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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.
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.
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.
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.
Your girlfriend will make it pink. Fair warning.
Haha, he assumes too much.
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.
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.
The Humblest Mollusk on the Net
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.
I, for one, welcome our new karma-whore sig writing overlords
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!
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.
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.
The US Army: promoting democracy through unquestioned obedience
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.
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...
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.
Linux Friendly since, like awhile.
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 (-:
"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."
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. ;)
If the GC looks childish because it's small and square, then I want a childish system. Because it's a lot easier to take over to a friends house than that massive XBox, with the original massive controllers. Even the XBox 360 is a huge, I thought they learned the first time that nobody wants a 7 pound console.
Whoa! 7lbs! How can you even LIFT it? A forklift is the only way. Two forklifts, one lifting from each end. And an anti-gravity machine. Probably twelve brawny strongmen, just for good measure.
Do you take your console over to your buddy's house on your tricycle? Does it overbalance you? Any console on the market will easily fit into a grocery sack or backpack. Do you carry your Gamecube by the handle? If so, how do you hold the games, power brick, and controllers? In a bag? Why not just stick everything in the same bag? It's a magic bag of holding!
Yo are correct in thinking that looking childish does not make something bad. This has several obvious corollaries.
- Looking childish does not make something good.
- Not looking childish does not make something bad.
- Not looking childish does not make something good.
The lesson in all this?
If you buy groceries, you can carry a game console. Even a big 7lb whopper! If you eat your Wheaties you MAY even show off and carry it one-handed.
Is that a Gameboy Micro in your pants, or are you just-
Wait a second...
This was easy... a little... *too* easy...
(looks around and backs away slowly)
Gah! It's a trap!
(Runs away, firing blindly over shoulder)
Psssh.
It looks childish because it is "Atomic Purple"
I voided the warranties on all my game systems by taking them apart and giving them a decent wood-grainy paint job to match the rest of the furnature.
But either way, the GC stood out from the other ones that were black. So it was being rebelious and hence more teenagery than the conformist adulty platforms.
That and it would occasionally cut class and go smoke behind the gym too.
--- As to make my comment seem, by comparison, more intelegent... doodie doodie doodie poop poop poop!