Game Gear. It uses a Viletim (from SMSPower) video out board. The screen was shot, so I removed it to display said board. I thought to re-locate the cart slot to be a top loader. It also has a 2 player control port stolen from a stuffed MD2.

Woah, I had no idea he was offering prefab boards. Nice work!

The last time I did any poking around (admittedly years ago), he just had the diagrams up. How much did that board run you, and do you know if they're still available? I'm probably too cheap to buy one, and I'll end up having to make my own, but the size and convenience is certainly hard to ignore.

[T2KFreeker]

Why does it seem I always read about "Lack of Interest", but then you go around asking people if they play Game Gear games and the reason I always get as to why people don't is unavailability of working units? Hell, the guys that work at Game Dude would kill for a new Game Gear design as they have tons of the games come in and they almost always come with broken units. People always want to buy them too, but again, why buy games if you can't get the system to play them on? I understand that you can find the systems on ebay, but it seems I am seeing more and more of them with "Sound Issues" or sold "As Is For Parts" lately. It would be awesome to have a nicer, sleek design that would also allow you to play it on the Television with the proper scaling and you know it. The demand would probably be higher too than given credit. Deal breaker though: Please, if it ever happens, no PSP style D-Pad/Buttons. It always pisses me off! I wants me a nice D-Pad!

[A Black Falcon]

I agree, given how many times GG fans (or even non-fans) have complained about dying systems or the lack of video out, you'd think that there was in fact at least some demand for a new GG...

[Jorpho]

I think what it comes down to is that there's still (apparently) vast numbers of NES, SNES, and Genesis games out there, so it makes sense for someone out there to make unauthorized clones of those systems. But you can't tell me that you see stacks of Game Gear cartridges everywhere you go.

[T2KFreeker]

I think what it comes down to is that there's still (apparently) vast numbers of NES, SNES, and Genesis games out there, so it makes sense for someone out there to make unauthorized clones of those systems. But you can't tell me that you see stacks of Game Gear cartridges everywhere you go.

Well, you could check some of the on line sites and yes, there are still a TON of Game Gear games in stock at the stores. Game Dude in North Hollywood also has a TON of games in stock as well. May not be as many as the NES and Genesis, but yeah, there are still quite a few floating around.

[nebrazca78]

Still though, it would be pretty cool if some company made a new Game Gear. Just make it smaller and hopefully with better battery life please..., those are the system's two main flaws... though a rechargable battery would help with the battery life issue, certainly, better battery life would be even better. :)

Also, TV Out would be amazing. Almost everyone who likes the GG would love to have something with TV out I bet!

The Game Gear really does have a lot of potential as a redesigned system. The size of the carts being so small gives it a great advantage over the handheld Genesis clones which are still a bit bulky (but nothing like the Nomad or original Game Gear of course.) Take the extra weight savings and put in a larger rechargeable battery with at least 10 hours of battery life.


Here are some pics of my consolised Game Gear. It uses a Viletim (from SMSPower) video out board. The screen was shot, so I removed it to display said board. I thought to re-locate the cart slot to be a top loader. It also has a 2 player control port stolen from a stuffed MD2.


That is totally awesome. If I had one of those I would start collecting Game Gear games immediately.

.

[omp!]

Woah, I had no idea he was offering prefab boards. Nice work!

The last time I did any poking around (admittedly years ago), he just had the diagrams up. How much did that board run you, and do you know if they're still available? I'm probably too cheap to buy one, and I'll end up having to make my own, but the size and convenience is certainly hard to ignore.

I just bought 2 boards for $125AU delivered, we do live in the same country though. I will also be grabbing a 3rd board as a spare when they become available (he has to test a pile of them). I was going to build my own as well (have the parts here) but this just looks neater!

[Edmond Dantes]

Whoa, that "consolized Game Gear" looks neat! How does the output look?

I second what another person said--if I had something like that, I'd start collecting Game Gear. I'd probably also get the Master Gear converter since I already have 3 SMS games and no actual SMS to play them on. (Perhaps if someone takes this more seriously they could build SMS compatibility into the system)

[omp!]

