Thanks for the mention. I am glad that the English-friendly games list is useful for WonderSwan newcomers. This is such an amazing console. I have ordered the same kit from AliExpress, I can't wait to install it. Thanks for the video.
Hey you’re most welcome! Your website is a fantastic valuable resource! Totally agree, it’s highly underrated. You’re going to love the kit! Cheers buddy!
I've done two WonderSwan Color IPS kits using this tutorial . Zero problems . It really helps to see the proper orientation of the cables , screen , and boards as you're doing the install . Thank you .
Thank you dude 🙏! That really means a lot! I love this stuff and I’m glad I can share it with everyone! The obscure consoles are the best! Cheers buddy!
FANTASTIC tutorial! This is just what I've been waiting for... so concise and easy to follow. Just ordered my WonderSwan Color on eBay, now I just have to wait for the IPS kits to come back in stock. Thanks again, this is incredibly helpful!
Thanks for the tutorial, I may try it out! I live in the states but I found a swan color in a local retro gaming store back when I was about 10. I now have 4 b/w models, 2 color, and recently found a good deal on a crystal! As far as recs go, I recommend Digimon D-Project, it's more obscure compared to the other Digimon rpg games, but it's very simple and requires practically no reading! Other good titles are Medarot Perfect Edition, Rockman & Forte, Super Robot Wars Compact, SD Gundam Generation, and the Evangelion game!
I know this is a fairly old video by now, but there's actually few rechargable battery kits (including drop in options!) for the WSC that were made specifically for people that do the ips mod. The ones Ive seen give you over a dozen hours on an ips and are of course rechargable! Whenever I finally get my hands on a WSC I'm going to grab an ips kit, a battery kit, and probably even a flashcart! It really is a shame we never got these in the west, they're great little machines 😊
So, my opinions on the WonderSwan: While my "weeaboo" side really wishes we could have gotten the console in the West, especially as some of my favourite series like Detective Conan, Digimon and One Piece had exclusive games for the system... its library was both the reason why it succeeded briefly and failed hard, and why it could have struggled immensely in the West. Aside from a couple of exceptional games, such as the Final Fantasy remake, Front Mission and a few others, the bulk of its library came from Bandai's use of all the anime licenses they had due to their toy and figure manufacturing business, which made the console's library quite niche, and aside from competition from Nintendo, the fact the United States had only just begun approaching anime in the early 2000s would have probably been an obstacle to a potential North American WonderSwan release, and in Europe it would have only fared slightly better due to its long-standing market for anime, especially in France and Italy. There is no "killer app" for the WonderSwan, no major brand that comes to mind when thinking of the console, just licensed games and third-party ports. It lacked an identity of its own, and suffered greatly for it. Secondly, Bandai... never really did much with it. Its only update was the WonderSwan Color, which not only released a year after the original WonderSwan, but was also just that, a colour screen update, released just after the announcement of the Game Boy Advance, which greatly outpowered the console. The SwanCrystal, released in 2002, was a simple display update, bumping up the quality from the twisted nematic display of the WonderSwan and WonderSwan Color to a TFT LCD, and nothing more, to the point Bandai itself discontinued the entire line a year later.
Wow great info on the wonderswan! Thank you! I agree, anime really didn’t gain a footing in the US until the mid to late 00’s. Really appreciate the insight! Cheers buddy!
The Wonderswan is definitely an interesting little device, but it definitely could not stand up to the Gameboy line. Probably the only portable systems that had a chance against Nintendo were the Gamegear (which compared to the GB barely made a dent in the market) and the PSP. (which again didn't fare as well as it's competition, but managed to make an Impact.)
I just ordered my WSC today. The drastically short battery life is a bummer, but with a couple rechargeable batteries on hand it shouldn't be too bad. I'm excited!
Dude that looks so fresh, a friend of my mom and dad brought me home a Swan Crystal system from Japan in the summer of 03, I still think it was way ahead of its time. Really cool system, I have to do this mod.
This video cost me about $300 lol. Bought my first Wonderswan, this IPS kit, and the Flash Masta flash cart when it went on sale yesterday. Can't wait to get the flash cart in a few weeks, and will be installing the IPS screen tonight. Love your videos, btw. Very well made and relaxing.
Great video! I appreciate how you provide balanced feedback as well such as the pros and cons. There were previous episodes where you mentioned a kit would be virtually perfect or such (e.g. GBC IPS), only for me to be surprised seeing the screen tearing or other flaws when I installed it myself. That said, I’d like to say that the presentation of your walkthroughs of mods are some of the best in youtube!
I started watching this video because I intend to do the project, and ordered the parts, but I keep watching the video because it’s just so dang relaxing.
Subscribed after watching this video, this is exactly how I feel tutorials should be. Relaxing, allowing the viewer to escape as well as properly perform this screen swap because you are a great teacher man thank you for making this and I look forward to more of your content!
Great channel, Tito! Have you looked into the RGB mod for that sweet Turbo Express you picked up? It's a little pricey, but quite an improvement over the composite mod and magnitudes better than stock.
I have! I’m hoping that someone makes some aftermarket shells since I would feel bad at nodding the original since the console is so rare now a days. That would be a sweet mod to do though!
I just bought my first Wonder Swan and I’m waiting for it to arrive. I’m trying to decide if I want to replace the screen or not. I’m not thrilled about the huge cut in battery life, but it looks like it’s so much easier to see and play that it may be worth it. Thanks for making this tutorial and doing the battery test!
No idea this upgrade existed. Glad to see mods for more obscure systems. I have the Final Fantasy limited edition version, but the lack of light was a real problem that stopped me from using it much.
If you hold the color palate sensor it will show an option for battery display, and if you hold the brightness sensor you will get a pixel shader option
Thanks Steve! It’s really a great console and I’m loving the new screen. It would have been amazing if they did included an aligning bracket. Maybe I should try my hand at designing my own, haha! Cheers buddy!
