NGPC Front Light DIY Guide, Now Available!!

[Maverick-DBZ-]

I really have to do this mod. My Nyko NeoGeo worm lights internal battery finally exploded after more than a decade of use, and now the thing is useless.

 

[xsq]

I really have to do this mod. My Nyko NeoGeo worm lights internal battery finally exploded after more than a decade of use, and now the thing is useless.

Well... this mod is pretty advanced, are you sure you're up for it?

 

[aoikirin]

I'm not techy but really have a problem seeing my ngpc. I have looked on eBay and Amazon for worm lights but have found none. I don't have the expertise to do this kind of mod.

 

[Vectorman0]

Contact XianXi through Jamma-Nation-X to see if he still offers this mod service.

Don't bother with any of the the external work lights.

 

[Sol]

Just wanted to say thanks for the guide. I successfully modded my NGPC over the weekend and am pretty happy with the result.

I strayed slightly from the instructions and removed all of the LCD walls so that the front light could sit lower (so that the bottom few pixels of the LCD wouldn't be hidden behind the front light's metal strip). I had to make sure everything stayed in place though with electrical tape.

The only issue I have is with some of the PCB components pushing on the back of the front light, causing the top right corner of the screen to not sit completely flush with the case. The only way around this that I can see would be to actually cut the front light to fit (e.g. http://www.mylkstuff.com/page40.htm). I might give this a go at some point...

Here's some before and after photos

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1830455/Photo 04-10-2014 17 07 47.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1830455/Photo 04-10-2014 17 07 55.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1830455/Photo 04-10-2014 20 24 57.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1830455/Photo 06-10-2014 20 07 58.jpg

 

[xsq]

wow, good job! Congratulations. You should do this as a service for people, there's a market ^^

 

[Sol]

Thanks There's a few opportunities to screw things up though, I doubt I'd be able to consistently get it right each time.

 

[GohanX]

The hardest part is getting a clean light out of a sp. Other than that it's pretty straight forward. I keep hoping someone might find a better solution sometime.

 

[XC-3730C]

I would totally buy a modded system. I still have my Bung NGPC flash cart waiting for one of those

 

[tokyopunchout]

I would totally buy a modded system. I still have my Bung NGPC flash cart waiting for one of those

I've just finished doing x4 of them. Gonna do a few more and then probably dump em on eBay. PM me if you're interested.

And big ups and big thanks to Xian Xi as he is the alpha & omega of NGPC front light mods as far as I'm concerned.

 

[tokyopunchout]

Just wanted to say thanks for the guide. I successfully modded my NGPC over the weekend and am pretty happy with the result.

I strayed slightly from the instructions and removed all of the LCD walls so that the front light could sit lower (so that the bottom few pixels of the LCD wouldn't be hidden behind the front light's metal strip). I had to make sure everything stayed in place though with electrical tape.

The only issue I have is with some of the PCB components pushing on the back of the front light, causing the top right corner of the screen to not sit completely flush with the case. The only way around this that I can see would be to actually cut the front light to fit (e.g. http://www.mylkstuff.com/page40.htm). I might give this a go at some point...

Here's some before and after photos

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1830455/Photo 04-10-2014 17 07 47.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1830455/Photo 04-10-2014 17 07 55.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1830455/Photo 04-10-2014 20 24 57.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1830455/Photo 06-10-2014 20 07 58.jpg

Your mod looks great man! I've been playing with dremeling out (with that Dremel router looking drill press) some of the case to make proper room as per Wiggy from rosecoloredgaming's suggestion. Because even after you cut the SP's light screen down to size it still doesn't fit flush to ensure a full close (as otherwise you've always got some space up by the link cable). Wish I would have had read http://mylkstuff.com/page87.htm# before I savagely cut mine by hand with an Exacto

 

[Xian Xi]

Your mod looks great man! I've been playing with dremeling out (with that Dremel router looking drill press) some of the case to make proper room as per Wiggy from rosecoloredgaming's suggestion. Because even after you cut the SP's light screen down to size it still doesn't fit flush to ensure a full close (as otherwise you've always got some space up by the link cable). Wish I would have had read http://mylkstuff.com/page87.htm# before I savagely cut mine by hand with an Exacto

On the NGPC, it doesn't close fully due to the edge of the light screen hitting the top of one of the aluminum caps on the mobo. I usually cut my screens to size to fit completely in the screen area of the NGPC. I didn't make instructions for that since it's kind of advanced and the aim of the tutorial I made was strictly beginner-friendly. When cutting the screen I use blue painters tape 3M brand as painters tape has low adhesion and doesn't leave a residue on the screen when you remove it.

