Again, not much time to check up on or to write about video game news, but I just found about this and it.s.. interesting to say the least.
The new Game Boy Micro comes out next week, and I know many are interested in it, not just because of the stylish new look, but because of the backlight screen, which is vastly sharper and all around better looking than the GBA SP’s display, which is front-lit, and not powerfully so, resulting in a washed out image.
Well get this: Nintendo has just released (I think today) a brand new backlit GBA SP. And this came out from absolutely nowhere (basically, it was a stealth release). Here’s a thread from the GAF that broke the news, plus some comparison pics are available:
Like many in the thread, I’m both shocked and a little annoyed by this. I guess you can’t blame Nintendo… as one person theorized, they probably just got a great deal from the manufacturer of the Micro’s back-lit screen, and its nice that they’re improving upon an existing product for no additional price. But still… one of the main reasons for me to get a DS, aside from the awesome DS-only games, is the chance to play GBA on a better screen. And now I hear this screen is better, plus its a bit larger than the DS’s (which was always the case actually). And considering that all I play these days (or at least all I have time for these days) is GBA titles, I’m torn.
I don’t want to buy another GBA… I have the NES edition and its like my third one (I had an original model Japanese GBA that was purple and which I stole from Ubi Soft, as well as the first platinum edition SP) and I don’t feel like getting a fourth GBA (which will actually be my sixth Game Boy… I had a Game Boy Pocket and I still have a Game Boy Color… which is actually my second one since the first got stolen when I got robbed… and I don’t even want to think about the Super Game Boy and Game Boy Player). But unfortunately my NES edition model, like the platinum before it, is starting to fall apart; some of the paint is starting to peel off near the A button, which makes no sense since I treat it with care. I know I play it a lot and all, but still… maybe my hands are super oily? So getting a new GBA might be good to ensure my NES one doesn’t getting messed up any further. But for just $50 I could get a DS… but I really like the SP’s form-factor (it far more travel-friendly). Jesus fuck this annoying. And once again, Nintendo is doing something good and pissing everyone off at the same time. What better time than to cue that pic of Reggie shrugging.
Some are calling this the best GBA yet. Well it would be if it just had a damn headphone jack. Hey, at least I never broke down and got a Micro!
