Poll: Your Game Boy Advance model of choice?

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Launching all the way back in 2001, the Game Boy Advance was the first radical redesign in the Game Boy line of systems with its move to a horizontal layout. Throughout its nearly 10 year lifespan we also saw multiple redesigns and revisions of the hardware.

It infamously launched with a non-backlit screen meaning it was notorious for being difficult to play in low light situations. This was remedied by third party add-ons, most famously the Afterburner and was later addressed by Nintendo with the launch of the Game Boy Advance SP which featured a front-lit display.

It was also of course the system that made GBAtemp possible and the reason we're here today thanks to a boom in piracy when an abundance of affordable and easy-to-use flash carts flooded the markets.

The GBA saw three major hardware revisions with the original, the SP and the Micro.

The Original Game Boy Advance

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The original GBA launched on March 21 2001 in Japan and has sold over 81 million units to date. It's radical redesign in form factor sported a horizontal layout, shoulder buttons and 240×160px TFT LCD.

Games shipped on game paks that were roughly half the height of the original Game Boy cartridges and could hold up to 32MB of data (with Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories shipping on this size cartridge).

Game Boy Advance SP

gba-sp-silver.png

The Game Boy Advance launched in 2003 and saw yet another change to the form factor of the handheld. It featured a clam shell design which enabled the screen to be protected when not in use, more importantly, the display featured a front-lit panel which enabled play in any lighting condition.

In terms of specs the system stayed the same but Nintendo added a rechargeable lithium ion battery and opted to remove the headphone jack (showing courage 13 years before Apple). They sold a separate adaptor for 3.5mm headphones that plugged into the multipurpose charging port. This also meant you couldn't charge the system and use headphones at the same time.

In late 2005 Nintendo released a revised version of the GBA SP (AGS-101) of which the major difference was the addition of a proper backlit and much brighter screen.

Game Boy Advance Micro

gba-micro.png

In 2005 Nintendo released the final GBA redesign in the form of the Game Boy Advance Micro. A miniature version of the system barely any bigger than the game paks themselves. Weighing in at just 80g the system sported a rechargeable battery and backlit display.

The screen was of course much smaller though it retained pixel resolution meaning games didn't look squashed or distorted. Interestingly enough for the size it also saw the return of the headphone jack and also featured removable, customisable face plates. Though it did lose backwards compatibility with legacy Game Boy cartridges.

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What was your preferred model of the Game Boy Advance?
 

AyanamiRei

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Original. I very rarely had problems with lights where I was playing (although a "contrast" roller would have been nice) and to be able to simply play with no plug forever without doing anything aside from spending a few euros in the nearest shop was great (the only time I played non-stop, I noticed that the 2 LR6 provided enough for almost a full day).
Batteries are nice. But they become annoying, long before they die.
My only problem with the GBA is ohow it sounds. (that was weird to play SNes games or "SNes-looking" games with this kind of sounds)

PS: I personally own the "limited edition platinum" one, bought quasi-unused (second-hand) for 80€ if I remember well.
 
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MetoMeto

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I'd actually argue DS lite sets itself apart from these minimalistic techs in which there's a certain charm to it that keeps it from looking like an apple product, maybe its the gloss on the top, or the nostalgic Wii-style dpad, or the DS logo on top of the console, you get my drift. also, it doesnt remove features and replace them with solutions that cost more money.
Yes i agree, DS Lite has a certain charm.
I love my lite, in fact i use Fat DS just because of nostalgia or when i want more comfort. That's another thing, DS fat is more comfortable and ergonomical, but a bit heavier.

DS lite is a big leap imo, i was stunned wheni first saw it. And thats another thing. DL Lite came out when not many tech where minimalistic, but these days there is oversaturation of those type of products, so thats why i'm personally sick of minimalism, even though i like here and there.

Also DS LITE built quality suffers and the sound quality also.
Differences in sound quality in Fat and Lite are huge when i compare them side by side!
But what i meant by "its the same" is that it has the same philosophy behind it and that's minimalism. Everything is minimalistic these days, formless, very similar as i said.