I just got a WSC myself today! The screen is pretty beat up, but this looks like a fun project to try! I'm big into Digimon and still need the vpet adapter.
Soldering is definitely a skill that takes some time to learn and get comfortable with. I recommended watching videos and buys a solder practice kit on Amazon before diving in with modding. This is a relatively easy soldering job but can be very challenging for someone with limited experience. I hope that helps. Best of luck! Cheers!
I came looking for a guide for the solder points, and this was the first one to come up... But turned out to be unreasonably useful, as not only do I have the exact same kit, I have the same screwdriver set 😂
I have had a Wonderswan in my eBay cart on and off for over 3 years. And have been looking for a IPS mod, but haven't found one. This is freaking awesome, will buy one immediately.
thanks for getting me into handheld modding and for this video! i just used it to install my own Wonderswan IPS kit! btw, Gunpei is pronounced "goon-pay". keep up the great work 💪
Just installed this and it is glorious. Couldn’t really see the screen before and now...it’s easy on the eyes. Great tutorial but I am definitely moving the touch sensors elsewhere. Lol. Speaker area makes me cycle through the colors. Natural placement for shoulder buttons, thus fingers.
Nice Video as always. And exactly at the right time because i'm planing on getting one myself. The batterylife is comparable to the GBP Backlight, an i think more than 3h are enough. Also the Swan is so small, its easy to always bring one or two spare batteries with you. And i guess a LiPo-Mod is out of question for it.
Thank you! Glad you liked the video! Agree, 3 hours is impressive given the single aa battery and the really nice IPS. I’m hoping to do a battery mod for it! I think it’s possible! Cheers!
I think the 3:49 hrs of battery life in exchange for a beautiful back lit screen is totally worth it, without question. You can just keep a set of 4 AA batteries on the charger and just swap each one out between your four-hour wonderswan gaming sessions lol.
You made that look so easy! I'm sure I'll make a mess. I'm considering buying one for Densha De Go, it's a game that I can recommend because although it's in Japanese you don't need to understand the language, just the basics of the game.
Your videos are always quality and top notch, Tito. Great video. I gotta say, I really loved this hand transition you did at 3:37. You definitely understand pizzazz, my friend.
Thanks dude! I really appreciate it! I’m so glad your enjoying the production! I have as much fun with that as I do modding the consoles! Cheers buddy!
Did you run into any issues with the screen changing color as you try to close it up? Or the touch sensors being unresponsive until you relieve some pressure? That stupid long ribbon cable has been the bane of my existence. Love your videos; really appreciate the guides/tutorials!
Figured it out! In case anyone else has this problem, my wire from the positive terminal was running across the connector between the driver board and the LCD, so every time I tried to close it up it put pressure on there and messed with the touch controls.
The mod fits perfectly, you just bent the ribbon cable wrong. It fits completely on the back, without having to bunch it up against the front. Still awesome tutorial overall.
Great vids as usual bro! Any plans to build zwenergy's gbaHD? It's like an open source GBA Consolizer made from off the shelf parts. The Gameboy subreddit just kinda slept on it and the build guide barely got a few upvotes. Could be a cool opportunity for your channel be a first to make a proper video on it. I'm personally waiting on more people to get on board before building one myself tho lol.
Thank you🙏! I just looked at it and it looks a bit complicated but very cool! I’m actually going to be looking at something very similar that you may be interested in so stay tuned! Cheers Sean!
You've had some good game recommendations in this thread, but many of them are very expensive these days. Assuming you don't want to pay $100+ for a loose Klanoa, Guilty Gear or Rockman cart, my recommendations are: 1. The Digimon Battle Spirit titles - not amazing, but affordable and fun. 2. Rhyme Rider Kerorican - a really charming rhythm action game that asks you to hold the WS diagonally (although you really don't have to). Simple gameplay, but beautifully presented and the music is great. 3. Side Pocket - my favourite sports title. Just a simple pool game, but enjoyable. What I do is filter worldwide WonderSwan eBay listings by "newest" with the Video Game Kraken list of English-friendly titles open in another tab. Prices can vary quite wildly, but you will see many games from the list at good prices if you have a look every so often, especially from Japanese sellers. I've accumulated about 20 games over the past year that way, half of them boxed.
@@Digiflower5 That's with the screen brightness at max. You should be able to double that at more reasonable brightness levels. Of course backlights are always going to eat up more battery.
Great video! Got my kit today. Haven't installed it yet though. How well does it stay in place without the double sided tape? I'd rather wanna go without it as well.
Impressive! So no ghosting or freezing/stuck pictures? Very, very nice. Hopefully they’ll be in stock again soon. My top 3 game picks: Gunpey, which is widely available. Tetris, a loose cart is pricey. Mr. Driller, another great port.
Hey DC Celly! Yes they should be back in stock soon. I’d put a watch on it so you get a notification. Thanks for the recommendations! This look great! Can’t go wrong with Tetris! Cheers buddy!
this video convinced me to get one, especially after the mod the pixel art of the WS/WSC games just pop so beautifully and its such a unique device. I got a great deal on sendico for a boxed wonderswan color as well as some one piece games also in box with their respective manuals. now im just waiting for this mod kit to arrive
Thanks for your video. I've modded my ws color. Does your ws have any issues when turning it on? Nothing is wrong with the screen but I have to press the power button a few times for it to turn on
I would love to get my hands on one of these to investigate a battery mod. I'm curious to know if it actually runs on 1.5v or if the voltage is stepped up - I assume it will be, which could make it a good candidate for a lithium battery. Getting it to fit could be tricky though...
That would be awesome! I think the wonderswan would benefit nicely from a battery mod. I am unfortunately not sure if the voltage is stepped up. I should read up on some electrical engineering n, definitely not my strong suite.
