Official Nintendo Game Boy MPEG4/MP3 Player

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15 Dec 2004, 09:40 AM
marwan

Official Nintendo Game Boy MPEG4/MP3 Player

Quote:

Flash memory Game Boy cartridges are always welcome around here, so seeing this MPEG4/MP3 player with a built-in SD slot was notable enough—then I realized it was from Nintendo themselves, which is even more surprising. Obviously, it's not designed to play games, but the unit can play back movies for up to 4 hours at the Game Boy Advance SP's native resolution (352 by 288 pixels) as well as play back MP3s with the screen off for up to 15 hours on a charge. I have no idea if Nintendo plans to bring the unit out to the United States, but since it should work with the DS just fine, there's no reason they couldn't (like taking away from the DS's momentum, I'm saying).

For gamers I still think flash linkers that let you copy ROMs over are a lot more convenient (and you can get ones that use SD and MMC cards, I know), but since Nintendo has quietly been selling a ton of video content on GBA carts, I wonder if they're thinking about moving over to an SD-based content distribution system.

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/spsdflash.jpg

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...5/nin_9732.gif

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...5/nin_9753.gif

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...5/nin_9746.gif

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...5/nintendo.htm (more pics)

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-...-player-027712

could this be Nintendo's counter-PSP announcement?

whatever it is, it's good for OFFICIAL emulation :)
15 Dec 2004, 10:26 AM
K3V

Shouldn't it work on the DS as well? I don't see how releasing it here would take away from the DS's momentum.
15 Dec 2004, 10:29 AM
jarrod

The GBA & DS screens are a bit worthless for video, especially compared to PSP's amazing high visibility screen. But for MP3, this thing would be great.... better than PSP even thanks to the SP's small size and SD being roughly half the cost MS Duo.
15 Dec 2004, 10:46 AM
Yoshi

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod

The GBA & DS screens are a bit worthless for video.

Eh? What is wrong with the DS for video?
15 Dec 2004, 10:54 AM
marwan

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod

The GBA & DS screens are a bit worthless for video, especially compared to PSP's amazing high visibility screen. But for MP3, this thing would be great.... better than PSP even thanks to the SP's small size and SD being roughly half the cost MS Duo.

well the DS screen is far better than the GBA, almost TV like quality. if marketed for both GBA and DS it would do great.

also the fact that it boosts 15 hours of MP3 playback is a big plus, and should change peoples mind on buying flash based MP3 players.

not to mention all the emulation stuff that flood this thing. I personally only buy official stuff, that's why i never bothered with 3rd party flash carts.

EDIT: when and if this thing comes out in the U.S, i really hope it has an option to increase the resolution of the videos when connected to the DS. I'd hate to watch movies or whatever on this thing with black borders all around the DS screen.
15 Dec 2004, 10:59 AM
jarrod

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoshi

Eh? What is wrong with the DS for video?

Resolution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marwan

not to mention all the emulation stuff that flood this thing. I personally only buy official stuff, that's why i never bothered with 3rd party flash carts.

It's a first party Nintendo product... I doubt built in piracy abilities are going to be included. It might be hacked for ROM compatability, but I expect that'll take quite a bit of work. This thing looks to be MP3/MPEG4 playback only.
15 Dec 2004, 11:30 AM
marwan

well you can pretty much dump anything on an SD card, but then again Nintendo might do something to restricting it to MP3/MPEG4 only like you said.
15 Dec 2004, 12:02 PM
Wildkat

Quote:

Originally Posted by marwan

well you can pretty much dump anything on an SD card, but then again Nintendo might do something to restricting it to MP3/MPEG4 only like you said.

Doesnt matter. Without the mp3/vid player code embeded in this device it wouldnt do a thing when plugged into a GBA, so there is your protection right there.

You can be damn sure that this doesnt execute any type of code from the SD card at all.
15 Dec 2004, 01:49 PM
Josh

I can only assume that the N is going to make this really suck somehow. Because right now it seems really cool, and they won't let that last.
15 Dec 2004, 02:08 PM
jarrod

I think it's a great low cost MP3 solution. Video though seems a bit unnecessary given the limitations.
15 Dec 2004, 02:40 PM
Fe 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod

The GBA & DS screens are a bit worthless for video, especially compared to PSP's amazing high visibility screen. But for MP3, this thing would be great.... better than PSP even thanks to the SP's small size and SD being roughly half the cost MS Duo.

Yeah but isn't a PSP a bit worthless for video, especially compared to a big screen tV, computer screen, or a movie theater. Anyone who doesn't own their own theater is just not with it, home dog.
15 Dec 2004, 02:46 PM
LOL

NO HEADPHONE JACK.
15 Dec 2004, 02:49 PM
mollipen

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod

I think it's a great low cost MP3 solution. Video though seems a bit unnecessary given the limitations.

