New NintendoGBA - Inpired by NX

[hansschmucker]

http://www.nintendo.com/systems/gba/images/gba_header_pic.jpg

Has anybody seen the new Nintendo GBA???

It's really nice and was clearly inspired by the NX.

They fixed most stuff that made people prefer Clié gaming over GBA gaming:

Design: The new GBA has a Clampshell design. Although it opens further then the NX, it already shows there is some reference (The GBA screen opens 180°). Naturally a tablet-mode is not included for a device which relies on button input

Choice of color: I know this is not really important, but still: The main color (meaning the one you are lost likely to see on advertisements) is silver.

Backlight: The new GBA has a backlight included, which lets you play in dark envornments

Rechargeable: The new GBA has an included rechargablle battery, as opposed to the mignon pack needed since the very first Gameboy.

All games GB, GBC and GBA are supposed to work and the price is set to ~130€.

I really consider getting one in march, when it comes out!

http://www.nintendo.com/systems/gba/images/gba_header_pic.jpg

[lightninja]

You can always say the clamshell design of the clie was inspired by laptops. Maybe the GBA was too. ;)

[hansschmucker]

Oh and I was so proud of myself to have figured out. But of course you're right.
Still, I think it looks a bit like an NX

[rhart00]

all it needs is an organizer/datebook cartridge and it'll be mistaken for a pda. The main thing I like about the GBA SP over regular old GBA is the backlight screen. You never realized how important backlightness is until you don't have it. I personally like the clamshell idea on electronic devices because it protects the screen without the need of a seperate case.

[n2ifp]

I don't know, it's more like a silver NZ, being as thick as it is...

[xlr8]

You know, those new cell phones that have the flip covers, they were inspired by the NX (they can both play sounds and have a screen) and the common clam was also modeled after the NX's shape and got its design from it : P.

Seriously though, there are many similarities but it doesnt make the NX an influence

[iebnn]

It's definitely not inspired by the NX. Clamshell has been around for a long time.

Check out the Game Park.... at only $30 more it's MUCH nicer (plays GBA, SNES, NES, divx, Doom, Heretic, etc)

[mashoutposse]

I, too, think the NR influence is clear. There have been clamshell cellphones for years -- why did Nintendo decide just now to move to this form factor? Hmm.

The NR demonstrated that clamshells can be used on handhelds other than phones. Some of you may not realize how revolutionary that model is.

Personally, I even think Microsoft added the Convertible (swivel screen models) to the Tablet PC stable in part because of the NR -- when Tablet PC was first brought up back in 2000 (if I remember correctly), there was no swivel screen Convertible model.

[*YellowRose*]

I think it's slick looking!

http://www.nintendo.com/systems/gba/images/gba_header_pic.jpg

[rhart00]

I still can't believe it is shaped like a box. how many years ago did they do away with the box shaped controllers for video game systems? Seems like forever, I think NES was the last to have an uncomfortable box shaped controller. Why can't they make the GameBoy more ergonomic?

[hansschmucker]

Simple. the screen is flat and rectanglar, so the opposite side has to be as well. And The opposite side is the controler part.
A PSX controller doesn't have to fit into anything besides your hand, that's why they can make it whatever form they want.

[T1000X]

Actually, I think the screen of the GBA SP was inspired by the T|T. I say that because they both look a lot alike and share the common flaws such as dust (eww!) under the screen. I know, because my black imported system from Japan has several noticeable pieces of dust. Sad, but true.

I've actually considered selling my GBA system & games, and switching to a PDA using the Game Controller. I'm currently using a Game Controller on my backup SJ20 (waiting for a TG50), and it makes action games like Heli Rescue a lot easier to play. I'd love to see a reasonably priced Sony model running OS5 or 6 with a slide down (A.K.A T|T and SL-5500) game controller that exposes a 320*320 screen and Graffiti 2 area.

[mashoutposse]

The Game Controller is well worth the $40. It feels great.

[rob_squared]

Everyone knows that the flip design was inspired by Star Trek. :)

[Importluva]

The new GBASP looks tite...I think that I may have to pick it up...when I get the money :(

[Donkeystyle]

someone should develop a gba emulator for clie! who would need an SP then?

[Spiral]

Just that gameboy games get a tad expensive after a few...

[iebnn]

It's not inspired by the T|T.... it's not inspired by Palm at all. It's just a clamshell GBA (LOTS of phones are clamshell, other devices have been clamshell, etc... T|T and NX are both very new. I'm sure nintendo had the designs/idea for this product long before the T|T and NX were out)

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by rob_squared
Everyone knows that the flip design was inspired by Star Trek. :) YEAH!  Blame it on Captain Kirk.;)

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by iebnn
It's not inspired by the T|T.... it's not inspired by Palm at all. It's just a clamshell GBA (LOTS of phones are clamshell, other devices have been clamshell, etc... T|T and NX are both very new. I'm sure nintendo had the designs/idea for this product long before the T|T and NX were out)

The,NX may be new, but the NR is now a year old in Japan. I think the influence is clear.

[iebnn]

Okay. Let's think about this. The NR is a year old. The GBA SP has been announced a few months ago. Let's say that 8 or 10 months after the NR came out the GBA SP was announced. How many months do you think a product that will basically own the market and sell millions would have been tested and developed for? At least 4 or 5? So Nintendo, after practically hundreds of cellphones that have used clamshell and other devices that use clamshell (which is nothing new), sees this NR and decides that it would be a good idea to do that with GBA? Keep in mind that the NR would have only been out for a month to three months maybe. That means they couldn't have really seen how well it sold. I highly doubt this happened. The only similarity is in the clamshell design. It's not the same shape or size at all. It's more similar in shape to some cell phones. Clamshell is nothing new.

[iebnn]

Originally posted by Donkeystyle
someone should develop a gba emulator for clie! who would need an SP then?

Just get a Game Park. It's roughly the same size as a GBA, but with a nicer/larger screen. It can emulate GBA games (and NES, SNES, etc etc). It has Doom and Heretic for free. Linux is being ported to it. It has a touch screen. It uses Smart Media cards (cheap and can hold a lot of games). It's $150 right now.