Slashdot Mirror
The Gameboy Micro Reviewed
Advtg writes "Ars Technica has a great review of the Gameboy Micro, which is now shipping in North America. The thing is
amazingly small, but it looks as though worries about the screen being too small and too dim aren't true. But will it sell? From the review: 'You'd think at this point the portable
market would just be saturated with Nintendo products, and the Micro carries a price tag of US$99.99. For just US$30 more you can get a DS, and for US$20 less you can get an SP
with the newly brightened screen. It occupies somewhat of an awkward place in terms of price point and features.'"
How many people bought a Nano even though they had a perfectly fine player at home anyways?
People don't buy on need or feature/function alone.
For me, the biggest selling point is that it is the least toy-like in appearance of the three. The DS may be fun, but I think it looks a little too much like a kid's toy.
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The thing is amazingly small, but it looks as though worries about the screen being too small and too dim aren't true.
Look at the bright side: if they had called it GameBoy Nano, it would have a scratch-prone screen, so it's not so bad...
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
...But remember what the iPod is doing?
It's popular, and it just came out with the Nano, and even that's selling. Size matters there days, when people want to do things on the go, they like what's smallest best.
does anyone else think nintendo is taking a page out of apples book with this. It reminds me of the way for a few $$ more you can get a bigger better ipod.
The war with islam is a war on the beast
The war on terror is a war for peace
This makes the original Gameboy seem HUGE.
Reality test... am I dreaming?
Neither the rain nor the wind nor consumer opinion will stop Nintendo(TM) from trying to sell us ANOTHER copy of an already existing product it seems...
Bah.
It's been in my local Wal-Mart for over a week. Two weeks maybe even, and I live in Canada. Northern Canada.
One feature of the micro which may seem trivial but, to me is a great idea, is the replacable faceplates.. it's not so much the customisation aspect, though that is pretty nifty, but the fact that the faceplates include a transparent screen cover.
That means you can stick it in your pocket/bag/whatever, and not worry about screen scratches. When too many scratches accumulate simply change the faceplate for a new one.
This is probably the only portable gaming system I'd consider getting. All the others just seem too bulky for me.. and as an ex Atari Lynx owner (stop laughing!) I'd really rather not go through all that again. The micro looks truly "take anywhere", perfect for those 5-minutes-here, 10-minutes-there gaming sessions, especially if you put one of those backup card thingies in it and load it up with emulators.
Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
gameboy.ign.com's review of the Micro is actually pretty positive
Here's the ending summary of it: The GB Micro isn't exactly the ideal way to enjoy Game Boy Advance games, but don't misjudge it by its size. Given the choice between toting a GBA SP in our backpacks or a GB Micro in our pockets, we'll take the Micro. It's tiny, its screen is amazing, and it is surprisingly comfortable to hold.
Sometimes they are virtually throwaway products to get you interested, then think 'gee for just a few bucks more...'.
Not quite 'bait and switch' but damned close.. More like 'bait and pull'...
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Your girlfriend will make it pink. Fair warning.
Haha, he assumes too much.
what the hell kind of review of a small gadget doesn't give you a feel for its size with a photo of a person holding it?
oh wait, a crappy one that slashdot links to.
How long till people port Linux to it?
About... this long
Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
Just... why?
Because a gameboy SP cannot be easily fit into a 20-something professional's work clothes.
Because a smaller gameboy can be carried around for casual gaming, like while waiting in line, without being a brick in your pocket.
Because some folk just buy everything that Nintendo sells.
Because Nintendo can do it at a profit.
Although the main problem with the original GBA was the backlight, it was also very prone to getting marks or scratches on the screen. When the SP came out it cleverly removed this problem with the clamshell design.
The only real complaint with the SP was that the controls weren't as easily accessible as on the original. The shoulder buttons were very small and the thin square design wasn't the best for some hand sizes.
Now nintendo is releasing the micro, which keeps the form factor of the original GBA (more or less) but sidesteps the scratching issue with a better protective layer and most importantly removable faceplates.
Yes nintendo is a fan of releasing the same product over and over, but each iteration always has something new to offer and is rarely a step back. Nice to see the standard headphone jack return as well.
They have a history of marketing "repackaged" old stuff with the new. They made the top load NES when they did SNES. They did the Newer gameboy style at the same time as the gameboy color. Etc, Etc. It seems to work for them.
Surviving America
Big as a deck of Pokémon cards and much more fun.1
1 Do not foolishly trade GameBoy Nano.
You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
The guys at iPod Lounge did a comprehensive review of this little guy some time ago, with lots of pictures comparing it to the various iPods and previous GameBoys for perspective. Worth checking out.