Oh no, the price is gonna go up in Wonderswans and games now that someone popular made a video. I better get the last couple games I want for my collection before it happens. Love you though Tito. Your tutorials are always top notch. I figured this video was coming after you made that post about Wonderswan. Good to see you went with one of the best looking Wonderswan Colors to make this video.
Thank you dude! I really appreciate it! I agree the translucent orange color just pops and looks fantastic! I really am loving this handheld! Again, really appreciate the kind words dude! Cheers!
The price is going up on consoles even more, it's crazy how much even monochrome ones are listed for compared to a year ago. Thankfully game prices don't seem to have spiked quite as much.
Are there mods that add a “hump” to the back for more AA’s, or a rechargeable battery with larger capacity? You mentioned how thin the device already is, I would be fine with a larger protrusion if it helped maintained a better battery life. Great channel, glad I found you. Attempting the DCHDMI when it arrives 😱
Thank you! Glad your enjoying the channel! I definitely need to look into those battery mods. I wouldn’t mind the extra hump either. Best of luck on the DCHDMI mod! Cheers!
Really loved the piano music. I’m more of a purist when it comes to original hardware. Half the fun is playing them how they were meant to be played. If I want to play Wonderswan games with a great screen, that’s what a PSP is for. But that’s just me. As for recommendation - Tekken Card Challenge. A bit of a learning curve because Japanese, but a lot of fun especially if you know the characters. And best of all - it’s cheap.
That’s true Bill! I’m the same way, I like to have my original consoles unmodified but another set that is fully modified that way it still original hardware, just enhanced. Cheers buddy and thank you for the recommendation! I’ll def check that out!
Now that you've had it for a while longer, what do you think about the battery life? Brand new AA dollar store batteries show blinking low battery for more only after a couple of minutes! I need to get better batteries and see if that can be improved.
The wonderswan has notoriously bad screens - with the exception of the crystal, of course. The color's screen is definitely an improvement over the original but I'd still consider it to be straining to look at. This mod is amazing. And affordable - especially when compared to the price of a swan crystal.
Great video! I've been looking forward to reviews of this kit. Btw, the Wonderswan did go out of Japan and saw a very limited release in other parts of Asia. Korea and China have versions of the handheld.
Thanks glad you enjoyed the video! That would be really cool to track down a Korean version. May need to look into that. Thanks for the info! Cheers Benjamin!
@@MachoNachoProductions Thank you! Keep 'em coming. There's a Korean bundle that comes with an english Digimon RPG (I've been looking for it for a while now!), and a Chinese version of the Swan Crystal that comes with English instruction booklets. I happen to have that one :)
I remember a blue WonderSwan color appeared on the first episode of the mecha anime Full Metal Panic as just a cameo when the main character was briefed on what a high school student should act like as he was always trained as a soldier first.
@@MachoNachoProductions Sega Saturn also made appearence in Neon Genesis Evangelion as console that Asuka love to play. In Cardcaptor Sakura (both anime and manga) you can also see Kero play a console that have controller shaped like Sega Saturn's one but with four face buttons instead six. Real life video game console cameo in anime or manga is actually quite common.
I wish there was a better flashcart available for WS, that would make it an absolute beast. Also, a mod so it starts up in muted mode, making the system always start at max volume was just a terrible idea. I'd love to see a volume knob mod with the sound button repurposed to the brightness instead of a touch sensor. WS has excellent versions of Space invaders and Tetris (make sure to get the colour version of Tetris!)
Curious... Are there any battery solutions for this handheld? I would love to try this for my first go, but with the ribbon cable, and the battery life that's almost a deal breaker, even if it's only one battery. Love the video, and the quality. - Dave
Thanks Dave! Glad you liked the video! I think there are some battery mods out there. I need to research it more but I will definitely be thinking about doing a video on a battery mod. Cheers buddy!
Hey Tito, I’m not sure what the chances are of you seeing a comment on such an old video, but do you know if this also works on the SwanCrystal or is this only for the WSC?
@@Charlie97L I like the shape of the crystal better than the color. So if I'm replacing the screen to use it regularly I'd rather have one that I'm thoroughly pleased with instead of one I just kinda like
@@CrestofPotential fair enough, i had forgotten there was that much difference. I never was able to snag a crystal, I have several colors and normals. :)
Great videos, helps me decide if I want to as well I now own wonderswan, wonderswan color, and wonderswan crystal ( I got for $5 it had a burn screen which was an easy fix) I'm debating on putting this screen in one but I'd rather do it on another one and not my original finds. Lol, same with my gameboy finds.
I'd reccomened Rhyme Rider Kerorican. It's a rhythm game that doesn't need much language besides menu navigation, it's more expensive but I think it's worth it.
I'm perfectly OK with the battery life, but not the ribbon cable situation, and it's really hard for me to justify this for the software collection, WSC is a wonderful little machine that I really like though. Thanks for the video!
Hey great video! Ive been wanting to backlight my WS for a while now and this looks much easier than I expected. I dont know if yours has this issue but the WS color is notorious for power button issues where the system will dont turn off without removing the battery. If yours ever does this or you just want an easy video theres another guy on ebay that sells special contacts pads for all the buttons that fix this issue and help with general button recognition from being so old. As for a game recommendation Gunpey is really good and you can still get sealed copies for really cheap there is also a really good megaman game but its getting kind of expensive.
Thank you for the heads up! I didn’t know the the ws had issues with the power button! I think I will definitely check out gunpey! A lot of people are recommending it! Cheers buddy!
I’ve owned one for a couple of years and I love it. I recommend ghouls n ghosts and golden axe they are great ports but can be pricey. And I think the mod is worth it,can’t beat playing it anywhere vs battery life thanks for the great content take care.
@@MachoNachoProductions I believe I have the latest version of the IPS screen, and it's sadly not compatible. The game is 50% off screen. Michael J Moffitt mentioned back in 2019 that he'd be interested in building his own driver board, but I think that never materialised given his other many projects.
