Game Boy Advance

Game Boy Advance
Official Game Boy Advance logo
Game Boy Advance in transparent
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Type	Handheld console
generation	sixth generation of consoles
publication	March 21, 2001  June 11, 2001  June 22, 2001
Main processor	32-bit RISC CPU ( ARM architecture )
Storage media	Modules
Controller	Controls attached to the console
Online service	none
Units sold	over 81.51 million
Most successful game	Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Edition (approx. 15.85 million)
predecessor	Game Boy

The Game Boy Advance (working title: "Project Atlantis", short: GBA ) is a handheld console and the successor to the Game Boy and the Game Boy Color . It is Nintendo's first handheld that is not based on the technology of the original Game Boy (with the exception of the Game & Watch series ). The Game Boy Advance has been redesigned with the Game Boy Advance SP . Despite the fundamental change in hardware , the two representatives of the latest Game Boy generation can handle all Game Boy games. All Game Boy Advance models are also available in many different colors.

The Game Boy Advance has sold over 81.51 million times in its lifetime.

overview

The Game Boy Advance was brought onto the European market by Nintendo in 2001 as the successor to the very successful Game Boy Color .

Compared to the classic Game Boy , the handheld console offers technology at the level of an improved Super Nintendo , a larger screen with a wider aspect ratio , a different shape (landscape instead of portrait) and full downward compatibility with Game Boy and Game Boy Color Play. When playing Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on a Game Boy Advance, the L and R buttons could be used to change the aspect ratio of the displayed image (original aspect ratio or elongated image).

Points of criticism, such as the unergonomic buttons for larger hands, the lack of anti-reflective coating and the lack of backlighting, Nintendo responded with the development of the greatly improved Game Boy Advance SP.

Technical specifications

• Screen : size: 4.08 cm (width) × 6.12 cm (length); Resolution : 160 × 240 pixels ; Type: TFT screen with 32,768 displayable colors; Frame rate : approx. 59.7 Hz
• CPU : 16.77 MHz 32 bit RISC CPU (ARM7TDMI, ARM architecture ) and 8 bit CISC CPU ( Z80 / 8080 derivative)
• Work memory : 32 KB I-RAM (1 cycle / 32 bit) + 96 KB VRAM (1-2 cycles) + 256 KB eRAM (6 cycles / 32 bit)
• Sound : speakers (mono) / headphones (stereo)
• Multiplayer : Four (together with GBAs or GBA-SPs) or two (with Game Boy or Game Boy Color )
• Power supply: 2 × 1.5 volt AA batteries
• Battery life: approx. 15 hours (varies depending on the game)
• Dimensions: 8.2 cm high × 14.45 cm wide × 2.45 cm deep
• Weight: approx. 140 g
• Plug-in module : 3.45 cm high × 6.0 cm wide × 0.95 cm deep; maximum 4 GBit (512 MByte), (maximum 256 Mbit (32 MByte) memory ex works)
• Compatibility : plays all old Game Boy and Game Boy Color games

Game module

The licensed original modules of the GBA

Board of a Game Boy Advance game with battery (unlicensed replica)

As with their predecessors, games were still delivered on module. In contrast to the old Game Boy modules, these were only half the size, but had far more memory for the games (GBC max. 32 Mbit / 4 MB, GBA max. 512 Mbit / 64 MB).

In contrast to earlier games, Game Boy Advance games from 2002 onwards relied on flash memory or EEPROM memory instead of battery-backed memory, which could safely store all memory states, even without a power supply. Only a few games such as B. the Pokémon series still had a battery for the real-time clock on the board.

Thanks to the improved technology, games could now also be played by two people with just one game, one Game Boy Advance per player, a link cable for two players, two link cables for three players and three link cables for four players.

equipment

The most important accessory turned out to be the multiplayer link cable, which was later to be replaced by a wireless adapter . This adapter is only supported by a few games (e.g. Mario Golf Advance Tour). The new link cable itself had a hub built into the middle of the cable , which enabled another link cable to be plugged in and thus enabled up to four players to play with up to four players without any additional accessories, except for the cable itself.

A similar cable that was released was used to connect the Game Boy Advance to Nintendo's current home console at the time, the Nintendo GameCube . Unlike the multiplayer link cable, it only had one plug for the Game Boy Advance and one for a controller socket on the GameCube. In this way, additional information from certain GameCube games could be displayed on connected GBAs, or the GBA itself could be used as a controller. In some cases, Game Boy Advance games were released at the same time as compatible GameCube games. The first game to use this option was Sonic Adventure 2 Battle in conjunction with Sonic Advance .

