Game Boy Developer Cartridge

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Nintendo produced various kinds of developer cartridges for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color systems.

They can generally be split into two categories: those with EPROM chips accessible from the front, and later models that use flash chips with a dip switch accessible from the front.

The MBC3 and MBC5 flash-based cartridges can be flashed with a DMG FLASH GANG WRITER[1], AGB FLASH GANG WRITER or IS-CGB-EMULATOR.

DMGC-256K-EPROM

This is the earliest known version of the Game Boy developer cartridge.

It uses an EPROM chip with an opening in the front for easy access to the chip. There is no front label provided.

This cartridge is a prototype of the DMGC-256K-EPROM-01, featuring a differently designed PCB and slight differences in the shell compared to the retail version. These have only been observed containing early first-party titles.

DMGC-256K-EPROM-01

This cartridge uses an EPROM chip with an opening in the front for easy access to the chip. There is no front label provided.

The only chip on the board is the EPROM chip.

Several revisions of this cartridge exist, ordered below from earliest to latest.

The last (and most common) variant has a copyright year of 1989 on the back of the board.

  • Cart front
    Cart front
  • Cart front
    Cart front

DMGC-MBC1-512K-EPROM1-01

This cartridge uses an EPROM chip with an opening in the front for easy access to the chip. There is no front label provided.

Various models of EPROM are used, for example:

  • TMM27512D-20 (Toshiba)
  • M27C512-15F1 (STM)

There is a chip labeled "DMG MBC1A" or "DMG MBC1B".

  • Board with MBC1A - front[8]
    Board with MBC1A - front[8]
  • Cart with MBC1B - front
    Cart with MBC1B - front
  • Board with MBC1B - front
    Board with MBC1B - front

DMGC-MBC1-2M-EPROM1-01

This cartridge uses an EPROM chip with an opening in the front for easy access to the chip. There is no front label provided.

Various models of EPROM are used, for example:

  • D27C10010-20 (NEC)
  • D27C10014-12 (NEC)
  • TC571001D-20 (Toshiba)
  • M27C1001-12XF1 (STM)
  • CXK27C1000DQ-15 (Sony)
  • AM27C010-205DC (AMD)

There is a chip labeled "DMG MBC1A" or "DMG MBC1B" or "DMG MBC1B1".

There is a copyright year of 1989 on the back of the board.

  • Board with MBC1A - front[9]
    Board with MBC1A - front[9]
  • Board with MBC1B - front[10]
    Board with MBC1B - front[10]
  • Board with MBC1B - back[11]
    Board with MBC1B - back[11]
  • Board with MBC1B1 - front[12]
    Board with MBC1B1 - front[12]
  • Board with MBC1B1 - back[13]
    Board with MBC1B1 - back[13]

DMGC-MBC1-2M EPROM-RAM

This cartridge uses an EPROM chip with an opening in the front for easy access to the chip. There is no front label provided.

There is a chip labeled "MBC1A", a RAM chip, and a battery.

  • Cart with MBC1A - front
    Cart with MBC1A - front

DMGC-MBC1-4M-EPROM1-RAM (64K)

This cartridge uses an EPROM chip with an opening in the front for easy access to the chip. There is no front label provided.

Various models of EPROM are used, for example:

  • HN27C4001G-12 (Hitachi)

Below the EPROM chip is a small chip labeled "26A" or "6129".

Below the small chip is a RAM chip. Various models of RAM chips are used, for example:

  • LH5268ANF-10YLL (Crosslink)
  • LH52A64N-YL (Crosslink)
  • LH5264TN-L (Crosslink)

There is a chip labeled "DMG MBC1B1".

Below the MBC1 chip is a battery.

  • Board with MBC1B1 - front[14]
    Board with MBC1B1 - front[14]

DMGC-MBC1-4M-EPROM1-RAM (256K)

This cartridge uses an EPROM chip with an opening in the front for easy access to the chip. There is no front label provided.

Various models of EPROM are used, for example:

  • D27C2001D-15 (NEC)

Below the EPROM chip is a small chip labeled "6129".