Given the single battery, the best mod would be a reflective front light that can be turned off and on based on lighting needs. Unfortunately, this would dramatically increase the difficulty. I think certain models of the gameboy had this arrangement and I know the GP32 had a front lit model where the light can be turned on and off. In fact, my GP32 hardly ever gets used precisely because it doesn't have a front light as it is the non lit version. Reflective LCDs are great for saving power, but they suck in anything but very bright light. As a fifty something, I'm not outside with a game very often. I like to enjoy them in my easy chair. It is just not ideal to use them in this way. OTOH, rechargeable batteries are cheap enough and given it only needs one battery, you can always have a charged battery. The only downside to this is if you are really good at a game and if you cannot save it.
Great stuff 👍. BTW, you talk about the creation of the OG Game Boy, well it's a kind more complex. Florent Gorges, a french video game historian have the chance to itw some of the OG engineer of the DMG project. To be short, Yokoy was the leader of the R&D1, but he's not him who have the final idea of the Game Boy.
Do you think there'll ever be a Wonderswan consolizer or a video-out mod for it? I'm a speedrunner that's getting in to some Wonderswan speedrunning, and it's annoying to have to either cave and use emulator (which runs faster and is inaccurate to the real console) or figure out the logisitics of recording my screen with a camera (which is a pain in the ass until you mod the IPS screen in, and even then is still a pain).
Thanks for the mention. I am glad that the English-friendly games list is useful for WonderSwan newcomers. This is such an amazing console. I have ordered the same kit from AliExpress, I can't wait to install it. Thanks for the video.
Hey you’re most welcome! Your website is a fantastic valuable resource!
Totally agree, it’s highly underrated. You’re going to love the kit! Cheers buddy!
Do you know what the power consumption is with the old and new screens? I would think this will cut battery life in 1/2 or worse.
I've done two WonderSwan Color IPS kits using this tutorial . Zero problems . It really helps to see the proper orientation of the cables , screen , and boards as you're doing the install . Thank you .
The music during the install portion is great! Love your videos, Super In-depth! Amazing editing, and now I want a WonderSwan!
Thank you🙏! I’m so happy you like the videos!😁
Love this. You tackling the more obscure handhelds like this and the NGPC is superrrr helpful for the community. Cheers man.
Thank you dude 🙏! That really means a lot! I love this stuff and I’m glad I can share it with everyone! The obscure consoles are the best! Cheers buddy!
FANTASTIC tutorial! This is just what I've been waiting for... so concise and easy to follow. Just ordered my WonderSwan Color on eBay, now I just have to wait for the IPS kits to come back in stock. Thanks again, this is incredibly helpful!
Thank you Nik! So glad you found the video useful! Cheers!
Try judgement silversword
Another fantastic vid! Keep it up!
Thank you! Will do!
@@MachoNachoProductions Would you be able to use less U.V light, it makes the whole thing seem a bit TOO vibrant, and hard to see the true colors
we need a mod that makes it honk, it is a swan after all
😂
More like Hiss and try to scratch and bite you.
Haha, they can be scary and aggressive.
😆😆😆😆
Thanks for the tutorial, I may try it out! I live in the states but I found a swan color in a local retro gaming store back when I was about 10. I now have 4 b/w models, 2 color, and recently found a good deal on a crystal!
As far as recs go, I recommend Digimon D-Project, it's more obscure compared to the other Digimon rpg games, but it's very simple and requires practically no reading!
Other good titles are Medarot Perfect Edition, Rockman & Forte, Super Robot Wars Compact, SD Gundam Generation, and the Evangelion game!
That’s an awesome collection you have! Thank you for the recs! I’m a huge fan of evangelion, may need to check that out!
I know this is a fairly old video by now, but there's actually few rechargable battery kits (including drop in options!) for the WSC that were made specifically for people that do the ips mod. The ones Ive seen give you over a dozen hours on an ips and are of course rechargable! Whenever I finally get my hands on a WSC I'm going to grab an ips kit, a battery kit, and probably even a flashcart! It really is a shame we never got these in the west, they're great little machines 😊
So, my opinions on the WonderSwan:
While my "weeaboo" side really wishes we could have gotten the console in the West, especially as some of my favourite series like Detective Conan, Digimon and One Piece had exclusive games for the system... its library was both the reason why it succeeded briefly and failed hard, and why it could have struggled immensely in the West. Aside from a couple of exceptional games, such as the Final Fantasy remake, Front Mission and a few others, the bulk of its library came from Bandai's use of all the anime licenses they had due to their toy and figure manufacturing business, which made the console's library quite niche, and aside from competition from Nintendo, the fact the United States had only just begun approaching anime in the early 2000s would have probably been an obstacle to a potential North American WonderSwan release, and in Europe it would have only fared slightly better due to its long-standing market for anime, especially in France and Italy. There is no "killer app" for the WonderSwan, no major brand that comes to mind when thinking of the console, just licensed games and third-party ports. It lacked an identity of its own, and suffered greatly for it.
Secondly, Bandai... never really did much with it. Its only update was the WonderSwan Color, which not only released a year after the original WonderSwan, but was also just that, a colour screen update, released just after the announcement of the Game Boy Advance, which greatly outpowered the console. The SwanCrystal, released in 2002, was a simple display update, bumping up the quality from the twisted nematic display of the WonderSwan and WonderSwan Color to a TFT LCD, and nothing more, to the point Bandai itself discontinued the entire line a year later.
Wow great info on the wonderswan! Thank you! I agree, anime really didn’t gain a footing in the US until the mid to late 00’s. Really appreciate the insight! Cheers buddy!
The SwanCrystal had a TFT LCD but still not backlighted, and the screen is smaller, for whatever reason.