Game Boy Advance SP

Game Boy Advance SP

Module comparison, Game Boy Color (left), Game Boy Advance (right)

With the Game Boy Advance SP (short: GBA SP SP for " Sp ecial") published Nintendo in early 2003 the first revised version of the Game Boy Advance in zuklappbaren notebook design. In contrast to the Nintendo DS consoles , the game is not paused when the device is closed. The technology for playing games is the same as that of its predecessor, only the design , the screen and the power supply have been changed. The screen now has a lighting function that can be switched on and off at the push of a button, and instead of a simple battery compartment, the device has a replaceable lithium-ion battery . In addition, the display is now better protected from scratches thanks to the folding function. But the design also has flaws; For example, fans criticize that the older GBC and GB games protrude far from the front of the device, that a separate adapter is required to connect headphones and that the battery can only be charged with special chargers .

In 2005 a revised SP model appeared (model AGS-101), which replaced the previous front light (lighting of the LCD from the front) with a backlight . The GBA games on this extended SP have roughly the same appearance that they achieve when operated on a Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS lite . The improved model was offered in Germany at the end of 2006 in the colors "Surf Blue", "Pearl Pink" and "Tribal" and can be recognized by the new packaging in addition to the color. However, there are also old models (AGS-001) in the new colors, so the device can only be correctly identified using the model number on the bottom. The screen lighting on these models can be adjusted in two stages, but can no longer be switched off.

Technical specifications

• Size: 82mm × 84.6mm × 24.3mm
• Weight: 146 g, with Game Boy Advance game: 156 g, with Game Boy Color game: 168 g
• Processor: 16.77 MHz 32bit RISC - CPU ( ARM7tdmi ) (with ROM ) + 8bit CISC -CPU- ( Z80 )
• Memory: 32 KB IRAM (1 cycle / 32 bit) + 96 KB VRAM (1-2 cycles) + 256 KB EWRAM (6 cycles / 32 bit)
• Screen: 40.8mm × 61.2mm; 240 × 160 pixels; AGS-001: front light lighting, AGS-101: backlight lighting
• Colors: max. 32,768 colors at the same time;
• Battery: Li-Ion battery ; without lighting: 18 hours running time; with lighting: 10 hours running time; 3 hours charging time, with GBA SP (2006) always 10-11 hours.
• Other: Link port, downward compatible

Game Boy Micro

Game Boy Micro

Size comparison GBA SP (blue) and GB Micro (green)

The Game Boy Micro ( stylized spelling : GAME BOY mıcro , short: GB Micro or GBM ) is a very small version of the Game Boy Advance. It was first presented to the public at Nintendo's E3 2005 press conference . According to Nintendo's marketing spokesman Reginald Fils-Aime, it is intended to appeal to the “image-conscious buyer”.

The Game Boy Micro offers all the functions of the Game Boy Advance SP , but cannot play Game Boy and Game Boy Color modules. In addition, in contrast to the first generation of the GBA-SP models, it offers a more color-fast background lighting , the brightness of which can be adjusted, and an anti-reflective liquid crystal screen .

The Game Boy Micro was released in Japan on September 13, and a week later in the USA. The handheld was released in Europe on November 4, 2005.

In contrast to its predecessors, the Game Boy Micro has a metal housing. The front cover is made of plastic and can be replaced with one of the alternative covers available separately.

Technical specifications

• Size: 10 cm wide, 5 cm high, 1.8 cm deep
• Weight: approx. 80 g
• Colors: silver, blue, pink and green
  • Different colors and designs thanks to exchangeable front cover
• Processor : 16.77 MHz 32bit RISC CPU
• Screen : 2-inch (compared to 2.9 "for the GBA), anti-reflective coating, adjustable backlighting in 5 levels, cannot be completely switched off
• Battery : built-in lithium-ion battery
• Headphones : supports normal headphones without additional accessories
• Software : all Game Boy Advance games playable, but he is the first Game Boy to not play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games

Web links

Commons : Game Boy Advance  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• PlanetGameboy.de Germany's largest online magazine for Game Boy Advance

Individual evidence

1. ↑ [1]
2. ↑ Top 200 best-selling GBA games. In: VGChartz. Retrieved September 6, 2013 . 
3. ↑ [2]
4. ↑ TASVideos / Platform frame rates. Retrieved March 7, 2020 . 
5. ↑ nintendo.com - What does "SP" stand for? (English) accessed on November 27, 2013