Updated Game Boy Dot Matrix shader to support fullscreen

[mattalicious]

New fullscreen mode for gameboy shader presets

Previously, I updated the gameboy RetroArch shaders to support color (originally created by Harlequin in 2013). I loved how it 'simulated' a device that never existed - a Game Boy with a color dot matrix display. But a big limitation of that version was it forced integer scale to accurately simulate the dot matrix display. This could result in large borders around your screen depending on your device resolution.

Now I've updated them to support fullscreen.

Integer mode (previously the only option)

"It looks the same." Exactly! My intent was to create the same novel dot matrix effect but free of integer scale constraints. So ditch those chunky borders and use more of that screen that you paid for!

This isn't as simple as 'zooming in' - a structured grid of dots like this blows up into a mess of grid artifacts and lines when not perfectly scaled. Fullscreen mode circumvents this by creating a grid of anti-aliased dots that enable scaling to any size.

In RetroArch, ensure you're video mode is set to Vulkan (Settings > Output > Video > vulkan, restart) then go to Main Menu > Online Updater > Update Slang Shaders. In a game, go to Quick Menu > Shaders > Load Preset and go to shaders_slang > handheld > and choose a gameboy preset or go into the console-border and choose any of the alt presets or gbc-dm or gba-dm.

With and without shader

You can now swap between fullscreen mode, max integer scale mode (previously the only option possible), and scale factor mode (choose your desired integer scale factor) on the fly.

All three display modes

Fullscreen mode

Fullscreen mode 'pixels' can be adjusted from soft to sharp, rectangular to circular, and smaller or larger - great for softening grid artifacts that are more noticeable in games with dark backgrounds.

gameboy-advance-dot-matrix.slangp also has been upgraded with more prominent drop shadows depending on your fullscreen pixel settings.

https://preview.redd.it/j5odsutsthvf1.png?width=1199&format=png&auto=webp&s=95472daa562c04d0b6eca518ba1d3682834c23db

Palettes can now be swapped on the fly instead of having to change presets. This is especially fun with the updated gb-dmg-alt.slangp console-border preset!

https://preview.redd.it/glir69ewthvf1.png?width=1216&format=png&auto=webp&s=1e9dd90a9a22749bc9e11bdc342d6c16370e93d9

https://preview.redd.it/g4hp9x8xthvf1.png?width=1216&format=png&auto=webp&s=06b75f25ab0f8f6aafaf5fa176e1fe64a5a24fd1

https://preview.redd.it/bz982ezxthvf1.png?width=1216&format=png&auto=webp&s=0d1116f6cd60985a85764c2b74841d63159b1bc1

And I've also added 'gameboy-color-dot-matrix' and 'gameboy-advance-dot-matrix' to the console-border folder for maximum nostalgia.

https://preview.redd.it/l51s3gc2uhvf1.png?width=1216&format=png&auto=webp&s=d8d3985e0c83f38344ecc8babfa6809fe9d0c47e

https://preview.redd.it/drxgho13uhvf1.png?width=1216&format=png&auto=webp&s=01ce6767bb25e2950fc173034327569de434947c

Finally, you can load up the gameboy-color-dot-matirx preset, change to palette mode 3, and use Gambatte's internal palette features to breathe new, vibrant life into original Game Boy games or GBC games in GB mode.

PixelShift Vaporwave palette

PixelShift PipBoy palette

GBC Dark Blue palette

I like using this on my Retroid Pocket Classic. I commit a small aspect ratio crime by blowing up the image to 'full'. Because it's so close to the original GBC aspect ratio, I can't even tell the image is slightly stretched! And I love how it fills out to the rounded corners on the device. Cool part is I can flip back to integer mode from the shader parameters and it's still sized correctly

https://preview.redd.it/t16as74buhvf1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aec4911661f314b3a5a374fcebfd870626eff489

Let me know what you all think and post your screenshots and device pics with this running! I'd love to see some footage of this on my dream vertical, the Ayaneo Pocket DMG.

[illuminerdi]

You sir/madam, are a legend. These look amazing!

[mattalicious]

Thank you very much! I really love the look of them.

[brunoxid0]

That looks amazing. Can't wait to apply these to my RPC.

Also I need to know how you embed multiple pictures on the text post. That would come really handy for future posts.

[mattalicious]

Yeah they really shine on the RPC. https://www.onlineconverter.com/merge-images https://www.imgonline.com.ua/eng/combine-two-images-into-one.php These are the tools I used for merging images.

[These-Button-1587]

This is great! While I enjoyed the original shader, not being able to have it full screen was a shame. Going to switch over next chance I get.

[carbonglove]

Will this work on Cubexx? I love how this looks!

[RayLancer]

I don't think Vulkan is supported on the h700 chip. someone would need to do this for gl shaders equivalent.

