Game Boy Advance
 |
|
|---|---|
 1st generation Game Boy Advance |
|
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Product family | Game Boy line |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Sixth generation era |
| Retail availability | JP March 21, 2001 NA June 11, 2001 PAL June 22, 2001 |
| Discontinued | 2008 |
| Units sold | Worldwide: 81.51 million, all versions combined (as of September 30, 2010). Japan: 16.96 million Americas: 41.64 million Other: 22.91 million[source?] |
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | 16.78 MHz ARM7TDMI 8 or 4 MHz Z80 coprocessor |
| Graphics | Custom 2D core |
| Best-selling game | Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, 13 million combined (as of November 25, 2004)[1] |
| Backward compatibility |
Game Boy, Game Boy Color |
| Predecessor | Game Boy Color[2] |
| Successor | Game Boy Advance SP (redesign/concurrent) Game Boy Micro (second redesign/concurrent) Nintendo DS (successor) |
The Game Boy Advance is a handheld video game console. It was made by Nintendo to replace the older Game Boy. Sometimes GBA is used instead of the full name. Before the Advance, Nintendo had released the Game Boy and Game Boy Color.
People were able to buy it in Japan on 21 March 2001. Nintendo released it in North America on 11 June 2001 and for Europe on 22 June 2001.
The newer Game Boy Advance had upgraded parts that the older Game Boy did not have. There are three versions: the original, SP, and the Micro.
The original version has the controller buttons beside the game screen, and uses AA batteries. The SP version was released in 2003 with improved parts. It was the first Game Boy to have a rechargeable battery. People had an AC adapter that they could plug in instead of having to buy new batteries. It also had back-lighting on the game screen to make it easier to see, and the controller buttons were below the game screen. The Micro was released in 2005 and is much smaller than the original and the SP, but it only plays GBA games. The original and the SP can play games from the older Game Boy console.
After this group of consoles they released the Nintendo DS in November 2004.
Game Boy Advance SP [change]
The Game Boy Advance SP is almost the same as the Game Boy Advance but it has a "clamshell" design, which means that it can be folded up to make it smaller and its brightness was increased so the user can see the screen better. This is the same way a clam folds up in its shell.
Game Boy Micro [change]
The Game Boy Micro keeps some of the functionality of the Game Boy Advance SP. It has an updated form factor. It cannot play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. It is incompatible with the Nintendo e-Reader. It is smaller than other Game Boy systems. It has a back-lit screen with the ability to adjust the brightness. The shape is similar to the style of the Nintendo Entertainment System controller.
The Game Boy Micro has a removable face plate for alternative designs.
- Size: 50×101×17.2 mm (2×4×0.7 in)
- Weight: 80 g (2.8 oz)
- Processor: 32-bit 16.8 MHz ARM processor (ARM7TDMI)
- Colors: various
- Screen: 51 mm / 2 inches, back-light with adjustable brightness.
- Resolution: 240×160 pixels
- Battery: built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It has up to 5 hours of battery life with top brightness and sound or 8 hours with both features on default
- Headphones: standard 3.5mm headphone jack[3]
The Game Boy Micro has a switch on its right side for volume. By holding down the L shoulder button, the switch can also be used to adjust the back-light between five levels of brightness.
References [change]
- ↑ "Consolidated Financial Statements" (PDF). Nintendo. 2004-11-25. p. 4. http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2004/041125e.pdf#page=4. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ↑ Umezu, Sugino & Konno. Interview with Satoru Iwata. Nintendo 3DS (Volume 3 – Nintendo 3DS Hardware Concept) (Transcript). Iwata Asks. Nintendo. Assessed on 2011-03-07.
- ↑ Nintendo Game Boy Micro review". cNetUK. Retrieved on 08-20-09.
