BlockBoy — Manual

Instruction Manual

Choose your manual:

Check that all parts shown in the photo are present.

Box contents
How the buttons work
  • Speed changes how fast the video plays. Start at 0.75x if it goes too quick for you.
  • 3s Back 3s jumps three seconds back so you can watch a move again.
  • Replay plays the current step again from the beginning.
  • Previous and Next move to the step before or after this one.
Building takes about an hour. Take your time and enjoy it.
Aligning the screen
Coming soon
SD card access over USB

Load games onto the SD card straight from your computer, no card removal needed.

  • Connect the BlockBoy to your computer with the USB cable.
  • Press Select and Start together to open the menu, go to System, then USB Mode, and press A.
  • When "USB Connected" appears on screen, open the SD card on your computer.
  • Go to the ROMs folder. Each emulator has its own subfolder, so place each ROM in the matching folder.
  • Press B when done to close USB mode.
Connecting to Wi-Fi
Updating over the air (OTA)
Updating over USB (browser)
Video coming soon
SD card access over Wi-Fi

Once your BlockBoy is on Wi-Fi, you can load games from any computer or phone on the same network.

  • Make sure the BlockBoy is connected to your Wi-Fi (see Connecting to Wi-Fi).
  • On a device on the same network, open http://blockboy.local.
  • Log in with username "blockboy". The password is shown in the Wi-Fi menu on the BlockBoy.
  • Once logged in, open the ROMs folder and place each ROM in the matching emulator folder.
Pairing cartridges

Each cartridge has a magnet inside that tells your BlockBoy which game to launch. Pair them one at a time.

  • Place the magnets in the cartridge first, just like in the video (in one of the four bottom slots).
  • Pick up the BlockBoy and go to Menu, then Magnet cartridge, then Calibrate. Make sure no cartridge or magnets are nearby, then calibrate.
  • Go to Pair cartridge and pair the cartridges to their ROM one at a time.
  • You can pair many cartridges, as long as no two use the exact same magnet pattern. You can vary the pattern in three ways: the slot you use (1 to 4), the magnet orientation (turning a magnet 180 degrees gives an extra value per slot), and combining magnets in several slots at once (for example slot 1 and slot 4 together).
  • If you want to expand your set, look for 4x2 round magnets.

ROMs are not included, and any games shown are for demonstration only. You are responsible for the games you use and for following the copyright laws in your country.

Game link
Coming soon
Showcase mode
Coming soon
Unboxing

Controleer of alle onderdelen zoals op de foto aanwezig zijn.

Box contents
Testing

Before you start the build, it is important to test the BlockBoy first. Follow the steps below:

Original battery
Cartridge battery
If everything works, proceed to the Assembly section below. If something does not work, please send a message here.
Assembly

Follow each step below. Click a step to load the corresponding video.

Remove the cartridge, backplate, holographic card and lever
1
Remove the cartridge, backplate, holographic card and leverRemove the cartridge, backplate, holographic card and lever from the LEGO Game Boy.
2
Disassemble the leverDisassemble the lever.
3
Split the LEGO Game BoySplit the LEGO Game Boy in half. Pay attention to which LEGO bricks come loose, sometimes they detach differently. If that happens, move them to match the video before continuing.
4
Assemble the backAssemble the back.
5
Build the sidesBuild the sides.
6
Remove the scroll wheels and rebuild the upper cornerRemove the scroll wheels and rebuild the upper corner.
7
Rebuild the button areaRebuild the button area to make room for the 3 button PCBs.
8
Modify the on/off switchModify the on/off switch. Pay close attention to which side the white faces go.
9
Remove the screen film and place the PCB
  • Remove the screen film and place the PCB in the LEGO Game Boy. The main PCB slides under the right corner. Be careful, it should mount without any friction.
  • For the bottom Start/Select PCB, make sure it sits precisely in the hole and lies flat with the rest.
  • Holding the Game Boy in one hand prevents the buttons from pushing the PCBs upward.
  • For the volume and contrast wheels, make sure the piece with the white face is on the right side.
Loading ROMs to SD

Press Select and Start at the same time to open the menu. Go to Options → Launcher Options → USB Mode and press A. Once “USB Connected” appears on screen, the SD card can be accessed via your computer using the included USB cable. Note: use the included USB-C to USB-A cable. The BlockBoy does not currently support USB-C to USB-C.

Once connected, open the SD card on your computer. Go to the ROMs folder, choose the folder for your console and place your ROM file there. Once done, close USB mode by pressing B. Turn the BlockBoy off and on again. Your games will now appear in your library.