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For just US$30 more you can get a DS, and for US$20 less you can get an SP with the newly brightened screen. It occupies somewhat of an awkward place in terms of price point and features.
When talking about things like palms this sort of note makes sense since really everyone would rather have the most expensive palm for the cheapest price. Same story when it comes to the same line of mp3 player with different storage capacities. But here I don't think that is the case. It seems these 3 products have different values for different customers. If somebody wants something small there aren't going to go for a DS even if it is the same price as the micro. If someone really wants the DS features instead of the extra portability they'll get the DS. And for someone like me who doesn't want something as big as a DS but finds the SP more comfortable to play they will get an SP, even if again all 3 are at the same price.
Instead of having 3 compromises of price and features Nintendo actually has 3 different products, although clearly they are competing against each other. but at the same time prefers the size of the SP
Yeah, and its also just like if Apple decided to release some sort of smaller iPod along with the regular iPod. It just doesn't make sense.
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I think it's more than likely due to the sheer volume of games available, along with a lot of middle of the road buyers who wouldn't go for the DS, and want a simple "least number of moving parts to break" gaming system. Both the GBA SP and GB DS have hinged setups, which for many, are inconvenient. Ribbon cables can break, hinges can break, the backlight on both handhelds will obviously consume battery power far quicker than what the Micro would, and on an economical basis, the screen on the Micro is far cheaper to produce in the long run.
Besides that, it's the "small is good" mentality beyond everything else, the GBA, GBA SP and GB DS are all the size of a wallet. The Micro is the size of a keychain. Like at a LAN party, which would garner more interest? Lugging a suitcase size PC in, or carrying in a 17" LCD with a mini ITX box attached that's the size of a Mac Mini?
Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
and my girlfriend giggles at me :(
serenity now!
Nah -- think ipod nano. nothing new but the form factor, and they're going to sell, by my calculations, on the order of one zillion of them this holiday.
let's not underestimate this sort of usability/aesthetic/convenience factor. i have 88 pockets for my various devices, but normal humans don't.
god is just pretend.
Because we can relive the nastalgia of the original nintendo system. Seriously, it looks like the original nintendo controller. http://www.anotherviewpoint.co.uk/images/nespad.jp g
Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
Wow, apparently the pockets in slacks have gotten a lot smaller since I was in the workplace.
They are marketing it as a fashion statement. There's an ad for it in the new Transworld Skateboarding mag. It shows a kid with a nose ring wearing all camo clothes with a camo GB Micro connected to strap across his chest. There's a slogan "make it yours" at the top. I'll keep my SP.
Apparently if you want to play multiplayer with an SP or connect the Micro to your Gamecube you need to buy a converter cable.
I'm disappointed that they couldn't keep with the standard connector. It's not the end of the world, I'd just prefer not to worry about one more tiny accessory.
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You spend over $100 for a game system and can't be sure which one you bought? Early on-set Alzheimer's?
Personally, I chose the new SP instead of the Micro, after looking at both units. I don't really feel there's a huge size difference between the SP closed and the Micro. The SP is more comfortable for my large hands and the screen is brighter, larger, and easier to see.
Not to say the Micro didn't tempt me. Aside from the size, I liked the built-in headphone jack, and the response time of the Micro's screen seemed a bit better.
But, in the end, the new SP is just too cool. I always really liked the SP formfactor but hated the dim screen. Finally, it has the brighest screen of any Gameboy now, I was shocked at the difference between it and the DS's screen.
If you're going to buy a Micro because of the screen alone, I think the new SP bears consideration as well. I'm quite happy with mine.
From my experience, the people that I tend to see in possession of a gameboy of any variety are the younger crowd (ie. under 15). I think Nintendo really do well to accomodate this demographic by excellent quality hardware, with a great range of games and an affordable price. The price is the key here because the younger people tend to be living at home with their parents, go to school and are too young for a job. Therefore, if they want a gaming machine, which one are the parents more likely to buy? Like the article says, you could buy a PSP or a gameboy micro with around 5 brand new games. This is one hell of an advantage to Nintendo IMHO.
Because some adults think it's cool to listen to their iPod while grocery shopping, in the can, etc. but "uncool" to play a Gameboy Advance or a DS, so they had to make it small and hip.
Idiots.
The battery is replaceable too. And the standard headphone jack is great, compared to SP. The only drawback is that it only plays GBA games, which is fine by me, but I'm sure others would have loved the ability to play GB/GBC games.
