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"Handheld gaming"

There's rather a lot of excitement regarding the impending release of the GameBoy Advance. But the question is do you really need one?

I've decided that I don't.

When would I ever get the chance to play on it? It's a portable gaming machine, and I pretty much drive every where I go, so I can't play whilst travelling, and when I get there, I'm busy anyway!

The only reason I might want one is for when I'm away on training courses, but that's not enough of a reason to justify the cost of one, plus games.

So before you splash out £100+ think about it. When would you play it? Would you rather play it than a dedicated games machine? At £30 a game, it's not a cheap alternative, is it?

What is appealing though, somewhat strangely, is the games.

Why is it that an inferior machine is producing the titles that people really want to play?

There has been so much talk of going back to the days of SNES style gaming, as that's the benchmark that the GBA is after, but aren't we just seeing SNES gaming through rose coloured glasses? Is it really as good as we remember?

I remember going back to the original ISS after playing the N64 version. It was so slow and basic by comparison.

So what is it the GBA has to offer? Are todays games really not appeal, so we want to go back to the type of games we were playing 8 years ago?

I don't I want something innovative!

There is one reason why I might get a GBA, despite all I've said though. That is that I am fickle.

Okay, there is another reason, it's because it can link up with the GAMECUBE. Exact details of what this will entail are sketchy at best. If it's simply a case of building up your characters whilst on the move, then I'm not interested. If, however, you can do something special with the GBA, such as use it as an in game radar, use it to access menus, or if the games link in more ways, such as sharing objects to reach secret areas, then it ight just be worth getting.

Ild personally love a GBA, although I only really want it for GBA MarioKart, hence Ive requested it as my Gameaday Prise. At the moment Im still saving for an GBA but I will get one although probably when my copy of MarioKartAdvance arrives.
As for when Ild use it, well whenever Im on a bus from University to my Parents house. The GBA will help me enjoy those 3-4 hrs of my life :-)

The GBA better do well, because the Advert on at the cinema is one of the best ads for a console I have ever seen!!

The GBA is set to be really popular. The Gameboy has left a path of success for it to follow.

I think there are several reasons why the GBA will do well.

1) No competition - There isn't any competition out there to challenge the GBA. Everyone that challenged Gameboy failed. Sega tried it with the Game Gear, but even though it was just the little bit more powerful, Gameboy was just to popular, Atari had a crack with the Lynx but even that couldn't beat it. Then there was the Neo Geo Pocket, and that didn't last long at all. The Gameboy has knocked out any competition, and is there anyone out there who would be willing to challenge the GBA. I think not.

2) Games - The GBA has an impressive line up of games. There are the tradional Mario games that are available on every Ninty console, with the most promising being Mario Kart. And for the first time, Sonic and Mario will be on the same console. Should be interesting. The graphics are similar to that of the SNES, but a little better, so if the games are anything like those on the SNES, then this should definately do well.

3) Special features - There are alot of special features that should help sell the GBA. It's compatibilty with the Gamecube is one of them, being able to use it as a controller. Brilliant concept. There is also the multiplayer capabilities, being able to have four player games with the aid of link up cables.

The GBA is all set to do well. But will I buy it. I am not sure yet. The games certainly appeal to me, and so does the price. I will probably buy it, but not straight away. I wait to see how it does first, and wait until there is more choice of games before I do.

To be honest Meka, I don't think it matters how the GBA ties in with the GC... it will sell millions on the strength of thr GB... which I might add is the biggest selling console ever!

All Ninty need to do now is make the new pokemon game GBA only!

Sonic

Iam in the same mind as you Meka. I would like one but to get the console and 2 games will be around £160. There is only one launch title I would buy and that is F-Zero. I would get Mario if it wasnt based on number 2 as I didnt like that one at all. Rayman Advance would be ok aswell. I would like Mario Kart advance and Sonic aswell but they arent release titles.

I am have been thinking quite hard whether to get one. But as I drive every where I can play on it when travelling. If I go out with my parents which is very rare then I would be a passenger or more often than not they want me to drive.

When I go to Uni and travel there every day(20 min drive) then I will be driving then catching the bus into town. I could play it then as it would be a 10 -20 min journey around the town to my stop. But being on the us playing on it some gang of kids or whatever would bug me and try to nick it because they cant afford one.

When at home I would rather be sat on my PS2 or DC playing on my 28in TV sitting on my bed rather than looking at a tiny LCD screen. If the GBA came with a TV output so you could link it up to the TV I would get one for sure whether it was launch day or a few months later.

As I really would like Mario Kart and Sonic I think I'll wait for those games to come out before buying one. As at the moment I would probably spend the first week playing on it and then get bored as there isnt many games I would want to play.

