2024-07-30/01: add "First impressions: FPGBC"

2024-07-30/01-first-impressions-fpgbc.md

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+# First impressions: FPGBC
+
+Here is something for nostalgia: I just put together a [Game Boy
+Color](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Color) made of completely new
+parts for a friend: here is the
+[FPGBC](https://funnyplaying.com/products/fpgbc-kit).
+
+The _FP_ part of the name comes from
+[FPGA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field-programmable_gate_array), because
+instead of software emulation this device use FPGA to reproduce the device.
+While I am not convinced that FPGA is necessary more accurate than a good
+software emulator, one advantage of FPGA is the (possible) lower input latency
+thanks to the avoidance of complexity to handle the user input (e.g.: the
+Operational System). A quick playthrough against [Motocross
+Maniacs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motocross_Maniacs) seems to be fine, but
+I can't see much difference from my [Miyoo
+Mini+](https://retrogamecorps.com/2022/05/15/miyoo-mini-v2-guide/) (I will do
+more comparisons between the two devices later), that is a software emulation
+device.
+
+But I think focusing in accuracy is wrong, the main reason of getting a device
+like this one is for nostalgia, and this definitely hit the mark. The quality
+of the case is as good as I remember the original, and most of the details are
+replicate perfectly, including reproduction stickers in the back of the device.
+The only differences that I can find is the usage of USB-C port for charging in
+place of the barrel jack power adapter (thanks!), and the fact that the screen
+bezels are smaller compared to the original (because the screen is bigger) and
+doesn't include the Game Boy Color logo (that is fine in my opinion, since it
+would look weird in the fine bezels). It even has a supposedly working [Link
+Cable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Link_Cable) (I don't have another
+Game Boy to test). Sadly it is missing the infrared sensor, but the usage of
+that was pretty limited anyway.
+
+<!-- PXL_20240729_175245569 -->
+[![FPGBC running Tetris.](https://capivaras.dev/images/1545d11f.jpeg)](https://capivaras.dev/images/1545d11f.jpeg)
+
+<!-- PXL_20240729_175131157 -->
+[![Back of FPGBC. It includes even reproduction stickers of the original.](https://capivaras.dev/images/6746624f.jpeg)](https://capivaras.dev/images/6746624f.jpeg)
+
+So how well does it work? I can't say for sure. I don't have any original games
+with me, so I am relying in backups and a
+[flashcard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashcard) for now. Many games that I
+tested works fine, a few of them have graphical issues that can be fixed in the
+menu (more about it later), and some of them doesn't boot. But I don't know if
+the issue with the games not booting are because of the roms, the flashcard or
+the device itself.
+
+By the way, the flashcard I am using is a cheap knockoff of an [Everdrive
+GB](https://gbatemp.net/review/everdrive-gb.141/). This FPGBC came with
+firmware v1.09, while there is an update available for v1.10 in the
+[website](https://funnyplaying.com/products/fpgbc-kit). I had an weird issue in
+the new firmware where no games would boot with this knockoff Everdrive so I
+had to go back to v1.09, but again, I am not sure if the issue was fact that I
+am using a knockoff device or this would happen with an original Everdrive GB.
+If you are going to buy a proper Everdrive, you probably wouldn't get a
+Everdrive GB anyway since it is discontinued, and it seems the [newer
+versions](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/comments/1atwjh3/fpgbc_everdrive_compatibility/)
+have better compatibility with FPGBC.
+
+Sadly that the update didn't work, since there is this
+[repository](https://github.com/makhowastaken/GWGBC_FW) that patches the
+firmware to boot the original logo instead of the ugly FPGBC one. And yes, for
+some reason the v1.09 firmware from this repository still doesn't work with my
+knockoff Everdrive.
