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Nintendo Gameboy Advance, In Advance
IEEE1394 writes "The Gameboy Advance is due to be released in North America on June 11, 2001. Many reviews of the Japanese units have been done, but I haven't seen one of the North American unit. Futurelooks has snagged a unit and some games recently and has done a thorough review of the unit. Hopefully this will help some of you folks figure out if you should run to your closest Circuit City in the U.S., or Futureshop in Canada to buy it. For a hundred bucks, it's a steal, so you know I'm there! Check it out!" Now if only that screen was touch sensitive;)
That would be nice, but luckily hobbyists can use gcc and friends to build stuff for GBA. Check out gbadev.org for info. There's also plenty of homebrewn demos and source to try out.
Also, they dont seem to have a VIDEO OUT on the thing anywhere! Everyone would LOVE to be playing these new 2d games on their TVs rather than on a dinky screen. Nintendo doesn't realize that their market is capturing 2D side scrolling game fans that are SICK of todays 3D blandness. We're foaming at the mouth for another 2d color Zelda, Metroid, Kid Icarus, Mario, Mega Man, Castlevania etc ..! We don't want a 3D system! We want another 2D system! And this is a step UP from the SNES, so it's all good in our books!
Good job on having it backward compatible with old gameboy games, though! The price is pretty cheap too, but i'd gladly fork out another $50-100 for a special backlit version and TV OUT..
"The reason they're doing it without charging, from what I've read, is because Nintendo's trying their usual 'supply issues' speech like they've done with every system" No the reason EB is doing it is because they make next to $0 on the GBA itself, making their profit from the games/peripherals, just like the game company. The bundle phenom is just to get people to buy games they otherwise might not and make it seem like a deal at the same time.
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I couldn't wait, so I picked up a Japanese unit a couple months ago. Other than the irritation associated with using a reflective LCD (at least until someone releases light for it), it's AWESOME. The batteries lasted longer than it took for me to finish Super Mario, which was impressive. F-Zero is fun, but a little tough. I haven't put in a whole lot of hours with it because I haven't built up enough skill to open the more interesting tracks.
:( )
I just got Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 yesterday, and I haven't been able to atop playing it. Other than getting used to the isometric view, the game plays like a dream. The animation is super-smooth, and the game has most of the tracks found in the Dreamcast version (not all of them, though
I respectfully disagree. As far as the market for portable consoles goes, Gameboy has been a bigger success than anyone anticipated. It was introduced in 1990, and shortly after it had competition from Sega and Turbografix, neither of which sold well despite having color screens.
The Gameboy has survived for 10 years with only one upgrade (color) since it was introduced. That's better than any console in the history of video games. I think this says something fundamental about the handheld console market - people don't always want the best hardware as long as they can play games with high replay value (I suspect bundling Tetris with the Gameboy had a lot to do with its early success).
If all people want is a game that they can play riding in the car, or between classes, or sitting in a doctor's office, they don't want to carry around 3d goggles, custom input devices, etc. They want to carry as few items as possible and buy stuff like light guns and goggles for their powerful home console.
You suggest that the GameBoy will lose the market if they don't provide these add-ons. I'm curious who you think they'll lose the market to: Sony or Microsoft? The Gameboy's marketshare makes Windows look like it's at death's door. If the GBA doesn't catch on, it won't be because of competition providing a better product, it'll be because people don't want the GBA.
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Why can't I moderate something "Wrong" or at least "Grossly Misinformed"?
Less than a dozen?
US Launch:
Super Mario Advance, F-Zero, Army Men, High Heat Baseball, Tony Hawk 2, Dodgeball, Fire Pro Wrestling, Top Gear GT, Tweety and the Magic Jewel, Fortress, Iridion 3D, Pitfall, Ready 2 Rumble, Chu Chu Rocket, Rayman, Castlevania, and Pinobee AT LEAST. That's 17 games.
Besides, do you honestly think that you're even going to play 5 of them all the way through before the next set of games hits the shelves?
Note: I didn't say 17 *good* launch titles, but you didn't mention quality either. That said, F-Zero and Tony Hawk have been enough to keep *me* busy lately.
Raptor
Raptor
"Procrastination is great. It gives me a lot more time to do things that I'm never going to do."
Yes, there was a backlit greyscale GameBoy released in Japan only. I believe it was called the "GameBoy Light" or something similar and came out shorthy before the GameBoy pocket.
While I would prefer that there was downloadable SDKs available on Nintendo's website, complete with examples and sniplets of code, you probally won't see it.
Why?