A lot of the people who buy this thing, will be buying it to go along with their other Nintendo handhel, just because it looks cool. Then some people who have been considering a handheld will buy it because it's a seemingly non-threatening (cute and cheap) introduction to the world of hand-helds. THen when the price comes down at holiday sales, people will buy it as a gift for that gamer they know. Is there anyone in the world that wouldn't want to receive this thing as a gift?
The DS isn't really appealing to me, this is. When playing a portable system, simplicity is really the main thing for me. The stylus stuck me as something I would lose while jumping from the train after having almost missed my stop because I was too engrossed in the damn game.
Recently I had to choose between a PSP and an iPod nano (choose because I don't make enough damn money). I chose the Nano and I'm glad I did as now I can get a sexy little game system to match it. All for the same price as a PSP (less if you consider the price of a memory card big enough to use the PSP as an MP3 player). The games are cheeper too.
Cool art gallery, if you're into that sort of thing.
...discretely playing Golden Sun 2 on my GBA Micro wondering how anyone could have problems imagining why they'd be popular. Any time I want a break at work off I go without even the slightest telltale bulge in my pocket to give away what I'm doing. Unfortunately I think the person in the next stall might have just spotted the laptop that I'm using in here to post this comment...
That's not totally unheard of...
http://www.popularculturegaming.com -- my blog about the culture of videogame players
This just means more confused geriatrics wandering aimlessly around an electronics store searching for that "new fangled game thing my grandson wants." That isn't good for anyone.
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Is there anyone in the world that wouldn't want to receive this thing as a gift?
The SP is already kind of small for my hands. I tried out the Micro and it just doesn't work for me.
i tried to think of a real use for this. but it seems the only real use is for kids. sneakign it to school or church. the gameboy adnavce was small enough. this is no better then playing a game on the tiny phone screen. maybe im wrong but there really is no other use. the previous game boy advnace sp was small enough....
I have never really liked handheld gaming. The only reason I own a Gameboy is because my brother wanted one of the original Gameboy's for Christmas when they first came out and my father didn't want to get him one and not me. I think I played Tetris and one Raiden like game on the thing; I just never really liked it. To this day, the only portable game system I have owned is that original Gameboy. However, I now find myself wanting a Gameboy Micro. I want one to play all of the classic SNES games (e.g. Super Mario World, A Link to the Past, etc.) whenever I get bored somewhere away from home. But, I don't want to have to carry some huge, and I include the GBA SP in that statement, gaming machine around with me. The Micro is small enough that it won't get in the way and the screen has a decent enough resolution that I would be able to use it for while without straining my eyes.
So there is one reason for all the "whys" being posted. Classic gaming on a platform that is easy to carry around.
Yah, and they have a special edition that's red and gold and looks exactly like tne other original controller.
I am 28. It fits easily in my blue jean pocket. The screen is a wee small but damn bright and clear. The sound (via headphones) is really impressive. Was playing metroid on it the first day and was in love.
Yeah, its small. But I played for over an hour the other night, holding the right shoulder button through Toularian (Mother brain land) almost the whole time.
No regrets. No AA batteries to replace.
Why not buy the DS? Never buy the first edition of a Nintendo product -- they always come out with a better version in 6 months to a year. Compare the original GBA to the new SP. The DS is currently molded like a kid's toy, but I expect that to change. For now I have a large library of GBA titles available to me. When a new, improved DS comes out I can give the micro to my wife (-:
heh! That's what I think when I see iPod ads of peeps jazzing out. I'll stick to my cheezy Palm mp3 player.
I bought it because the screen was significantly better than the original Gameboy advance (The fact that the GBA screen was WORSE than my Gameboy Color was what prevented me from buying one at first).
I bought it because it was smaller, it fit in a shirt pocket, or well, any pocket. A GBA wouldn't have (in fact I think the GBA SP was the first portable system that would).
I bought it because of the clamshell design, which protects the screen when not in use.
The Gameboy Micro does two out of three better than the SP. That ain't too shabby.
Finally a decent screen to play Thrust on.
"They have a history of marketing "repackaged" old stuff with the new. They made the top load NES when they did SNES. They did the Newer gameboy style at the same time as the gameboy color. Etc, Etc. It seems to work for them."
