Highlights
A passionate Pokemon enthusiast showcases their talent by designing exquisite custom Game Boy Advance consoles inspired by Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, exemplifying the enduring appeal of the beloved Generation 3 games.Among the Nintendo community, it is common for fans to indulge in personalized console modifications, including artistic paintwork and the interchange of hardware components.
The Pokemon-themed GBAs were created using third-party shells, button covers, and modified screens, with the customization project costing less than $200. The creator has expressed their intention to design more customized Nintendo consoles in the future, with a particular focus on creating one based on Pokemon Emerald.
Recently, a talented Pokemon enthusiast dedicated their efforts to designing striking custom Game Boy Advance consoles inspired by their favorite games from the series, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. This remarkable accomplishment serves as a testament to the ongoing popularity of the Generation 3 games, as evidenced by the consistent demand for specific features from Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire to be reintroduced.
Many Nintendo enthusiasts have taken pleasure in creating their own unique versions of the company's consoles throughout the years. Some individuals have even displayed impressive engineering skills by constructing fully functional oversized Game Boys. However, it is more common for hobbyists to engage in hardware personalization projects that involve custom paint jobs and swapping out the console's exterior.
A recent example of this extensive customization effort comes from Reddit user Isidar. They have beautifully painted two Game Boy Advance handheld consoles to resemble the vibrant third-generation Pokemon games. One GBA is adorned with the colors and theme of Pokemon Ruby, while the other showcases the aesthetics of Pokemon Sapphire. The final outcome of their personalization project is a remarkable pair of GBAs that can rival the best special edition Game Boy consoles on the market.
The handhelds in this Pokemon-themed GBA duo were not painted by the creator. Instead, they chose to use third-party shells and button covers to add color. The systems were also modified with laminated IPS screens, which provide improved viewing angles and slightly higher brightness levels compared to the console's original 2.9-inch display panel. According to the author's estimates, these unique GBAs were made for less than $200, with the custom screens accounting for more than half of that cost.
While Isidar did not disclose the amount of time it took to complete these modding projects, they did mention their plans to undertake more similar efforts in the near future. Their next objective is to create a Game Boy Advance SP themed after Rayquaza, the legendary Dragon- and Flying-type pocket monster that serves as the mascot for Pokemon Emerald. The author expressed their desire to complete a trio of custom Nintendo consoles, each representing one of the original Generation 3 games, before moving on to other projects.
Released in late 2002 in Japan, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire quickly made their way to the West by the following spring. These popular RPG games by Game Freak kickstarted the third Pokemon generation and brought along 135 new pocket monsters. The English version of Pokemon Emerald, which combined the features of Ruby and Sapphire, was launched in mid-2005.