People are willing to watch video on much smaller, lower resolution screens. Not everybody will use it, but it isn't like it will be unwatchable.

And the fact that they are going with MPEG-4 is a very nice thing.
15 Dec 2004, 02:50 PM
Mzo

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronPlant

Yeah but isn't a PSP a bit worthless for video, especially compared to a big screen tV, computer screen, or a movie theater. Anyone who doesn't own their own theater is just not with it, home dog.

He's comparing two portable video solutions, and you're... I don't even know what the hell you're doing.
15 Dec 2004, 02:51 PM
Roufuss

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mzo

He's comparing two portable video solutions, and you're... I don't even know what the hell you're doing.

He's trying to be funny but failing miserably.
15 Dec 2004, 02:51 PM
StriderKyo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh

I can only assume that the N is going to make this really suck somehow. Because right now it seems really cool, and they won't let that last.

They'll control the content, like they already do with GBA cartridge based movies.

Plays movies! = Pokemon and old Sonic cartoons.

Plays mp3s! = Soundtracks from above, + special Gameboy-only A Simple Plan B-side release.

Still, great counterattack to the PSP. They should definitely hype it here, and offer a DS package that includes it. And let people put whatever the hell they want on it. Porn + touch screen = $$
15 Dec 2004, 03:23 PM
child810

2 Attachment(s)

Looks like it has a headphone jack in the cart. Interesting.
15 Dec 2004, 03:25 PM
Mzo

Quote:

Originally Posted by omfgninjas

NO HEADPHONE JACK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by child810

Looks like it has a headphone jack in the cart. Interesting.

Pwned.
15 Dec 2004, 03:26 PM
jarrod

Quote:

Originally Posted by omfgninjas

NO HEADPHONE JACK.

There's a headphone jack in the adapter itself actually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shidoshi

People are willing to watch video on much smaller, lower resolution screens. Not everybody will use it, but it isn't like it will be unwatchable.

And the fact that they are going with MPEG-4 is a very nice thing.

Sure... I just think video's more of a novelty than anything, especially as it drops GBASP's battery down to 4 hours playtime. MP3 audio seems pretty useful actually though, given it's size, cost and promised 15 hour battery time. It actually seems like a better solution than PSP, even if only for the fact it uses SD and not MSDuo.

MPEG4 is a nice surprise too, coming from Nintendo.
15 Dec 2004, 03:27 PM
Will

Quote:

Originally Posted by StriderKyo

They'll control the content, like they already do with GBA cartridge based movies.

Plays movies! = Pokemon and old Sonic cartoons.

Plays mp3s! = Soundtracks from above, + special Gameboy-only A Simple Plan B-side release.

Still, great counterattack to the PSP. They should definitely hype it here, and offer a DS package that includes it. And let people put whatever the hell they want on it. Porn + touch screen = $$

:lol:
15 Dec 2004, 03:37 PM
maruchan

I guess the only real postive thing about this, the use of SD cards, their a hell of lot cheaper thenthe Sony sticks.
you can get a 1 gig disk for 70 bucks.. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...ductCode=80411
15 Dec 2004, 04:08 PM
Jeremy

Awesome news, in theory, hopefully the execution lives up to it. Headphone jacks in the cart itself is a genius move, and reminds of the Genesis J-carts with extra controller ports on them.
15 Dec 2004, 04:20 PM
SpoDaddy

Sony is pwned
15 Dec 2004, 04:32 PM
Josh

He we go with this shit.
15 Dec 2004, 04:37 PM
jarrod

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Headphone jacks in the cart itself is a genius move, and reminds of the Genesis J-carts with extra controller ports on them.

Seems the headphone jack is in the cart itself becuase the cart is actually housing a full chipset with MP3/MPEG4 decoder. The GBA/DS hardware isn't used at all, only as a pass through for the screen. This is good news, as we won't be limited to shit GBA sound output as well... this is an extremely well thought out solution.
15 Dec 2004, 05:02 PM
StriderKyo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Headphone jacks in the cart itself is a genius move

I don't think I've ever seen the word 'genius' that misapplied.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpoDaddy

Sony is pwned

LOL...somebody leaked an internal Sony memo (blame babelfish for the messed up translation):

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sony Portable Product Planning Division Assistant to Division Head Hiroki Sato

>Difficulty in front position of present, what perform, windowsill? We are distress! How compete >can against inferior that is screen, shorter battery survival regarding playback and Sonic the >Hedgehog animations, is it to be doubted? Very much work and this, now...so feel I numb.

Reply: Product Planning Advisor Jun Nakajima (JNakajima@SonyPPPD.co.jp)

>I understand of impressive feeling. Truly worse DS graphic is a sell glue for consumer >participant. Reforecast of many million yen is to be decalcitrated pipe. Surely owned ourselves, >overturning technique is available?