Below the small chip is a RAM chip. Various models of RAM chips are used, for example:

  • MS62256CL-10FC (MOSEL)

There is a chip labeled "DMG MBC1B1".

Below the MBC1 chip is a battery.

  • Board with MBC1B1 - front
    Board with MBC1B1 - front

DMGC-MBC1 16M-EPROM4 RAM-01 (64K)

This cartridge is much longer than the other MBC1 cartridges, and has a much larger opening in the front.

It has 4 EPROM sockets, allowing it to accommodate four 4 megabit EPROMs.

There is a 74HC IC above the EPROM sockets.

There is a LH5268ANF-10YLL RAM chip, made by Crosslink.

There is a CR1220 battery on the left of the EPROM sockets.

  • Cart front[15]
    Cart front[15]
  • Cart back[16]
    Cart back[16]
  • Cart 2 - front
    Cart 2 - front
  • Cart 3 - front[17]
    Cart 3 - front[17]
  • Cart 3 - front[18]
    Cart 3 - front[18]

DMG-MBC1 MULTICHECKER-01

This cartridge is also much longer than the other MBC1 cartridges and has a larger opening in the front.

There is a 10-position dip switch.

Below the dip switch is a 64 kilobit RAM chip. Various models of RAM chips are used, for example:

  • 64S20 (NEC)
  • CXX5864PN-15LL (Sony)

There are 2 EPROM sockets. Various models of EPROM are used, for example:

  • AM27C100-155DC (AMD)
  • AM27C100-205DC (AMD)

There is an IC labeled 74HC00AP, made by Toshiba.

Below the Toshiba IC is a CR2035 battery.

There is a chip labeled "DMG MBC1" or "DMG MBC1A" or "DMG MBC1B".

There is a copyright year of 1989 on the board.

  • Board with MBC1 - front[19]
    Board with MBC1 - front[19]
  • Cart and board with MBC1A[20]
    Cart and board with MBC1A[20]
  • Cart with MBC1B - front[21]
    Cart with MBC1B - front[21]
  • Cart with MBC1B - back[22]
    Cart with MBC1B - back[22]
  • Board with MBC1B - front[23]
    Board with MBC1B - front[23]

DMGC-MBC2-2M-EPROM1-02

This cartridge uses an EPROM chip with an opening in the front for easy access to the chip. There is no front label provided.

Various models of EPROM are used, for example:

  • D27C20010-12 (NEC)

Below the EPROM chip is a small chip and a battery.

There is a chip labeled "DMG MBC2A".

There is a copyright year of 1989 on the back of the board.

  • Board with MBC2A - front[24]
    Board with MBC2A - front[24]
  • Board with MBC2A - back[25]
    Board with MBC2A - back[25]

DMG-(E)KFDA-01

This cartridge features 2 EPROM sockets and an MBC3 chip.

There is a battery below the sockets.

  • Cart front
    Cart front

DMG-MBC3-16M-FLASH

This cartridge has a unique shell, identical in design to Hudson's Pocket Family GB 2. Cartridges of this type have been seen with Pokemon games flashed on them.

There is a chip labeled "MBC3 A", with the silkscreen "U2 MBC3A" above it.

The flash chip is a 16 megabit LH28F160S5T-L10A, made by Sharp, with the silkscreen "U1 FLASH MEMORY" below it.

There is a chip labeled "6735" with the silkscreen "U4 MM1134" next to it.

There is a CR2025 battery.

The SRAM chip is a 256 kilobit LH52256CT-10LL, made by Sharp.

There is a small chip with the silkscreen "U5 74VHC00" next to it.

There is a copyright year of 2000 on the back of the board.

  • DMG-(F)KGDB-01 - cart front
    DMG-(F)KGDB-01 - cart front
  • DMG-(F)KGDB-01 - cart back
    DMG-(F)KGDB-01 - cart back
  • DMG-(F)KGDB-01 - board front[26]
    DMG-(F)KGDB-01 - board front[26]
  • DMG-(F)KGDB-01 - board back
    DMG-(F)KGDB-01 - board back

DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH

The DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH and DMG-MBC5-32M-R-FLASH family of cartridges were produced after the EPROM cartridges.

They have a dip switch to control the size of the SRAM.