The Wonderswan is definitely an interesting little device, but it definitely could not stand up to the Gameboy line. Probably the only portable systems that had a chance against Nintendo were the Gamegear (which compared to the GB barely made a dent in the market) and the PSP. (which again didn't fare as well as it's competition, but managed to make an Impact.)
looks good, will be grabbing one -
nice upload!
Thank you ☺️🙏
I just ordered my WSC today. The drastically short battery life is a bummer, but with a couple rechargeable batteries on hand it shouldn't be too bad. I'm excited!
Dude that looks so fresh, a friend of my mom and dad brought me home a Swan Crystal system from Japan in the summer of 03, I still think it was way ahead of its time. Really cool system, I have to do this mod.
That’s awesome! The crystal is the best one. I’m not sure if there’s a kit for it but it would be sweet if there was. Cheers!
Awesome Video, I loved the battery test. It would be interesting to see the original screen ran under the same test conditions.
This video cost me about $300 lol. Bought my first Wonderswan, this IPS kit, and the Flash Masta flash cart when it went on sale yesterday. Can't wait to get the flash cart in a few weeks, and will be installing the IPS screen tonight.
Love your videos, btw. Very well made and relaxing.
Great video! I appreciate how you provide balanced feedback as well such as the pros and cons. There were previous episodes where you mentioned a kit would be virtually perfect or such (e.g. GBC IPS), only for me to be surprised seeing the screen tearing or other flaws when I installed it myself. That said, I’d like to say that the presentation of your walkthroughs of mods are some of the best in youtube!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you are linking the videos! I really do my best to try and give a full picture of these mod. Cheers!
So happy to see some Wonderswan love!
Me too Retro Ali! So happy there are mods coming out for it! Cheers!
I started watching this video because I intend to do the project, and ordered the parts, but I keep watching the video because it’s just so dang relaxing.
Thank you Curtis! So glad that you enjoy the video ☺️👍
Subscribed after watching this video, this is exactly how I feel tutorials should be. Relaxing, allowing the viewer to escape as well as properly perform this screen swap because you are a great teacher man thank you for making this and I look forward to more of your content!
Thank you so much for the sub🙏! I’m so glad you like the format and vibe of the video.
Really appreciate the kind word buddy! Thanks again! Cheers!
Great channel, Tito! Have you looked into the RGB mod for that sweet Turbo Express you picked up? It's a little pricey, but quite an improvement over the composite mod and magnitudes better than stock.
I have! I’m hoping that someone makes some aftermarket shells since I would feel bad at nodding the original since the console is so rare now a days. That would be a sweet mod to do though!
Thanks for the video. I will be watching this video several times to get myself ready for opening up my WonderSwan.
I just bought my first Wonder Swan and I’m waiting for it to arrive. I’m trying to decide if I want to replace the screen or not. I’m not thrilled about the huge cut in battery life, but it looks like it’s so much easier to see and play that it may be worth it. Thanks for making this tutorial and doing the battery test!
No idea this upgrade existed. Glad to see mods for more obscure systems. I have the Final Fantasy limited edition version, but the lack of light was a real problem that stopped me from using it much.
Thank you so much!
Love your videos. When will you release the part 2 of the Dreamcast mod?
Thank you Francisco! Hopefully soon. I ran into an issue with the Dreamcast and currently trying to debug it! Stay tuned buddy! Cheers!
@@MachoNachoProductions I hope you manage to fix it. I look forward to your future productions.
Thank you! Me too dude! I am optimistic!
If you hold the color palate sensor it will show an option for battery display, and if you hold the brightness sensor you will get a pixel shader option
Cool mod on a system I've never used. This thing looks wild. They should for sure add aligning bracket. Great retro handheld Tito!
Thanks Steve! It’s really a great console and I’m loving the new screen. It would have been amazing if they did included an aligning bracket. Maybe I should try my hand at designing my own, haha! Cheers buddy!
Man, everything is getting an IPS screen today.
Haha, yup! That’s the mod to do.
Yeah, cool times we're living in :)
Pretty soon the thermostat will get the IPS screen too
I just got a WSC myself today! The screen is pretty beat up, but this looks like a fun project to try! I'm big into Digimon and still need the vpet adapter.
Good guide. Thanks! All works just perfect.
Finally, a WSC backlit mod kit that's affordable! And great video, by the way! Now all it needs is a rechargeable battery and a headphone jack...
Thank you! I agree, a battery mod is certainly in order. I too was surprised when I found there wasn’t a headphone Jack, pretty strange design choice.
Flash Masta do a headphone adapter for $19.99. I really want to order one along with their WS flashcart but the latter is always out of stock.
Huh, that’s interesting. May need to check those items out!
great video, considering getting into the swan... wish I could install it myself but def zero skills - how hard is it to pick them up and learn?
Soldering is definitely a skill that takes some time to learn and get comfortable with. I recommended watching videos and buys a solder practice kit on Amazon before diving in with modding. This is a relatively easy soldering job but can be very challenging for someone with limited experience. I hope that helps. Best of luck! Cheers!
I came looking for a guide for the solder points, and this was the first one to come up... But turned out to be unreasonably useful, as not only do I have the exact same kit, I have the same screwdriver set 😂
I have had a Wonderswan in my eBay cart on and off for over 3 years. And have been looking for a IPS mod, but haven't found one. This is freaking awesome, will buy one immediately.
Nice dude! You won’t be disappointed!
@@MachoNachoProductions I just ordered one, and with 2 games as well ✌️
Nice!
thanks for getting me into handheld modding and for this video! i just used it to install my own Wonderswan IPS kit! btw, Gunpei is pronounced "goon-pay". keep up the great work 💪
Awesome! So glad your enjoying the videos. Oh man I knew I mispronounced it 😅. Cheers!
Just found this video, but I have a small collection of Wonderswan Colors, so I will definitely do this mod on at least one! It's an easy enough mod!