Well, to be fair, this is partly because of demand. Portable systems, for example, have differing requirements depending on the user's individual needs. The Game Boy Pocket, for example, was considerably smaller than the original Game Boy. (plus it had a better screen.) It was still B&W and it had a slightly higher price tag. If you wanted to save a few bucks, get the bigger one. If you wanted a more mobile one, pony up the extra $10. The Game Boy Color introduced 'color', and the games started to take advantage of it. If you were getting a new Game Boy (considering 100 million or so were sold over the last like 15 years, it was easy to find new customers...) then this was an attractive option. The Game Boy Advance was great because it had SuperNES like capabilities. The SP had a backlight and had a different form factor which was more appealing to some. (in my case, I bought the SP and then gave my sister the original GBA...) And, finally, the Micro. That thing is much smaller with a much better screen.
To answer the question of "why?", the answer is simple: Existing customers have a reason to buy it since it has a smaller size and a better screen. New customers have another choice that may better suit them. In the case of the Game Boy, choice is good. I don't want a Micro, but I don't play my GBA on the go. It doesn't appeal to me, but I can think of a handful of people off the top of my head that'd love it.
As for the top-loading Nintendo, there were two reasons that was launched: 1.) People were still buying NES's and this system was much cheaper to build. 2.) The top loading feature was less prone to 'blinking'.
I think what the gpp isn't considering is that these are mass-market products being sold to people with a wide variety of tastes. If I had to summarize my point down to one sentence, I'd just say "supply & demand."
"Derp de derp."
"The DS isn't really appealing to me, this is. When playing a portable system, simplicity is really the main thing for me. The stylus stuck me as something I would lose while jumping from the train after having almost missed my stop because I was too engrossed in the damn game."
Figured I'd chime in since I'm a DS owner: The stylus fits rather snugly with a 'snap' into the DS. Also, most of the games I've played work more by 'touching' than tapping. I rarely use the stylus on it. Also, the DS comes with an extra stylus *and* they're cheap to replace. So if you lost one, you could still play it, and use your replacement at home or something.
That said, I'm not challenging your choice of the PSP over the DS, just pointing out that I don't think that little factor would have bothered you as much as it'd seem. It's pretty clear Nintendo thought a lot about this.
I have a question, if you don't mind: On the games you're playing, are the loading times a problem? This isn't a thinly veiled attack on Sony or anything like that, rather the reason I *didn't* buy a PSP was that the demo unit I played took a LONG time to load up and get going. I don't mean the title screen, I mean when the game started the level... loading.... I just want to know if that was a case of demoing the wrong game to find this out or if it's something that plagues the system.
Boy I wish you could get PSP and a big ol memory stick and have the games 'install' themselves to it in order to save on battery life and loading times.
"Derp de derp."
I'm 28 and I have a GBA SP. I take it to work with me on days I have to work a shift on the Help Desk.
I'm very interested in testing the GBA Movie Player cartridge on this new device. It works fine on bot the GBA and GB/SP but the screen on the GBA is pitifully dull, and the lighted GB/SP screen isn't bright enough.
For those who don't know what the GBA Movie Player is, it is a GBA cartridge w/Compact Flash slot. It can play videos, music, images, ebooks, and NES game ROMs. Not bad for a $15 cart.
If this works as well as I hope, then it'll make a nice little mobile entertainment system. ;)
I own a PSP and its to big to bring around every day in my pants pockets, since it requires some sort of case due to the fact that it is rather delicate and has a huge unprotected screen, it usually has to go into the backpack. Add to the fact that its a pain to get in and out of my pants the fact that it takes time to boot up and play games, I actually want a Gameboy micro, since I can bring it anywhere and get my game on quickly. I actually cant wait for winter in New York because that means I can wear a Jacket with extra pockets so I can actually bring around my PSP without having a huge bulge in my pants. What amazes me even more is that the Nintendo DS is even larger than the PSP, and that was a important consideration when buying the PSP, while I can bear bringing the PSP around with me, it does not fit into some of my pant pockets. I could not even imagine fitting a brick like the Nintendo DS in my pocket, which is sad because I actually think that system has better games than the PSP, I am waiting eagerly for the Nintendo DS - Micro or at least a shrunken version of it, I am glad that at least nintendo is coming to their senses and making a portable game system that fits in the pocket and doesnt take over 30 seconds to boot.
I'm all for them releasing updated versions of handheld hardware. It's a unique idea that has never really flied with console/portable gaming (and no, a smaller Genesis console isn't a significant update....). But am I the only one that thinks they should focus more on what they have already? I have a number of friends that are often slightly irritated by a newer, better GameBoy being released shortly (like a month or so) after they got theirs. Yes, this is the nature of electonics, but a console is meant to stay the same for at least a few years (around 4 last I checked). The original gameboy lasted how long before an upgrade? It seems like they could alienate some customers if they aren't careful.... I guess it's all a matter of perspective though.... If I look at the difference like the difference between an iPod, iPod shuffle, and iPod Nano, it doesn't seem so wrong... It still seems like they should concentrate more on a single varient of a system at a time....