Early versions use an Altera CPLD for the MBC5 chip, while later revisions switch to an "MBC5-D" chip. These later variants can be identified by a G/A marking on the label (Gate Array?[27]) to differentiate them from the earlier CPLD designs. The -S and -I suffixes on these labels denote the use of Sharp and Intel flash memory respectively.

DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH

This is the first revision of the DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH. The cartridge has a white label without a "G/" sub-type.

There is an Altera EPM7064STC44-10 CPLD covered by a sticker labeled "MBC-5", next to the silkscreen "U3 MBCIC5".

The flash chip is a 32 megabit LH28F032SUTD-10, made by Sharp, with the silkscreen "U1 32/16/8M FLASH MEMORY" below it.

There is a chip labeled "6129A" with the silkscreen "U4 MM1026" next to it.

There is a CR1616 battery.

The SRAM chip is a 1 megabit M5M51008BKV-70LL, made by Mitsubishi.

There is a 6-position dip switch.

There is a copyright year of 1998 on the back of the board.

  • DMG-B02-01 - cart front[28]
    DMG-B02-01 - cart front[28]
  • DMG-B02-01 - board front[29]
    DMG-B02-01 - board front[29]
  • DMG-B02-01 - board back[30]
    DMG-B02-01 - board back[30]
  • Altera CPLD with the sticker removed[31]
    Altera CPLD with the sticker removed[31]

DMG-MBC5-32M-R-FLASH

The rumble cartridge has a longer, distinctive form factor compared to the others.

This cartridge is the first revision of the DMG-MBC5-32M-R-FLASH, with a white label without a "G/" sub-type.

Similar to the regular CPLD board, the Altera CPLD is covered by a sticker labeled "MBC-5" and the flash chip is a 32 megabit LH28F032SUTD-10 made by Sharp.

There is room for an AA battery near the center of the board.

There is a 4-position dip switch.

There is a chip labeled "134A", a Mitsumi MM1134A, with the silkscreen "U4" next to it.

There is a CR1616 battery.

There is an SRAM chip made by Sharp, presumably 256 kilobits.

There is a copyright year of 1998 on the front of the board.

  • DMG-B03-01 - cart front[32]
    DMG-B03-01 - cart front[32]
  • DMG-B03-01 - cart back[33]
    DMG-B03-01 - cart back[33]
  • DMG-B03-01 - board front[34]
    DMG-B03-01 - board front[34]

DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH (G/A)

This cartridge has a white label and is marked "G/A".

There is a chip labeled MBC5-D LZ9GB34, with the silkscreen "U3 MBCIC5" next to it.

The flash chip is the same one as the CPLD board; a 32 megabit LH28F032SUTD-10 made by Sharp with the silkscreen "U1 32/16/8M FLASH MEMORY" below it.

There is a chip labeled "6129A" with the silkscreen "U4 MM1134" next to it.

There is a CR1616 battery.

The SRAM chip is the same one as the CPLD board; a 1 megabit M5M51008BKV-70LL made by Mitsubishi.

There is a 6-position dip switch.

There is a copyright year of 1998 on the back of the board.

  • DMG-B02-10 - cart front[35]
    DMG-B02-10 - cart front[35]
  • DMG-B02-10 - board front[36]
    DMG-B02-10 - board front[36]
  • DMG-B02-10 - board back[37]
    DMG-B02-10 - board back[37]

DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH (G/A-S)

This cartridge has an orange label and is marked "G/A-S". Some cartridges have a faded label which appears yellow.

Despite the difference in label, the orange cartridge is almost identical to the DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH (G/A), with the following differences:

  • The flash chip is a 32 megabit LH28F320SKTD-L70, made by Sharp
  • DMG-B02-10 - cart front[38]
    DMG-B02-10 - cart front[38]
  • DMG-B02-10 - cart front, faded label[39]
    DMG-B02-10 - cart front, faded label[39]
  • DMG-B02-10 - board front[40]
    DMG-B02-10 - board front[40]

DMG-MBC5-32M-R-FLASH (G/A-S)

This rumble cartridge has an orange label and is marked "G/A-S".