I remember in the past i was excited about how will new console look like. My favorite is still the GameCube, and from handheld its GBA/SP.

Now SP is similar to DS in minimalism, but a much better build quality (physical) and sturdier. I actually love SP more and think its beautifull design, it has a character, but original GBA is better design vise, visually imo, just like DS fat is. It has things that can keep your eye interesting.
Something like a woman with curves...you just cant divert your eyes lol
but you don't need to like them.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

AGB-001 with an SP screen :)

That screen looks kinda stretched more than it should be...are you sure it's 101's screen?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Original. I very rarely had problems with lights where I was playing (although a "contrast" roller would have been nice) and to be able to simply play with no plug forever without doing anything aside from spending a few euros in the nearest shop was great (the only time I played non-stop, I noticed that the 2 LR6 provided enough for almost a full day).
Batteries are nice. But they become annoying, long before they die.
My only problem with the GBA is ohow it sounds. (that was weird to play SNes games or "SNes-looking" games with this kind of sounds)

PS: I personally own the "limited edition platinum" one, bought quasi-unused (second-hand) for 80€ if I remember well.
80€ is to much for that console, i don't care how rare it is. I hate those kind of prices.
 
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AyanamiRei

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80€ is too much for that console, i don't care how rare it is. I hate those kind of prices.
It was almost unused and 40€ under the price of any regular GBA (20 less than second-hand videogame shops back then) and about the same price the original GB started with... What I hated was the starter price of 129€, wich made me give up on buying one until this offer came to me.

Is it even rare? It's just a normal GBA with a slightly metallic silver paint coat. I don't care for its look, I only wanted the console. ^^" (at first, the seller actually used this rarity argument)
 
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mightymuffy

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Just plugging in that new SP to charge it was the bomb back in the day, and the clamshell design was more portable, and safer on the screen (especially when you had 2 little kids at the time!) .....It wouldn't be kind to your hands after extended play in comparison to the original, but the pros massively outweighed the cons - SP all the way for me ...I still have 2!
The Micro? Just a fancy collectors item in my opinion.
 
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MetoMeto

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It was almost unused and 40€ under the price of any regular GBA (20 less than second-hand videogame shops back then) and about the same price the original GB started with... What I hated was the starter price of 129€, wich made me give up on buying one until this offer came to me.

Is it even rare? It's just a normal GBA with a slightly metallic silver paint coat. I don't care for its look, I only wanted the console. ^^" (at first, the seller actually used this rarity argument)
I know how sellers do things, its all to familiar to me. i just hate that. I bought AGS-101 for 40€ or so... LUCKILY the person selling it wasn't a scalper, just a regular NORMAL dude.
So i guess it all depends on a person and their mental health.

Anyway, wow...129€ wtf?! Well i get you, i know how it is when you really want something, i well few times in those traps my self, i was just calculating that i can probably collect that much, but i wont do it again. Some things really are rare, and sellers exploit that.
I miss the time when people where just selling out their used consoles to get rid of them at a reasonable prices...not to say symbolic.

So can you perhaps take a pic of your GBA, id love to see it? :)
 

AyanamiRei

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Ahah, my guy was also a normal dude (from highschool) who wanted to ditch some of his belongings.
The thing I wonder is: did you buy it while it was still on shelves? (I bought my thing less than 2 years after the GBA release, I'm not even sure the SP was released yet)

So can you perhaps take a pic of your GBA, id love to see it? :)
It's not at hands right now, sorry. (still staying in my uni room, because of exams to retake)
 

MetoMeto

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Ahah, my guy was also a normal dude (from highschool) who wanted to ditch some of his belongings.
The thing I wonder is: did you buy it while it was still on shelves? (I bought my thing less than 2 years after the GBA release, I'm not even sure the SP was released yet)


It's not at hands right now, sorry. (still staying in my uni room, because of exams to retake)
Whenever you can, i didn't mean right now.

