New model GBA SPs are backlit

Okay, so, Nintendo just released 2 new SP colors in NA (which I never saw any announcements about in the first place)... But the kicker is that these models are backlit rather than frontlit. The light can no longer be turned off, the button that used to be the on/off switch for the light is now used to alternate between two brightness settings, and reports and evidence shows that either of these settings put the DS to shame.

vs. DS vs. old SP

The new screens are only on the new color units so far (Pearl Blue and Graphite), and the boxes reflect this with "New BRIGHTER Sceen!" printed on the cover. Whether it will become standard issue on newly manufactured units of the previously existing colors of SP is unconfirmed, but likely.

Very strange that they're doing this as Micro is coming out, as being the only dedicated GBA player with a backlit screen was sort of one of it's main selling points.

Nintendo just loves to kill its own systems.

Nintendo sure knows how to make you feel retarded.

backlights suck

I find it a bit odd that the DS and original SP in those pics are almost directly under a lightsource.
Just look at the glare on the DS.

Well, to be fair, if they have the option to cost-effectively upgrade a feature, why shouldn't they? You think they should deny making a better product for those who don't have one in order to avoid upsetting those that do? That line of thinking seems a bit ridiculous and self-involved to me.

The original GBA got a slightly improved screen very early on, and the original SP was enough of an improvement that nothing could make me regret buying one.

Huh. So i CAN play GBA games on a backlit screen. I'm not complaining... Well... Yeah, i really wanted to play them on the micro, so i will, just a little. Boo Nintendo for tempting me with yet ANOTHER Gameboy update.

i always thought the SP's were backlit. huh. learn somethin new everyday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

i always thought the SP's were backlit. huh. learn somethin new everyday.

---

Nope. They took the idea that TritonLabs did with the Afterburner light kit that was installed into the original GBAs

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedawa

I find it a bit odd that the DS and original SP in those pics are almost directly under a lightsource.
Just look at the glare on the DS.

---

Good point. The DS looks to be directly under the light, unlike the SP. Of course that'd make the screen look less bright.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

i always thought the SP's were backlit. huh. learn somethin new everyday.

---

Dude, like EVERYONE knows the SP was frontlit. Get wit da times, jigga.

i wish these came in "traditional" colors .. So I could pull the new one, and then pack my old one in the box and return it.

Damn you Nintendo.

Wasn't it Nintendo who said that a backlit GB was impossible?

Regardless, I still see no reason to change my SP.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Melf

Wasn't it Nintendo who said that a backlit GB was impossible?

---

They also said they weren't making a GBA with any light, then behold...the SP.

Nintendo's word is pretty much shit.

I believe they ALSO said that the DS would only come in silver, because it was supposed to be a "more serious" handheld.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Melf

Wasn't it Nintendo who said that a backlit GB was impossible?

---

impossible while they still own a warehouse full of non backlit LCD screens maybe.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frogacuda

backlights suck

---

Why do backlights suck? They're far better than front lighting a display.

Or do you just prefer the days of no backlighting, where you had to keep moving around to find the best amount of incoming sunlight?

I'm pretty sure this is fake. GAF was making fun of it yesterday, IIRC.

Making fun of it != not real.

It's real.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shidoshi

Why do backlights suck? They're far better than front lighting a display.

Or do you just prefer the days of no backlighting, where you had to keep moving around to find the best amount of incoming sunlight?

---

Backlights drain the battery..just look at the Game Gear

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bandit

Backlights drain the battery..just look at the Game Gear

---

That's called 1990 technology, not backlights.

GBA = best platform of this generation.


There, I said it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bacon McShig

Making fun of it != not real.

It's real.

---

Alright then.

Looking around, the same pics posted at GAF are the only ones I find anywhere. That does seem odd...

But then this page on NOA's website does mention GBA SP as being backlit.

Should be in stores this week, so we'll find out soon enough.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frogacuda

backlights suck

---

Me guess your TV sucks as well?

Nice little comparison someone posted on GAF.

http://www.beermonkey.net/images/gba-screens.png

((actual screensize))

Is that the real size of the micro? it just gets worse everytime i hear about it

Having played with one a few days ago, I can say that the Micro kicks ass. I have absolutely no use for one, but a few minutes of playing with it made me want it something fierce. A PC upgrade and the Xbox 360 will force me to resist, but it's tough going. Damn tech-lust.

James

That Nintendo site says there are over 700 GBA-only games? Holy Hell!