With outputting video on a GG you get large borders. IE the picture is smack bang in the middle of the screen but has a large border around the outside. So say if you have a 34cm TV, the image is only 20cm or so. The photo attached is not mine (it is from Tim's website) but gives you an idea of what it looks like. I only have composite on mine, but on the board it offer's S-video and RGB. There would be nothing stopping you to use a MD2 AV socket, then you could use MD2 AV or SCART cable.

[kedawa]

Are SMS games fullscreen using the master gear converter?

[Edmond Dantes]

..There was a "Super Return of the Jedi" for Game Gear?

[gameofyou]

What would the interest in a new design with a high quality screen, stereo sound and a rechargeable battery be? I know I would be down. Thoughts?

I think it is a cool idea. If I were still unemployed (& therefore had time), I would take a crack at it.

[buzz_n64]

Wow, props to the people working on consolizing the Game Gear, never really liked portable gaming, but enjoy the games.

[T2KFreeker]

..There was a "Super Return of the Jedi" for Game Gear?

Yes, and it was cool!

[A Black Falcon]

Yes, and it was cool!

Is it the same as the Game Boy version, except with color? That was a decent game, I remember.

It is kind of funny though, that they'd released the handheld version on Game Gear as well as GB but none of the Super Star Wars games had a Genesis port... (And yes, I know that things like the Mode 7 parts couldn't be done on Genesis. Still, they could have done some downgraded port, perhaps.) The Genesis itself had no Star Wars games at all, actually; the only ones were Star Wars Chess and Rebel Assault for Sega CD and Star Wars Arcade for 32X.

But anyway, the GB version was kind of funny in comparsion to the SNES one, it's clearly based on that title but it's shorter and easier, with many fewer levels and no Mode 7 stuff. I did like the topdown-view Death Star II flying levels though, they worked quite well... which is more than I can say for that frustrating Mode 7 Death Star II stage in the SNES game... Oh, and it's funny that the GB one has no force powers, unlike the SNES titles (or the second and third ones, anyway).

[djshok]

Would it be possible to take the circuit board out of a consolized Game Gear and stick it into a model 2 or maybe even a model 3 Genesis case? You know, so that it can sit on a shelf and look more like a console.

[theredlineboss]

For me, part of the fun of vintage gaming is to use the original hardware. This is why I paid someone $25 to replace the caps in my game gear :D .
That said, the GG could certainly benefit from a "reimagining", along the lines of the GB Micro.

-Rob

[T2KFreeker]

Is it the same as the Game Boy version, except with color? That was a decent game, I remember.


Yes, but with a bit more going on for it in the way of frame speed and the like. If I remember correctly also the GG version had one or two segments that aren't in the Gameboy release as well.

[omp!]

Are SMS games fullscreen using the master gear converter?

Yes I believe so, I can't use a master gear converter though. But Ihave a heavily decked out SMS2 for that.


Would it be possible to take the circuit board out of a consolized Game Gear and stick it into a model 2 or maybe even a model 3 Genesis case? You know, so that it can sit on a shelf and look more like a console.

Yes I considered this as I had a spare SMS2 and SMS cases that weren't being used, but decided I may as well give this a crack.

Here is Tim's website to look at if you are interested.http://members.iinet.net.au/~stinkyfist/reviletim/ggtv/ggtv.htm

[omp!]

double post

[T2KFreeker]

More BUMP for this one. Looked to be going well . . .

[Rickstilwell1]

I have just as much interest in a Game Gear clone personally. You see a lot of Genesis portable clones out there on sites like StoneAgeGamer.com. It would be great to one day see them carrying Game Gear clones.

[T2KFreeker]

After some research, you know you could pop a second cart port for Gameboy games too as the GG was a Z80 . . .

[kedawa]

A lot of things are based on Z80 CPUs. There's a lot more custom logic that would have to be added to get GB support.
I believe the screen resolution is the same, though, so it may be worth it if someone does decide to make a new GG.