Well i bought mine perhaps 5 yers ago or so...
 

MohammedQ8

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Ahah, my guy was also a normal dude (from highschool) who wanted to ditch some of his belongings.
The thing I wonder is: did you buy it while it was still on shelves? (I bought my thing less than 2 years after the GBA release, I'm not even sure the SP was released yet)


It's not at hands right now, sorry. (still staying in my uni room, because of exams to retake)

I remember that I didn’t buy the first model of sp because it was lightless and R and L were to small for me ..... I thought it is always like this.

Nintendo ds was my first Nintendo portable machine with backlight screen ..... I was amazed .... Finally I can see I can see hehe.

We alot of used retro consoles stores here in kuwait but it is locked down now .........

I just got a job in very late 2019 so I didn’t have the chance to collect old consoles.

I hope soon
 
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raxadian

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people shit talking the micro obviously have very poor taste

One your eyesight must be quite good.

Two you must have small hands.

Three you must not have been playing Pokemon back then became with a Micro forget about trading because the Micro link cable only works with other Micros.

Four, the Micro only works with GBA games. Both the GBA and GBA SP can run Gameboy and Gameboy color games.

Five, the thing sold badly, stores were still to get tid of it when the DS was a thing. When I said that ten years ago stores were still trying to get rid of Gameboy Micros, I wasn't lying. Some places even sold it with a game included just to get these things off the shelves.

Six, I had the chance to buy a Micro and didn't do it because I already had a GBA and a GBA SP.
 
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gamesquest1

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One your eyesight must be quite good.

Two you must have small hands.

Three you must not have been playing Pokemon back then became with a Micro forget about trading because the Micro link cable only works with other Micros.

Four, the Micro only works with GBA games. Both the GBA and GBA SP can run Gameboy and Gameboy color games.

Five, the thing sold badly, stores were still to get tid of it when the DS was a thing. When I said that ten years ago stores were still trying to get rid of Gameboy Micros, I wasn't lying. Some places even sold it with a game included just to get these things off the shelves.

Six, I had the chance to buy a Micro and didn't do it because I already had a GBA and a GBA SP.
eyesight is fine, but if you eyesight isn't fine I would suggest glasses,

nope about average, the design is still pretty comfortable to use

I only started using it about 7 years after it was released, i'm sure in the day it would've been too much of a sacrifice of features, but in 2020 I doubt many people are running around trading Pokemon with their friends on a gba, and even if you do you can always put your cart in a original or SP while you get that done

gameboy micro can play GB/GBC games if your using a flashcard, the main appeal of the micro for me is that I can just leave it in the glove box or bottom of a bag incase of emergencies while i'm out and i'm stuck waiting around for an appointment and don't want to risk running my phone battery dry, kinda defeats that use for me if i'm packing 50 carts with it

it was actually released after the NDS, so I would hope they would still be trying to sell them along side the NDS because it would be impossible sell them before, consoles overlap in release, i'm sure part of the failure of the console also lies in the fact it was only ever designed to just be a cheap last gen console at the time of its release, and don't get me wrong its also a very unappealing console for its time, same as the wii mini, you loose a bunch of features that would still be wanted at that time, but for me in 2020 if i'm ever in a place where I want to play GBA games It will be as a quick gaming fix while i'm stuck waiting, I don't care about trading Pokemon, or playing legit carts, the main thing I want from a gba is good picture quality and portability, and for me, the best choice for those 2 features is a micro
 

pedro702

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eyesight is fine, but if you eyesight isn't fine I would suggest glasses,

nope about average, the design is still pretty comfortable to use

I only started using it about 7 years after it was released, i'm sure in the day it would've been too much of a sacrifice of features, but in 2020 I doubt many people are running around trading Pokemon with their friends on a gba, and even if you do you can always put your cart in a original or SP while you get that done