How can that graphic show the actual screen sizes of the GBA? I'm sure on somebody's monitor somewhere the sizes are correct, but we're all running different monitor sizes at different resolutions. I'm sure the size is off for most of us. Relative size....OK, I'll buy that. Actual size...probably not.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cheebs

How can that graphic show the actual screen sizes of the GBA? I'm sure on somebody's monitor somewhere the sizes are correct, but we're all running different monitor sizes at different resolutions. I'm sure the size is off for most of us. Relative size....OK, I'll buy that. Actual size...probably not.

---

Great point. They could be the right resolutions, but not the right size.

I think I will pick up one of the new SP units and a Famicom Micro in the coming months. Game Boy = Nintendo cash cow.

WHOOPS! I could have let you guys know about this last week when we got them in. Theres also one with a Spongebob theme too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yoshi

Great point. They could be the right resolutions, but not the right size.

---

Yeah, that graphic isn't correct, because for me the non-Micro screens look WAY too small. Plus, on a Mac, the native DPI is 100, where on the PC it is 72, so I think that could screw up displaying the "actual size" as well, depending on what the graphic was created on and what you are looking at it on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bacon McShig

Very strange that they're doing this as Micro is coming out, as being the only dedicated GBA player with a backlit screen was sort of one of it's main selling points.

---

Not sure why Nintendo decided to add backlit screens to the SP at this time, but a publicly advertised backlit GBA model (arguably a better deal than the expensive, tiny, GB-incompatible Micro) would have stolen attention and sales away from the Micro's launch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taito

Not sure why Nintendo decided to add backlit screens to the SP at this time, but a publicly advertised backlit GBA model (arguably a better deal than the expensive, tiny, GB-incompatible Micro) would have stolen attention and sales away from the Micro's launch.

---

That is true. I played the Micro today. Though it is cool but compared to the SP with backlight I think I would buy that for sure. Plus the SP will play ALL Gameboy games. Unlike the Micro which will NOT play anything but GBA games.

Backlit, frontlit, side-lit, upside-down crazy lit, my SP will still collect dust in the corner of my room.

Well, I actually think that's kinda neat. Shoulda been backlit to begin with though which is irritating of course. I still want an NES Sp though to replace my old cobalt blue (which I may give to someone)

I dunno about the micro, I need to wait until i actually get to hold one in my hands cuz I can't see how the screen being reduced like that would be a good thing. Plus no old school GB compatibility.

I still amazed how people eat this shit up. Nintendo is raping you in the ass over this stuff but Sony and Microsoft always end up being the gamer haters. WTF!?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dylan1CC

I dunno about the micro, I need to wait until i actually get to hold one in my hands cuz I can't see how the screen being reduced like that would be a good thing. Plus no old school GB compatibility.

---

Its nice but the screen really is too small IMO.

It's not rape with Nintendo.

Sony are gamer haters because they build shoddy consoles and are at war with 2d gaming, not because they remodel their consoles. MS are gamer haters because, well, just look at the Xbox 360 core system.

nintendo is releasing improvements to already satisfactory products. it's not like they shipped millions of units of systems with shitty lasers and bad power supplies.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EvilMog007

Nintendo is raping you in the ass over this stuff

---

Because they're forcing you to buy it? The SP is an already awesome system. It just got better. Your SP didn't get worse, don't worry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tonic the Drunkhog

nintendo is releasing improvements to already satisfactory products. it's not like they shipped millions of units of systems with shitty lasers and bad power supplies.

---

... and then blamed it on the consumers. Don't forget that, the best part. I heart Sony.

http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/652/652641p1.html

they have some of their own pictures. they mention a subtle blur and color saturation.

It sounds like the DS screen is still the best way for playing GBA games in terms of clarity as well as screen size. I forget, is the DS compatible with GameCube-GBA connectivity games like Crystal Chronicles?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SpoDaddy

It sounds like the DS screen is still the best way for playing GBA games in terms of clarity as well as screen size. I forget, is the DS compatible with GameCube-GBA connectivity games like Crystal Chronicles?

---

Nope. On that note, is the Gameboy Micro compatible with Gamecube-GBA connectivity games?

Well, found my answer...
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...gbamicrogc.jpg

I think it's strange that Nintendo's releasing a Game Boy Advance that isn't compatible with fairly recent big releases reliant on it like Zelda Four Swords, Crystal Chronicles, etc. I understand nobody cared about connectivity games, but I think a big part of that was because it was hard to find that many other people with GBA's to play with. I always wanted to play those games with 3 other people, it seems like I might have finally gotten the chance between the DS and the Micro hitting the market.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yoshi

Great point. They could be the right resolutions, but not the right size.

---

No, those diagrams are worthless and don't make sense.
All GBA screens have the same pixel resolution, and the SP screen is not bigger than the DS screen, even with the DS windowing.