+
+About the features of the device: if you press the volume button (yes, you can
+press it now), it opens the following menu:
+
+<!-- PXL_20240729_210604830 -->
+[![FPGBC menu.](https://capivaras.dev/images/4391c351.jpeg)](https://capivaras.dev/images/4391c351.jpeg)
+
+The first 2 features are the LCD backlight and volume. I didn't talk about
+those, but the LCD screen seems to be IPS, and the quality is really good, and
+also looks bright enough to play even under bad lightining conditions. And the
+speaker has good quality, the sound is better than I remember, but sadly the
+maximum volume is kind low. Still should be enough for playing in a quiet room.
+
+`DISPMOD` is probably the most controversial option: it allow you to set which
+scale you want. Anything with `EMU` at the end means emulating the original
+colors, and as far I remember it gets really close. You can also chose betwen
+`X4`, `X4P` and `FUL`, the last one is the one shown in the photos where the
+image fills the whole screen at the cost of non-integer scaling. `X4` is
+integer scaling, however the image doesn't fill the whole screen. The `X4P`
+also includes a pixel effect that makes the image closer than the original
+screen. It actually looks good, but the fact that I chose a white border for
+this FPGBC makes the border really distracting. Maybe the black one is a better
+choice if you want integer scale.
+
+`CORE` is simple: you can choose between `GB` (Game Boy) or `GBC` (Game Boy
+Color). For those who don't know, you can run Game Boy games in Game Boy Color
+and they will be automatically colorised. Some people don't like this and
+prefer the colors of `GB`, so you have this option. The `GB_PALETTE` allows you
+to chose the color in GB mode, for example, the green-ish colors from the
+original Game Boy or the blue-ish colors from [Game Boy
+Light](https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Game_Boy_Light). And yes, you can
+choose the color palette for Game Boy games running in `GBC` mode by pressing a
+[button combination](https://gbstudiocentral.com/tips/game-boy-color-modes/) at
+the boot screen, but it seems not working in my unit and again, not sure if the
+fault is my knockoff Everdrive.
+
+`FRAME_MIX` basically is an option that makes some effects, like transparency
+in [Wave Race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_Race), to work at the cost of
+introducing blurriness. The reason for this is that those effects depends in
+the fact that the Game Boy screen was slow refresh, so you could rely on it by
+rapidly changing pixels to create some interesting effects, but sadly those
+effects doesn't work well in modern displays.
+
+`GB_CLRFIX` is the option I mentioned before, where some Game Boy games just
+get completely wrong colors for some reason, e.g.: [The Addams
+Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Addams_Family_(video_game)). Turning
+on fixes those games, but I am not sure if this option breaks other games.
+
+Finally, `SPD` allows you to increase or decrease the CPU clock, slowing or
+speeding up the games (including the sound). The result can be hilarious, so I
+think this is a nice addition to the features. Sadly you can't know what the
+default speed is, so you need to rely on sound to adjust back to the default.
+
+So in the end, can I recommend a FPGBC? I am not sure. If you want a device to
+play games, I still think something like a Miyoo Mini+ is a better choice. Not
+only you will have access to more games from different platforms, you also
+don't need to rely on flashcards or cartridges. Also it has way more features
+than FPGBC, like wireless multiplayer,
+[RetroArchivements](https://retroachievements.org/) and save states.
+
+But the actual reason to get a FPGBC is nostalgia, and for that I think the
+FPGBC is difficult to beat. The price of the kit to assemble ($69.90) is
+cheaper than most Game Boy's in good condition you can find in eBay, and you
+get for that price a rechargable battery, an amazing quality screen, the PCB
+and the speaker. You need to buy separately the case and the buttons, but in
+total you will still end up paying less. And the result device is not only in
+mint condition, it is really convenient too: recharging batteries (via USB-C
+even) is much more convenient than buying AA batteries, and the screen not only
+is better but it even has backlight.
+
+This is the classic case of do what I say, don't do what I do. This FPGBC is a
+gift, and I will buy another one soon. Can't wait to play [Pokémon
+Gold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Gold_and_Silver) in (almost)
+original hardware.
+
+<!-- PXL_20240729_123847458 -->
+[![The kit before assemble.](https://capivaras.dev/images/7f34caba.jpeg)](https://capivaras.dev/images/7f34caba.jpeg)