Game Gear question

[Iron Draggon]

I just found out that my Game Gear suffers from faulty capacitors, and now I'm wondering what to do about it. No way I'm gonna replace the capacitors myself, so should I try to find someone to do it for me, just buy a new Game Gear and hope I get one that works, or see if there's a better alternative?

At this point, I'm thinking maybe I should seek out a homebrew system. Does anyone make Game Gears with backlit screens like the GBA SP2? I'd also be very interested in a system that I can connect to my TV for fullscreen play, so if anyone knows who I'm looking for to order from, please let me know!

[theChad]

What's wrong with replacing them yourself? If you don't have experience with a soldering iron, you can always practice on some junk kid's toy or something - it's really not that hard, and many times when you buy solder or especially the iron they have good tips on how to do it right. You should have a little faith in yourself.

[cyberfluxor]

Game Gears are cheap, just check out the may on eBay alone. I'm sure there are some for sale on various boards and can snag a few more games in a bundle. The broken unit is almost worthless so unless you want it for spare parts to cover the replacement you may want to either chuck it or see if someone else needs one for parts. Maybe you can offer it to someone towards the project of a modded GG.

[DigitalSpace]

My old Game Gear fell victim to the sound issues as well. It's currently so weak that you can't hear anything unless you put your ear right next to the speaker, or use headphones.

From what I've read around the net, it's better just to buy another one. Last month, I wound up finding another one at a Goodwill for just over five bucks. Even came with a game I didn't have (World Cup USA 94 - sure, it's a sports title, but it beats not having a game included with it at all).

On another note, though it isn't too much of a hassle to me to play GG games with the Game Gear plugged into an outlet, I still kind of wish that Sega had released something similiar to what Nintendo did with the Super Game Boy. Being able to play GG carts on a Genesis would be cool.

[otaku]

yeah they're cheap just get another. Lots of them out there to

[Iron Draggon]

well the thing is, I'm looking for a permanent solution to the problem, so I don't want to have to replace capacitors all the time, or have to buy new systems all the time... I just want to be able to play all my Game Gear games

so if this is a common problem with original systems now, why isn't someone selling homemade systems that solve the problem, and hopefully offer new features that Sega never offered, like TV play? I know you can't play GG games on a Master System, but why couldn't someone mod a Nomad to play GG games? seems like all that's needed is a convertor cart to make it work!

[Trebuken]

I know TV out is possible, and that there is even an RGB out mode even but I think the modding community has abandoned the Game Gear...

[zektor]

I know TV out is possible, and that there is even an RGB out mode even but I think the modding community has abandoned the Game Gear...

I was just reading a TV-out page on the Game Gear. I would love to have this mod done.

[rbudrick]

I tried doing the GG TV-out mod myself and ended up destroing the GG in the process. So, another DP member did the mod for me. Unfortunately, he does not wish to do any other mods for anyone. It is also not an inexpensive mod to do, btw, as the labor is the real pain. However, don't let this discourage you! TV out on GG RULES. I hated the original screen!

-Rob

[zektor]

I tried doing the GG TV-out mod myself and ended up destroing the GG in the process. So, another DP member did the mod for me. Unfortunately, he does not wish to do any other mods for anyone. It is also not an inexpensive mod to do, btw, as the labor is the real pain. However, don't let this discourage you! TV out on GG RULES. I hated the original screen!

-Rob

Heh. I wouldn't mind paying what is fair for the labor at all. I wish I could find someone to do this for me. I saw the schematics and I would probably destroy mine as well should I attempt it.

[MASTERWEEDO]

what would it cost to have done? i would try it but im kinda clumsy and easily frustrated

[rbudrick]

Hmm, it;s hard to say. I would guess somewhere between $60 and $120.

-Rob

[zektor]

Hmm, it;s hard to say. I would guess somewhere between $60 and $120.

-Rob

That seems fair. I would pay that for such an upgrade. Perhaps whoever does it can replace all of the caps while inside to increase my Game Gear's "life" If you ever hear of anyone that wants to do the work (or the guy that did up yours changes heart) I would absolutely appreciate a friendly PM

[rbudrick]

Well, your best bet is to ask someone at SMSpower.org. It took a LOT of asking for me to find someone to do it. Few folks publicly have said they actually did the mod (probably could count them on one hand). If you offered on the higher end for the mod and offered more if $120 wasn't enough, who knows, maybe money would do the talking. I could be wrong, but I *think* I paid $120 for mine...hard to remember, though. I don't remember if this included the GG or not. I remember I had a massively hard time trying to find a suitable GG (there are the 1 ASIC and 2 ASIC varieties). The mod was only for the rarer 2 ASIC earlier version. However, I could be wrong, but I think the mod for the 1 ASIC was eventually figured out. I dunno, though.

-Rob

[acem77]

Well, your best bet is to ask someone at SMSpower.org. It took a LOT of asking for me to find someone to do it. Few folks publicly have said they actually did the mod (probably could count them on one hand). If you offered on the higher end for the mod and offered more if $120 wasn't enough, who knows, maybe money would do the talking. I could be wrong, but I *think* I paid $120 for mine...hard to remember, though. I don't remember if this included the GG or not. I remember I had a massively hard time trying to find a suitable GG (there are the 1 ASIC and 2 ASIC varieties). The mod was only for the rarer 2 ASIC earlier version. However, I could be wrong, but I think the mod for the 1 ASIC was eventually figured out. I dunno, though.

-Rob

I would love to have this done.
I dont know if i feel like taking the project on my self.
what happens to the gamegear when the caps are bad?

[rbudrick]

I would love to have this done.
I dont know if i feel like taking the project on my self.
what happens to the gamegear when the caps are bad?

I'm quite confident you could do it, Mark. It's not really harder than your RGB NES mod, to be honest. Maybe a little bit harder with the cramped space in the GG and all, but you could always make the mod an external box, I suppose. However, if you stack the chips, it easily fits all in the GG.

-Rob

[Cauterize]

Ive successfully done the sound fix on the Game Gear and the PCE GT/Turbo Express too.
It really isnt as hard as you think. It really is worth doing, (especially on the PCEGT/TGE) as the level of sound you get makes the unit feel like new.

The TV Out mod mentioned though... I thought you needed a specific Sega Game Gear that had an extra board in one of the battery compartments. Otherwise didnt it only output in B&W?