Nintendo announces new GBA model

[Alzrius]

Well, I was going to buy an Afterburner kit to put a backlight into my GBA, but this is much better!

This model is merely a cosmetic enhancement, albeit a very cool cosmetic enhancement, taking portability to a whole new level.

It's a bit more than just that. That light feature is something fans have been crying out for since the GBA was released.

They could make the screen touch-sensitive. I also hope they add a TV/FM accessory.

A touch-sensitive screen is a bad idea. The existing games aren't configured for that. What would it do if you were playing the original Tetris? Better to have the existing button configuration. To say nothing of how having the screen flip down could be potentially hazardous for a touch mechanism. Also, don't expect any TV/FM accessories. Nintendo is committed to making games and game hardware, and that's it. That's the same reason they weren't concerned with adding a DVD player to the GameCube. It's all about the games, and the buck stops there.

What I want to know is, what's the release date for this puppy?

 

[Alzrius]

Just found out from here http://www.nintendo.com/news/news_articles.jsp?articleID=7901 that the release date for North America is March 23.

 

[Ristamar]

It's a bit more than just that. That light feature is something fans have been crying out for since the GBA was released.

That is true, though, as you pointed out, the Afterburner kits were available, and technically, built-in lighting is still a cosmetic enhancement of sorts (of the screen itself).

Nintendo is committed to making games and game hardware, and that's it. That's the same reason they weren't concerend with adding a DVD player to the GameCube. It's all about the games, and the buck stops there.

Indeed.

What I want to know is, what's the release date for this puppy?

Japanese release date: Feb. 14, 2003.

U.S. release date: March 23, 2003.

European release date: March 28, 2003.

 

[Welverin]

I, too, was hoping for two more face buttons. On the other hand, had there been four buttons on the GBA(SP) model, I'm sure all the people that bought/received GBA's this holiday season would've strangled every single Nintendo employee on the planet for instantly rendering their current GBA obsolete.

NO EXCUSES! Four face buttons or bust! Better yet I'd like to see six.

Seriously, every time new hardware is released the same thing happens. Admittedly this would be a little sooner than usual, but it's till the same thing.

 

[Ranger REG]

Screen? Touch sensitive? Yipes. I don't think they would hold up very well. I'm glad the poor little bugger finally has some protection.

Ah. I guess this is what to be expected of a dedicated portable game device.

Still, I would love to have games for PDA. I mean good games in abundant production.

After all, I don't have the money for a dedicated game console and why should I when I already have a PC. The same goes for PDA. I just want a multifunction device.

As for TV/FM tuners, there is third party hardware available. I'm sure newer ones will become available to fit nicely/aesthetically on the smaller model, as well.

Now, if you could get a player that can also read DVD and hook up to said tuner. Then again, the screen is not appropriate for high-quality video.

Now, unless Honda decided to market their 4-foot tall freestanding robots (Asimo?) in the US, the Japanese once again have failed to impress me.

 

[Ristamar]

Still, I would love to have games for PDA. I mean good games in abundant production.

Funny you should mention that, as the new GBA is being targeted toward a more mature crowd... something that will fit into a business environment and compete with the growing trend of cell phone/PDA gaming.

After all, I don't have the money for a dedicated game console and why should I when I already have a PC. The same goes for PDA. I just want a multifunction device.

PC and consoles are vastly different in terms of providing a gaming exerience, but I don't want to delve into that again. There's already a long discussion about PC vs. console gaming in another thread on this board.

I am, however, surprised you brought up the money issue. A new console costs 1/10 of what a new, decent PC costs, or about half of what it costs for the latest video card. I wouldn't have thought it'd be about money. You could get a used console for the cost of two new PC games.

And sophisticated multifunctional electronic devices... well, I won't go there. I'll just say in most of my experiences that deal with such multifunctionality aren't too favorable, as they seem to perform a lot of unrelated tasks, but don't excel at many (or any, generally plain sucking at most).

Now, if you could get a player that can also read DVD and hook up to said tuner. Then again, the screen is not appropriate for high-quality video.

If you're going to go that far with PDA and DVD and all sorts of other things, wouldn't carrying around one of the smaller laptops be easier? Wrong target market for what they're trying to achieve.

Now, unless Honda decided to market their 4-foot tall freestanding robots (Asimo?) in the US, the Japanese once again have failed to impress me.

You, sir, are a hard man to please. I would have hated to be your father come Christmas time...

 

[Shapermc]

It's a bit more than just that. That light feature is something fans have been crying out for since the GBA was released.

The origonal reason that this never happen was because they thought that there was no market for it after their LightBoy (Indiglow lit Gameboy Pocket). Albet that this was when the GBP was after its peak and was only released in Japan (the lightboy that is) it still sold so poorly that it was never even brought to america. Also if no one would have released the Afterburner and it wouldent have done so well the Big N would never have relesed this either.

Now don't think that I am complaining, far from that. I have had a GBA from the start, but I never bought the Afterburner due to the fact that I almost always avoid 3rd party add ons for any console. I will probably not buy this GBA1.5 till it drops in price greatly, but the backlite is quite tempting :drool:. The main reason is that I will use the GBA player more than a backlit GBA and it is cheaper.

Just my $0.02

 

[Ranger REG]

I am, however, surprised you brought up the money issue. A new console costs 1/10 of what a new, decent PC costs, or about half of what it costs for the latest video card. I wouldn't have thought it'd be about money. You could get a used console for the cost of two new PC games.

Well, it's not just a money issue, it's a space issue for me. Do I really need to add another device in my apartment, when the PC can also handle gaming entertainment function as well?

And sophisticated multifunctional electronic devices... well, I won't go there. I'll just say in most of my experiences that deal with such multifunctionality aren't too favorable, as they seem to perform a lot of unrelated tasks, but don't excel at many (or any, generally plain sucking at most).

Or to put it in d20 terms, you cannot use the classless system approach when it comes to consumer electronics. You need a device class dedicated to gaming and another device class dedicated to office workstation. While merging the two is nice, they do not function as well as a dedicated specialists.

I think I got the analogy right. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Ristamar]

Well, it's not just a money issue, it's a space issue for me. Do I really need to add another device in my apartment, when the PC can also handle gaming entertainment function as well?



Or to put it in d20 terms, you cannot use the classless system approach when it comes to consumer electronics. You need a device class dedicated to gaming and another device class dedicated to office workstation. While merging the two is nice, they do not function as well as a dedicated specialists.

I think I got the analogy right. Correct me if I'm wrong.

*chuckle* Very good analogy.

 

[Tsyr]

Am I remembering right in that the GBA is regionless, unlike most modern consoles? If so, I'm going to import one of the metalic black ones from Japan.