I wish Nintendo would release the original GBA with a backlit screen.
I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

I traded in my GBA SP for a DS, I wouldn't mind replacing it with one of these, just in case I ever want to play FF:CC with friends >_>

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mzo

I traded in my GBA SP for a DS, I wouldn't mind replacing it with one of these, just in case I ever want to play FF:CC with friends >_>

---

Hahahaha... Oh.. ohh.. Wait.. wait.. You're serious. :-P
I would like to play FF:CC as well but... hmm.. You know what, we actually may be able to do it now that we know people that won't be six hours late or keep comparing it to PSO. We should go through FF:CC soon.

Also, we should go through Four Sword Adventures again. What a kick ass game.

sooooooooo.....is this thing worth getting? i'm tired of playing GBA games on the DS. The DS is heavy and i want something i can carry around easily.

IGN doesnt seem to be loading from my side, so could someone copy paste thier comment on the backlit SP?

thanks!

EDIT: ok it loaded, thanks. is the saturation and blurr a big deal? has anyone tried the new backlit SP? thoughts?

I'm still curious about this, too.
Any impressions?

A friend of mine who works at the EB in Coolidge Corner said he got to play with it the other day, that the blur isn't a problem and that it's great. Haven't seen it firsthand, but if I get to check it out soon, I'll post impressions.

I want to hear more about this. If it's like the DS's screen I want no part of it, but if it's closer to the PSP or Zodiac screen then I might get this when I pick up an SP for Gunstar.

i'll order one. that's the only way to find out.

The new screens are officially the shit. On the bright setting, it's brighter than the PSP's #4 setting, it's very sharp, and it has less blur than any LCD I've ever seen. I would say it looks just like the PSP screen (although smaller) except for a couple of things; the PSP screen ghosts, it has very bad blur but the SP's screen has almost zero blur, the SP's screen is very very colorful and sharp while the PSP's screen is softer. I'd say it's as good as the PSP screen, maybe better although opinions may differ. It is very colorful, they need to slap these screens in the DS's now.

If they re-released the NES SP with the new backlight I would definitely buy one.

I'm torn between getting one of these and a DS. There's only like 3 DS games I want, and I hate the size of the DS and it's crummy screen. But I still wonder if those 3 games will justify the extra $50 and poorer screen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frogacuda

I'm torn between getting one of these and a DS. There's only like 3 DS games I want, and I hate the size of the DS and it's crummy screen. But I still wonder if those 3 games will justify the extra $50 and poorer screen.

---

I say get the SP2. If the DS doesn't interest you now, get one when Nintendo invariably redesigns the DS in a year or two.

I have a feeling that Nintendo will drop the GBA slot if they ever redesign the DS, so it might not be a bad idea to grab one anyway.

I'm really torn between the new SP and the micro, since I can currently get either one for the same price.

Drop the GBA slot?

Unless they make the touted rumblepack functionality intertal on a new DS, I couldn't see the removal of the GBA slot happening.

If I had the choice I'd get a Micro. I played one the other day. They're beautiful.

Yeah, it's not like Nintendo to break compatibility with add-ons when they design updated systems.

Is the Micro good for playing games with lots of text though like Zelda or Advance Wars?

From what reviewers have said, it's fine for text heavy games.
I'd be more concerned with ports of 16-bit shooters.
The smaller bullets in R-Type III and Contra must be microscopic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedawa

From what reviewers have said, it's fine for text heavy games.
I'd be more concerned with ports of 16-bit shooters.

---

Yeah see, that too concerns me a lot.

I thought it might.

The new SPs screens look a lot better than the micros.

What about battery life?
I imagine the brighter screen would have a negative impact, although the old screen did give off a lot of useless light.

I love the Micro. It's so tiny and so keen. The screen is sharp enough so you can see little details, no problem. Unless you really want to play old GB and GBC games, the Micro's the way to go. I read somewhere that the battery life is 10 hours. I forgot where.

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/im...0011936707.jpg

Why must they tempt me? I will NOT buy more than one Gameboy Micro. I WILL NOT!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Finch

Why must they tempt me? I will NOT buy more than one Gameboy Micro. I WILL NOT!!!

---

Can't they just sell the faceplates? I mean, jeez, I thought that was the point.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Grave

Can't they just sell the faceplates? I mean, jeez, I thought that was the point.

---

Even if they did, it wouldn't match the color of the micro itself. It's the faceplate with the system that looks beautiful, though it'd probably look good against the famicom micro.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Finch

Even if they did, it wouldn't match the color of the micro itself. It's the faceplate with the system that looks beautiful, though it'd probably look good against the famicom micro.