Nice! It’s a great kit!
@@MachoNachoProductions Just bought a kit!
Just installed this and it is glorious. Couldn’t really see the screen before and now...it’s easy on the eyes. Great tutorial but I am definitely moving the touch sensors elsewhere. Lol. Speaker area makes me cycle through the colors. Natural placement for shoulder buttons, thus fingers.
Thank you 🙏
Nice Video as always. And exactly at the right time because i'm planing on getting one myself. The batterylife is comparable to the GBP Backlight, an i think more than 3h are enough. Also the Swan is so small, its easy to always bring one or two spare batteries with you. And i guess a LiPo-Mod is out of question for it.
Thank you! Glad you liked the video! Agree, 3 hours is impressive given the single aa battery and the really nice IPS. I’m hoping to do a battery mod for it! I think it’s possible! Cheers!
I think the 3:49 hrs of battery life in exchange for a beautiful back lit screen is totally worth it, without question. You can just keep a set of 4 AA batteries on the charger and just swap each one out between your four-hour wonderswan gaming sessions lol.
Absolutely agree! 💯
Great video as usual. I think I will try this using a ribbon cable with terminals on opposite sides so that there is only one fold.
Great video, its very relaxing and informative. 😍
I have an RG351M, and this video has given me an itch to try some WonderSwan games since it will emulate them really well.
Nice! I hear really great things about the RG351M. Thought about getting one when it came out and retro dodo did a review. Cheers buddy!
You made that look so easy! I'm sure I'll make a mess.
I'm considering buying one for Densha De Go, it's a game that I can recommend because although it's in Japanese you don't need to understand the language, just the basics of the game.
Your videos are always quality and top notch, Tito. Great video. I gotta say, I really loved this hand transition you did at 3:37. You definitely understand pizzazz, my friend.
Thanks dude! I really appreciate it! I’m so glad your enjoying the production! I have as much fun with that as I do modding the consoles! Cheers buddy!
Did you run into any issues with the screen changing color as you try to close it up? Or the touch sensors being unresponsive until you relieve some pressure? That stupid long ribbon cable has been the bane of my existence. Love your videos; really appreciate the guides/tutorials!
Figured it out!
In case anyone else has this problem, my wire from the positive terminal was running across the connector between the driver board and the LCD, so every time I tried to close it up it put pressure on there and messed with the touch controls.
awesome! one thing i thought i would mention is that despite it orginally not having a backlight for the screen its still a very good screen 😀
Very true! It’s quite sharp and if the lights right, it does look fantastic!
Just FYI those look like torx plus screws so if you ever find your bit not fitting quite right that's why :-)
wow, I didn't know that the wonderswan has an IPS screen, looks pretty impressive
It’s really impressive in person! Fantastic colors!
The mod fits perfectly, you just bent the ribbon cable wrong. It fits completely on the back, without having to bunch it up against the front. Still awesome tutorial overall.
Great vids as usual bro! Any plans to build zwenergy's gbaHD? It's like an open source GBA Consolizer made from off the shelf parts. The Gameboy subreddit just kinda slept on it and the build guide barely got a few upvotes. Could be a cool opportunity for your channel be a first to make a proper video on it.
I'm personally waiting on more people to get on board before building one myself tho lol.
Thank you🙏! I just looked at it and it looks a bit complicated but very cool! I’m actually going to be looking at something very similar that you may be interested in so stay tuned! Cheers Sean!
You've had some good game recommendations in this thread, but many of them are very expensive these days. Assuming you don't want to pay $100+ for a loose Klanoa, Guilty Gear or Rockman cart, my recommendations are:
1. The Digimon Battle Spirit titles - not amazing, but affordable and fun.
2. Rhyme Rider Kerorican - a really charming rhythm action game that asks you to hold the WS diagonally (although you really don't have to). Simple gameplay, but beautifully presented and the music is great.
3. Side Pocket - my favourite sports title. Just a simple pool game, but enjoyable.
What I do is filter worldwide WonderSwan eBay listings by "newest" with the Video Game Kraken list of English-friendly titles open in another tab. Prices can vary quite wildly, but you will see many games from the list at good prices if you have a look every so often, especially from Japanese sellers. I've accumulated about 20 games over the past year that way, half of them boxed.
Awesome! Great recommendations and advice! I really appreciate it Sam! Cheers!
3 hours battery life is pretty good for an experience like that
I agree! 💯
wow only 3, if I recall the color had 20 before the screen was put in.
@@Digiflower5 That's with the screen brightness at max. You should be able to double that at more reasonable brightness levels. Of course backlights are always going to eat up more battery.
Great video! Got my kit today. Haven't installed it yet though.
How well does it stay in place without the double sided tape? I'd rather wanna go without it as well.
Nice!
The tape is pretty strong so make sure you get the position right the first time. Best of luck! Cheers!
Wow dude your editing is incredible.
Impressive! So no ghosting or freezing/stuck pictures? Very, very nice. Hopefully they’ll be in stock again soon. My top 3 game picks:
Gunpey, which is widely available.
Tetris, a loose cart is pricey.
Mr. Driller, another great port.
Hey DC Celly! Yes they should be back in stock soon. I’d put a watch on it so you get a notification. Thanks for the recommendations! This look great! Can’t go wrong with Tetris! Cheers buddy!
this video convinced me to get one, especially after the mod the pixel art of the WS/WSC games just pop so beautifully and its such a unique device. I got a great deal on sendico for a boxed wonderswan color as well as some one piece games also in box with their respective manuals. now im just waiting for this mod kit to arrive
Nice!
To Tito:
If you have ifixit kit....
Make sure you add explosions segue....it works!