[Jorpho]

Indeed, the ColecoVision, Spectrum, and MSX were Z80-based, too. But if compatibility was just a matter of sharing the same CPU, there wouldn't be this issue about the SMS being unable to play GG games, now would there?


More BUMP for this one. Looked to be going well . . .I can't say I can see what you mean by that. We have a few people wistfully musing about What Might Be. No HK manufacturer is going to pop up out of nowhere and wave his magic wand.

[kedawa]

I really wouldn't want another poorly implemented Chinese clone system in the first place.
I'd rather have something that was $300, reproduced the original hardware perfectly in an FPGA and had a big, bright OLED screen. A dozen people on the planet would buy them, and I'd be the first. :)

[A Black Falcon]

A lot of things are based on Z80 CPUs. There's a lot more custom logic that would have to be added to get GB support.
I believe the screen resolution is the same, though, so it may be worth it if someone does decide to make a new GG.
Yeah, the GB has a custom Z80 variant, it's not the same as the GG CPU.

Also, you are right that the two have the same resolution, but there's a big problem -- they do NOT use the same screen dimensions. The GG has a 4:3 screen, with a ratio pretty much the same as a standard tv. The GB, however, has a nearly square screen that is only barely wider than it is tall. Putting both on the same screen would require coming up with a way to deal with the very different aspect ratios the two systems use.

[Edmond Dantes]

Crap, this thread and my recent acquisition of a Sega Master System makes me want a Game Gear now.

Okay guys, if I were to get a Game Gear, what games would I have to look for? Besides the Sonic ones?

[kedawa]

My personal favorites would have to be
Columns
GG Shinobi 1 and 2
Ninja Gaiden
Fatal Fury Special
Samurai Shodown

[Edmond Dantes]

Wait, there's a Ninja Gaiden on Game Gear?

It's a port of the SMS one isn't it?

[Rickstilwell1]

A couple other notable things - some Game Gear games of the same name as Sega Master System games can be different too.

Double Dragon on Game Gear is very different from the SMS version. So is Taz-Mania. The 2nd and 3rd Sonic games also have some differences with the music and the 1st has alternate special stages and slight item location changes.

I also find the Game Gear Power Rangers games to be some of the best games in that franchise.

[Leo_A]

Also, you are right that the two have the same resolution, but there's a big problem -- they do NOT use the same screen dimensions. The GG has a 4:3 screen, with a ratio pretty much the same as a standard tv. The GB, however, has a nearly square screen that is only barely wider than it is tall. Putting both on the same screen would require coming up with a way to deal with the very different aspect ratios the two systems use.

Not only do they both share the same aspect ratio (A 1.11:1 aspect ratio, where as 4:3 equates to a 1.33:1 aspect ratio), they both even shared the same resolution for their screens (160 × 144).

So that certainly wouldn't be a roadblock, although I bet we'll never see such a handheld. I suspect most anyone interested in playing classic Game Boy games on a handheld would rather do it on a modern Game Boy Advance.

I could see a Game Gear clone happening. I know I'd be interested in one, especially if it included TV/Out and a DB9 plug for Genesis controllers.

[T2KFreeker]

Wait, there's a Ninja Gaiden on Game Gear?

It's a port of the SMS one isn't it?

Not sure on this one. Still, the Game Gear is some serious fun. There are actually quite a few really good games for the system. I still need to track down Coca Cola Kid for the system. Japanese only, but outstanding as a platformer.

[MarioMania]

Just Mod a SMS take the card port out and replace it with the GG Cart Port..but somehow have the GG Hardware in the SMS for the GG Games work right

[T2KFreeker]

Just Mod a SMS take the card port out and replace it with the GG Cart Port..but somehow have the GG Hardware in the SMS for the GG Games work right

Yeah. . . If it were that easy, everyone would have one. LOL

So, basically, everyone that would want one wants the sucker to have television out to scale to the Television, Master Gear converter compatibility as well as a shiny new screen up to todays standards and a rechargeable battery. Possibilities are also for control pad input? Problem here though is that the two player games are designed for Link cable between systems, outside of the Master System games, that is. Would that even work with SMS games?

