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Japan Gets NES Conversions For GBA, Limited Xboxes

Posted by simoniker on from the all-creatures-small-and-great dept.

Thanks to Planet GameCube for its news that Nintendo has announced a series of 10 re-releases of classic NES games for the GameBoy Advance in Japan. The titles include Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and Pacman, and will be released alongside a Famicom Edition GBA SP, previously only available in a slightly modified, limited edition. Elswhere, orthancstone writes "Gamespot is reporting that Microsoft is releasing two new limited-edition Xboxes in Japan, an Anniversary Edition in 'pure white', and another in 'Kasumi blue'. The blue Xbox will be limited to 5000 consoles, and will come bundled with Dead Or Alive Online, while the white Xbox will be limited to 1000 consoles, and will only be available online."

47 comments

  1. And there was a great smacking of foreheads... by bedurndurn · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft: You know that thing you guys don't want? Now it's available in three collectable colors!

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  2. I'm waiting for the red XBox by ObviousGuy · · Score: 1

    Red makes it go faster.

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    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  3. why not... by jkcity · · Score: 4, Interesting

    why not just make consoles skinable already like nokia phones, its not exactly as if it would be that hard todo, nokia was helped to where they where today by making there phones skinable, the same could be true for the first console maker that does, people like to personalize things, and which ever console they feel more personal with is the one they'll probably spend money on games for.

  4. Yay for Microsoft! by p-p-pom · · Score: 2, Funny

    Selling 6,000 units (5,000 blue + 1,000 white) seems quite an ambitious goal... if they manage to do that in the space of one month, that would represent already 50% of their sales (based on the most recent figures I could find at http://m-create.com/jpn/s_ranking.html). Wow!

    1. Re:Yay for Microsoft! by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      Chart for the end of last year.

      They sold ~98,400 XBox systems in Japan in 2003.

      Chart for the week ending January 4th of this year.

      They've sold ~3036 XBox systems in Japan in the first week of 2004, which, if it could be held constant, would mean a significant increase in sales for the year. I'm guessing that they'll come out with more sales this year, but not the 150,000 or so that the first week's numbers could indicate.

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
  5. Retro Gaming by Sancho · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'll admit, I've bought a few "rereleases" on the GBA. Mostly because they're terrific games with lots of replayability and they suit me to play in short burts while I travel. However, Nintendo won't be seeing a dime from me on these titles unless:

    1) They cost less than $10. Not likely with the cost of making cartridges. Some people in the article seem to think that they will end up costing $20! Absurd, for games like Ice Climber. With Mario, at least they should include the Lost Levels!

    or

    2) Multiple games are included on a single $20 cart. It's not terribly hard to do and gives more value to the player.

    Of course, if the carts are only ever available in Japan, I won't be buying any period. I'm not going to import (and pay the extra cost) Ice Climber. Even Zelda I just got on a Disc with 3 other games. I can play it on my Gamecube. I'm not jonesing for portability that badly.

    1. Re:Retro Gaming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "Some people in the article seem to think that they will end up costing $20!"

      The official Nintendo page linked in the article(!) says the price is 2000 yen, that's $19-20, so there's no "seem to think" here.
      But you need not worry your cheap American ass, as the NES ports won't be released there anyway.

    2. Re:Retro Gaming by Kris_J · · Score: 2, Interesting
      They cost less than $10. Not likely with the cost of making cartridges. Some people in the article seem to think that they will end up costing $20! Absurd, for games like Ice Climber.
      This is why the e-reader is so good. Because the games are simply printed on card, the manufactoring costs are almost zero per copy.
    3. Re:Retro Gaming by pecosdave · · Score: 3, Interesting

      How to play Zelda on GBA legally with only minor "cheating".

      Animal Crossing on the Game Cube contains many old NES games. These games can be played on the Cube or transfered to the GBA using a link cable. Zelda is on the disk, only a legitimate way to unlock it has not been found, it's been unlocked using Action Replay.

