Official: New GBA

[mcs328]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=2001172

Nintendo to Sell Premium Model of Game Boy Advance
Tue January 7, 2003 05:12 AM ET

By Yuka Obayashi
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese videogame giant Nintendo Co. Ltd. said on Tuesday it would launch a premium version of its Game Boy Advance hand-held videogame player in Japan on February 14 in an effort to boost flagging sales.

The new product, Game Boy Advance SP, which can be folded and has a lighting system that allows it to be used in poorly lit places, will carry a price tag of 12,500 yen ($105), 3,700 yen ($31) more than the existing model.

The new player, which will also have a rechargeable battery, can play all existing games designed for the Game Boy Advance console and most games for its Game Boy predecessor.

"The new model is aimed at expanding the customer base for the Game Boy Advance by providing a more settled look and lower power consumption," a spokesman told reporters, adding the company was hoping to attract players above school age.

"We aim to sell a total of two million SP units by the end of March."

The move comes after Nintendo, which dominates the global portable game system market, suffered poor sales in its portable game operations, which had been supporting the firm's solid profit growth, in the six months through September due in part to a lack of blockbuster game titles.

The company's downward revision in October of its 2002/03 hardware shipment target for Game Boy Advance by 21 percent and its software goal by 12 percent raised investor concerns about the firm's growth picture.

"The new product's sales estimates were discounted into our forecast, therefore we will not change our annual shipment target," the spokesman said.

The creator of "Pokemon" games said it planned to release the new player in North America, Europe and Australia in March.

During the year-end shopping season, Nintendo enjoyed good sales of new versions of the Pokemon game series that were released in Japan in November for the Game Boy Advance player.

Analysts said solid demand for the Pokemon games had helped hardware sales for Game Boy Advance.

Shares in Nintendo closed down 0.43 percent at 11,500 yen ($96), compared with a 0.65 percent decline in the benchmark Nikkei average.

Nintendo's stock price has nearly halved in 2002 as the gamemaker, which also sells GameCube home videogame consoles, faces stiff competition with Sony Corp., which has a big lead with its popular PlayStation 2, and Microsoft Corp., a recent entrant with its Xbox system.

($1=119.23 Yen)
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Errr...ugly. Where are the shoulder buttons?

[gear02]

The shoulder buttons are still there, just very small.

I think this thing is TOO small. I mean I doubt most people can get their hands to fit comfortably on the thing. Also, is the screen smaller? It looks like it. Though I like the backlight built-in, this seems a step back from the GBA.

[apmiller]

So in away all those GBA 2 rumors were true...just the facts mixed up a little bit.

I think the unit would do well in the Japanies market. Small little things sell very well in that country. I notice the same trend with their action figures, the smaller they get the more folks want them over there.

If it came to the states I would jump out and get it with a $100 price tag. I'd hold off for a price drop. Not srue if I like the design but having it back lit scores some big points with me.

[Grimm]

They should have just built in a backlight to the existing GBA and saved a fortuine in development and molds.

[mcs328]

I think the screen is bigger and shaped like the Gameboy Color. The backlit (front lit according to another article) is great tho. GBA with the Afterburner is about 100. So about the same and you don't void your warranty.

What an awful design tho.:puke:

[Bires]

I'll take credit for this one...
I just bought my GBA and afterburner!

It doesn't look very comfortable to use-the GBA has nifty curvy shape that fits ours hands.

It also appears that you will have to move your hand, not just your thumb to get to the start and select buttons.

Go buy a GBA and afterburner-very cool!

[Chinpoko_Mon]

it looks like the old Gameboy... just folded in half...

[LPMiller]

I think the design is great. The screen is bigger, it's lit, and the folding protects the screen, which the old one seriously needed.

I'm getting one. I'm guessing it won't be near as hard to play as some folks think.

[Chinpoko_Mon]

now, if only they could fit a Mobility Radeon 9000 into it. That would mean that I won't go blind as fast.....

[mcs328]

Better pictures can be found here
http://pocket.ign.com/articles/381/381613p1.html

You can see the thing from almost all angles. Very small shoulder buttons it seems.

