These Unbelievable Recreation Boy Mods Are All By The Similar Man

Some persons are blessed with all of the expertise, and a type of individuals is Andy Sexton, who’s not solely content material with being the Inventive Director at Hello-Rez Studios (Smite, Paladins) — he is additionally a very good Recreation Boy modder in his free time.

We won’t be too mad, although, as a result of he additionally takes fantastic images of these mods and shares them on the web. Additionally, he was good to us on Twitter… so we’ll offer you a cross, Andy. For now.

I did not notice the neighborhood that existed round these mods, and simply wished to be concerned

“This morphed into one of my hobbies over the past couple of years,” he informed us once we requested how he discovered the time to be so dang good at issues. “I really wanted (let’s be real, needed) to do something creative and tactile during COVID, so I looked into how to best play GBA carts in 2021. I started seeing these amazing profiles on Instagram filled with Game Boy designs I’d never seen. I didn’t realize the community that existed around these mods, and just wanted to be involved.”

It was due to the delay of the slick Recreation Boy-esque handheld referred to as the Analogue Pocket — the first of many delays, as it might prove — that turned his consideration in the direction of making his personal. Shopping for an previous Recreation Boy could be very nicely and good, however they don’t seem to be notably well-suited for contemporary gaming, with no backlight, and and never that many colors. Everybody is aware of that aesthetics and customisablility are very important today, or we would not have so many Pleasure-Con color choices.

His newest creation is a Blastoise Recreation Boy Coloration, which he made for a buddy just lately. Because it seems, making one thing for different individuals is an entire totally different ball sport, as a result of you may’t actually simply wing it any extra.

“I’m a bit Chaotic Good when it comes to my builds,” he admitted. “I usually get a big idea of what I want to go for, and then go piece by piece trying to source components to try and pull it off. It can be hectic, but it’s actually introduced me to a lot of creators in the mid scene – generally, if you’re passionate and have an idea, you can find someone that can help create something custom. I’m also fortunate to have buddies nearby that are into modding (and know how to solder), so it’s nice to have some folks to give construction criticism or tips.”

However the Blastoise GBC modified the Chaotic half (though not the Good half). “I wanted to help him picture how it would come together – so I made a sheet to give an idea of what all would go into it. Even with this, I had to make some changes, mainly to the back shell, that I think worked out for the better!”

Here is that sheet, for reference:

The design course of was nonetheless a little chaotic, although — he determined, based mostly on a way he’d seen on his buddy’s Instagram, to check out a course of referred to as “hydro dipping“. “I knew I wanted to replicate a turtle shell for the back of the design,” he informed us, and hydro dipping was an effective way to attain a tortoiseshell-like impact.

Recreation Boy mods is just not simply a enjoyable interest, both. Generally, Andy may even tie it again into his job, with this glow-in-the-dark Ymir GBC to commemorate his work on the sport Smite:

…Plus a Dima Recreation Boy to rejoice the Season 3 launch of Rogue Company:

Andy’s personal private Recreation Boy, although, is just not based mostly on a sport in any respect — it is based mostly on Gashapon, the little capsule toys you will get in Japanese arcades. It is very cute.

It has been very nice selecting up saves from 20 years in the past (!!) and replaying stuff from rising up

“I’ve always loved Sega and their arcades in Japan,” Andy informed us, “and combining that idea with Gashapon toys into an actual Game Boy worked out super well. GBA is my favorite generation of handhelds too, so it’s been really nice picking up saves from 20 years ago (!!) and replaying stuff from growing up.” He is even planning to make the Gashapon SP into an entire sequence, every in numerous colors and themes — “the yellow SP will have a Pikachu toy, blue for Sega, pink for Kirby, etc.”

However the enjoyable does not cease there — Andy’s already planning what comes subsequent.

“My next Game Boy is going to be an EarthBound-themed build! The idea is to have the front of the GBC to be metal, with the back being a red-black swirl design to look like Giygas. It’s my favorite game, and one of my favorite final bosses. I’m excited to pay tribute to it (if I can pull the idea off!)”

Be sure to follow Andy on Instagram to see all of his newest work, and a number of the mods he is purchased from different individuals, like this Change Lite:

Which one in every of these Recreation Boy mods units your coronary heart aflutter? Are you tempted to get in on modding your self? Tell us within the feedback!