 

[tokyopunchout]

On the NGPC, it doesn't close fully due to the edge of the light screen hitting the top of one of the aluminum caps on the mobo. I usually cut my screens to size to fit completely in the screen area of the NGPC. I didn't make instructions for that since it's kind of advanced and the aim of the tutorial I made was strictly beginner-friendly. When cutting the screen I use blue painters tape 3M brand as painters tape has low adhesion and doesn't leave a residue on the screen when you remove it.

That makes good sense...If you're cutting the SP front light screen to size (which thanks for the recommendation on tape BTW) - I've got a few quick questions for you.
1. Since you're cutting the screen - does that mean that you're leaving all of the 4 plastic shell walls that hold the screen in tact?
2. Once it's cut - are you placing the front light screen with the LEDs at the top (as it has room for the wires to travel unobstructed)?
3. On cutting the screen - are you cutting it to the dimensions of the inner most square (inside of the adhesive tape) or are you cutting it to the edges of the adhesive tape?
4. Are you cutting it using a Dremel with a cutting disc? (just curious)
5. Are you doing any Dremeling to the shell at all to make a flush fit so it can close fully?

That was more questions than I expected to be "quickly" asking... I really appreciate you sharing your experience Xian Xi!

 

[Xian Xi]

That makes good sense...If you're cutting the SP front light screen to size (which thanks for the recommendation on tape BTW) - I've got a few quick questions for you.
1. Since you're cutting the screen - does that mean that you're leaving all of the 4 plastic shell walls that hold the screen in tact?
2. Once it's cut - are you placing the front light screen with the LEDs at the top (as it has room for the wires to travel unobstructed)?
3. On cutting the screen - are you cutting it to the dimensions of the inner most square (inside of the adhesive tape) or are you cutting it to the edges of the adhesive tape?
4. Are you cutting it using a Dremel with a cutting disc? (just curious)
5. Are you doing any Dremeling to the shell at all to make a flush fit so it can close fully?

That was more questions than I expected to be "quickly" asking... I really appreciate you sharing your experience Xian Xi!

Here we go:

1. All sides are intact except for the one on the right as it needs a notch cut for the LED.
2. I place the light screen the same as before with the light bar on the bottom.
3. I cut it to fit from edge to edge inside the square, that way it won't shift.
4. I use a dremel cutting disc, yes.
5. I don't dremel the shell, I do however cut the cushion(orange foam) in half that presses against the back of the LCD.

The first time I did this was when I had to mod a clear unit, I couldn't do it the old way.

 

[smokey]

Has anybody considered using one of these?
http://store.kitsch-bent.com/product/frontlight-kits

 

[Flavor]

Has anybody considered using one of these?
http://store.kitsch-bent.com/product/frontlight-kits

Yes, I do NOT recommend this light panel. It has this little dot/bump texture all over one side that give the panel something of a matte finish but also detracts greatly from the visibility of the underlying LCD screen.

I think I have some extras like this. I got one from Kitsch and some others from elsewhere. I installed 1 and wouldn't use the rest.

 

[Xian Xi]

Has anybody considered using one of these?
http://store.kitsch-bent.com/product/frontlight-kits

They suck balls, I have two of them and like Flavor said it has a texture on them that make the image kinda fuzzy/blurry.

 

[pixeljunkie]

I used a couple of those KB frotlights on GBC's and while they are far from perfect if you use LCD adhesive with them they are rather impressive. It's just IMPOSSIBLE to make a perfect one. Bubbles, etc will always be present and look like dead pixels. Super annoying. But they almost make GBC look backlit.

 

[yesteryeargames]

Does anyone have modded neo geo colour for sale ? Would really love to buy one if possible .

 

[papierkorb]

Modding a NGPC is a pain in the ass. Its extremly hard to make it without getting dust inside...
Im really satisfied with my modded NGPC wich was made by a German Modder...
But no one should expext a miracle...frontlights are just not that sexy then backlights...(love my 101SP modded usual Game Boy Advance )

 

[Xian Xi]

A little off topic, but I'd like to see that case for your Neo savemasta.

 

[Doom]

Love Sol's modded system. Reason I never wanted to mod mine is because of the bottom row of pixels being cut off, but that one looks nice.

 

[opt2not]

That looks pretty good considering. I really wish there was a backlight solution for the NGPC...

 

[wingzrow]

Does anyone have modded neo geo color for sale ? Would really love to buy one if possible .

I do, but the SP bar cut off the bottom 5% of the screen, & there's some dust that got caught in between the screen. I'm thinking of buying another pocket color & just playing it in a well lit room at this point. Unless there's some super modder that can do it perfectly, it's just not worth it.

 

[crjardim1980]

Is there anyone in the UK that would be willing to mod a NGPC ?