      There is one major flaw to doing it this way:
      The game will be loaded into RAM. You can suspend the Gameboy, if you have a GBA SP (or a third party rechargeable pack for a normal GBA) you can theoreticaly play it forever since you can charge it while suspended, unfortunately if you turn off the GBA the game is lost. No saving, turning it off for three months, then resuming.

      So: Game Cube $100
      Animal Crossing $50
      GBA SP: $100
      GBA Link cable $10
      Action Replay $40
      ----------------------
      For only ~$300 you can have a nearly legitimate version of portable Zelda that can't survive a dead battery. (yes, I can get all that stuff cheaper to, I'm just going on general MSRP/OTC retailer prices)

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    4. Re:Retro Gaming by Sancho · · Score: 1

      Modded Informative instead of Funny. How cute :)

      There's a better way. Game and Watch Gallery 4 lets you unlock the original Zelda. However, it's the very last thing you unlock so it takes a good amount of time to get to it.

      GBA SP: $100 (but really, I'd assume you already have this if we're talking about it, so -$100)
      G&WG4: $30
      Hours and hours of your life down the drain unlocking a game you can buy for $20 or just freaking play on your console: priceless.

    5. Re:Retro Gaming by badfrog · · Score: 1

      There's an even BETTER way...
      Nintendo has a deal where you can subscribe to Nintendo Power for 20 bucks, and get a free Gamecube disc with the Zelda I and II for the NES, and the two N64 Zelda games. (Link goes straight to the deal)

      Or you could just buy the new Gamecubes that come with it I guess.

    6. Re:Retro Gaming by Sancho · · Score: 1

      Well yes, but if you're talking about portability (sorta the whole point here) then that's out. :)

      You'll notice that both the solutions above you involved the GBA, whereas yours only uses the GC.

      The disc is awesome, incidentally, it's just not portable, if that's what a person happens to be looking for.

    7. Re:Retro Gaming by pecosdave · · Score: 1

      I do happen to have that disk.....

      I bought both N64 Zelda games only about six months before that disk was announced and never got around to playing them (life is busy). Now that it's on the cube it's slightly more convient than when it was on the 64. But, no transfer over the link cable on that one.

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      The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
    8. Re:Retro Gaming by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 1

      There's an even BETTERER way!

      Buy a Tapwave Zodiac, then purchase and install NesEm for $19.99. You can play 300+ NES games (more being added) on a superb 480x320 screen with an analog controller and stereo sound.

      You can get a nice Game Gear/SMS emulator from Kalemsoft, too.

  6. Limited? by Photar · · Score: 1

    I doubt they could sell 5k xboxes.

    --
    He who knows not and knows he knows not is a wise man. He who knows not and knows not he knows not is a fool.
    1. Re:Limited? by Leynos · · Score: 1

      Uh, dude, it's Dead Or Alive Online. You know, the one Xbox game series that actually sells in Japan.

      --
      "Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?"
    2. Re:Limited? by Photar · · Score: 1

      Uh, yeah, because I'm sure they all want another xbox just so they can play it. Makes perfect sense to me.

      --
      He who knows not and knows he knows not is a wise man. He who knows not and knows not he knows not is a fool.
  7. NES not new on GBA by Sarin · · Score: 1

    My younger brother bought a cartridge for his GBA which allows him to upload his own roms including NES roms. This was about a year ago.

    1. Re:NES not new on GBA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      PocketNES has been around since 2001, long before Nintendo thought of emulating NES on GBA.
      In fact it looks like Nintendo was inspired by PocketNES to make their own emulator for Animal Crossing and the e-Reader.

    2. Re:NES not new on GBA by Gothic_Walrus · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Yes...but that's illegal. The rereleases are not.

      Stealing or not stealing? Hmm...

      --
      Goo goo g'joob.
    3. Re:NES not new on GBA by bluGill · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It is legal iff (not a mispelling, math speak that means if and only if) you own the origional cartrage. Fair use comes into play.

    4. Re:NES not new on GBA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >It is legal iff (not a mispelling, math speak that means if and only if) you own the origional cartrage. Fair use comes into play.