Reply: Distribution Supervisor Sanjiro Fukushima (SaFukushima@SonyPPPD.co.jp)

All of time, so come to here, point, sparrow. Fellows, I can not alive shame of this peculiar variety. Sad of all things, however and architecture, a Distribution Supervisor fears not death. This will be a final email. An end is the great corporation of sun.

LOL@pwnage!
15 Dec 2004, 06:22 PM
SpoDaddy

Wow, that's a lot of effort to put into a response to a casual semi-sarcastic 3 word sentence. Especially considering one of the 3 words isn't even a word.
15 Dec 2004, 06:40 PM
ChaoofNee

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpoDaddy

Wow, that's a lot of effort to put into a response to a casual semi-sarcastic 3 word sentence. Especially considering one of the 3 words isn't even a word.

Regardless, it was the funniest thing I've read all day.
I doubt he's waiting on a rooftop near your house waiting to snipe you. Relax.
15 Dec 2004, 06:45 PM
Shin Johnpv

Quote:

Originally Posted by StriderKyo

They'll control the content, like they already do with GBA cartridge based movies.

Plays movies! = Pokemon and old Sonic cartoons.

Plays mp3s! = Soundtracks from above, + special Gameboy-only A Simple Plan B-side release.

Still, great counterattack to the PSP. They should definitely hype it here, and offer a DS package that includes it. And let people put whatever the hell they want on it. Porn + touch screen = $$

you can put what ever you want onto it as long as it's encoded in MP3 or Mpeg-4

so yes one could watch 1 gig of porn on their DS or GBA and get themself off under their coat while ridding the bus, which as we all know is the dream of any Japanese buisness man or something like that
15 Dec 2004, 07:05 PM
AstroBlue

Quote:

Originally Posted by StriderKyo

LOL...somebody leaked an internal Sony memo (blame babelfish for the messed up translation):

Holy shit, that was awesome.
15 Dec 2004, 07:44 PM
K3V

Well this is proof that competition is a good thing. There's no way we'd see this if the PSP weren't around.
16 Dec 2004, 10:39 AM
jarrod

Quote:

Originally Posted by K3V

Well this is proof that competition is a good thing. There's no way we'd see this if the PSP weren't around.

Actually, rumor has it NCL swallowed up the SongBoy project back in 2003 and this is the result. GBA Video's been a pretty huge hit for Majesco too... while PSP's a huge threat to Nintendo, I think fast developing mobile technologies are even more dangerous. DS/GBA convergence is just as much a response to that as Sony's handheld.
21 Dec 2004, 07:40 PM
1CCOSA

Nintendo to release MP3/MPEG DS/SP adaptor.

Despite the usual gripes with paying for add ons, with the long battery life of both the DS and GBA, this could be one winning little accessory. SD support, 4 hour movie playback and 8-15 hours battery life for music. Let's hope it makes it over here.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/12...s_6115158.html

Quote:

TOKYO--Less than a week after Sony's launch of the PlayStation Portable in Japan, Nintendo has announced that it will release a new adapter for the Game Boy Advance SP and Nintendo DS. Tentatively named Play-yan, the adapter will let the handhelds play back MPEG-4 video and MP3 audio files much like the PSP. No date or price has been officially set, but Nintendo is looking at a release date of mid-February and a price of close to 5,000 yen ($48).

Nintendo's Play-yan will use an SD card instead of a Memory Stick Duo, like the PSP. While the released designs of Play-yan aren't set in stone, the adapter at the current time seems to be about the same shape and size as a GBA cartridge. The SD card will snap into the side of the Play-yan, making it irremovable as long as the Play-yan is firmly set in the handheld's cartridge slot. And because the Play-yan doesn't come with any PC connectivity, owners will need an SD Card writer/reader to record data from a PC.

Play-yan will run on the GBA SP, but it won't be compliant with the standard GBA. The Play-yan can connect to the DS through its GBA cartridge slot, and it will be displayed in GBA resolution on either the top or the bottom screen. The Play-yan can run up to four hours when playing back movies, and it can play for 15 hours or eight hours for music, depending on whether the LCD screen is turned off or on through the adapter's menu options.

According to Japanese gaming Web site Impress Gamewatch, Play-yan features a Broadcom (Alphamosaic) VC01PXX-ES2 as its hardware decoder. The decoder allows the playback of ASF format MPEG-4 files with support of resolutions up to CIF (320x240) and bit rates up to 1.5mbps. There will also be a mode for recording two hours of MPEG-4 on a 256MB SD card. However, the audio will be monaural when playing back MPEG-4 files.