In undeveloped countries, the consumer controls the market. In capitalist America, the market controls you.
Sorry to reply to my own post, but an AC thoughtfully pointed out that I misread the post I was replying to. (Thanks, man!)
I would, however like to extend my question about the PSP loading times to any PSP owners out there.
"Derp de derp."
Yes, PSP games have PSone style loading times. It can be annoying.
I know a lot of 20-somethings with gameboys. In fact, most of the 20-somethings I know aren't even interested in PSPs. But, ya know, statistics of your friends don't really mean all that much....
"What is Internet Explorer 7? Are you saying we can't access the normal internet?" - I love tech support. Really.
I have had nearly every handheld ever made. I even still own my original Newton and TurboGrafx Express. This device just rocks. It fits in your front pocket, as innocuous as a small phone, and you can play few a few minutes anywhere and not look like a total dweeb. People think it is a phone! Hmmm...Gameboy phone...link play,,,are you listening Nintendo.
"he thing is amazingly small, but it looks as though worries about the screen being too small and too dim aren't true. "
Ok, I can accept making it smaller. I can accept repackaging for the next generation. But what I find hard to accept is a price point of $99 ??? I mean honestly, you're saturating your own market with three different versions of the same piece of hardware. It's only going to be a matter of time before somebody figures out a few inches here and there really doesn't make that big of a difference. I mean you're paying top dollar for trailing edge hardware here. The DS is going for what, $129 (quick check at Amazon)?
Talk about running the bleedin' fine line of overpricing and market saturation...
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While there are over 700 GBA games, most are no longer available for sale in retail or online vendor channels. I am unsure if the audience that the GB Micro would appeal to would bother hunting ebay or other specialty venues for used GBA games.
Go to Lik-sang.com and get a play yan or a play yan micro cartridge. The cartridge is only slightly larger than the standard game cartridge but incorporates an SD flash socket and an additional headphone jack with added amplification and less distortion than the preexisting jack. It works with beautifully with the micro and the rest of the GBA series and beats the hell out of the movie player in terms of image quality and framerate not to mention size. Use the 3GP converter with the trancscoder files from the liksang forums. The screen is remarkably sharp and well suited to extended viewing. In fact I actually prefer the DS or micro to my PSP for video viewing due to cheap SD flash memory, insane battery life and near indestructability.
It also does a great job with MP3s.
Uh, it was a long time ago. Like maybe a year and a half.
Avoid Missing Ball for High Score
They must be creatively worn out by now after innovating hard enough to invent the remote control.
A year and a half..say that is a long long time.
The Play-Yan has a few nice features, but the price ($80), less features, and the fact that the UI is in Japanese makes this an inferior product.
But somebody may find it useful.
It does look like I have a stack 60 CD's shoved in the front of my pants, but that's another story ...
the backlight on both handhelds will obviously consume battery power far quicker than what the Micro would
The Micro is backlit.
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It reminds me a lot of the old Game & Watch series.
o 029.JPG
http://philippe.legrand10.free.fr/phot
All it needs is a built-in digital watch, and it'd be complete!!
"So I'm a dorky 30-something with a DS. I don't care."
Well, on the bright side; your geek licence is not in danger of being revoked.
--- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
I've looked at pictures of this thing, and for the life of me, I can't find anything resembling a port for gamelink cable (or wireless adaptor). does the micro not support that?
I got some kind of computer abut 24 years ago. I can tell you the model and price, plus the software that came with it. And I was 7 at the time.
You didn't get any gameboy you trolling twat, because a) you didn't and b) the games typically don't suck.
Only big ligs use sigs.
Add one happy SP owner, almost 26 and I can bear the commute thanks to Nintendo :)
I've seen a few of these pop up in the last two years, but I've become somewhat of an oddity with my handheld. Sometimes, people ask me questions, but most of them are worried about peer pressure. Maybe a hip and trendy Micro is what people would want to overcome that weakness?
OMG, I'm looking like a kiddy because I play gameboy in the train!
Never quite understood that. Oh, well. Their loss... Back to RebelStar for me. It rawks!
Really? I had it worked out to approximately a hojillion. I'd better double-check my figures. Maybe I carried the one in the wrong place....