Firmware

Unboxing

Check that all parts shown in the photo are present.

Box contents
Testing

Before you start the build, it is important to test the BlockBoy first. Follow the steps below:

1
Gather the parts 0:00Grab the main PCB with cartridge/battery, the 3 button PCBs, the 3 flat cables, the on/off switch and a Micro-SD card (not included, max 32GB, formatted in FAT32).
2
Remove the battery 0:03Take the main PCB with the battery. Remove the battery by gently pulling on the wires while moving it back and forth.
3
Insert the Micro-SD card 0:20Take the Micro-SD card and slide it into the Micro-SD card slot with the gold contacts facing down. Push until it clicks into place. To remove the card, simply push it in once more.
4
Mount the on/off switch 0:42Take the main PCB and the on/off switch. Push the connector into the socket on the PCB. Make sure the 2 pins are visibly sticking out above the connector.
5
Mount the flat cables 1:01Connect the flat cables to the PCBs. Make sure the blue sections at the ends of the flat cables align with the black lip of the connector.
6
Reinsert the battery 2:30Place the battery back onto the main PCB. Make sure the black stripe is facing up.
7
Flip it over 2:54Flip the assembly over so the screen and buttons are facing you.
8
Test the buttons 3:05Grab a membrane button (small black pawn shaped part). Turn on the BlockBoy by pressing and holding the microswitch during testing. Navigate through the menu using the membrane cap on the D-pad and A/B PCB connectors. Also test the Start and Select buttons. If everything works, release the power switch. The test is complete.
If everything works, proceed to the Assembly section below. If something does not work, please send a message here.
Assembly

Follow each step below. Click a step to load the corresponding video.

Remove the cartridge, backplate, hologram and lever
1
Remove the cartridge, backplate, hologram and leverRemove the cartridge, backplate, holographic card and lever from the LEGO Game Boy.
2
Disassemble the leverDisassemble the lever.
3
Split the LEGO Game BoySplit the LEGO Game Boy in half. Pay attention to which LEGO bricks come loose, sometimes they detach differently. If that happens, move them to match the video before continuing.
4
Assemble the backAssemble the back.
5
Build the sidesBuild the sides.
6
Remove the scroll wheels and rebuild the upper cornerRemove the scroll wheels and rebuild the upper corner.
7
Rebuild the button areaRebuild the button area to make room for the 3 button PCBs.
8
Modify the on/off switchModify the on/off switch. Pay close attention to which side the white faces go.
9
Remove the screen film and place the PCB
  • Remove the screen film and place the PCB in the LEGO Game Boy. The main PCB slides under the right corner. Be careful, it should mount without any friction.
  • For the bottom Start/Select PCB, make sure it sits precisely in the hole and lies flat with the rest.
  • Holding the Game Boy in one hand prevents the buttons from pushing the PCBs upward.
  • For the volume and contrast wheels, make sure the piece with the white face is on the right side.
10
Install the USB connector
  • The USB connector at the back must be placed with the white flat side facing up (red wire on top, black wire on the bottom).
  • It can be a bit tricky to press the two halves back together. Do not use much force, sometimes it helps to slightly flex the halves.
  • After placing the USB part, press the 2 wires between the 2 small clips.
Loading ROMs to SD
Press Select and Start at the same time to open the menu. Go to Options → Launcher Options → USB Mode and press A. Once “USB Connected” appears on screen, the SD card can be accessed via your computer using the included USB cable.

Note:
  • Use the included USB-C to USB-A cable. The BlockBoy does not currently support USB-C to USB-C.
  • Data transfer is only supported via the USB on the side.
Once connected, open the SD card on your computer. Go to the ROMs folder, choose the folder for your console and place your ROM file there. Once done, close USB mode by pressing B. Turn the BlockBoy off and on again. Your games will now appear in your library.
Showcase mode (back usb)

You can activate showcase mode by pressing Start and Select at the same time. This opens the menu. Go to Options → Launcher Options → Showcase Mode. You can choose between 3 options: GB, GBC or Shuffle. Each game in the library is played for 1 minute, then automatically switches to the next random game. To exit showcase mode, press Start and Select again and select Quit.

1
Showcase mode
  • Move the long black tile to the bottom of the dock and place the 2 small tiles on top.
  • The back USB can charge the battery, but does not support data transfer. Use the USB on the side for that.
2
BatteryIf you plan to use showcase mode for an extended period of time, disconnect the battery or replace the battery cartridge with a LEGO cartridge.
Firmware