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You've all seen it by now. The 84.6mm x 82mm x 24.3mm mini-disc-esque GBA 1.5 that'll hit European shores on March 28 for around €129 that comes in black for current black GC owners, blue for current purple GC owners, and silver for just about everyone else. It has a back-lit screen. It has a rechargeable battery with a life-span of 10 hours with the light on (although you can turn it off for an almost doubled life of 18 hours). It folds up and fits in your pocket. It's about half the size of it's big brother, but with an identical screen (save the lighting). But what about the existing userbase?
When the GBA came out many went nuts over what is essentially SNES technology in a handheld. Many great games, conversions and upgrades have been released such as Doom, F-Zero X, Super Mario World and Metroid Fusion, with tonnes of great games on the horizon like Super Monkey Ball Jr, and the new wave of Pokemon. Several of my friends bought it, and seeing them playing Ecks vs Sever and F Zero X and Mario Kart on the bus made me quite envious. I took solace at the jokes made at the screen's expense, whilst giving longing looks to eBay's search results for 'GBA'. I considered buying it, but then I snapped out of whatever phase I was in, and went back to playing grown up games like The Getaway and Fifa like the mindless Sony idiot I am.
Then I hear of this, and I'm clutching my hundred or so pounds ready to pre-order. It wasn't a phase - the GBA is a great platform, and everbody knows it. It may have a monopoly, but contrary to the definition Nintendo are always pushing the handheld boundaries. Look at the games in development, like Diddy Kong Pilot and Kirby, both tilt sensitive. Hideo Kojima is making a vampire hunting game that uses a solar panel on the cartridge. Now I can have all this in the consumer friendly itsy bitsy tiny winy form of the GBA SP.
Nintendo are smart - it's tilted me over the edge in a way the existing console never would without a drastic price cut, and no doubt many other people will be in the same situation...but think about your friends who bought Indigo GBAs straight away. They still have to shovel AA batteries in, they still need to squint whilst holding the screen right up to their eyes in an open field at midday in the middle of summer (there I go again with the screen jokes), or send it off to some mail order company and hope they get back a GBA with a light soldered in.
When my friend who owns a GBA saw the article, his reply contained words unsuitable for a family forum such as this, but suffice to say he wants an SP, not an old, crusty obsolete package that won't even be reduced in price because of the new console. Nintendo said they would release a backlit console when battery life was no longer a problem, and they've stuck to their word...but I can't help feeling sorry for people already playing. Maybe Nintendo should set up an upgrade service like Carphone Warehouse, or even snap up the Afterburner rights and offer a £10 job.
So, mine's a silver. What are your thoughts?
-El Blokey
When the GBA came out many went nuts over what is essentially SNES technology in a handheld. Many great games, conversions and upgrades have been released such as Doom, F-Zero X, Super Mario World and Metroid Fusion, with tonnes of great games on the horizon like Super Monkey Ball Jr, and the new wave of Pokemon. Several of my friends bought it, and seeing them playing Ecks vs Sever and F Zero X and Mario Kart on the bus made me quite envious. I took solace at the jokes made at the screen's expense, whilst giving longing looks to eBay's search results for 'GBA'. I considered buying it, but then I snapped out of whatever phase I was in, and went back to playing grown up games like The Getaway and Fifa like the mindless Sony idiot I am.
Then I hear of this, and I'm clutching my hundred or so pounds ready to pre-order. It wasn't a phase - the GBA is a great platform, and everbody knows it. It may have a monopoly, but contrary to the definition Nintendo are always pushing the handheld boundaries. Look at the games in development, like Diddy Kong Pilot and Kirby, both tilt sensitive. Hideo Kojima is making a vampire hunting game that uses a solar panel on the cartridge. Now I can have all this in the consumer friendly itsy bitsy tiny winy form of the GBA SP.
Nintendo are smart - it's tilted me over the edge in a way the existing console never would without a drastic price cut, and no doubt many other people will be in the same situation...but think about your friends who bought Indigo GBAs straight away. They still have to shovel AA batteries in, they still need to squint whilst holding the screen right up to their eyes in an open field at midday in the middle of summer (there I go again with the screen jokes), or send it off to some mail order company and hope they get back a GBA with a light soldered in.
When my friend who owns a GBA saw the article, his reply contained words unsuitable for a family forum such as this, but suffice to say he wants an SP, not an old, crusty obsolete package that won't even be reduced in price because of the new console. Nintendo said they would release a backlit console when battery life was no longer a problem, and they've stuck to their word...but I can't help feeling sorry for people already playing. Maybe Nintendo should set up an upgrade service like Carphone Warehouse, or even snap up the Afterburner rights and offer a £10 job.
So, mine's a silver. What are your thoughts?
-El Blokey
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It's excellent. The GBA in it's original incarnation isn't truly portable (unless you've got a gorilla's sized pockets) but this one is. I can't decide whether to egt a siler or black one. I have a black GC so it would look better, but then again, I'm no colour co-ordinating woman so I'll probably opt for the silver.
I cannot wait! Just a week ago i was considering sending off my GBA to get it fitted with an afterburner light. That's not happening! I bet the guys who developed the afterburner kit must be sick as parrots - Nintendo have single-handedly forced them out of business!
I cannot wait! Just a week ago i was considering sending off my GBA to get it fitted with an afterburner light. That's not happening! I bet the guys who developed the afterburner kit must be sick as parrots - Nintendo have single-handedly forced them out of business!
I draw the size of the GBA SP on some paper and its tiny, cant see how any possible human can play on it.
They are all the same apart from the size.
Looking nice. Anyone know the specs?
I might think about getting one of these. Did want a GBA when they were released but couldnt really be bothered. Probably get one on release day in Black, and then get a few games.
I never wanted a GBA.
And I don't really want this.....
:)
And I don't really want this.....
:)
I'm annoyed, AND impressed.
I own a GBA, Nintendo are telling me to buy a new one! Grr!
*Sells GBA* Pfft piece of monkey crap, i need new flesh!
I own a GBA, Nintendo are telling me to buy a new one! Grr!
*Sells GBA* Pfft piece of monkey crap, i need new flesh!
Interesting thought- I'm going to import the silver one (in 80 days time) but will it remain region free then? It would be a bagger if it wasn't...
FinalFantasyFanatic wrote:
> Have you looked at the pics on the site?
> I couldn't see any shoulder button at any of the angles shown. Surely
> there has to be if its going to play GBA games.
>
> I'll have another look.
You can see them on this pic
http://image.reserve.co.uk/www/public/images/ ss02/big/gg/gameboyadvancesp-c.jpg
> Have you looked at the pics on the site?
> I couldn't see any shoulder button at any of the angles shown. Surely
> there has to be if its going to play GBA games.
>
> I'll have another look.
You can see them on this pic
http://image.reserve.co.uk/www/public/images/
I sold my GBA SO I am also getting a Black One!
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