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one " -Albert Einstein
It's a Gameboy Advance Micro. Maybe I've just not been paying enough attention, but I assumed from then name that this was going to be a tiny, cheap Gameboy or Gameboy 'Color', not a tiny expensive Gameboy Advance.
Since the review doesn't mention batteries, can I assume it's got a built in rechargeable, and Nintendo are going to be facing a class action lawsuit in about 2 years when they all die?
A pizza of radius z and thickness a has a volume of pi z z a
It got a built in lithium-ion pack, but it is replaceable by the user.
Jan
Yes, but the screen is smaller, thus requiring less (or even less elaborate) lighting, such as LEDs in place of CCFLs. I admit ignorance in the design of these particular units, though.
01101001 01100001 01101101 01101110 01101111 01110100 01100001 01101100 01100001 01110111 01111001 01100101 01110010
There may be some people like myself, but I have a Gameboy Advance SP and a few games, played it honestly for a few months but never really became much of a handheld gamer. Mt GBA collected dust for a few months. I then gave things another shot and bought a Nintendo DS. Surprisingly, this is the only thing I play these days. It is so much more different, which I think is why it struck a chord with me. I play my DS so much more, although I think the micro looks really cool, I highly recommend a DS. I guess the main key here is size. If you just are looking for something small, the micro is for you. If you want a unique experience (which I think is truely unparalled), buy a DS.
It's true. I have a DS and I'm getting married next year. Stupid Fiance'... /need a low commitment relationship.
-Dipster
But, can you use the Movie Player with it?
I am waiting for a version of that in the PSP... but anyway, I think THIS [the movie player] is what will make me buy one of those standard ebay GBA... I just saw one going at US$20... and if you can do all that with the movie player, I am in!
Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
Let's play spot the Ecstasy user!
I spy with my little eye, a slashdot user beginning with... S!
Designtechnica has posted a pretty good review too: Designtechnica's Game Boy Micro Review". Personally this is way too small for me.
Is there anyone in the world that wouldn't want to receive this thing as a gift?
I don't want one as a gift. I have a regular GBA. If I'm going to receive a portable system, get me a PSP (the one I don't have) or give me some money toward one. I don't need a piece of hardware that only plays a fraction of the games my current portable hardware can play.
e2 | LJ
I have to say that, for games where the touch-screen is just used as an analogue stick I don't use the stylus, bu the thumb-strap.
The DS comes with the usual portable-device-don't-don't-drop-me wrist strap, but it looks a little different - it has an odd, rounded plastic section and a collar you can use to tighten it. What you do is run the thing underneath the DS and wrap it around your thumb. The plastic piece provides a nice no-smudge single-contact surface to touch the screen with. It works really well for Metroid Hunters demo.
Of course, for Kirby, I just use the stylus.
I'm too used to the 4Gb of space on my iPod Mini to go for anything much smaller now. 4x1Gb Memory Stick Duos actually cost MORE than a Nano. So I'd be up before I even started on buying the PSP itself.
"I Know You Are But What Am I?"
"Yes, but the screen is smaller"
Yeah? Well so is the battery so that argument doesn't make much sense.
You're right on about everything else though.
I dunno. The stylus has a home built right into the DS and it works quite well. The DS comes with a backup stylus or two and buying new ones is quite cheap and easy.
I'd be more concerned with the size of the DS compared to the size of an SP or micro.
BTW If you're concerned with loseing a cheap stylus because of it's size then what about loseing an expensive micro for the same reason? It could easily slip out of your pocket.
If you're looking at PSP's because they play MP3's then you're a retard. You can buy a 1 gig flash mp3 player for the same price as a 1 gig DUO memory cart for the PSP and I'm about 90% sure that everybody who buys a 1 gig duo for MP3's is only going to use it for that reason. People aren't going to constantly delete their songs off the memory cart to make room for movies, then put them back when they want to listen to music. That's retarded. So what is the point? There isn't any.
No one was EVER worried about the screen being too dim. In fact, it was heralded from the start as the brightest, sharpest screen around.
Why do you lie? Why?
PS: Advtg is the guy who posted the article.
While the clamshell design itself has possible issues with breakage, I've seen many devices with good clamshells that have lasted a nice long time. The nice thing about the clamshell design is that it protects the inner screen when it is closed.
I look at the new offerings and they seem like they would be uncomfortable as hell, unless you have tiny hands. The Sony PSP looks like it would be more suited to me - things are space faaaar apart, like the old Sega GameGear.