Thanks for your video. I've modded my ws color. Does your ws have any issues when turning it on? Nothing is wrong with the screen but I have to press the power button a few times for it to turn on
Cheers mate seeing some one else install it helped a lot
I would love to get my hands on one of these to investigate a battery mod. I'm curious to know if it actually runs on 1.5v or if the voltage is stepped up - I assume it will be, which could make it a good candidate for a lithium battery. Getting it to fit could be tricky though...
That would be awesome! I think the wonderswan would benefit nicely from a battery mod. I am unfortunately not sure if the voltage is stepped up. I should read up on some electrical engineering n, definitely not my strong suite.
Oh no, the price is gonna go up in Wonderswans and games now that someone popular made a video. I better get the last couple games I want for my collection before it happens.
Love you though Tito. Your tutorials are always top notch. I figured this video was coming after you made that post about Wonderswan. Good to see you went with one of the best looking Wonderswan Colors to make this video.
Thank you dude! I really appreciate it! I agree the translucent orange color just pops and looks fantastic! I really am loving this handheld! Again, really appreciate the kind words dude! Cheers!
The price is going up on consoles even more, it's crazy how much even monochrome ones are listed for compared to a year ago. Thankfully game prices don't seem to have spiked quite as much.
I have two, and will definitely do this to one of them.
Nice! I think you’ll really like it! Cheers!
Are there mods that add a “hump” to the back for more AA’s, or a rechargeable battery with larger capacity? You mentioned how thin the device already is, I would be fine with a larger protrusion if it helped maintained a better battery life.
Great channel, glad I found you. Attempting the DCHDMI when it arrives 😱
Thank you! Glad your enjoying the channel! I definitely need to look into those battery mods. I wouldn’t mind the extra hump either.
Best of luck on the DCHDMI mod! Cheers!
Being designed by the Game Boy designer is a really interesting factoid. Thanks for sharing.
Really loved the piano music. I’m more of a purist when it comes to original hardware. Half the fun is playing them how they were meant to be played. If I want to play Wonderswan games with a great screen, that’s what a PSP is for. But that’s just me. As for recommendation - Tekken Card Challenge. A bit of a learning curve because Japanese, but a lot of fun especially if you know the characters. And best of all - it’s cheap.
That’s true Bill! I’m the same way, I like to have my original consoles unmodified but another set that is fully modified that way it still original hardware, just enhanced. Cheers buddy and thank you for the recommendation! I’ll def check that out!
Great video!
The music during assembly reminds me of the chill moods of Breath of the Wild's soundtrack
Thank you🙏! Nice, I was going for a chill vibe, glad it came through! Cheers buddy!
The gundam seed game on the wonderswan is really good! And Klonoa too!
Now that you've had it for a while longer, what do you think about the battery life? Brand new AA dollar store batteries show blinking low battery for more only after a couple of minutes! I need to get better batteries and see if that can be improved.
Hell yes! I'm getting one!
The wonderswan has notoriously bad screens - with the exception of the crystal, of course. The color's screen is definitely an improvement over the original but I'd still consider it to be straining to look at.
This mod is amazing. And affordable - especially when compared to the price of a swan crystal.
Is there an IPS mod for the regular WonderSwan?
flash masta actually makes a usb-c recharbable battery for the wonderswan if you are interested. they claim 14+ hours with the ips screen
Great video! I've been looking forward to reviews of this kit.
Btw, the Wonderswan did go out of Japan and saw a very limited release in other parts of Asia. Korea and China have versions of the handheld.
Thanks glad you enjoyed the video! That would be really cool to track down a Korean version. May need to look into that. Thanks for the info! Cheers Benjamin!
@@MachoNachoProductions Thank you! Keep 'em coming.
There's a Korean bundle that comes with an english Digimon RPG (I've been looking for it for a while now!), and a Chinese version of the Swan Crystal that comes with English instruction booklets. I happen to have that one :)
Whoa neat! I may have to keep an eye out as well 😅
I remember a blue WonderSwan color appeared on the first episode of the mecha anime Full Metal Panic as just a cameo when the main character was briefed on what a high school student should act like as he was always trained as a soldier first.
That’s cool! I love it when video game tech is featured in media. It’s also cool to see it in anime! Cheers dude!
@@MachoNachoProductions Sega Saturn also made appearence in Neon Genesis Evangelion as console that Asuka love to play. In Cardcaptor Sakura (both anime and manga) you can also see Kero play a console that have controller shaped like Sega Saturn's one but with four face buttons instead six. Real life video game console cameo in anime or manga is actually quite common.
I wish there was a better flashcart available for WS, that would make it an absolute beast.
Also, a mod so it starts up in muted mode, making the system always start at max volume was just a terrible idea. I'd love to see a volume knob mod with the sound button repurposed to the brightness instead of a touch sensor.
WS has excellent versions of Space invaders and Tetris (make sure to get the colour version of Tetris!)
Curious... Are there any battery solutions for this handheld? I would love to try this for my first go, but with the ribbon cable, and the battery life that's almost a deal breaker, even if it's only one battery.
Love the video, and the quality.
- Dave
Thanks Dave! Glad you liked the video! I think there are some battery mods out there. I need to research it more but I will definitely be thinking about doing a video on a battery mod. Cheers buddy!
Looks great Tito! Fun to see a console I am not that familiar with.
Thanks Gazilla 🙏! Glad you like this one! It’s and odd but very cool little console. Cheers buddy!
Hey Tito, I’m not sure what the chances are of you seeing a comment on such an old video, but do you know if this also works on the SwanCrystal or is this only for the WSC?
It looks amazing!! I have to look into this/see if they make one for the SwanCrystal
I’m sure they will soon! Right now this kit only works for the color. I’m sure more will follow with the other wonderswan variants. Cheers Darien!
if you're replacing the screen, why sacrifice a Crystal? The Color is way easier to find.
