Perfect Stu
01-07-2003, 01:35 PM
http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/gbasp/gbasplogo.jpg
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2908150,00.html
Gamespot's Hands On Impressions
Hands-on: Game Boy Advance SP
We get to grips with Nintendo's new handheld at a press event in London.
Following our report that Nintendo unveiled its new Game Boy Advance SP at a press conference in Tokyo late last night, we managed to get some hands-on play time with the new console at a Nintendo event in London this morning.
It's hard not to impressed at just how small the Game Boy Advance SP is the first time you pick it up--measuring just 84.6mm x 82mm, and only 24.3mm thick, the console is roughly half the size of its predecessor, although it weighs in at a comparable 143 grams. When closed, the console could perhaps best be compared to a Mini-Disc personal stereo in terms of both size and appearance.
Attempting to play Metroid Fusion with the new integrated front screen light switched off proved to be a fruitless exercise--which is hardly surprising given that the screen on the GBA SP is essentially identical to that of the GBA. Switching the new integrated light on however, improved things dramatically, and we're pleased to report that we were able to enjoy a perfect view of the game from every conceivable angle, and even when we deliberately moved into areas of the conference venue that would almost certainly render the existing Game Boy Advance unplayable due to the lighting.
Nintendo has always said that it would develop a Game Boy console with a built-in light when the lifespan of the batteries was no longer a major concern for them. The rechargeable Lithium Ion battery that comes with the GBA SP offers an impressive 10 hours of continuous gameplay with the front light on, and approximately 18 hours if the light is turned off. Equally impressive is the fact that the battery only requires around three hours to fully recharge. Further batteries will be made available to buy separately should players require more than one, although Nintendo was not willing to comment on the pricing or release date for these at this time.
Before actually getting our hands on the new console our only concerns--based on the photos that we'd seen--were that it might not be as comfortable as the existing model and that the shoulder buttons could prove awkward to use. Our fears were soon put to rest however, as the new handheld is every bit as comfortable to hold as a Game Boy Pocket or Game Boy Color, and features shoulder buttons that, while much smaller than those on the GBA, are actually more comfortable to use. The directional pad and buttons have also been changed very slightly, and while they're practically flush with the surface of the console so as not to touch the screen when the flip-top is closed, they felt just as comfortable as those on previous Game Boy consoles and we had no problems playing with them whatsoever.
The Game Boy Advance SP will launch in Japan on February 14, followed by North America sometime in March, and Europe on March 28. In the US the console is expected to retail for around $100, while European gamers can expect to pay between 129 and 139 euros to get their hands on one. When asked if the launch of the Game Boy Advance SP would have any impact on the price of the standard GBA, David Gosen, managing director, Nintendo of Europe, stated that it would not. We'll bring you more information on the Game Boy Advance SP as it becomes available.
By Justin Calvert, GameSpot [POSTED: 01/07/03 - 06:08 am pst]
Pics:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten01.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten02.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten03.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten04.jpg
http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/gbasp/gbasp1.jpg
http://img.news.yahoo.co.jp/images/20030107/reu/20030107-00000980-reu-bus_all-view-000.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/news/01/07/gbasp_screen002.jpg
http://igngcngb.50megs.com/cvg1.jpg
http://igngcngb.50megs.com/cvg3.jpg
http://igngcngb.50megs.com/cvg4.jpg
Click HERE (http://www.spelletjesgarnaal.be/screens/AGS.jpg) to see the platinum GBASP in HI-RES
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten05.jpg
(Headphone Jack)
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten06.jpg
(AC Adapter)
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2908150,00.html
Gamespot's Hands On Impressions
Hands-on: Game Boy Advance SP
We get to grips with Nintendo's new handheld at a press event in London.
Following our report that Nintendo unveiled its new Game Boy Advance SP at a press conference in Tokyo late last night, we managed to get some hands-on play time with the new console at a Nintendo event in London this morning.
It's hard not to impressed at just how small the Game Boy Advance SP is the first time you pick it up--measuring just 84.6mm x 82mm, and only 24.3mm thick, the console is roughly half the size of its predecessor, although it weighs in at a comparable 143 grams. When closed, the console could perhaps best be compared to a Mini-Disc personal stereo in terms of both size and appearance.
Attempting to play Metroid Fusion with the new integrated front screen light switched off proved to be a fruitless exercise--which is hardly surprising given that the screen on the GBA SP is essentially identical to that of the GBA. Switching the new integrated light on however, improved things dramatically, and we're pleased to report that we were able to enjoy a perfect view of the game from every conceivable angle, and even when we deliberately moved into areas of the conference venue that would almost certainly render the existing Game Boy Advance unplayable due to the lighting.
Nintendo has always said that it would develop a Game Boy console with a built-in light when the lifespan of the batteries was no longer a major concern for them. The rechargeable Lithium Ion battery that comes with the GBA SP offers an impressive 10 hours of continuous gameplay with the front light on, and approximately 18 hours if the light is turned off. Equally impressive is the fact that the battery only requires around three hours to fully recharge. Further batteries will be made available to buy separately should players require more than one, although Nintendo was not willing to comment on the pricing or release date for these at this time.
Before actually getting our hands on the new console our only concerns--based on the photos that we'd seen--were that it might not be as comfortable as the existing model and that the shoulder buttons could prove awkward to use. Our fears were soon put to rest however, as the new handheld is every bit as comfortable to hold as a Game Boy Pocket or Game Boy Color, and features shoulder buttons that, while much smaller than those on the GBA, are actually more comfortable to use. The directional pad and buttons have also been changed very slightly, and while they're practically flush with the surface of the console so as not to touch the screen when the flip-top is closed, they felt just as comfortable as those on previous Game Boy consoles and we had no problems playing with them whatsoever.
The Game Boy Advance SP will launch in Japan on February 14, followed by North America sometime in March, and Europe on March 28. In the US the console is expected to retail for around $100, while European gamers can expect to pay between 129 and 139 euros to get their hands on one. When asked if the launch of the Game Boy Advance SP would have any impact on the price of the standard GBA, David Gosen, managing director, Nintendo of Europe, stated that it would not. We'll bring you more information on the Game Boy Advance SP as it becomes available.
By Justin Calvert, GameSpot [POSTED: 01/07/03 - 06:08 am pst]
Pics:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten01.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten02.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten03.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten04.jpg
http://www.cube-europe.com/newsgfx/gbasp/gbasp1.jpg
http://img.news.yahoo.co.jp/images/20030107/reu/20030107-00000980-reu-bus_all-view-000.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/news/01/07/gbasp_screen002.jpg
http://igngcngb.50megs.com/cvg1.jpg
http://igngcngb.50megs.com/cvg3.jpg
http://igngcngb.50megs.com/cvg4.jpg
Click HERE (http://www.spelletjesgarnaal.be/screens/AGS.jpg) to see the platinum GBASP in HI-RES
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten05.jpg
(Headphone Jack)
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030107/ninten06.jpg
(AC Adapter)