Nintendo takes on iPod with Game Boy Micro...

[Zim Hosein]

Cool factor. Something associated with Apple's iPod and something not associated with the veteran video game maker Nintendo. The company hopes to change that with the new Game Boy Micro. The smaller, hipper Game Boy is about as big as an iPod but plays a huge collection of Game Boy Advance games. It can also play MP3s and videos with an additional cartridge, to let Nintendo inch toward a brand new status in video games.
The Game Boy Micro is the third re-release of the Game Boy Advance, originally launched in 2001. Nintendo has since released the best-selling Game Boy Advance SP, and now the Micro.

At less than 1-inch thin, the Game Boy Micro is the tiniest Game Boy ever and includes a minimalist edge that strays from the cute design of Pokemon characters. The industrial design is what Nintendo hopes will catch a wave of image-conscious gamers who want to be seen with the coolest gadgets.

While many questioned Nintendo's release of yet another Game Boy Advance, the answer to the Game Boy Micro's introduction lies in marketshare. Nintendo dominates the handheld market with 94% percent marketshare that includes the Game Boy Advance and the recently released Nintendo DS. After 28 million units sold, the Game Boy Advance line can be resold in different designs to attract new customers, just like Apple's iPod line.

Apple faced similar doubts when it aimed to release the iPod mini. A smaller, more colorful version of the iPod hit exploded into retail and sparked a new notion that electronics could be fashionable and ring with younger, hipper customers.

Nintendo wants the same for Game Boy Micro and is well on its way to keeping its piece of the handheld pie. The company is considering to bundle a cartridge with the Game Boy Micro known in Japan as the Play-Yan that will allow consumers to plug in a standard SD memory card and fill it up with MP3s and MPEG-4 videos. The cartridge will transform the Micro into a games, music, and movie playing machine that fits in anyone's pocket.

Nintendo takes on iPod with Game Boy Micro

 

[Queasy]

Unfortunately, the Micro is so freaking small that it's too small for my hands and the screen is too tiny for decent game playing.

 

[suse920]

if you want a cool portable gaming device get a psp. If you want a cheap little gameboy to add to your collection of the two other revisions get a gbm.

 

[Baked]

You're late like your .

 

[suse920]

Originally posted by: Baked
You're late like your .

ouch

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Baked
You're late like your .

This is a repost? Where Baked?

 

[Noema]

The only game I'd even remotely want to play on the GBM is Super Street Fighter II: Turbo Revival. And as it is, it's barely playable on the regular GBA SP, so I can't imagine playing it on an even smaller pad.

At least it'd be cool to be ably to carry around what basically is a shrunk down SNES.

 

[Nomada]

I think it's gonna rock. With PSP you really have to devote a half-hour at a time to a game, wheras the Micro is great for those times when you only got 5 minutes on the crapper or something. I'll probably pick it up.

 

[mb]

I posted this a while back, but it didn't have much details then. http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1594025&enterthread=y

 

[ElFenix]

what is uncool about the industrial design of the sp? it's a small box, easily pocketable, and has a nice clamshell design.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: supafly
I posted this a while back, but it didn't have much details then. http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1594025&enterthread=y

The info in my link was released yesterday supafly, as for your link, it was posted after my link from 03-01-2005 which had even less details than your link did , but I made this thread about the MP3 feature

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Unfortunately, the Micro is so freaking small that it's too small for my hands and the screen is too tiny for decent game playing.

:laugh:

A if you can figure out why

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Queasy
Unfortunately, the Micro is so freaking small that it's too small for my hands and the screen is too tiny for decent game playing.

:laugh:

A if you can figure out why

/me waits for the penis joke to rise!

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: Nomada
I think it's gonna rock. With PSP you really have to devote a half-hour at a time to a game, wheras the Micro is great for those times when you only got 5 minutes on the crapper or something. I'll probably pick it up.

:thumbsup: to playing Gameboy on the crapper.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Noema

Originally posted by: Nomada
I think it's gonna rock. With PSP you really have to devote a half-hour at a time to a game, wheras the Micro is great for those times when you only got 5 minutes on the crapper or something. I'll probably pick it up.

:thumbsup: to playing Gameboy on the crapper.

I concur

 

[Yossarian]

i played it. it's crap, too small.

 

[Ricochet]

I've been waiting for an addon for my SP to allow MP3 playback and not have to buy another Game Boy.

 

[zerocool84]

damn and i thought that they were going to release a PSP killer or at least some kind of update not just a rehash of the advance. how many versions of the same system can u make

 

[sonambulo]

a billion. they'll sell. and the damn play yan isnt coming out in the us yet.

 

[EvilYoda]

I would've posted something about the GBm, but I've been busy...with...myself.

That thing's got me all hot and bothered. It's a good time to be an N-fanboy.

 

[xEDIT409]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
damn and i thought that they were going to release a PSP killer or at least some kind of update not just a rehash of the advance. how many versions of the same system can u make

Three. Maybe more?

Thing is, the last two sold big time, and so will this.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

man I wish it was CF instead of SD That would seal the deal for me.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: ricochet
I've been waiting for an addon for my SP to allow MP3 playback and not have to buy another Game Boy.

Was one ever mentioned?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

It's not released in the US. But the Play-yan thingy is NOT GBm only.
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?catego...ESSID=51b557e26bd4278cad8897c1cd8b5a52

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
It's not released in the US. But the Play-yan thingy is NOT GBm only.
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?catego...ESSID=51b557e26bd4278cad8897c1cd8b5a52

Anyone here have one of these?