There is a chip labeled MBC5-D LZ9GB34, with the silkscreen "U1 MBC5 DEV" next to it, similar to the blue label G/A-I cartridge.

There is room for an AA battery near the center of the board.

There is a 4-position dip switch.

The flash chip is a 32 megabit LH28F320SKTD-L70, made by Sharp, with the silkscreen "U2 32M/16M FLASH MEMORY" above it.

There is a chip labeled "6735" with the silkscreen "U4 MM1134" above it.

There is a CR1616 battery.

The SRAM chip is a 256 kilobit LH52256CT-10LL, made by Sharp.

There is a copyright year of 1999 on the back of the board.

  • DMG-B03-11 - cart front[41]
    DMG-B03-11 - cart front[41]
  • DMG-B03-11 - board front[42]
    DMG-B03-11 - board front[42]
  • DMG-B03-11 - board back[43]
    DMG-B03-11 - board back[43]

DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH (G/A-I) B04-01

This cartridge has a blue label and is marked "G/A-I".

There is a chip labeled MBC5-D LZ9GB34, with the silkscreen "U3 MBC5DEV" above it.

The flash chip is a 32 megabit DA28F320J5-120, made by Intel, with the silkscreen "U1 64M FLASH" below it.

There is a chip labeled "6735" with the silkscreen "U4 MM1026" next to it.

There is a CR1616 battery.

The SRAM chip is a 1 megabit M5M51008CKV-70H, made by Mitsubishi.

There is a 6-position dip switch.

There is a copyright year of 1999 on the back of the board.

There is a bodge wire on the front and a cut trace on the back on the board.

  • DMG-B04-01 - cart front[44]
    DMG-B04-01 - cart front[44]
  • DMG-B04-01 - board front[45]
    DMG-B04-01 - board front[45]
  • DMG-B04-01 - board back[46]
    DMG-B04-01 - board back[46]

DMG-MBC5-32M-FLASH (G/A-I) B04-02

This board variant is almost identical to the B04-01, but with the following differences:

  • There is a copyright year of 2000 on the back of the board
  • The bodge wire and cut trace are no longer present as the issues have been corrected
  • DMG-B04-02 - cart front[47]
    DMG-B04-02 - cart front[47]
  • DMG-B04-02 - board front[48]
    DMG-B04-02 - board front[48]
  • DMG-B04-02 - board back[49]
    DMG-B04-02 - board back[49]

DMG-MBC5-64M-FLASH

This cartridge has not been seen in the wild before, but its existence is implied from the IS-FLASH-GANG-WRITER software menu[50] and the IS-CGB-DEBUGGER changelog.

The cartridge is expected to feature:[51]

  • A "G/A-I" mark on the label
  • Intel-manufactured flash chip (64M)
  • A layout based on the B04-0x boards, with an inverter chip connected to the flash chip's A22 line (unpopulated at position U5 on 32M B04-01 and B04-02 boards)

Other Variants

Several additional form factors and custom board variants exist.

DMG-AGING-01

This board was used in test cartridges such as the Game Boy Test Cartridge and the Game Boy Controller Kensa Cartridge.

The only chip on the board is the EPROM chip. Various models of EPROM are used, for example:

  • MBM27C256H-10 (Fujitsu)
  • MBM27256-20 (Fujitsu)

There is a copyright year of 1989 on the board.

  • Game Boy Test Cartridge - cart front[52]
    Game Boy Test Cartridge - cart front[52]
  • Game Boy Test Cartridge - board front[53]
    Game Boy Test Cartridge - board front[53]
  • Game Boy Test Cartridge - board back[54]
    Game Boy Test Cartridge - board back[54]

Rare

This is an interface cartridge used by Rare for the original Game Boy.

  • Cart front
    Cart front

Gametek - SPIDR100

This is a custom board, either made by Gametek or a contractor in Korea, for the original Game Boy.

There is an EPROM chip, together with 4 unlabeled SRAM chips.

The board has an ID code of "SPIDR100".

There is an 8-position dip switch.

The board has silver contacts at the bottom and the back has a black shroud over it with a sticker labeled "108".