Nintendo wants their products to have a complete pollished look to them... something that most non-professional (notice, I said most... ) software lacks. Granted, some of the professional titles are pretty shoddy looking as well...
Anyway, if Nintendo officially endorsed it, you would have 200 Tetris clones in a week... and maybe 1 or 2 would look as nice as the Tetris that originally came with the Game Boy 12 years ago.
So, what does that leave? Well, there are a number of websites that have been documenting the AGB, as well as the CGB and more. There is a large community of developers working to figure out the AGB. In addition to game writers, there are emulator writers, and developer tool writers as well.
Currently, the development environment is a bit, well, on the slim side... but, you can already use gcc to write code for the AGB. There is even work on a cable that would allow you to download code to the AGB through the link port from your PC... no flash card needed. Even Nintendo doesn't offer that (yet).
Anyway, I think it's much more interesting to go about developing for the AGB this way... it's like early Linux kernel development. Lot's of unknowns, and everyday brings a new piece of knowledge. Pretty cool!
If anyone wants more info, go to http://www.devrs.com/
dennis
I avoided upgrading to the Gameboy Color... Just couldn't see buying another GB just for color (I have a Palm Vx, too -- no color). A TV tuner would be nice, though...
I, for one, am glad they made it backwards compatible with old carts. I think that is the reason why the GameBoy has survived this long in a fairly fickle markey.
I have a Game Gear also. I was never a fan of the "long" shape vs. the "tall" shape of the Game Boy. Too bad they went with the "long" shape.
Now, finally, a reason to upgrade! Can't wait to run Linux on it. 8^)
Jethro
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.
The article itself was fairly decent although well written, although I could make a comment or two about taking your photographs at an angle so you don't get your silly reflection in there...
The only thing that kept catching my mind was the guy's constant banter about their not being a backlight. He tried to make it easier by saying that it increases battery life, which it of course does...but he's missing the point that the Game Boy in any form has NEVER had a backlight. So all of his complaining about not being able to play in certain venues certainly hasn't stopped anyone in the last ten years, so I really doubt that its something worth mentioning.
Maybe he was a Game Gear player or a Lynx player (I had a Game Gear)...but between me and you, not having a backlight suits me just fine. Now only if Palm would use that reflective-TFT in their color displays...then we could finally use them outside!
-Julius X
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Sega had a hand held device called the GameGear. It was 8 bit, however, it was superior in at least a couple ways to todays GameBoy Adv, 8+ years later. It had both a backlit display and a TV tuner, neither of which the LameBoy Adv. has.
You forgot "...yet". Who's to say that Nintendo won't make a TV Tuner for GBA? I also had the GameGear, w/ the TV Tuner (as well as the Atari Lynx, NEC TurboExpress, and the Original GB and GBC), and while I liked the system, it totally sucked batteries dry. And did you ever notice how big it was? Or how few games were released for it? If all you want is cool harware, fine, but I like my portable system to be *portable* AND play a lot of good games.
I suspect if Sega had the money right now, they would produce a handheld that was 64 bit, played games off CD, played CDs, mp3 CDs, VCDs, and DVDs, and STILL nobody would buy it...
Of course nobody would by it, do you have any idea how much something like that would cost?! Or how big it would be? Look at those portable DVD players out now for an idea of what sort of money you'd be paying for something like that.
Nintendo sucks. I am so sick of the lack of games, the high price point, the cartrige (read suck) using, peice of junk machines that they produce. I swear, I will never buy another Nintendo machine.
Lack of games? The Gameboy has more games available than just about any video game system ever released. If you're talking about the N64 then you have a point, but is it more games you want or better quality games? Regardless of quantity, Nintendo has always made top quality games.
And as for price point and cartriges, do some research. You say you want an XBox or a PS2 when the Gamecube will also use optical storage (mini-DVD) and come in at $100 LESS than either XBox or PS2 ($199 vs $299).
You have a right not to like Nintendo but at least get some facts straight before forming your opinions.
Since the linked website ate my webbrowser (when I saw 8 java apps start at once I knew I was in trouble), I didn't get to read the review.
:)
The one fact that I was looking for was what processor it used.
Thank you.
And to answer your question Intel started making ARMs when they couldn't make a low power embedable CPU on their own and bought them out.
Does anyone know how the GBA runs old GB(C) carts. I guess the StrongARM is fast enough to emulatate an 8MHz Z80. I don't think the ARM is binary compatible with the Z80.
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There was one version that had a backlight, but it was only released in Japan. A friend of mine had one for a while...it was pretty cool, but the battery life sucked.
"That's Tron. He fights for the Users."
