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Game Boy Advance SP Sells 1.1 Million in U.S.
clu76 writes "An article at Business Wire indicates that Nintendo has sold 1.1 million Game Boy Advance SPs since hitting the shelves less than 10 weeks ago. The article goes on to say, 'The new model has sold at a rate of more than 10 per minute, non-stop, since launch.'
Two new colors of the popular handheld have also been announced: Flame (red) and Onyx (black)." I'd attribute this to the SP being the first Game Boy to have a screen that's viewable in total darkness, as well as not requiring batteries. Anyone got ideas for what to do with an old GBA?
While I do like the GBA SP, and it's screen, I'm sticking with my GBA and AfterBurner ( http://www.tritonlabs.com/ ) internal light (which is in my opinion as good as the GBA SP light), just because I can't use the GBA SP without getting cramp.. I'd live nintendo to release a new GBA SP about 50% bigger, then those of us with larger hands (or it seems normal man-sized hands) can hold it without cramp!
Combination - fun iPhone puzzling
My hands are somewhat big and i find the grip on the SP model too small and awkward, the old model is a bit bigger, but with the afterburner, i actually think you're better off(the dimmer chip has different levels of intensity, and an auto-off feature, very handy if you leave it turned on because you can't save at that moment).
By the way, i think Nintendo has done wrong requiring an adaptor for headphones, because in both the old GBA and the SP the speaker is practically useless.
Save it. Final Fantasy: Chrystal Chronicles uses a GBA hooked up to your Gamecube as a controller.
Some people will shout that they did this just to sell more GBAs, but it all makes sense, really. A Final Fantasy where the game pauses every time one of four players need to change equipment?
This method also encourages you to talk to each other during the game, since you only see your own stuff and need to tell the other players that you're low on healing potions or whatever.
Leveling up builds character.
Please, note, this is NOT a backlight! I repeat, NOT a backlight! The GBA SP has a FRONT light, just like the Afterburner.
Backlights are placed behind the screens whereas frontlights are placed in front of the screen. The GameBoy Advance SP uses a frontlight. It's a common mistake.
For some reason, people also seem to think that all backlit screens get washed out when viewed under front lighting. That is also wrong. Transflective LCD technology has been around for over a decade. My Newton uses a transflective LCD (a rather nice one, I might add) and it was discontinued over five years ago!
Yes, it definitely looks better than any previous GB. But just because it's currently the best does not mean it cannot be better or that it should not be improved upon.
Here are some other reasons:
-sleep mode which is a low-power consumption mode available in some games
-game link, where the gameboy is mostly inactive, like on Legend of Zelda
-mp3 player attachment
But like FroBugg said, the screen's light should go off automatically, though you can turn it off yourself.
The headphone jack is like $7, and mine came with a set of bud earphones. The only drawback is not being able to listen through the headphones while charging.
I'm the big fish in the big pond bitch.
is that it solves all the problems of the original GBA.
I would have got the original GBA, but I'm hard on my hardware, and screens get scratched. The "clamshell" design of the SP solves that problem.
I also hate buying batteries or battery packs. The SP solves that with an internal Li-Ion battery that lasts as long lit as the GBA could go on a set of alkalines without a light (ten hours) and longer unlit (eighteen hours).
The Castlevania games that every review site ever said "Get a halogen lamp and don't move while playing this" are no longer valid now that the SP has an even front-light (that does make the screen a bit bluer, but still very playable). I don't have to go third-party (sketchy) or trust my own skills (sketchier) to avoid getting dirt in the screen when installing a light.
It's also small. I've got enough crap in my pockets (cell, keys, PDA, etc etc) that I needed something a bit smaller than the GBA. At three inches square, the SP fits the bill.
Yes, the lack of a headphone jack is annoying, but I can play without sound and rarely lose anything. Unfolded, the form factor's similar to the original Game Boy, and I can play it just fine. I guess I have small girly hands. Lucky me.
The SP is replacing old GBAs ("MOMMY MOMMY BUY IT FOR ME" is a popular one, but far from all) and is increasing the userbase to adults who can drop a hundred bucks on a toy. I just wish they'd premiered with all four colors - I would have preferred black to silver. Oh, I'm sorry. ONYX to PLATINUM.
Dare to Hope. Prepare to be Disappointed.