Dedicated Game Boy Camera Pictures to PC Dumping Device Request

Hello everyone! I would like to make a request to the community. Can somebody make a dedicated Game Boy Camera pictures to PC dumping device that uses USB? I know it can be done with a Game Boy, Mega Memory Card, and a flash cart of some kind or a rare Mad Catz cable, but I would like a simple device that you can just plug the camera into and connect to a PC using USB to dump your pictures without swapping carts or using old computers. It would require custom drivers and software and I would like it to work on Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (when 10 is released), Mac OSX, and possibly Linux (optional). We could call it the "Ultimate Hyper GB Camera Ultra Mega Super Dump Truck Edition Picture Box PC USB Deluxe Plus *NOW IN ALL GB CAMERA COLORS*" or something. I would build this myself but I lack the skills to make such a thing. It is pointless but this would save a lot of hassle, time, and energy that could be used taking pictures with a modern digital camera. Hopefully someone with the proper knowledge could make this dream a reality.

 

Off the top of my head, it'd have to use the same serial-to-USB interface that a cartridge dumper would use, so you'd probably be using Prolific drivers which are compatible with Windows, OS X and Linux. Custom drivers, therefore, would be unnecessary. You would probably need a microcontroller (Atmel being one of the most common brands for this sort of thing) and would need to create a custom firmware for it (which most likely would not be very complicated, but it'd be required none-the-less). You MIGHT be able to use an arduino or something similar but I'm not sure. Regardless, it would typically be too big to fit inside the Game Boy Camera cartridge, although someone might be able to condense it enough. You'd then need to cut the shell to add a USB jack. Considering that, even after all of this, you'd still just be viewing a .sav file, you'd then need to program it to automatically detect the save and be able to "browse" it (or automatically dump pictures from it). This is possible, but it's a certifiable pain in the ass, at least as far as I'm concerned.

Alternatively, you'd just have a cartridge dumper that would be identical to any other cartridge dumper, but I suppose that it is theoretically possible to program one that would extract the photos for you automatically (therefore, potentially, causing all sorts of problems with any regular Game Boy cartridges). Honestly though, I doubt anyone is going to bother with the headache of a job that that'd be, especially since a cartridge dumper will give you a .sav file that takes less than a minute more to chuck into a program that will dump the images for you (such as GBCamera Dump). Trying to automate that part of the process seems fairly redundant, especially since it'll most likely cause more problems (and provide less features - i.e. a cartridge dumper that can only handle the Game Boy Camera) than it is worth.

Now, if someone wants to prove me completely wrong and design an entire circuit plus firmware for you, so be it, but I don't believe I'm far off the mark, if not on it. As nice as it'd be, it'd require too much work for little benefit.

TL;DR: Use a cartridge dumper then convert the save file.

 

Erm it's been done..
http://www.bennvenn.com/ForSale.htm

 

From the top of my head you can trade pictures from the gameboy camera to others. So you could load the gameboy camera on an everdrive and trade with a real one, and than use the save from the everdrive to load it in GBCamera Dump or an emulator+screenshots and presto you've got pictures.

 

Like I said, a cartridge dumper (that's the one I use, incidentally). What he wants it basically what I described as far as doing all the work for you so that you can plug it in as you would a digital camera, for instance. Essentially, it's not going to happen, unfortunately.

You can? I don't remember ever seeing this function. I should check that out... Still, an Everdrive costs quite a bit, and you would require two systems to trade. You could just do the trick with a flash cartridge (Everdrive works, but there are others, of course) and a backup tool like the ones I've mentioned already. Basically, it's all one big moot point because whatever you do, it's going to end up being pretty much the same thing with the same amount of work.

 

Neat method. I'll have to try that.

 

Hi guys! My Gen2 Reader/Writer mounts your Cart as a USB drive, Drag and drop!!

 

Really? So then I could make a custom case and label that make use of that awesome(?) name I came up with. Where can I get one?

 

It sounds like you're really wanting to "private label" his creation, and pass it off as your own. No need to make a custom case and label it. It'll be good enough as it is to dump your stuff properly.