The Play-yan will also support SD-Video format, which means that users with hybrid digital recorders, such as those from Panasonic (FMR-E500H, DMR-E200H, DMR-E100H), can record movies onto an SD Card with the digital recorder and then play them back on the fly with a GBA SP or DS. Play-yan doesn't support SD-Video in extra fine mode (320x240/30fps), but it can play back ASF-format MPEG-4 of the same quality. In addition, Play-yan also supports movies that are created on PCs by Fujitsu and Hitachi, which come installed with Panasonic's MediaStage application.

The movies in the SD card will be selectable for playback through animated thumbnails displayed on the screen that give users convenient checkup abilities over them. Fast-forwarding and rewinding is done with the directional pad's left and right keys, and holding on to them will increase speed. Meanwhile, the L and R buttons let the user change the brightness of the screen in four different levels.

The Play-yan supports VBR and allows playback of MP3 files with bit rates of 32-320kbps. Play-yan features folders similar to the PSP, meaning users can separate tracks into different categories for playback. The adapter will also support ID3 tags and Japanese text for its track titles and artist names. The playback functions for MP3 files, such as shuffling, are still in the works. The Play-yan comes with its own ministereo plug on its end, allowing users to directly listen to audio that hasn't passed through the GBA SP or DS hardware.

Nintendo currently only plans to sell the Play-yan though its official Web site. The company will begin taking preorders in mid-January, and it expects to ship Play-yan a month later. Currently, there are no plans to sell the adapter in North America. More details on Play-yan will be disclosed when Nintendo begins taking preorders for it.

By Staff -- GameSpot

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen001.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen002.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen003.jpg
21 Dec 2004, 07:43 PM
Roufuss

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/s...t=nintendo+mp3

I was pretty excited too.
21 Dec 2004, 07:58 PM
1CCOSA

D'oh. EDIT: wow, my post sure was moved fast

I will also second the sentiment that this will only succeed is A) Nintendo brings it here and markets it heavily and B) let's me put stuff like MST3K vids on it. :(
22 Dec 2004, 03:23 AM
dhowerter

Incredibly simple but intriguing question.. Will this device work on the Game Boy Player?

It IS in the shape of a GBA cartridge and thus would fit in the GB Player... ;)
22 Dec 2004, 03:46 AM
LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod

Actually, rumor has it NCL swallowed up the SongBoy project back in 2003 and this is the result. GBA Video's been a pretty huge hit for Majesco too... while PSP's a huge threat to Nintendo, I think fast developing mobile technologies are even more dangerous. DS/GBA convergence is just as much a response to that as Sony's handheld.

LOL!
23 Dec 2004, 01:14 PM
Diff-chan

Quote:

Originally Posted by omfgninjas

LOL!

IBTN.
23 Dec 2004, 01:21 PM
JefmcC

Quote:

Originally Posted by diffusionx

IBTN.

IAWTP
13 Feb 2005, 08:37 PM
1CCOSA

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/arti...0005904296.jpg

IGNDS is reporting that Nintendo has trademarked a new product called the V-Pocket. As you can see above, the logo mimics the DS logo font and looks like it may be the U.S. rev of the PlayChan media device. Hmmmm. The memory stick that comes with the PSP bundle would hold like, what? About 10 MP3s? With a Play Yan and a 1gig SD scard you could put a boat load of MP3s and video clips on it. Portable MST3K on my DS (assuming it works) here I come. whoo

Oh yeah, the story is here:

http://ds.ign.com/articles/586/586895p1.html
13 Feb 2005, 10:28 PM
mollipen

Yikes... I just finally read that big write-up about this thing up there. ASF-container MPEG4 video? The hell? So far as I know, you can encode MPEG4 video straight into an MPEG container. While you can wrap it into a more proprietary container (ASF, MOV, etc.), why would they want to here? Unless I'm seriously mistaken, ASF is Microsoft... why is Nintendo using an MS container when they don't need to? As well, from what I know, this will make it harder for just anybody to encode their own content into MPEG4 video that would work with this thing.
14 Feb 2005, 12:25 AM
The_Meach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spo

babelfish for the messed up translation

Dear Babelfish:

Thank you.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
14 Feb 2005, 11:48 PM
1CCOSA

Quote:

Originally Posted by shidoshi

Yikes... I just finally read that big write-up about this thing up there. ASF-container MPEG4 video? The hell? So far as I know, you can encode MPEG4 video straight into an MPEG container. While you can wrap it into a more proprietary container (ASF, MOV, etc.), why would they want to here? Unless I'm seriously mistaken, ASF is Microsoft... why is Nintendo using an MS container when they don't need to? As well, from what I know, this will make it harder for just anybody to encode their own content into MPEG4 video that would work with this thing.

Oof, that's a bummer.
16 Feb 2005, 10:06 AM
jarrod

V-Pocket is rumored to be Nintendo's new Palm OS based PDA/translation suite for DS, not the western name for the Play-Yan. The registration was Japanese too.