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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."
The NeoGeo Pocket Color should have killed it. N-Gage should have killed it. Its predecessors should have been killed by the Game Gear, Lynx and Nomad -- which was a freaking portable Sega Genesis.
But the Gameboy Advance is so cheap, and has so many games for it, that it might not die quickly. The DS, remember, has GBA compatibility, which lessens the pressure on developers to switch to the DS. Every DS sold effectively increases the Advance's user base, which may work against Nintendo the same way the Atari 5200's 2600 compatibility worked against it.
Add into this the fact that Advance seems super easy to develop for. I don't think it'll last forever, but it's not dead yet.
So you claim it takes less attention to play a game than it does to watch a movie? Do you play any games other than Final Fantasy "press a button 100 times to continue" clones?
Which would you rather do, watch a movie in 10 minute increments, or play a game in 5 minute increments.
I can dedicate my attention for small amounts of time, but to do so in a movie breaks the immersion.
Games can be about immersion, but there's a time and a place for it. That time and place is not while I'm on a bus or car ride.
My current favorite games are racing sims and adventure platformers. Where I can accomplish a goal, appreciate the gameplay enough, and still be able to set it down and check on our progress as we drive to where ever.
Games with lots of audio are a no-no. I need to at least have 1 of my 2 important senses available at all times, and audio can disrupt others if I don't bring headphones (thereby putting me out of availability).
Now I'm not saying that there are videos out there which wouldn't be great on a handheld. Perhaps a Sitcom, or even, your favorite sci-fi show. Something light, not time consuming, and for the love of god, cheap.
GBA: $50 US on ebay if you're lucky
PSP: $299 new, still fraking expensive on eBay
The GBA isn't going anywhere. Anybody who considers the PSP and GBA direct competitors are idiots.