---

Oh, you're right. I didn't even realize they had different system colors.

They always find a way to prey on silly collectors, don't they? Guess it'd be too much trouble to snap the front and back off like an old Nokia phone, huh? That was the best part of those faceplates, making a hideous two-tone combination on an obscenely commonplace phone, that way nobody accidently picked my phone up thinking it was theirs.

Of course, I don't imagine GB Micro becoming commonplace at all, as it is a lot less useful than a cellphone, and it's more expensive than a more functional unit is. Most people with IQs higher than Wilykat (large percentage of the population) do not purchase one!

i just got the saphire GBA with the new backlit screen and it's fuckin'g brilliant!!! :D

Not to derail the thread, but seeing the Super Mario Bros on there reminded me...

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe > NES Classics: Super Mario Bros.

Harg, i guess if anyone makes variants, it's to prey on silly collectors. I know i'm going to try to collect every color of my car. The gbmicro itself is beautiful shiny metal and the face is plastic. It looks and feels much nicer than a plastic shell.
It's a game system, not a phone. It doesn't charge by the minute and doesn't even require an activation fee. The screen's sharper than the sp's, it's even tinier, and it weighs nothing. It may be style over function, but who cares? It works and looks nice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by marwan

i just got the saphire GBA with the new backlit screen and it's fuckin'g brilliant!!! :D

---

Same one I got, it looks nice don't it. The past year I haven't even touched my SP cause the DS screen looked so much nicer but now I always play on the new SP. The DS needs these screens.

Quote:

---

The screen's sharper than the sp's

---

The new SPs screen looks better than the micros, it's brighter and even though the image is bigger, it looks sharper.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kbuchanan

Same one I got, it looks nice don't it. The past year I haven't even touched my SP cause the DS screen looked so much nicer but now I always play on the new SP. The DS needs these screens.



The new SPs screen looks better than the micros, it's brighter and even though the image is bigger, it looks sharper.

---

the new SP makes me wanna play all my GBA games all over again....specially castelvania circle of the moon :)

the thing is the DS is a bit heavy when holding it on the long run.....i prefer the lighter smaller SP.....specially with the new screen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by marwan

the new SP makes me wanna play all my GBA games all over again....specially castelvania circle of the moon :)

---

Heh, I popped the GBA 'Vanias in to see how much of an improvement DoS was over them...

The answer is "HUUUUUUUUUUGE".

So I guess it's fair to say that the SP2 is the best way to play GBA games on the go?
I'd still like to try out the micro, since I've read that it has the best dpad.
I'm still wondering, can anyone give a comparison of SP vs SP2 battery life?

some games on the new GBA SP have saturated colors, but that only applies to color full games such as wario land 3 and castelvania aria of sorrow. circle of the moon looked perfect. anyways the saturation is a minor thing, and if you play with the low light setting, the saturation doesnt show as much.....i'm all for brightness, so the saturation doesnt bother me. the screen looks too good to be true to complaining about it :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedawa

So I guess it's fair to say that the SP2 is the best way to play GBA games on the go?
I'd still like to try out the micro, since I've read that it has the best dpad.
I'm still wondering, can anyone give a comparison of SP vs SP2 battery life?

---

I've played mine probably 8 or more hours and my battery's still good.

I've played Fire Emblem at least 12-14 hours on my first charge and the light is still green....wtf.

Sony should take note.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by marwan

Sony should take note.

---

This has nothing to do with anything. Shut up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedawa

I have a feeling that Nintendo will drop the GBA slot if they ever redesign the DS, so it might not be a bad idea to grab one anyway.

I'm really torn between the new SP and the micro, since I can currently get either one for the same price.

---

I don't know if they'd do that. It serves as an expansion slot for the DS as well as a GBA slot. The Band Bros expansion was released on a GBA cart, and I like the fact that things like that are possible. I'd like to see more games doing it in the future.

If the slot continues to be used by a lot of games, then they wouldn't, but if not, it wouldn't surprise me if they leave out the GBA slot when they design a DS micro 3-4 years from now.

screen is absolutely amazing and thing is, I think it's just more fun and comfortable playing on the SP, the design is better with the folding case to protect the screen, it's small enough to still fit in ur pocket easily, and no where near as heavy as the DS. A better, bigger and brighter screen than the tiny (IMO just too small) GBA Micro and still gets the battery life of the old model I've had one recharge which had lasted 10-12 hours at least. I got graphite...looks cool, slightly industrial and matches nicely with the color of the GBA games, I'm absolutely LOVING it and glad I waited this long to dive into the GBA market.