      You would also need an NES ROM reader to read your original cartridge to create the ROM file. 'Fair use' doesn't allow someone to acquire those ROM files from a 'net archive (more specifically, 'fair use' doesn't allow someone to host/distribute those ROM files.)

    5. Re:NES not new on GBA by Gothic_Walrus · · Score: 1
      Actually...no.

      According to Nintendo, the only reason you're allowed to have a backup is so you have it if your original copy is destroyed. You are not allowed to download and use a rom unless you own it and the original has been destroyed. It's as simple as that.

      --
      Goo goo g'joob.
    6. Re:NES not new on GBA by bludstone · · Score: 1

      wait.

      So I can only make a backup if its destroyed?

      How am I supposed to do that, its destroyed.

      I had a housefire when I was about 14. I had a collection of, several hundred NES games.

      Prove me wrong.

      --

      no .sig
    7. Re:NES not new on GBA by EvilSporkMan · · Score: 1

      However nice that would be for Nintendo, this is such a fine legal point that they probably won't raid your house over it. Also, it even seems perfectly ethical to me if you bought the game already. Point being that grandparent can go ahead and get his PocketNES fix.

      --
      -insert a witty something-
    8. Re:NES not new on GBA by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 0, Troll
      Well, the poster you are responding to is incorrect about the whole affair - downloading ROMs is never in firm legal standing. Fair use dictates that you are allowed to make a backup copy of an item you purchase and since you are making the backup from the game yourself, there's no burden of proof that you owned the game.

      Downloading ROMs, even when you own the original game, is not legal, even if your game was already destroyed before you made the backup.

      --
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    9. Re:NES not new on GBA by bugbread · · Score: 1

      Reading comprehension is your friend.

      You can make your backup whenever you want. You can only use your backup if the game has been destroyed.

    10. Re:NES not new on GBA by Gothic_Walrus · · Score: 1
      Actually...as another poster pointed out, you can't download roms. Ever. You can backup the games that you already own, but you can't download them.

      Sorry about that...brain fart, I guess.

      --
      Goo goo g'joob.
    11. Re:NES not new on GBA by bluGill · · Score: 1

      Nintendo can say that. However courts have still held for fair use. I'm not sure if you are allowed legally to obtain a copy of a game you own the ROM for from someone else (but likely not) however the courts have not held that you need to destroy the origional when you make a copy, and copyright law generally allows for one (and only one) backup copy of anything.

      You are allowed to time or space shift something you have legal rights to, so long as it is for personal use.

      Obviously IANAL, see a lawyer if you really need to know what your rights are.

  8. Ah Nintendo... by Thedalek · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The company that pushes the boundaries of "How many times will you buy the same item?" For those of you who already have the e-Reader versions of some of these games, Nintendo will undoubtedly come up with some incentive to entice you, such as lost levels, alternate graphics modes, and promotional materials. And then, again in six months when they release the Classical Collection discs for the Gamecube (just a vague rumor I've heard batted around with no real merit).

    --
    Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
  9. Sounds like a good idea, but... by shoptroll · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The Famicom styled SP sounds pretty cool.

    However, I have a small contention on the games.

    1) At least two of those games, Ice Climbers and Excitebike, I believe are available through the e-Reader system.
    2) I highly doubt these will be released in some budget format, however, there is no way that these would fill up all the space in a standard GBA cartridge, so maybe they will drop the price?
    3) If my guess is anything, I'll bet that Super Mario Brothers would be a port of the SMB DX port they did for Game Boy Color. I think that one did have the Lost Levels in the original 8-bit style, however you needed to beat the original game or something to get to them.

    Let's first see if these even make their way over here.

    --
    Insert Sig Here
    1. Re:Sounds like a good idea, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "1) At least two of those games, Ice Climbers and Excitebike, I believe are available through the e-Reader system."
      But they weren't released in Japan.

      "3) If my guess is anything, I'll bet that Super Mario Brothers would be a port of the SMB DX port they did for Game Boy Color. I think that one did have the Lost Levels in the original 8-bit style, however you needed to beat the original game or something to get to them."
      No, it will be a port of the NES/Famicom game. Sheesh. Ever look at the GBC resolution?