Meka_Dragon wrote:
> There's rather a lot of excitement regarding the impending release
> of the GameBoy Advance. But the question is do you really need
> one?


Do you REALLY need a PS2?


The only reason I might want
> one is for when I'm away on training courses, but that's not enough
> of a reason to justify the cost of one, plus games.


I've got a GBC, and I play it quite a lot.

Although when I'm travelling, I prefer to read. And although I do use it when visiting my parents/grandparents/ work trips/etc.. this alone wouldnt be enough of a reason for me to buy one (since TV, alcahole and people generally fill that gap)...

I share a flat with two other people, in the evening, more often than not my G/F will pop by after work... so theres three other people and myself, who sitt around the lounge, and watch TV, drink wine, chat, etc...

As a result of this, its generally busyier and more fun to stick around in the launge... however, equally more often than not, they want to watch TV programmes that I'm not all that interested in. In which case, I can stick my GB on and play away, allowing me to stick around, in case somthing good comes on TV, keep in the convosation, dont miss any chances of going out drinkking, etc...


>At £30 a
> game, it's not a cheap alternative, is it?

None has ever claimed it to be?

So what is it the GBA has to offer? Are todays
> games really not appeal, so we want to go back to the type of games
> we were playing 8 years ago?

I don't I want something
> innovative!

Innovation isnt based on the power of the hardware... its based on the imaginations of the developer...

As for older games not being as much fun... this is true for a lot of retro titles... although that is playing it on the retro machine... If I played Super Mario Bros on a NES, I'm sure it would REALLY look and feel its age... however, it is immense fun on the GBC... Remember, these arnt straight ports of the originals, they are tweaked and in some parts re-written for todays gamers... after all, if the games arnt all that good, people will learn not to buy them...

Due to the lack of graphics, gameplay will once again be the most important design element, also, as GBC games have proven, publishers are more willing to release untried ideas on the GB than they are on the home consoles...

Okay, there is
> another reason, it's because it can link up with the GAMECUBE. Exact
> details of what this will entail are sketchy at best.

Nintendo are doing this on purpose... although dont thinks its part of their strategy to sell the GBA on this... (I think there going to use it as part of their strategy to sell the GC, since they are hoping SOO many people will have a GBA, that the benifits of using it on a GC will be immense)

If it's simply
> a case of building up your characters whilst on the move, then I'm
> not interested. If, however, you can do something special with the
> GBA, such as use it as an in game radar, use it to access menus, or
> if the games link in more ways, such as sharing objects to reach
> secret areas, then it ight just be worth getting.

I suspect it will be lot more than that... these are the more obvious uses... but remeber that the GBA is a machine in its own right... not just an extension of the GC... so I'd rather expect the two systems links to have a LOT of different beifits over time (i suspect it depends on the sales of both machines?)

I'm not intending to get a GBA for a good while yet (Ive got to get a job first :) ) ... but I dont think its quite as futile a purchase as you may think? :)

Maybe.

I prefer to read and fall asleep.
This is just my opinion for me.

GBA will sell loads, and it looks ok. Just hasn't grabbed my imagination at all, purely because I dont see anytime where I would want to play it

Goatboy wrote:
I cant see myself playing
> one on a train or plane, simply because time not at home is time I'm
> spending doing something else.

But what can you possibly be doing on a plane that is more fun than playing a GBA? The in flight movies are usually screened only once or twice every 8 hours (unless you have those back seat tvs), so in the end you would be sitting on your tod twiddling your thumbs, and listening to boring radio, thinking, i should have bought that GBA.

Okay, good, it's not just me then!

This is where I think Nintendo a being a little bit crafty then.

I might get a GBA depending upon how it links with the GAMECUBE.

Surely others like me (those that plan to get a GAMECUBE put don't intend to buy a GBA) will be considering getting a GBA if it links up with the GAMECUBE to do special things.

And likewise won't there be GBA owners that see that they can add a whole new dimension to a game simply by linking up with a GAMECUBE.

So most people that own one, will at least give plenty of consideration to buying the other.

Of course Nintendo would have to market this right, but it could certainly help sell a few units.

Personally speaking, I've not paid any attention to the GBA.

Simply because I dont have a need for it, like yourself.
I've never been into handhelds at all.
I'm either driving or talking.

When I'm at home, it's PS2 or PC.
When I'm not at home, I dont think about playing anything at all.

(this isn't a dig at those that want them...) I think the GBA is for a younger consumer. School kids for lunchbreak, the bus etc. Not saying the games are for kids, just saying that those with time to play handhelds are generally younger.

I cant see myself playing one on a train or plane, simply because time not at home is time I'm spending doing something else.

Now calm down people, this isnt a flame-attempt.
Just saying, for me, I don't really have any interest in the GBA.