The GBA's Last Stand

1up.com has a feature up examining the possible end of days for the Game Boy Advance. From the article: "...it would seem the end is nigh. Sony's PlayStation Portable offers PS2 level power and a beautiful screen next to GBA's humble, Super NES-quality experience. And Nintendo seems be placing its hopes on its quirky but successful two-screened DS. Rumors of a next-generation Game Boy system were crushed at E3 2005 with the unveiling of Game Boy Micro, a revised GBA selling on its stylish, compact design and beautiful (but minuscule) screen."

Comments

Obligatory fanboy comment

[Blackwulf]

If being on it's "last stand" means by being the best selling handheld gaming device in the world (which the GBA is) then I would think Nintendo would want to be on it's "last stand" for quite some time.

Re:Obligatory fanboy comment

[FriedTurkey]

I still use my SP every week on a plane. Does the job and the games are still lots of fun.

Good Graphics != Fun

Still a chance

[Apreche]

There is still a chance that the mystery controller for the revolution will BE the new gameboy. I made that prediction months ago. And it is still not beyond the realm of possibility. But my guess is as good as yours. Unless you work for Nintendo that is.

Uh? What?

[cowscows]

Yes, once again, the gameboy is being challenged by a more powerful system. It obviously stands no chance, because how could a weaker piece of hardware compare. We'll just ignore the game gear and lynx and all that.

Oh, and rumors of a next gen gameboy have been CRUSHED! No next gen handheld announcement at E3 2005! Nintendo's last chance ever to announce something new! It'll be impossible now!

Yes, the introduction of the Micro clearly indicates that even Nintendo is submitting to the GBA being close to the end. The huge collection of GBA games at Target show just how dire the situation is.

Make no mistake, the GBA is about to die, and Nintendo is going to die with it. So is Japan, the global economy, and several species of lizards. It's tragic.

I dunno, the article, to me at least, seems to be pointing out all the ways that the GBA is still alive and well. I don't think the /. editor, the article submitter, or whoever gave the article its title bothered to read it all that well.

Yea for Doom Prophets

[alvinrod]

Why does everyone keep predicting the downfall and ultimate death of Nintendo's systems, both console and handheld?

Right now, the DS is outselling the PS2 in Japan. Sure it's not a "GameBoy" in the purest sense, but it still plays GBA games and has a fairly similar design aside from the extra, touch-sensative screen.

A new online publication, The Escapist, has a column about the downfall of Nintendo. It seems like everyone is always jumping on Nintendo's back dispite that they're remaining profitable dispite losing market share.

Personally, I don't think the Gameboy is dead, it's just waiting for a while before a new version comes out. Because the DS is capable of displaying graphics on par with an N64, what would any gameboy released now have to offer? The same N64 graphics without the extra screen? Nintendo could probably produce something with the same kind of power as the PSP, but why bother? It would be more expensive (because Nintendo can't afford to sell at a loss) and wouldn't improve the quality of games any.

A while ago I read an article that theorized Nintendo's next handheld would be a portable GameCube. I think this was in a magazine so you'll have to forgive me for not being able to link it. If Nintendo waits 2 or 3 years until the price to produce the hardware at a reasonable price and with a small enouch size to allow it to be portable, then this could work out really well. Add in the fact that the chip companies are starting to focus more on lowering power consumption instead of ramping up the the clock speed, and such a unit might have a decent battery life.

My main question is, why is the media so obsessed with the graphical capabilities of consoles? Sure pretty graphics can make a game that's wonderful to look at, but if it's not fun to play, what's the point of buying it? As this article points out, 3D isn't always better.

I still play a lot of GB and GBA games because they're fun and give me something to do on road trips. Not to mention that the batteries last quite a bit longer than either the PSP (4-6 hours) or the DS (6-10 hours). Not to mention the fact that a GBA game will cost anywhere from $20-$35, while DS games usually cost $30-$35 and PSP games cost $45-$50. I think the GameBoy offers a fun, affordable, and long-lasting experience that no other console or handheld will ever be able to match.

