Game Boy Advance SP
| File:93 phull.jpg | |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Sixth generation era |
| Lifespan | February 14, 2003 (JP) March 23, 2003 (US) |
| Media | Cartridge |
The Game Boy Advance SP, released in March 2003, is an upgraded version of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance. The "SP" stands for "Special" – not "Special Project" as some assume. [1]
The SP was marketed at $99.99 USD at launch. In September 2004, Nintendo lowered the price to $79.99 USD. The SP is accompanied by the Nintendo DS (released in November 2004) and the Game Boy Micro (released in September 2005).
Changes
Improvements
Improvements over the original Game Boy Advance include:
- An internal frontlight
- A rechargeable lithium ion battery (instead of two regular AA batteries)
- Clamshell/Laptop design
The GBA SP is approximately half the width of the GBA when closed and roughly the height of Nintendo's Game Boy Color when open. The clamshell/laptop design protects the screen from scratches and dust. However, the casing is made from a different material, making it more prone to scratches than previous GB systems.
The GBA SP AC adapter comes with the package, whereas its predecessor, Game Boy Advance, required a separate adapter. The software library and general hardware specifications are identical to those of the Game Boy Advance.
Headphone jack
Due to form-factor limitations, Nintendo removed the headphone jack—which had been included on all previous Game Boy models. Headphones designed specifically for the GBA SP can be purchased, or standard headphones can be attached with an optional adapter that plugs into the same port as the AC adapter. This decision was widely criticized, for some gamers disliked having to pay $4.25 USD to buy an adapter. Some gamers believe that Nintendo should have included the headphone jack adapter in the SP package.
The headphone jack adapter can be found at Nintendo's North American Online Store, and is available for purchase in brick and mortar stores in Japan and Europe. Additionally, Majesco developed officially-licensed neckband stereo headphones that plugs directly into the port without the need of an adapter.
Battery life
The battery is similar to that of most mobile phones and lasts approximately 18 hours with the light off and 10 hours with it on.
Nintendo claimed that technological advances made it possible for the SP to include an internal light and a rechargeable battery. It launched at the same price of the original GBA ($99.99 USD). An additional motivation may have been a need to respond to Triton Labs' Afterburner aftermarket internal light kit, which proved that the original GBA could support an internal light with an acceptable drop in battery life.
The new backlit model's battery life is approximately 13 hours on the "low" setting and much less with the "high" setting. The backlit SP's light cannot be turned off.
Backlit model
In North America during September 2005, around the time of the Game Boy Micro's release, Nintendo released an improved version of the Game Boy Advance SP featuring a backlight instead of the previous version's frontlight. The brightness can be set to low or high; at low it is brighter and more colorful than the DS. The box says, "Now with a BRIGHTER backlit screen!" to distinguish the new model from the older, frontlit models. For now, it only comes in two colors, Pearl Blue and Graphite, but that is expected to change later on down the line.
As of this writing, there has been no formal announcement from Nintendo about this new model. Many have speculated that such an announcement would dampen the sales of the Game Boy Micro, as the Micro's screen clarity is a major advantage over the original GBA SP model. Nintendo spokespersons have stated that the upgraded system is due for a European release, but have not revealed a date.
Criticism
The frontlight, although an improvement over the previous lack of light, has been criticized for giving a "washed-out" look to many games. Refraction effects cause a faint "ghost" image to appear above the screen itself, particularly noticeable with white-on-black images (for example, text). Gamers who have played GBA games on the Nintendo DS have commented that the difference between the SP's frontlight and the DS's backlight is like that of night and day. Such criticisms have been addressed with the new backlit model.
The refresh rate of the backlit SP is lower (50hz compared to 60hz), and the slight motion blur that results has also been criticized.
Due to the cartridge slot being on the bottom rather than the top, the tilt-sensor-based game Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble has its controls reversed, as it was designed for use with the Game Boy Color. However, the GBA games Yoshi Topsy-Turvy and WarioWare: Twisted! work properly in both top-loading and bottom-loading systems as both games were designed to automatically calibrate themselves according to the cartridge's orientation. The e-Reader device sticks out awkwardly on the SP; gamers must turn the system around to scan cards correctly, and the link port sticks out.