gameboy micro can play GB/GBC games if your using a flashcard, the main appeal of the micro for me is that I can just leave it in the glove box or bottom of a bag incase of emergencies while i'm out and i'm stuck waiting around for an appointment and don't want to risk running my phone battery dry, kinda defeats that use for me if i'm packing 50 carts with it

it was actually released after the NDS, so I would hope they would still be trying to sell them along side the NDS because it would be impossible sell them before, consoles overlap in release, i'm sure part of the failure of the console also lies in the fact it was only ever designed to just be a cheap last gen console at the time of its release, and don't get me wrong its also a very unappealing console for its time, same as the wii mini, you loose a bunch of features that would still be wanted at that time, but for me in 2020 if i'm ever in a place where I want to play GBA games It will be as a quick gaming fix while i'm stuck waiting, I don't care about trading Pokemon, or playing legit carts, the main thing I want from a gba is good picture quality and portability, and for me, the best choice for those 2 features is a micro
why wouldnt you just use your smartphone to play a random game on an "emergency" wait then? nowadays when people are bored they have everything on their phone from games to emulator to just checking theweb to be entretained so yeah i dont see the appeal of gameboy micro even in 2020.
 
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gamesquest1

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why wouldnt you just use your smartphone to play a random game on an "emergency" wait then? nowadays when people are bored they have everything on their phone from games to emulator to just checking theweb to be entretained so yeah i dont see the appeal of gameboy micro even in 2020.
yeah as I said, its just for an emergency if I don't want my phone to run flat or if my phone has already run flat, the practical use of all GBA's are pretty limited in 2020 but I know I have a GBA micro in my glove box if i'm ever in a pinch. plus I would prefer actual controls over touch screen controls for an emulator. granted most waits i'm either just watching YouTube or browsing gbatemp or something so again its a pretty limited scope of usefulness.....just if I ever had a reason to take a GBA out with me for whatever reason I would probably grab that one
 

bowser

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No pale green or oily like olive oil hehe
I think yours is Pearl Green but a little faded. The original color is one of my favorites. I really like the SP and micro and have a bunch of them including Pearl Green.

I still prefer the AGS-001 modded with a 101 screen. I did the mod myself.

9oDtawQ.jpg

240luH7.jpg

3tku6NI.jpg
 
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raxadian

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yeah as I said, its just for an emergency if I don't want my phone to run flat or if my phone has already run flat, the practical use of all GBA's are pretty limited in 2020 but I know I have a GBA micro in my glove box if i'm ever in a pinch. plus I would prefer actual controls over touch screen controls for an emulator. granted most waits i'm either just watching YouTube or browsing gbatemp or something so again its a pretty limited scope of usefulness.....just if I ever had a reason to take a GBA out with me for whatever reason I would probably grab that one

I used to use my SP as my traveling videogame console because thanks to the backlight I could even play it when the bus lights were off in a long journey.

Nowadays I do the same with my old 2DS. The Switch is too big and fragile for traveling, at least for me. Plus I do have a lot less games for it.
 

realtimesave

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GBA with AGS-101 screen. Why isn't this an option, maybe cos it isn't factory. oh well! The micro was too small (sold mine for a lot of $$) and the SP not only was very ugly but also small for large hands from what I had heard.
 

MohammedQ8

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I think yours is Pearl Green but a little faded. The original color is one of my favorites. I really like the SP and micro and have a bunch of them including Pearl Green.

I still prefer the AGS-001 modded with a 101 screen. I did the mod myself.

9oDtawQ.jpg

240luH7.jpg

3tku6NI.jpg

WOW when did you collect all of this hehe

I wish I have Pokemon emerald and fire red.
 

playstays_shun

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people who prefer the AGB modded over SP, do you also prefer the d-pad and buttons or just overall form factor?

I dont get the comparison to GC controller, though its a similar construction its nowhere near as stiff imo. It feels more like the GB/GBC did, same with buttons.

I've always been curious about SP d-pad and buttons though, and SP in general, thats why I got one on the way! I think they'll both serve their purposes but really happy with my AGB'101' especially since I owned an AGB way back.
 

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