@@Charlie97L I like the shape of the crystal better than the color. So if I'm replacing the screen to use it regularly I'd rather have one that I'm thoroughly pleased with instead of one I just kinda like
@@CrestofPotential fair enough, i had forgotten there was that much difference. I never was able to snag a crystal, I have several colors and normals. :)
Great videos, helps me decide if I want to as well
I now own wonderswan, wonderswan color, and wonderswan crystal ( I got for $5 it had a burn screen which was an easy fix) I'm debating on putting this screen in one but I'd rather do it on another one and not my original finds. Lol, same with my gameboy finds.
I love your videos ! Greetings from France 🇫🇷
Bonjour! 👋 I’m so glad you like the videos! That makes me so happy! Cheers buddy!
I'd reccomened Rhyme Rider Kerorican. It's a rhythm game that doesn't need much language besides menu navigation, it's more expensive but I think it's worth it.
I'm perfectly OK with the battery life, but not the ribbon cable situation, and it's really hard for me to justify this for the software collection, WSC is a wonderful little machine that I really like though. Thanks for the video!
What you mean with ribbon cable situation? Can you explain?
Mines came today,going to tackle it at the weekend.
Awesome! You’re going to love it! Cheers!
YESSSSS I need this in my life
💯! It’s awesome!
First time seeing a WonderSwan but recall frequently seeing roms for it online.
just won two WSC to do this IPS replacement on
curious to see how a lithium AA will go before I get one of those lithium battery packs
Hey great video! Ive been wanting to backlight my WS for a while now and this looks much easier than I expected. I dont know if yours has this issue but the WS color is notorious for power button issues where the system will dont turn off without removing the battery. If yours ever does this or you just want an easy video theres another guy on ebay that sells special contacts pads for all the buttons that fix this issue and help with general button recognition from being so old. As for a game recommendation Gunpey is really good and you can still get sealed copies for really cheap there is also a really good megaman game but its getting kind of expensive.
Thank you for the heads up! I didn’t know the the ws had issues with the power button! I think I will definitely check out gunpey! A lot of people are recommending it! Cheers buddy!
I’ve owned one for a couple of years and I love it. I recommend ghouls n ghosts and golden axe they are great ports but can be pricey. And I think the mod is worth it,can’t beat playing it anywhere vs battery life thanks for the great content take care.
You’re most welcome dude! Thanks for the recommendations! I love golden axe, didn’t know there was a port for it in the swan! Cheers buddy!
Fantastic video. I recommend you Clock Tower or Guilty Gear Petit, awesome games
Awesome, thank you! Will def check those out! I love clock tower games and guilty gear is an excellent fighter! Cheers Adrian!
Wonderful job! And never hesitate to let us know if you need a thing or two translated from JPN > ENG. 😘
Thank you! Will do!
Great video as always Tito! have you tried the OSD Gameboy Color backlight ? it's bigger than the last mod and way better, it has the pixel grid.
Thank you Dave! I haven’t yet but I do want to! I’ll have to pick one up! Cheers buddy!
@@MachoNachoProductions It's great, also there is a new 3.5 inch screen for the classic GBA, with touch sensor for brightness. Bye!
So many kits, so little time.
That looks great! do you know if this mod kit works with Firelancer? I know that was an issue with the last kit.
Unfortunately I’m not sure. I’m hoping it’s 100% compatible. Hopefully someone who knows can answer definitely. Cheers Dominic!
@@MachoNachoProductions I believe I have the latest version of the IPS screen, and it's sadly not compatible. The game is 50% off screen. Michael J Moffitt mentioned back in 2019 that he'd be interested in building his own driver board, but I think that never materialised given his other many projects.
So yeah, bought a Wonderswan + IPS + Flash Cart only to discover this.. doooooh :D
I've been meaning to check out Medarot perfect edition. I might try and pick up one of these.
Nice! Sounds good!
Perfect edition is great, definitely an improvement over the original GB version, and highly playable even without an understanding of Japanese!
Awesome! Thanks for the rec!
Thanks for this video Tito!
Given the single battery, the best mod would be a reflective front light that can be turned off and on based on lighting needs. Unfortunately, this would dramatically increase the difficulty. I think certain models of the gameboy had this arrangement and I know the GP32 had a front lit model where the light can be turned on and off. In fact, my GP32 hardly ever gets used precisely because it doesn't have a front light as it is the non lit version.
Reflective LCDs are great for saving power, but they suck in anything but very bright light. As a fifty something, I'm not outside with a game very often. I like to enjoy them in my easy chair. It is just not ideal to use them in this way.
OTOH, rechargeable batteries are cheap enough and given it only needs one battery, you can always have a charged battery. The only downside to this is if you are really good at a game and if you cannot save it.
We have those screens and new shells for the Wonderswan coming in few weeks! :)
Awesome! Let me know when they’re in stock so I can link it in the description for you! Cheers!
Great stuff 👍.
BTW, you talk about the creation of the OG Game Boy, well it's a kind more complex. Florent Gorges, a french video game historian have the chance to itw some of the OG engineer of the DMG project. To be short, Yokoy was the leader of the R&D1, but he's not him who have the final idea of the Game Boy.
Thank you! That’s very interesting! I definitely need to research it more! Cheers Ace Bunny!
Do you think there'll ever be a Wonderswan consolizer or a video-out mod for it? I'm a speedrunner that's getting in to some Wonderswan speedrunning, and it's annoying to have to either cave and use emulator (which runs faster and is inaccurate to the real console) or figure out the logisitics of recording my screen with a camera (which is a pain in the ass until you mod the IPS screen in, and even then is still a pain).
I think even with the drastic decrease in battery life, it’s still worth it...can’t ask much from a single AA.
For something like this, rechargeable AA battery are always a great investment. Higher capacity, rechargeable, and easily swappable
Agree! I was actually surprised it lasted so long on a single AA. While a lot less than the 20 hours unmodified, it’s still impressive. Cheers Todd!
I use eneloops and love them. Fantastic investment!