Slashdot Mirror
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."
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.
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.
/. editor, the article submitter, or whoever gave the article its title bothered to read it all that well.
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
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
...which may work against Nintendo the same way the Atari 5200's 2600 compatibility worked against it.
I believe you're referring to the 7800 here. The 5200 did support 2600 games. However, you needed to buy a cartridge adapter as well as use 2600 controllers. This setup ended up costing about as much as a 2600.
I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
The quote listed in the summary really has little to do with the content of the actual article. (Indeed, the first page has little to do with the rest of the article.) While the first page does seem to predict the end of the GBA, the rest of article is 5 pages of reviews/previews/hopes for upcoming GBA games. The final paragraph of the article reads: The Game Boy line is reaching the end of its road, at least for this generation. But between the Micro, the DS' backwards-compatibility and a slow trickle of quality software, there should be enough kick left in the system to keep the name alive until Nintendo chooses to unveil the Game Boy's true successor.
Clearly they are not predicting the demise of the GBA, rather the eventual end of that particular piece of hardware but the continuing support of the codebase.
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.
Yes, its true, Nintendo has made a unique product which offers something new to consumers, backwards compatibility with their huge library of old titles, and the possiblity of both multimedia support (see the article's mention of the Play-Yan adapter) and PDA capabilities (it already has a touch screen, and the GameBoy had digital assistant software years ago).
I'm sure the GameBoy will be wiped off the map any time now, right after the Macintosh (pesky unique architecture), the iPod (inability to work with millions of competing formats), and CDs (who needs an entrenched user base when you could have 5 hojillion gigs on one fingernail).
It makes more sense to try to sell to hardcore gamers anyway, and fight for their attention from movies, mp3 players, PC titles, and pr0n; instead of the millions of children begging their parents for Pokemon. Definitely a doomed marketing strategy and business plan.
Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta catch them all . . .
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.
You clearly haven't played Final Fantasy. Pushing the same button.(using the same attack on the default target) over and over again is generally a good way to get yourself killed.
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.
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.
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).
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Laziness is the father.
Which is more ironic?