In the end, I don't really worry about it for myself personally - I am not a big game player (I like the occasional distraction on a car or airplane trip, though). But I do wonder what other players do about the issue - unless the target-market player's hands are smaller (kids I can understand - which is likely the target market - but how the hell does an adult play one of these things without severe pain in the thumbs?).
BTW - slightly off-topic but Nintendo-related anyhow: is there anyone else out there disappointed that Nintendo's Revolution machine (whatever it will be) most likely *won't* be anything like the machine depicted in that fake marketing video created (the "ON" video)? I want to see a home VR gaming system on the market, damnit!!!
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
Yes, size does matter, this is why I still use an original GBA. The SP was just too damn small for my hands. The DS seemed a bit silly, and so I never went that route, and this Micro? Sounds like carpel tunnel in a shinny plastic case. Honestly, I like having a bigger portable system, it's easier for me to hold onto. And, after having dropped in one of the Afterburner kits for it, the screen is plenty bright enough.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Laziness is the father.
Unfortunately for Nintendo, the GBA Micro is still a thousand times the size of the iPod Nano.
Watch for Sony to release the PSP Femto sometime next year. Just make sure you watch really really close.
Disclaimer: I'm actually a pretty satisfied XBox owner and, since we're in a Nintendo thread, I'm not a Nintendo fan. In fact Nintendo fans tend to mod me -1 Troll as soon as I even mention Nintendo. (I will however mention the Dreamcast, and I was a Sega fanboy all right, so I might still be a bit biased.)
Still, I must say I like my consoles small and lightweight.
I remember my Dreamcast (told you I'd mention it), because that's a console I used to haul around all the time. Small, lightweight and not in a thin fragile way either. I could stuff it, a controller and one or two games in a shoulder bag. (And not a huge one, either. I used to jokingly refer to it as my "purse".) If I travelled somewhere, I could just stuff it and a couple of games in the luggage, and not end up having to pull out half the clothes out either.
The XBox is just too big for that. Yes, I can carry 7 pounds, but I don't want to haul an extra 7 pounds with me on a trip. It also no longer fits in that bag any more. I'd have to get a bloody huge bag or a backpack to do that.
The XBox is ok as a stationary console that stays at home. Ok, maybe too loud for my taste (my main PC is a lot more silent by comparison), but at least I'm not complaining about weight or size when it just stays under the TV.
The Dreamcast however was transportable too. You couldn't play with it in the train, yes, but at least it could be hauled a hotel and used on the TV there in the evening. Even the PS2 is still OK, even if it's a bit larger. The Gamecube was even better in that aspect than them both. (Well, or it would have been if it actually had any games I'd wish to play. But if we're talking size and weight alone, I can only give a thumbs up to Nintendo there.) The XBox just isn't. Even omitting the fact that it has a hard drive and thus isn't quite shock-proof, I just don't feel like hauling an extra 7 pounds on a train or to the airport.
A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
You have one of those micheal jackson thriller zipper jackets?
There are women that are good looking (and in shape), encourage the BF to buy whatever he wants, don't care for feminine stuff, like tech/geek toys (including talking about them intelligently), are into sex/blowjobs, don't really want him to spend money on us, and like 'nice' guys, all of that. We don't play head games or hint at stuff, because that repulses us as much as it does many guys.
:-p
Trouble is, the result isn't a happy relationship where both partners get what they want. Instead, the (happy) guy just caters to all of the still-demanding other people in his life (friends, family, employer, whatever) at the expense of the relationship. So while we watch all of our "demanding" friends enjoying fairly happy partners, we also see OUR partner run around spending energy/time/money on everybody else under the sun. After a few years, being 'nice' and 'accommodating' starts translating out to 'being a doormat so even the nicest guy can take advantage of you.'
Sorry, just had to vent. I'm just tired of seeing guys bitch about the women they'd treat decently, while knowing that if they DID have a GF that tried to make them happy, they'd probably ditch her in order to cater to all the PITA types.
the GBM is not intended to cannibalize DS and GBA SP sales. It is intended for those who, for whatever reason, have not purchased previous GameBoys.
If the Game Boy micro is designed for people who have not purchased a Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or Game Boy Color system, then why was compatibility with GB and GBC games removed?
Thing is, I have the DS and it plays both DS games and GBA games. So for me to go to the micro no matter HOW small it is would require two devices, so I'm sticking w/ the DS myself. If I'm going to carry two devices around in my bag (chick gamer) it'll be the DS and the PSP (if/when they get Katamari for the PSP).
