Skilled amateur modifies Game Boy Color electronics, crafting transparent circuit board that's operational; the board pairs exceptionally with clear shell, presenting a visually striking appearance.
In the world of gaming, a self-taught modder named Natalie, founder of the Modded Gameboy Club, has made a splash with an exemplary modding project - the clear Game Boy Color. This artistic creation showcases the creativity within the modding community and has gained popularity as a symbol of innovation.
To create a fully clear Game Boy Color motherboard, you would need to follow a process similar to the one Natalie used. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Reverse-engineer or create custom schematics of the Game Boy Color motherboard. This involves understanding the original circuit design and recreating it, possibly simplifying or removing non-essential elements, as Natalie did by removing the ground zone to keep the PCB fully clear.
- Design the PCB with transparent materials. Natalie used a third-party PCB manufacturing provider to produce the board from an acrylic-like material that is fully transparent. However, this material has a relatively low melting point (~200°C), meaning soldering must be done carefully to avoid damage to the clear board.
- Use copper traces and minimal opaque components. Only the chips, copper layers, screen, and a small secondary board are not transparent. Even the cartridge reader was chosen to be semi-transparent from a Chinese clone to maintain the see-through effect.
- Pair the clear PCB with a fully transparent shell and translucent keys for a completely transparent Game Boy Color aesthetic.
- For assembly guidance, refer to specialized assembly guides such as those on sites like Boxy Pixel, which provide resources tailored to Game Boy and Game Boy Color custom builds, though they may not specifically cover transparent motherboard fabrication.
The clear Game Boy Color, showcased on August 6, 2025, is a one-off art project, not available for purchase. However, the transparent aesthetic is gaining popularity in tech circles, with clear power banks, SSD enclosures, and more appearing. In fact, the Nothing Phone 2 is reportedly considering adopting this trend.
The durability and affordability of clear PCBs need to improve for them to become mainstream. Nonetheless, we applaud Natalie for her great work on the clear Game Boy Color, which continues to be celebrated as an exemplary modding project. With its flexible yet fragile nature, this transparent gem serves as a testament to the ingenuity and passion of the modding community.
Some users have suggested improvements, such as replacing the copper traces with silver for a cleaner look or adding backlighting to the clear Game Boy Color. As the modding community continues to evolve, we can expect to see more innovative and transparent creations in the future.
- Embracing the wave of clear technology in the gaming world, some modders are experimenting with creating transparent power banks and SSD enclosures.
- Despite its fragile nature, the transparent PCB used in the clear Game Boy Color project has inspired other tech enthusiasts to explore the possibilities of clear gadgets, including the potential adopters of this trend, like the Nothing Phone 2.
