The Game Boy Advance is one of the most revered handheld devices of all time, but many of the games are good enough to warrant a full home console release. Luckily, with the slew of GBA Consolizer mods available on the market, you can transform your handheld into a plug-and-play device ready for modern televisions.
There are several GBA Consolizer kits available already, but today I’m taking a look at the IntecGaming GBA Consolizer, a new Kickstarter project that boasts a simple assembly tailor-made for new modders. Let’s dive into the IntecGaming GBA Consolizer and examine the kit, the installation process, and whether or not this is the definitive option for turning your Game Boy Advance into a home console!
For my full breakdown of the IntecGaming GBA Consolizer, check out this in-depth video from the MachoNacho Productions YouTube channel!
"Generally speaking, assembling the kit is remarkably easy, as it doesn't require any soldering or advanced modding know-how."
Is The IntecGaming GBA Consolizer Mod Worth It?
The IntecGaming GBA Consolizer is a straightforward kit that lets you take your beloved Game Boy Advance and tune it up for use on a high-definition television. Developed by IntecGaming and currently available as a pre-order through their Kickstarter page, this DIY solution was designed for newcomers in the retro modding scene. The kit comes with a full-color instruction manual that will help you with the installation process, the main components needed for assembly, a fun GBA-style controller, as well as a USB charging cable and HDMI cable.
Generally speaking, assembling the kit is remarkably easy, as it doesn’t require any soldering or advanced modding know-how. Following the instruction manual, you simply attach a few ribbon cables, screw the PCB into the upper shell, and you’re already almost done! After ensuring that the aspect ratio switch is working properly, the volume knob is turned all the way up, and the power switch is set to the “on” position, you can screw in the bottom shell.
The custom controller is equally easy to put together, as it’s already partially assembled when it comes in the kit. Simply attach the custom controller PCB to the shell with some screws, test the buttons, and then plug in the custom SNES controller cable. You’re now ready to complete the controller by attaching the bottom shell and screwing everything in place. To see this installation in action, you can watch me put together the IntecGaming GBA Consolizer kit in this video.
The Pros and Cons of the IntecGaming GBA Consolizer
In addition to letting you play Game Boy Advance games on the big screen, the IntecGaming GBA Consolizer also has a few neat additional features. For example, you can pair the kit with Bluetooth controllers, including your Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers. As we mentioned before, there’s also a switch that allows you to toggle between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios, which is a nice touch. Best of all, the kit can also run Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.
However, the IntecGaming GBA Consolizer doesn’t perform as well as some other kits on the market. For example, the Woozle GBA Consolizer offers a much crisper image, while the IntecGaming kit is more comparable to the GameCube GBA Player from years ago. Furthermore, there’s a bit of input lag to deal with, according to our pals at RetroRGB.
Overall, the IntecGaming GBA HDMI Kit is a decent consolizer mod for beginners, but it comes with some caveats. The installation process is simple and almost anyone can do it, but the final result has a handful of issues. Either way, we love seeing new kits like this for our favorite retro systems, so if you’re interested, be sure to check it out!