Hudson Soft - HuC-1-1.1

This is a custom board made by Hudson Soft for the Game Boy Color.

There is a chip labeled LZ9GA36, with the silkscren "HuC-1" above it.

The flash chip is a 8 megabit LH28F800SUT-21, made by Sharp.

The SRAM chip is 1 megabit, made by Sony.

There is a small chip labeled "26A", a Mitsumi MM1026AF.

There is a CR1220 battery.

Hudson Soft - HuC-3-2.0

This is a custom board made by Hudson Soft for the Game Boy Color.

The chip above the flash chip is presumably the HuC-3 mapper chip.

The flash chip is a 16 megabit LH28F160S5T-L10, made by Sharp.

The SRAM chip is a 1 megabit TC551001, made by Toshiba.

There is a small chip labeled "6129A".

There is also a chip labeled "LVX 04", a TC74LVX04FT.

There is a battery holder present.

  • Board front
    Board front
  • Board back
    Board back

References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hHQAPcAgOA&t=683s
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230403232941im_/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/gb-gbcolor/tetris-usa-prototype-cart-front.png
  3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230403232941im_/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/gb-gbcolor/tetris-usa-prototype-cart-back.png
  4. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/286236116745
  5. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/286236116745
  6. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/286236116745
  7. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/286236116745
  8. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/277297257715
  9. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/277297274370
  10. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/126489613358
  11. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/126489613358
  12. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/196892752271
  13. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/196892752271
  14. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/135295667351
  15. ↑ https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k1225556976
  16. ↑ https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k1225556976
  17. ↑ https://www.chrismcovell.com/prototypes.html
  18. ↑ https://www.chrismcovell.com/prototypes.html
  19. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/consolerepair/comments/2adsvq/repair_a_nintendo_dmcmbc1_game_boy_multi_checker/
  20. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230403232939im_/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/gb-gbcolor/gauntlet-ii-usa-prototype-cart-front.jpg
  21. ↑ https://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=gb&data=dmgmultichecker
  22. ↑ https://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=gb&data=dmgmultichecker
  23. ↑ https://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=gb&data=dmgmultichecker
  24. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/126489586845
  25. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/126489586845
  26. ↑ https://chainswordcs.com/pokemon-prototype-cartridges.html
  27. ↑ Original research (iyatemu)
  28. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/115727859516
  29. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/335636843303
  30. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/335636843303
  31. ↑ gbdev Discord - kay
  32. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/comments/w1k3ru/found_this_super_cool_dev_cart_at_my_neighbors/
  33. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/comments/w1k3ru/found_this_super_cool_dev_cart_at_my_neighbors/
  34. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhpFlJt2WDw&t=148s
  35. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/115727848589
  36. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/115727848589
  37. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/115727848589
  38. ↑ https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b1136173785
  39. ↑ https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/s1141675006
  40. ↑ Rare Gaming Dump Discord - Kuriatsu
  41. ↑ https://x.com/forestillusion/status/1416208495179755522/photo/2
  42. ↑ https://twitter.com/Altomare3/status/1416342450914959361
  43. ↑ https://twitter.com/Altomare3/status/1416342450914959361
  44. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/126871380092
  45. ↑ https://x.com/iyatemu/status/1204189943322599425
  46. ↑ gbdev Discord - iyatemu
  47. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/115726131620
  48. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/115726131620
  49. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/115726131620
  50. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hHQAPcAgOA&t=687s
  51. ↑ Original research (iyatemu)
  52. ↑ https://datomatic.no-intro.org/index.php?page=show_record&s=46&n=1643
  53. ↑ https://datomatic.no-intro.org/index.php?page=show_record&s=46&n=1643
  54. ↑ https://datomatic.no-intro.org/index.php?page=show_record&s=46&n=1643
  55. ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Trek-Generations-Beyond-the-Nexus-Nintendo-Game-Boy-1994/166741788744
  56. ↑ https://archive.org/download/super-b-daman-fighting-phoenix-gb-guidebook/Super%20B-Daman%20Fighting%20Phoenix%20GB%20Guidebook%20%2814%29.JPG
  57. ↑ insideGadgets Discord - EchelonPrime
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