BennVenn's stuff is at: http://www.bennvenn.com/ForSale.htm

Nitro2k01's dumper can also "dump" GB camera pics: http://asmretro.com/altane


But either way, I think you should support the creators of these wonderful products, as they've taken a long time to create these devices. I think creating a case, and labeling it with a name that wasn't given to it, would be frowned upon in this community. That's like me re-casing the Xbox 360, and saying it's the Megabox 720.

 

I think you have misunderstood me. I don't want to and shall not pass it off as my own. I wanted to put it in a custom case so it wouldn't get damaged. As for the label, I'll just put one with the original name on it. I'm sorry for the confusion. I can't even afford it right now.

 

No problem. These are pretty durable, so you shouldn't have to worry about it getting damaged.

However, show us the case when you make one. Would be neat to see a 3d printed case for it or something. No worries about the confusion, just be more clear so people don't get cautious of you.

 

Ok, I will be more clear next time. I don't own a 3D printer and they are way too expensive for someone like me who is fresh out of high school and doesn't have a job or income. I would love to get a 3D printer one day. I guess I could make the case out of wood or some other material that the local hardware stores carry. Maybe I could put some sheets of metal on the inside so it would be protected from signals that could potentially interfere with it, if any such signals are going around.

 

Wait, what? I didn't hear anything about this. ;_; I see you've just updated the site, though. So uh, just how different is the new device? I'm guessing I can't just flash the old one? It's only single-mode, though, so that's not so useful to me. The idea of mounting it as a device makes it very appealing, though, but I wouldn't want to sacrifice the GBA mode, either. Still, mine's pretty much obsolete now, especially since I'm still trying to do something with it which is pointless since there's a better version that just does that instantly.

He's already cleared it up, but no, I don't think he said that at all. There is a label already on it, though, so you can peel it off then put it on a casing, or replicate it. Or make your own. I really don't think it matters, as long as you're not claiming it as your own, which is unlikely, anyway. If you want to give it a unique name, though, that's up to you. Credit where credit is due, of course, but let's be honest (and no offence to Ben), the original name is long and cumbersome even if accurate and appropriate.

I'd personally make a case for it (or better yet, just get the gen 2 one which already has a case), just because it is exposed circuitry. If you're not careful, you could damage it. In a case, that's much less likely to happen.

I don't own one either. Not sure how your 3D modelling skills are (mine are non-existent), but there are alternatives such as Shapeways that will print stuff for you. Anyway, don't use metal - it'll be too tightly-packed and will most likely end up shorting something. Your best bet is to use sheets of plastic. Look for styrene.

I'm actually working on my casing right now, made out of an old Game Boy cartridge and using a bunch of styrene. I've added a switch instead of the jumper, and I've added a USBASP socket so that it can be reprogrammed. The only problem is that ever since I got mine, the cartridge connector/header has been angled downwards, so it looks funny and may cause issues once I'm putting the finishing touches on the case to put it all together. Hopefully not, because I'd rather not have to re-solder it.

Anyway, my recommendation is that you just get this, since it will do the job: http://bennvenn.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/reader-writer-gen2

And yeah, I get it. I have no job nor income right now, either (although I've been out of high school for just over three years now). Still, you have to pay for the things you want.

Oh, and whilst I remember, I checked the Game Boy Camera. There is no function to trade photos with another camera. It cannot be done.

 

I'm writing from my phone which is a pain so I'll keep it short and reply when I'm back on my PC.

If my gen1 customers want an enclosure I can print one easy enough. Probably $5 & $3 shipping worldwide?

 

Just uploaded a Youtube clip of the Joey-Squinson in operation. Dumping carts, GBCam image extraction and Flash cart stuff. Check it out!

https://youtu.be/oVLqxel_jMY

 

Nice work! I really want one now. I won't be able to get it until later this year though. I like the case too. If you haven't already, can you get a custom label made for it? I would love to get one with the nice case and a cool label.

 

Might I suggest adding an on off switch to the unit or even a momentary switch so you don't need to unplug the mini USB wire. Nice work by the way. Does it do GBA? I know there would have to be a jumper set since GBA is 3v.

 

I was going to add the GBA functionality though most people I've spoken with say there are already methods in place to dumping GBA carts via the link port etc... If there is interest I'll do a small run of GBA only Joey's. Also, latest firmware supports dumping on OSX!