Introduction to the Nintendo GameBoy Advance SP (AGS-001)

The GameBoy Advance SP (or GBA SP for short) is the immediate successor of the GameBoy Advance. The device was released by Nintendo in 2003, two years after the . The SP in it’s name stands for special, denoting that it is a special version of the standard GameBoy Advance. It’s predecessors include all of the previous GameBoys in Nintendo’s lineup: the classic GameBoy, the GameBoy Pocket, the GameBoy Light and the GameBoy Color. In terms of hardware, the GameBoy Advance SP and the GameBoy Advance are very similar with both consoles featuring similar button layouts, 32-bit CPUs and a 240×160 pixel screen resolution that could display up to 32,768 different colours simultaneously. The difference in the latest console lies in it’s clam-shell design, which made the console smaller and overall more portable. Further welcomed upgrades include a front-lit screen, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which allowed for 10 hours of gameplay with the front-light on and a charger input which it later shared with Nintendo’s DS (Dual Screen) handheld console. The 3.5mm headphone jack on the GBA was removed and instead the new charger port used for connecting a headphone. Proprietary headphones and 3.5mm headphone adapters were sold separately. This meant that the GameBoy Advance SP did not support simultaneous charging and connecting headphones.

The GameBoy Advance in this post is the Famicom Color special edition which was released in Japan to commemorate the Famicom home console, which is the Japanese equivalent of the Nintendo Entertainment System. The Famicom Color special edition was only released in Japan.

Specifications

• Product name: GameBoy Advance SP
• Model number: AGS-001
• Manufacturer: Nintendo
• Product line: GameBoy line
• Release date: February 14, 2003 (Japan)
• Console Generation: Sixth generation
• Game format: GameBoy Advance cartidges, GameBoy Color cartridges, GameBoy cartridges
• Region lock: no
• CPU: 32-bit
• Screen size: 1.51 inches (4.08cm) × 2.41 inches (6.12cm) with a diagonal length of 2.90 inches (7.36cm)
• Screen resolution: 240×160

Introduction to the Nintendo GameBoy Advance

The GameBoy Advance (often referred to as GBA) is a 32-bit iteration of the GameBoy console and was released in 2001. It’s predecessors include the classic GameBoy, the GameBoy Pocket, the GameBoy Light as well as the GameBoy Color. Compared to the GameBoy Color, the GameBoy Advance featured an even larger screen clocking it at 2.90 inches with a wide-screen resolution of 240×160 pixels. That’s almost 70% more pixels than the GameBoy Color’s screen, which had a resolution of 160×144. Not only was the screen larger and featured a higher resolution, it could also display far more colours than it’s predecessor: it could display up to 32,768 different colours simultaneously. An additional feature that sets the GameBoy Advance apart from it’s predecessors are the L and R shoulder buttons, which allow for more advance gaming controls. Further improvements to the system include a two-color battery power indicator, which switched from green to red when battery is running low and an increased quoted playtime of 15 hours.

The GameBoy Advance in this post is the Suicine Pokémon special edition which was released to coincide with the Japanese release of the Pokémon Gold and Silver games. Officially this device was sold only in Japan exclusively in Pokémon Center stores.

Specifications

• Product name: GameBoy Advance
• Model number: AGB-001
• Manufacturer: Nintendo
• Product line: GameBoy line
• Release date: March 21, 2001 (Japan)
• Console Generation: Sixth generation
• Game format: GameBoy Advance cartidges, GameBoy Color cartridges, GameBoy cartridges
• Region lock: no
• CPU: 32-bit
• Screen size: 1.51 inches (4.08cm) × 2.41 inches (6.12cm) with a diagonal length of 2.90 inches (7.36cm)
• Screen resolution: 240×160

Introduction to the Nintendo GameBoy Pocket

The GameBoy Pocket, released in 1996, is the successor of the classic GameBoy and the predecessor of the GameBoy Light and the GameBoy Color. With compatibility to classic GameBoy titles, a smaller form factor and a black-and-white screen, it was a major improvement to the classic GameBoy. Not only was it more portable by being 30% smaller and flatter, but the screen was larger than that of the classic GameBoy. The first version of the GameBoy Pocket released did not have an LED power indicator like the classic and color GameBoys, however later re-releases of the GameBoy Pocket included this. The GameBoy Pocket plays classic GameBoy Games, however, some GameBoy Color games are known to be compatible with it as well, including Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Pinball and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Specifications

• Product name: GameBoy Pocket
• Model number: MGB-001
• Manufacturer: Nintendo
• Product line: GameBoy line
• Release date: July 21, 1996 (Japan)
• Console Generation: Fourth generation
• Game format: GameBoy cartridges (a few select GameBoy Color catridges)
• Region lock: no
• CPU: 8-bit
• Screen size: 1.91 inches (4.85cm) × 1.71 inches (4.35cm) with a diagonal length of 2.56 inches (6.5cm)
• Screen resolution: 160×144

Introduction to the GameBoy Color

The GameBoy Color: My faithful companion since its release in 1998. Even today, many years after it was discontinued in 2003, it remains one of my most-loved handheld gaming consoles. The GameBoy Color was the fourth iteration of the GameBoy in the GameBoy family manufactured by Nintendo. Predecessors include the GameBoy, GameBoy Pocket and the GameBoy Light (Japan only). The GameBoy Color was the first GameBoy to feature a colour screen.

Specifications

• Product name: GameBoy Color
• Model number: CGB-001
• Manufacturer: Nintendo
• Product line: GameBoy line
• Release date: October 21, 1998 (Japan)
• Console Generation: Fifth generation
• Game format: GameBoy/GameBoy Color catridges
• Region lock: no
• CPU: 8-bit
• Screen size: 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) diagonal length
• Screen resolution: 160×144

Name: Bravely Default
Release date: February 7^th, 2014 (USA)
Genre: RPG
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Silicon Studio
Platforms: 3DS

Introduction to Bravely Default for 3DS

In Bravely Default the player follows four heroes on their journey to save the world along the way of which they attempt to free the world of corruption and injustice.

Bravely Default is what many people consider a spiritual successor to the classic Final Fantasy games, because of its turn-based combat battle system and random enemy encounters. Its battle system offers greater strategic depth through the “brave” and “default” battle actions, which differentiates it from classic JRPGs and from which the game received its name.