Re:Yea for Doom Prophets

[sm4kxd]

(because Nintendo can't afford to sell at a loss).

Let's clarify that:
Nintendo doesnt NEED to sell it at a loss. Read this and this. Don't discount them for being hosted at 'nintendoinsider.com' either, they are quite factual and honest.

Here's a few clips: In the final corner, Nintendo has it much better. When the system wars began, Nintendo GameCube was actually making money for each system sold, as Nintendo didn't bother with all the extra non-gaming functions of its competitors, like DVD movie playback. The system was still making Nintendo money at $150, and it wasn't until its $99 price tag that it was estimated Nintendo was losing money - but only in the single digits.

The same goes with Nintendo DS; Nintendo has done everything possible to keep manufacturing costs down and to make a profit with each system sold. For instance, the Nintendo DS doesn't play GB and GBC games primarily because this would cost more money. Nikkei Electronics Asia also has a very interesting article on the cost control features of the Nintendo DS.

...

Next, we have Sony; unlike Microsoft, its games division was profitable during the most recent fiscal year. Overall, revenues were at 729.8 billion yen, or approximately $6.76 billion. Its operating profit was 43.2 billion yen, or $400 million. Still, that's over a $6 billion drop going from revenue to operating profit, and a 36.1% drop from the previous fiscal year. One of the prime instigators, says GameSpot? The PlayStation Portable launch.

And finally, we have Nintendo. Even with three systems in its hands, including a recent launch of the Nintendo DS, Nintendo's operating profit increased by 3.6% in the new fiscal year to 111.5 billion yen, or $1.03 billion. Its revenue was also 515.3 billion yen, or $4.77 billion, meaning a $3.74 billion drop from revenue to operating profit, compared to Sony's $6.36 billion drop. Quite simply, Nintendo's conservative business principles have allowed the company to turn respectable operating profits. No drop because of the DS launch or even less GCN sales here.

It's not that Nintendo can't afford to do anything, it's that they know how to make/spend money effeiciently. Through the fiscal year quoted in those articles, Nintendo (who makes JUST video games and consoles) actually made more profit than Sony AS A COMPANY (TV's, computers, other major electronics, the ps2 and the psp). I doubt that's something new for Nintendo. While they are no Microsoft, they can definately afford to do quite a bit.

Doom for Nintendo

[Gogo0]

With the DS and GBA both continuing to outsell the PSP across the regions, I dont think Nintendo is worrying too much.

Not to say the PSP is going to fall into oblivion like the Game Gear, Lynx, NGPC, Wonderswan, GP32, etc... (Sony will not let it), but Nintendo has taken on better hardware for years and released products when they saw fit (when the market was saturated).

When the GBA stops selling, then Nintendo will give us a new one.

Don't want a PSP

[cahiha]

The PSP is a gorgeous piece of hardware. I don't want one. Really. That's not what I want to carry around and play games on.

A portable game machine needs to look and feel simple and sturdy. Nintendo has that down a lot better than Sony.

Re:retro GBAs rule for long distance travel.

[Sylver Dragon]

Have you tried to carry a screwdriver on an Airplane recently? You might as well bend over and hold your ass cheecks open for the security people, it'll hurt less than them just forcing their way in there.
What ever happened to the good old plastic clip? Just press the tab and pull the lid out, replace batteries, replace lid, you're good to go. And, no anal probe from the security because you tried to carry a weapon onto the airplane (known in the rest of the world as a screwdriver).

Irony Poll!

[Guppy06]

"Sony's PlayStation Portable offers PS2 level power and a beautiful screen next to GBA's humble, Super NES-quality experience."

Which is more ironic?

1. The fact that I bought a PSP solely to play an SNES emulator on (and I won't buy any UMDs, for fear of firmware updates).
2. The fact that the PSP is being outsold by the DS, where one of the main selling points is compatibility with the GBA and its SNES-esque experience.