[Leo_A]

I don't see why anyone would want two controller ports on this for the reasons you just noted. And if it was done correctly, we could just use the existing Sega Master System converter.

I think people want a modern screen, a rechargeable battery with battery life like we'd expect in 2011 for a handheld with very low power requirements compared to today, and a TV/Out feature and an option to plug in a Sega controller. All of which seems reasonable enough when you look at other modern handheld clones available on the market.

I suppose the question would be if there was enough demand for such a thing. I suppose if they could leverage their work and enter the Brazillian marketplace with it in conjunction with TecToy (I assume they hold Game Gear rights for the region) and also sell it in Europe where the Sega Master and Game Gear did quite well, there might be a business case to be made.

Or team up with Sega, license a range of Game Gear/Master System games and market it to casual buyers as yet another Sega plug and play with classics like Sonic 1 & 2. And include a SD slot to allow classic gamers to add their own games to it and a DB9 controller plug.

I doubt there's enough demand in North America alone to justify a plain vanilla Game Gear clone. Just not enough dedicated Game Gear fans.

[Jorpho]

Has there actually been any plug-and-play systems based on a Z80? The Atari Flashback was based on a NES-on-a-chip, and apparently switched to an ARM with emulation for the Flashback 3. The Genesis plug-and-plays are presumably still based off 68k hardware.

[T2KFreeker]

Has there actually been any plug-and-play systems based on a Z80? The Atari Flashback was based on a NES-on-a-chip, and apparently switched to an ARM with emulation for the Flashback 3. The Genesis plug-and-plays are presumably still based off 68k hardware.

Not yet that I am aware of. However, I can hope, yes?

[kedawa]

Wait, there's a Ninja Gaiden on Game Gear?

It's a port of the SMS one isn't it?
It's a totally original game.

[A Black Falcon]

Not only do they both share the same aspect ratio (A 1.11:1 aspect ratio, where as 4:3 equates to a 1.33:1 aspect ratio), they both even shared the same resolution for their screens (160 × 144).

So that certainly wouldn't be a roadblock, although I bet we'll never see such a handheld. I suspect most anyone interested in playing classic Game Boy games on a handheld would rather do it on a modern Game Boy Advance.

I could see a Game Gear clone happening. I know I'd be interested in one, especially if it included TV/Out and a DB9 plug for Genesis controllers.
I don't think so. Yes, you are right that they have the same number of pixels on the screen, in the same numbers. But the actual SCREENS are different shapes. Don't compare the number of pixels, but look at the actual, physical screens. The Game Gear has a wider screen by a sizable margin. The two screens are not the same shape. The GG's screen is about 25% wider than the GB screen, but it's only about 7% taller. When you scale out a GB screen to the width of a GG screen, it's far too long.

Unless I'm missing something? But I don't think so...

[Leo_A]

It must use different shaped pixels then if it's different. Otherwise it would have to be the same since the resolution is the same.

Only thing I can find that even remotely discusses the aspect ratio of the Game Gear (I don't currently own one to measure and can only find the resolution and the size of the screen online, no horizontal and vertical dimensions or a mention of aspect ratio) is this site, and it agrees with me.

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Multiformat/feature.asp?c=2850

[A Black Falcon]

The GBC apparently has a 43 x 38 (w:h) mm screen. That's not the same as the original GB, or GBA in GB/GBC mode, as far as screen size goes, but they should all just be differently scaled versions of the same shape. A GBA in GBC mode (unstretched) is 40.8 x 36.7 for instance. (from here (http://databoy.netfirms.com/gba_gbc.html))

I did some rough measurements of my original GB and my GG, and came up with 1 5/8" x 1 13/16" for the GB and 2 9/16 x 1 15/16" for the GG (trying to measure just the actual screen display, not the border around it). Sorry, didn't measure in metric.

But seriously, just look at screenshots of the games online or something, they're generally put in the correct sizes, and the different shapes aren't too hard to tell apart.