I was able to preview one w/ the Super Mario game at Best Buy. The unit looks heavier than it feels. Even with the security cage and wire on it it felt VERY light in my hands.)
:-)
Standing there, under the warehouse high Flor. Lights the display was viewable and playable but it lacked contrast. I guess at that pricepoint, what can you expect. Maybe GameBoy Advanced TfT is in our future? With LithIon Batteries... hmmm... an organizer cartridge and some flashram...
As for the game itself, Super Mario was definitely NES / SNES Quality. So, step back in time and enjoy the 2D Graphics and Gameplay as you remembered them.
I did NOT like the placement of the DPAD controls and buttons in relation to the display. I only used it for a few minutes, but maybe they'd grow on me after a while. The problem was holding the unit at the right angle to light/see the display made the buttons seem out of place (and vice versa).
I thought that the GBA processor was 16MHz, but then again, finding this information has been really hard, so maybe it is 60- 75MHz.
The GBA has a single chip, with an on-board ARM7 CPU, Z80 CPU (8MHz, for audio and backwards compatibility) and graphics.
2 pieces -- first, do get one. The screen brightness sucks, but yesterday i was playing tony hawk two in prospect park, and if all goes according to my (made up, praying-type) plan, soon square will release all of the snes rpgs for the gba. really, really a great piece of hardware.
second piece of advice: there's no regional lock-out on the gba. and with the impending us launch, the bottom has dropped out of the import market. so, at many stores that carry imports, you can actually get a gba for *less* than the retail price of a us version -- and there's *no* difference, take it from me.
go buy. it's a nice, warm, fuzzy thing -- you grab it, you play it, and you remember why nintendo is allowed to act so strangely as a company -- they're really that good at producing well-designed, durable, friendly products and franchises. werd.
god is just pretend.
The way the developers could make fun of themselves and make it stylish. When you find the lost girl on the beach, you hold her over your head in the usual Link-style, and proclaim "You got Marin! (Is this your big chance?)" Friggin' hilarious, although I have found that people look at you funny when you do that with everday objects...
Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru?
I think this thing will be excellent as a GameCube controller. That's the most exciting thing about it.
- Sports - Pick your play without anyone seeing you
- RPG - Cast a spell or choose a weapon without having to wait for everyone else to do the same
- Driving - Rear view mirror? Pit stop choices?
The list goes on and on... Why doesn't Sony have something like this for the PS 2?!?!?--
Later...
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Circuit City has had display models available for weeks. I used one about 3 weeks ago (played Mario Advance), and it was cool as hell - I've already got a pre-order in.
Did any of the gameboy models have a backlight? I know my first generation one didn't, and my nephew's Game Boy color doesn't...
Anyway, looks like a cool toy, once they get some good games out in may be time to upgrade from my Neo Geo Pocket Color.
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Even though it's as old as heck, my favorite hand-held gaming system has got to be the Atari Lynx. The games, graphics, and controls are all class. The game boy is ok, but even this "new" release still looks like it's light years behind the old Lynx (let alone the games for it).
----Quid
----Quid
Less talk, more caffeine
I sure wouldn't. Having to stick a CD player on the back would make it a lot bulkier and decrease the battery life.
Although having it double as a CD player (or even VCDs or -dare I say?- DVDs?) would be kinda cool, I think backwards compatibility with old Gameboy games is a nice touch. I still have fond memories of playing that Legend of Zelda game where he gets stuck on the island...
Actually, it just occurred to me that what would be *really* cool would be if Nintendo released "memory stick"-type cartridges that you could load with mp3s. Now THAT I would put down $100 for!
Karma: Bored. (Thinking about resurrecting the "Anyone else is an imposter" joke.)
Actually the tracks in F-Zero: Max Velocity are all new, but the gameplay is all there. The wider screen helps too, but I tend to tilt the unit too much as I play and I lose my viewing angle. Tip: tap the accelerator button for more traction around corners and never use your brake (it's a racing game for god sake!). In fact, configure the controls so brake is L+R and turbo/boost is B (a little tricky to do in japanese; I beat the Pawn (1st) circuit before I remembered F-Zero even had turbo!)
Backlight would be nice, but my GBA has gone close to 25hrs on one pair of AAs (the generic ones that came with it no less)! It's also very close to the same size as a GBC. I, and a few friends, think that it feels (slightly) lighter as well, but I think that has alot to do with the fact that GBA cartridges are about half the size of old GameBoy games! The specs I have seen for it say that GBA is like 2 grams heavier, so I bet sans cartridge, GBA is heavier. Once you see the games in action (screenshots==shit) it's simply amazing that Nintendo has delivered so much more in a package the same size and weight...but longer battery life!