[Bires]

Nintendo has created a special adapter for the GBA SP that plugs into a brand-new multi-access port (also used for the AC adapter) which enables users to plug in standard headphones. Sold seperately, of course.
Of course.

It'll be another $20 perf that everyone will buy for the first couple of months, then they will offer the multiplug free in a bonus pack (with a pokemon trading card):rolleyes:

My only gripe with my GBA (I otherwise love it) is how small it is...and they are making the new GBA SMALLER!

LPMiller: You are right...the screen does need protecting...

[Tommy Boomfiger]

according to ign the SP screen will be almost identical. the smaller size is nice IMO, makes it easier to carry in your pocket. the headphone thing is crap though, there is no reason nintendo should be doing that

[mcs328]

I'm imagining the size of a gameboy color or the slimmer version except there's a hinge in the middle where it folds. So imagine that and take half the thickness.

[ProMinx]

It looks horrible, the screen is the same size as the GBA screen, and there are no worthwhile improvements. Oh yea...backlighting and it folds. So what? It is awkwardly shaped and aesthetically atrocious. When will Nintendo get over their cutesy image and just produce a quality product? Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and the N64 were all creative leaps from their competition...but the GameCube and the current state of the GameBoy are just redressed versions of earlier systems that can't possibly compete with the competition on a tech scale. It really saddens me that a corporation with so much potential (Zelda, Metroid, Mario, BomberMan) continues to flush their reputation down the drain.

ProMinx

[gear02]

Originally posted by ProMinx
It looks horrible, the screen is the same size as the GBA screen, and there are no worthwhile improvements. Oh yea...backlighting and it folds. So what? It is awkwardly shaped and aesthetically atrocious. When will Nintendo get over their cutesy image and just produce a quality product? Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and the N64 were all creative leaps from their competition...but the GameCube and the current state of the GameBoy are just redressed versions of earlier systems that can't possibly compete with the competition on a tech scale. It really saddens me that a corporation with so much potential (Zelda, Metroid, Mario, BomberMan) continues to flush their reputation down the drain.

ProMinx

While I totally agree with your assessment of the GBSP, I have to disagree with your views of the GBA ands NGC. The GBA is an outstanding piece of technology. It's essentially a SNES backed inside that small frame. The screen is great, and if they had put in a backlight, it's one of the greatest gaming devices ever.

The NGC isn't to shabby either. The graphics on this thing is really powerful, almost as good as the Xbox. It's loading times cannot be compared. If this thing had a hard drive built in, I would use it as my primary machine.

All in all, Nintendo's technology isn't so bad. The SP, however, might be one of its few horrible mistakes.

[Bires]

Originally posted by gear02
The GBA is an outstanding piece of technology.

Totally :thumbup:

It has a great OS, very flexible, allowing for all sorts of perfs and hacks. With peripherals from overseas you can:

Watch TV on your GBA
Take Pictures on your GBA and copy them to your PC
Show the GBA screen on your TV
Listen to the radio on your GBA
Play MP3’s on your GBA
Play translated (or hacked) GBA roms
Play 8-bit NES roms

All this on two chips smaller than postage stamps on a PCB about the size of a baseball card.

The GBA is one fine piece of technology, indeed.
:cool:

[ProMinx]

When I referred to the current state of the GameBoy, I meant the GBA SP. I don't have any problems with the GBA in general. The GBAs aren't my bag, but a number of my friends own and enjoy the little things; however, if any of my friends buy the GBA SP...I will bitch slap them.

ProMinx

ps - I do still stand by my anti-GameCube rant. It came out the same year as the X-Box, but it is handicapped in comparison. The only reaon it has survived is because it has the Nintendo name attached...and a number of people aren't creative enough to change early-formed opinions. For example, the commonly held fallacy that Nintendo is still doing a good job in the modern video gaming industry (I would also like to point out the difference between a goodjob and success).

[apmiller]

Originally posted by ProMinx
When I referred to the current state of the GameBoy, I meant the GBA SP. I don't have any problems with the GBA in general. The GBAs aren't my bag, but a number of my friends own and enjoy the little things; however, if any of my friends buy the GBA SP...I will bitch slap them.

