-BREAKING NEWS- Gameboy Advance SP unveiled

Perfect Stu · 01-07-2003, 01:35 PM

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories...908150,00.html

Gamespot's Hands On Impressions

Quote:

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:

Click HERE to see the platinum GBASP in HI-RES

(Headphone Jack)

(AC Adapter)

BlueFire · 01-07-2003, 03:02 PM

Heh.. no where near megaton, but it looks cool.

"kaboom"

DarkMaster · 01-07-2003, 03:04 PM

.............

looks cool.....sure as hell aint no megaton

Dyne · 01-07-2003, 03:12 PM

I want money. ;_;

The real question is, is it going to flop? Isn't the Game Boy player coming out the same time? I couldn't possibly buy both of them AND Zelda... damnit... oh well..

Jason1 · 01-07-2003, 03:46 PM

This makes me love and want to kill nintendo at the same time. Why couldnt this have been released to begin with? Also, is the processor identical? Chances are I wont be picking this up...but wow...its looks so cool...makes me remember how easy it was to play the old gamegear in dark areas...

Bond · 01-07-2003, 03:56 PM

How the hell is this a "Technological breakthrough?" I mean sure it's cool and all, but it's basically just the GBA with a few extra things.

Crono · 01-07-2003, 04:03 PM

It does look cool, and I agree with Bond. GBA SP should've been the original GBA, instead of releasing another one...

fingersman · 01-07-2003, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bond
How the hell is this a "Technological breakthrough?" I mean sure it's cool and all, but it's basically just the GBA with a few extra things.

Yes that's what I said............where's the technological breakthrough? Well Gameking where are the other announcements that are suppose to be made? I haven't heard any as yet!!!

Joeiss · 01-07-2003, 04:49 PM

This is stupid. They should have just released a feature that would add some light to the GBA, and instead of wasting their time and money on this, they should pump out some half descent NEW first pary GBA games.

Shadow_Link · 01-07-2003, 05:53 PM

Looks pretty good, and I'm glad they added the option of putting the light on and off. I also like the idea that it's rechargable. Does anyone know whether there's an option to use alkaline batteries?

DimHalo · 01-07-2003, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss
This is stupid. They should have just released a feature that would add some light to the GBA, and instead of wasting their time and money on this, they should pump out some half descent NEW first pary GBA games.

Amen to that!

I really like my GBA but really miss the great lighting on my Game Gear. I think it is silly that nintendo didn't just go ahead and put the lighting in to begin with...i would rather be able to see the game anywhere than not have to worry about battery life.

Shadow_Link · 01-07-2003, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeepnut's slave
Amen to that!

I really like my GBA but really miss the great lighting on my Game Gear. I think it is silly that nintendo didn't just go ahead and put the lighting in to begin with...i would rather be able to see the game anywhere than not have to worry about battery life.

You most probaly fit into the minority here... I, and many people, hated the Gamegear simply because it gobbled up something like 6 batteries in around 4-6 hours... That was just ridiculous.

And I don't believe that releasing a modified version of a previous model is a waste of time. The internal developers (and 3rd party too) are not affected by this at all. They make the software, not the hardware, and so if they keep releasing ports and such, it's not because time and money was spent at 'another' department in Nintendo, and it DEFINATELY doesn't affect 3rd party developers, who also seem to be lavishing the GBA with countless ports (though I'm not complainint, since some of them are damn good

).

gekko · 01-07-2003, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dyne
I want money. ;_;

The real question is, is it going to flop? Isn't the Game Boy player coming out the same time? I couldn't possibly buy both of them AND Zelda... damnit... oh well..

No it's not going to flop. It's the same Game Boy, and as long as one sells, so will the other. Every current owner may not go out and get one, but it's no big deal, games still work.

And the GB Player should help some sales. Not wanting to play on my GBA is one reason I don't play it. Hmm... coming next month already in Japan. Gotta see if they'll have a spice one, so I can put in my order.

GameMaster · 01-07-2003, 08:54 PM

I'm definately going to buy it but imagine how parents wasted their money this holiday season buying their kids GBA and then Nintendo releases a new model on us. This new one should have been the one and only GBA if you ask me. How's battery consumption?

Dyne · 01-07-2003, 10:46 PM

It doesn't take batteries. It's rechargable, and lasts for 10 hour durations. That's probably about the same I got on the normal GBA. Very damned nice. You also have to ask yourself: How much did you pay for batteries for the GBA already? If you're like me you've probably spent a lot more than what this new little doolie costs. Plus, it's backlit.

BTW, it truly is a break through, because when the GBA was released people were like "This is a 32-bit??". Nintendo seems to like these compact shenanagins nowadays--even the Gamecube is really small.

Oh well.