This thing is a gem, and at $100, a steal (I paid $119). You can start looking for one now, a local game store here had them nearly 2 months ago. They're the japanese ones, but GameBoy doesn't do regional lockout (never has) so all your old US games work fine (my friend has seen minor graphic glitches in some, but I doubt the US version will fix that). American games are on sale now; I got Tony Hawk 2 yesterday (from a "legit" game store that wouldn't import GBAs) and my jaw drops every time I play it. Hmmm, I think I have to go kickflip over TC's roof gap now.....
"You point your finger at the moon, the fool stares at your finger."
This is something many people don't realize, although I don't know how many would be affected. I have read about an accessory that will give IR capability, but we will have to wait and see.
;) and 64Mbit (re: 8MByte) programmable carts for GBA at www.lik-sang.com
Interesting idea there with the security token thing. I'm certain you could make something work. You know, it's not just a faster processor, it's a 32-bit ARM! They are already showing cart writer/backer-uppers (highly technical term
"You point your finger at the moon, the fool stares at your finger."
Because more people will buy a unit because it's cheaper than will buy it because it has marginally better quality.
Myself, I'm just pissed that they didn't include X and Y buttons. You could have exact ports of a lot of old SNES favorites. Unfortunately, the few games they are porting need their interfaces redesigned, and some games just won't work without those buttons.
On the other hand, I'm really looking forward to F-Zero and Mario Kart. Almost enough to buy an import off of Ebay. Almost. (Finger itching.)
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Nah. If it ran on Solaris x86, it could probably be made to run on Linux x86, and that wouldn't make for good press.
Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
I totally agree. The original GameBoy is incredibly hot even over a decade after its original release. This can't be said for any other console/handheld gaming system, period (please no flames about how great your Commodore 64 is, etc.).
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Refrag
I have a website. It's about Macs.
I see some of you (and the reviewer too) complain about GBA having no TV out...
But, you may be wrong.. this quote is from IGNpocket:
"Best of the batch is a GBA to TV adapter. This is not a TV Adapter -- at least one developer was showing a TV Tuner behind closed doors -- but instead a unit for playing GBA games on your television. Honey, I enlarged my GBA, they say, and supposedly they did. Unfortunately, it's not playable, which doesn't bode well for a unit supposedly due in July. But Yobo Gameware says it works and works well, and if the output is anywhere near the quality of the Wideboy Advance (which blew us away? we NEED to get one of these things), it should be a good thing to have. Even if not, the Wideboy Advance costs several hundred dollars and cred with Nintendo, so chances are, you'd be willing to settle for less. The unit plugs into the GBA Link Cable and outputs 240x160 on the TV (probably won't zoom like the Wideboy, but it's a pretty simple unit). The faux mock-up shows a cable running from the GBA to AV cables without any box or accessories? we're assuming that's part of the mock up and not the real unit. However, if this is how it works, it cuts out the N64 emulation from the process, which is good since the Wideboy Advance showed some sorting errors. Yobo says it wasn't shown because the prototype went back into the works to include a four-player port on the cable, so we'll see when they start showing it around how successful this interesting project is. "
( http://pocket.ign.com/news/34950.html )
This topic have been discussed in the GBADev mailing list, too. According to one of the posters who had talked to one of this guys, the price tag would be 20$-40$!
Now THAT is cool!
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Greets, Øyvind Berg ~ ËlaC|n
__ elacin
For a month or two now Electronics Boutique has had a special offer for preordering the GBA. "We don't want your money, we just want your business" or some tagline like that.
Instead of the usual $10 deposit for a game/system, you just signed up that you'ld like a GBA, a rechargable battery pack, and three games of your choice from the launch titles. So they got dozens of people 'signed up' for pre-orders.
The reason they're doing it without charging, from what I've read, is because Nintendo's trying their usual 'supply issues' speech like they've done with every system.
The reviewer had a real bone to pick about the lack of a backlight in the unit. If you ever been around a Gamegear you know how those lights eat up battries. I know Nyko is already making a ne Worm Light that works with the GBA (even has the pass through so you can link and light at the same time..I think). 10 bucks gets you a light that doesn't need extra battries and it barely seems to shorten the battry life in my GBC. If you get a GBA you should just go ahead now and get the light, it helps even during the day. And nothing beats a little GB before bed :)
D
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That's my only complaint about the GameBoy Color... the screen requires a lot of ambient light (moreso than the grayscale GameBoy) and the protective covering over the screen tends to be very reflective. Depending on the conditions, the screen can be dim and all I can see in the thing is my own face.