ProMinx

ps - I do still stand by my anti-GameCube rant. It came out the same year as the X-Box, but it is handicapped in comparison. The only reaon it has survived is because it has the Nintendo name attached...and a number of people aren't creative enough to change early-formed opinions. For example, the commonly held fallacy that Nintendo is still doing a good job in the modern video gaming industry (I would also like to point out the difference between a goodjob and success).


Oooo...someone attacking my poor GC?

The only issue I have here is the fact that the GC is still a very good seller in the market and already deemed a success. Can it do what the Xbox does? No, and it doesn't need to. It just has to play the game people like and play them very well. It does that. What does it have that the Xbox doesn't have? 2 things: A strong fan base to keep the unit selling and profits from those sales. Xbox has a low fan base, they don't sell as well and Microsoft has reported over and over again over the last year that they have yet to see one profit from this unit since it came out.

Nintendo is still doing very well in the industry and a lot of that has to do with the GBA and it's hold in Japan and Europe. Nintendo has nothing to worry about.

Microsoft has to continue to fight with the fact that they are forced to sell each unit under cost in order to get them to sell. Even though Microsoft says they are making up the loss in other areas of the company you still have to wonder how long can they maintain the loss?

[sbp]

Originally posted by apmiller
Oooo...someone attacking my poor GC?

The only issue I have here is the fact that the GC is still a very good seller in the market and already deemed a success. Can it do what the Xbox does? No, and it doesn't need to. It just has to play the game people like and play them very well. It does that. What does it have that the Xbox doesn't have? 2 things: A strong fan base to keep the unit selling and profits from those sales. Xbox has a low fan base, they don't sell as well and Microsoft has reported over and over again over the last year that they have yet to see one profit from this unit since it came out.

Nintendo is still doing very well in the industry and a lot of that has to do with the GBA and it's hold in Japan and Europe. Nintendo has nothing to worry about.

Microsoft has to continue to fight with the fact that they are forced to sell each unit under cost in order to get them to sell. Even though Microsoft says they are making up the loss in other areas of the company you still have to wonder how long can they maintain the loss? Is Micro$oft in danger of running out of money any time soon? Nope.

Its not unknown for Microsoft to go into a new market and not make money in order to gain marketshare.

XBox 2 is already in the works.

[ProMinx]

You really have to wonder what options they can possibly add i for an X-Box 2. I'm assuming they'll do the same PSX->PS2 game compatibility deal for the X-Box-> X-Box 2, but it will be years before we find out. By 2005 (the projected release year for both PS3 and XB2) I'm sure there will be upgrades of which the X-Box can take advantage. The problem is that when the PS3 is released...it will still have a huge marketshare and fanbase, and it might be able to completely elbow out both of its competitors...unless they go ahead and pull a Nintendo, releasing an underpowered system (which I don't foresee). If they release a powerful system to replace the PS2...I think Microsoft and Nintendo will be in for some major depth charging...

ProMinx

[apmiller]

I don't think we need to worry about anyone pulling a Nintendo in 2005. Sony is talking the big talk that the PS3 will replace just about anything you have in your entertainment center with the acceptation of the TV! They're not just looking at it being another gaming console as much as the family entertainment unit of all times!

Microsoft, from what I've read, has only come forward to say that the XB 2 will not offer much extra in system performance but more features and more storage space. They are trying to top Sony by offering a similar all in one unit and it sounds like they are trying to hit shelves first this time around. I expect that XB2 and PS3 will hit stores in 2005 in the same month.

Nintendo still isn't sharing what the next unit will be other than it will feature some new tech they have invented that is supposed to take game on to a new level but then again they say that with every system they make. Though I'm happy with my GC I still want to know why they didn't give it hard drive space?! Memory cards suck! BAH!

[ProMinx]

I'll admit that the GameCube has its definite advantages: insane load times and strong licensing to fall back on, but that hard drive deal is a trip...and if they can work out a syste for the GameCube that works like X-Box Live (the most incredible online play ever...) you guys could be back in business...even if you think you still are...:-p

ProMinx