      "Let's first see if these even make their way over here."
      They won't.

    2. Re:Sounds like a good idea, but... by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      "No, it will be a port of the NES/Famicom game. Sheesh. Ever look at the GBC resolution" Same exact thing, graphics wise. The only difference is that the GBC version clips the top of the screen (which can be scrolled upwards by hitting the up directional button).

      --
      Insert Sig Here
  10. NES on GBA... by Lord+Graga · · Score: 0

    ...Has been possible for years. Just use a Flash Cart and PocketNES for GBA. Tadaa! (Damn, why is there no pimping tag?)

  11. Burden of proof by orthancstone · · Score: 1

    Sorry buddy, but you'll have to learn that it isn't Nintendo's responsibility to prove you wrong. It is up to you to prove yourself correct. "Prove me wrong" in terms of law will get you nowhere.

    1. Re:Burden of proof by bludstone · · Score: 1

      I thought I was innocent until proven guilty.

      I really _DID_ have a fire, and I did have a very large nes collection.

      --

      no .sig
    2. Re:Burden of proof by orthancstone · · Score: 1
      I thought I was innocent until proven guilty.
      You are innocent till proven guilty. However, if they can prove you've already broken the law and you cannot prove yourself innocent, guess what the conclusion is...
  12. Original Versions? by Tofino · · Score: 1

    Are these the exact, original versions, or slightly-changed-enough-to-be-annoying versions like the Mario Bros. that comes with all the Super Mario Advance games? That Mario Bros. has two major annoyances I can think of offhand. (1) You can't move until the level-start ditty is over. In the arcade, you could move straight away, which often made all the difference to positioning yourself for the impending assault. (2) YOU CAN'T SEE THE WHOLE DAMN SCREEN AT ONCE. What were they thinking?

    1. Re:Original Versions? by wikthemighty · · Score: 1

      I would assume these will be more original versions, like what you get when you downlaod NES games from Animal Crossing (or with the e-Reader) as the code allready exists, right?

      These games (from AC or e-cards) are identical to the NES originals except for the fact that the screen is scrunched - a few lines are interlaced due to the fact that the NES had a larger vertical resolution than the GBA.

      I'm sure these are there more for nostalgia than anything else - if the emulator plus one game will fit in the GBA memory, then they certainly could have stuck them all on one cart. At least bring the release down to a few carts, one per company perhaps?

      --
      "There are people who do not love their fellow human being, and I _hate_ people like that!" - Tom Lehrer
  13. There are... by Nexzus · · Score: 1

    but they are third party and would probably void the warranty. I like smokey transparent for gadgets for some reason, and I was able to get both a smokey transparent case for my Playstation 1, and for my Dreamcast.

    --
    Karma: Can only be portioned out by the Cosmos.
  14. Retro Gaming? How about Racist Gaming? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Pure White"... yeah that is retro alright...

    sheesh...

  15. 6000 le Xboxes? by scot4875 · · Score: 2, Funny

    6000 limited edition Xboxes? Isn't that enough to just about double their Japanese user base?

    I kid, I kid...

    --Jeremy

    --
    Jesus was a liberal
  16. Did anyone else notice... by pragma_x · · Score: 1

    .. that the special edition GBA colors make it look an awful lot like the old Nintendo game watches they used to make back in the 80's?

  17. Super Mario Bros. DX by wikthemighty · · Score: 1


    Aside from the limited screen size (GBC compared to GBC) I always prefered this cart to the Super Mario Advance titles as I enjoy playing them in "the original 8-bit style"

    I get especially sick of all the voices they've added, which seem to get more and more flamboyant as time goes by. Shoot, they even added Mario voice-overs to Pac-Man Vs. for crying out loud! ("Pac-Man ate-a da fruit!") It's a fun game if you can get the people together to play it, but Mario in a Namco title just seems wrong somehow..

    --
    "There are people who do not love their fellow human being, and I _hate_ people like that!" - Tom Lehrer