Alot of hitech evolves and improves, and the games would require more and more adaptive equipment to play them. For example, memory sticks, 3d-goggles, custom input devices, etc.
If GameBoy cannot provide such possibilities, it's end is near. Also alot of crap I hear about Nintendo aiming at adult market - people, who earlier played Nintendo games, would buy one and play one. Well, the young generation is simply bigger plus has more "impulse buying behaviour", plus parents who would have no choice but to buy it for their child.
On the good side, simple inputs and hardware limits make game development use imagination and fantasy more than simple "raw power", which is only good. I wish some linux programmes were so easy to interface with... ;)
And hey, anybody wants to port linux to this thing?
This will probably be said several times here, but I'll say it anyway. Nintendo may not have the highest game count, but the games they do have are always great with good replay value. Take F-Zero for instance, I was considering buy a SNES from eBay just to play this game again (and a few others). For the GB Advance, they just made it portable (F-Zero : Maximum Velocity or something like that). A game that is what, 10 years old? They didn't have to spice it up or add guns and blood, they just shrunk it down for their new system. That's why Nintendo rules.
Anyway, for some good eye candy (both GBA and Game Cube), check out Nintendo's E3 site:
http://e3.nintendo.com
-ictatha
"... the advance of civilization is nothing but an exercise in the limiting of privacy" - Janov Pelorat
First off, I've played every incarnation of GB, minus the Game Boy Light.(That's the one everyone talks about having the light. Looks like a Game Boy Pocket, but with a Indiglo backlight.) Yes, I had the enormous Game Boy, the dieting Game Boy Pocket, and the excellent Game boy Color. I loved every one of them, and that's why I'm so excited.
Like I said, I have watched and experienced first-hand the evolution of GB, and from this, I know that the GBA is going to kick @$$. These have always been very good systems, combined with a large library of games and decent cost (but everyone's said that) that it's no surprise to me that it's hung around this long.
To refute what many people are saying, the back light isn't a big issue. I admit, it would be nice to have a back back light you could turn on and off without loss of battery power, but something like that would suck up batteries like people eat popcorn. However, Nyko makes a exceptional light, The Worm Light. I have had one for may GBC for about 1 1/2 years, and they are very good, as they are cheap, durable, and don't consume much battery power.
So, the Age of GB ruling the handhelds, IMHO, is still going strong.
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This space reserved for valid arguements, not pointless ramblings.
Here's the review of the Japanese version of GBA over at IGN. As well as an older preview, with all sorts of links for the GBA here.
Enjoy.
I've played with the "free" version of the GBA SDK. It's not endorsed or encouraged by Nintendo though. I'm not even sure if it's legal... What is Nintendo afraid of? I mean if I develop a game for GBA I still have to put it on a cartridge before I can distribute it en masse. So Nintendo could control the distribution of the cartridges while still allowing developers to dabble with the SDK. They would still be able to verify the quality of games being published. If they are worried about "rogue" distribution channels they can provide a certification programme akin to the "Designed for Windows 9X" from Microsoft. There is no reason for Nintendo to hoard the SDK other than to retain the effective monopoly on games for handhelds.
Your pizza just the way you ought to have it.
What I want is for nintendo to lower the barrier to entry for individual developers and small software shops. It's stil an extremely painful process to acquire a license for developing gb/gba games together with the SDK. If there was a handheld gaming console with a lower barrier to entry maybe we would see a lot more Open Source 2d games and lots more small game shops specialising in games for handhelds. I think Nintendo are stifling the market by making it so hard for enthusiasts to develop and distribute games on their platforms.
Your pizza just the way you ought to have it.
And that's why we see Sega dominating the handheld market today....oh...wait... It is for goofy marketing ideas like this that has driven Sega out of the hardware market. Nintendo built a virtually indestructible, cheap unit that they will be able to feed with their enourmous library of SNES games, and will play games for hours on it's AAs. (BTW, the fragility of backlit screens was probably one of Nintendo's main reasons for omission)
What were you expecting?
The maximum resolution is 240 x 160 pixels, and it can display 511 colours simultaneously, and up to 32,768 possible colors in total.
I believe this is inaccurate. I bought the Gameboy Advance involved Nintendo Power last month and I would bet money that GBA can display 512 colors at the same time in "game mode" and 32,768 colors at the same time in "cinematic mode".
In any case, I didn't see mention of the other graphics mode where it most certainly shows thousands of colors at once for short animations.
feints within feints, wheels within wheels