Why not buy the DS? Never buy the first edition of a Nintendo product
Except in the case of the Nintendo DS, future editions might block homebrew as collateral damage in the war against piracy. The encrypted nature of the DS card port compared to the GBA cart port means that you have to use malformed headers in order to get homebrew to run. The newest units currently sold in China (iQue DS) and Japan (red Nintendo DS) block the widespread versions of the "PassMe" and "WiFiMe" hacks used to get homebrew programs running on a DS. Though there is a new version of PassMe, it's not widely tested, homebrew games can't save with the new hack, and the DS downgrader isn't tested on the new firmware version yet. Just be glad that unlike PSP UMD games, DS card games don't force a firmware update.
GBA homebrew and emulation of NES and Game Boy mono are known to be possible with the GBA Movie Player, unlike with the Play-Yan products.
Hmmm...Gameboy phone...link play,,,are you listening Nintendo.
How well did the N-Gage and N-Gage QD do again? And how much extra would it cost to put prepaid-phone circuitry into a handheld video game system? And wouldn't games need to be completely rewritten to have link play data go over a cellphone network with its latency and its necessity for error correction coding, compared with the near-zero-latency wired connection that most games currently use?
The top loading feature [of the redesigned NES] was less prone to 'blinking'.
That's because Nintendo left out the security "feature" entirely. Blinking on the front-loading NES was almost always due to dirty security pins, not dirty program or graphics pins.
This is the classic "you are dating an asshole" post. If a man dates the girl you claim to be, and he is not responsive, nay, thankful for such a gift that surely came from ye gods, then you're not dating a nice nerd.
There is obviously only one way to test my theory, but it doesn't sound like you're on board to undergo such a hypothesis.
I'm not scared of anonymous cowards.
people who've never purchased a Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or Game Boy Color system don't own any Game Boy or Game Boy Color games
People who have never purchased a GBA, GBA SP, GameCube Game Boy Player, Game Boy Micro, or Nintendo DS don't own any Game Boy Advance games either.
so backwards compatibility isn't an issue
At least in every EBGames store I've seen, used GB and GBC games are sold alongside used GBA games. I can imagine a situation where one would want to buy a GBA SP and one or more GBC games, as (for instance) the official Tetris® brand game for GBA is of very poor quality. Currently, the only handheld system that can play GBC Game Paks and is still being manufactured is the GBA SP.
You claim that the set of "Those who have previously owned GameBoys of any type" is nearly identical to "Those who own pre-GBA games or would consider buying them". I can think of a lot of people who would buy one or more GBC games along with their new GBA SP. For instance, what Tetris® games are available for the Game Boy micro? Tetris, Tetris DX, and Tetris Plus don't work because they're for GBC, and Tetris Worlds isn't all that great. It appears that to play a decent game of tetraminoes on a Game Boy micro, you need to use unlicensed homebrew hardware such as a flash card or a GBA Movie Player.
If I could play my pre-GBA GameBoy games on my Micro, I'd be even more pleased with it than I already am.
The Goomba emulator plays most Game Boy (gray cartridge) and GBC dual-mode (black cartridge) games on a GBA flash card, but not GBC exclusive (clear cartridge) games.
I went to EB Games today to buy a game for DS and I was asking the clerk if the GB Micros have been selling. He said he's sold only two so far, but he thinks its really worth it and opened a package up for me to try it out. And wow is this screen great... it is so bright and clear. I was worried that the screen was so small that it would hurt my eyes to play a game on it, especially reading text. I tried out Pokemon on it and everything looked so nice. It was very easy to see everything on the screen, even at a distance.
My problem with the Micro is the price... I know that the technology for this obviously wasn't available/ affordable when they came out with the SP, but $100 for a portable system that I basically already have [GBA SP] and a system that is on the verge of dying, unless there are some good games in development... doesn't really seem worth it yet. I like the Micro a lot, but as far as purchasing one goes, I think it just fell short. New features should have been added onto it, and maybe I would consider getting it and dumping my SP.
I bring a gameboy or PSPS everywhere I go with me, and I got a hot girlfriend who is seven years younger than me and does nag me, argue or demand all kinds of crazy crap. Yeah she did give me some crap about buying a PSP and then a little again when I bought a gameboy Micro, but mostly because Im broke and spend all my money on games. Guys, half the planet is women, Im a a scrawny doofy looking bald guy who never leaves the house without a gameboy and I will tell you that I have totally dated a good amount of women who have put up with it, dont settle for some one just because they will let you fuck them, your not happy dump them, dont let a woman make you a slave.