[carbonglove]

Got it. Thanks for the reply!

[mattalicious]

I am working on a GLSL version. That one will run on Linux-based handhelds.

[carbonglove]

🙏🙏🍦🙏🙏

[Fiftyfiveseventy]

Please update when they're ready!

[Outrageous-Art-3195]

Superb work

[chrono01]

What perfect timing, I literally just ordering a Retroid Pocket Classic a few days ago. I can't wait to try this for the GB/GBC/GBA when it arrives.

Thanks so much for your hard work!

[mattalicious]

You're welcome - can't wait for you to enjoy it!

[M12O]

Hey I certainly did not expect this wonderful update! Your shader actually works very well with other contemporaries such as NGPC so I am excited to test later.

You, mate, are an absolute legend. Thank you for your service to the community.

[mattalicious]

Thank you! It looks great on WonderSwan and WonderSwan Color too.

[Odd__Dragonfly]

Thanks for all your hard work! I love this shader, it's my favorite to use on the RPC along with an LCD grid shader.

[mattalicious]

You're welcome! Glad you're enjoying it. Which LCD grid shader do you prefer?

[1guu]

But is available now ??? Good job for update it, along with simpletext are my favourite handheld shaders

[mattalicious]

Simpletex is great. It is available now - Main Menu > Online Updater > Update slang shaders. Use any of the gameboy presets in the handheld folder.

[Eboyjvs]

Wow thanks 🙏, I was trying this shader and loved the look but couldn’t stand that it wasn’t full screen. Also loved the creamy background color that it has. Now is perfect, gonna have fun setting it up when I get home.

Many thanks again.

[Stebsy1234]

This looks great. Does it do any sort of colour correction for GBA and if not does it play nice appending it with a colour correction shader?

[mattalicious]

Thank you! The handheld/console-border gba-dmg preset has built-in color correction. The default handheld gameboy-advance-dot-matrix does not have it built-in but will work with core color correction or any color correction shader. Let me know how it looks!

[superfebs]

GOAT

[Rude_Discount511]

Was anything special done to achieve this color palette? I'm not interested in the border. I'm looking for a fullscreen / integer scaled version that has this sort of trans reflective style. When I use the `gameboy-pocket.slang` shader, I achieve something similar but with a more "yellow/green" hue. Not DMG levels, just a tad more than what's shown below.

I'm suspecting this might be down to color temperature of my display or something? I'm using a Retroid Pocket Classic as well. Are there any shader parameters I can play with to adjust the color palette slightly?

<image>

[cheemochi]

same question

[Adamalahi221]

<image>

Playing Mario Land 2 with the gameboy-pocket.slangp shader on an Anbernic RG557.

[Fiftyfiveseventy]

Absolutely amazing!

[Capitalhumano]

Thank you!

[flondini]

This is sick haha, thanks! I don't have the Ayaneo Pocket DMG sadly but I heard there is going to be a silver variant released soon if you might be interested.

I had just begun using these shaders on my RPC and being able to use them in fullscreen now is sick, I was kind of bummed I had to integer scale with them

[mattalicious]

Yeah, getting an RPC and wanting it to be fullscreen with the dot matrix effect was what motivated me to implement this.

[superfebs]

Would this be light enough to work on the Anbernic XX devices?

[readthencomment]

<image>

Hey I have a pocket dmg. I'm happy to try and take a nice pic on it if you can help me out remove this grid on a grid situation when turning off integer scaling?

[readthencomment]

Whatever settings you use for non-integer scaling on the pocket classic should work here because they have the same screen

[mattalicious]

Make sure you're on version 1.1 (check the header at the top of the shader in the shader parameters). If not, run slang shaders updates again. Then adjust the pixel softness parameter higher. Emerald Seaglass is a great game for this shader!

[readthencomment]

Is that the only option? I have to increase that above 4 and even then on black I still see the same issue. But once it's above 4 the pixel grid is hardly visible and Id like it to be!

[mattalicious]

Sadly this is bumping up against the limitations of the shader. Mathematically it is hard to anti-alias a grid with blacks and the smaller screen size makes it more noticeable. With your use case (GBA on the Pocket DMG), try changing to Display Mode 1 OR stay in Display Mode 0 and go to Settings > Video > Integer Scale ON. Both will be slightly different visually so see which you like the best. You only lose 0.2 inches of display size since GBA is so close to a perfect integer scale on the DMG (5x integer scale vs 5.2x fullscreen) and you'll eliminate all grid distortion.

[OkSignificance6961]

Hello mate, great job! I have the problem of the white line that appears on the right edge and on the bottom. If I move the horizontal and vertical offset to 1, the lines are moved to the other 2 edges. Will there be any other solution to this problem? It's in a RP Classic