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Super Mario 3 Gets All Portable
Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a Gamers.com article showcasing new screenshots and details from Super Mario Advance 4 for GameBoy Advance. This title, which is a portable revival of the classic NES title Super Mario Brothers 3 with the higher quality visuals of the SNES Super Mario All-Stars version, will also have e-Reader connectivity, and a recent IGN Pocket preview claims "players can transfer the data from e-Reader to the game... to upload brand new levels and challenges", though, logically enough, "you'll need two GBAs (or a Game Boy Player [for Gamecube] and a GBA) to take advantage of this feature."
It is a shame they didn't release a Mario All Stars (Advance), as they did for the SNES. I find it somewhat annoying that considering the cost of porting a game, that Nintendo decided to release the titles individually. Especially when they have bundled them in the past.
I am not sure what the sales have been like - but although I would purchase 'All Stars' I don't find any of the older Mario's worth full price (mainly because I already own them).
Because they want to maximie profits... which releasing the games individually does. They'll probably promote the GBA player accessory as the way to play your old favorites on your TV, using your game cube...
Which, to me is the best way to do it... by releaseing them for the GBA, and with the soon to be relased player, you can play the games at home, and on the go...
Normally I'd say "Good plan.", but why not put it out for GBA and GCN? For the portables AND the home crowd. Casual gamers would be more likely to buy their home system (which floundered this time, compared to their past ones) if they was a quality line of games for $29. Which, compared to most games, is a throw-away price. Barely more than a CD or DVD.
And it'd give newer gamers a chance to catch up on what they've been missing. It's an idea, anyway. Like those nifty Atari controllers that have games. That's just sweet.
Jeffool.