The $100 Nintendo Game Boy Micro–or GBM, as it has already been dubbed by the Nintendo faithful–lives up to its name. It’s a minuscule 4 inches wide, 2 tall, and 0.7 deep–that’s roughly the size of an iPod Mini or a small cell phone but bigger all around than Apple’s “impossibly small”
The Nintendo Game Boy Micro is significantly smaller than the SP, but the slightly wider design makes it more comfortable to use.
Game cartridges slide into the bottom side of the Micro. (For the record, the Micro accepts only the recent Game Boy Advance titles, not the larger Game Boy Color or original Game Boy cartridges from decades past.) The slot is flanked on either side by the power switch and–hallelujah–a standard 1/8-inch headphone minijack. The latter corrects the most glaring flaw of the Game Boy Advance SP, which needed a small dongle to connect standard headphones to its proprietary port. If you don’t have headphones, the small speaker on the Micro’s front face will suffice. A tiny rocker switch on the right side controls volume. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery is found under a screwed-down cover on the rear and can be replaced by the user when it eventually poops out.
The SP has two small expansion ports on its rear, but the Micro has only one: a new proprietary connector, centered on the top edge between the shoulder buttons. At present, it’s limited to providing a connection for the AC power adapter to recharge the battery, but it will eventually be used to connect to some forthcoming Micro-specific accessories. Nintendo plans two multiplayer link cables (for head-to-head Micro vs. Micro and Micro vs. SP connectivity) as well as a Micro version of the SP’s
The Nintendo Game Boy Micro ships in three colors:
Aside from cosmetic variations, then, are there any significant differences between the Micro and the SP? In a word, no. The Micro is just the SP in a smaller package; it’s not intended to deliver anything new in terms of gameplay or features. Even battery life is basically even, about 10 hours between charges. It comes down to which Game Boy delivers a better user experience. And while the answer is more subjective than absolute, we came down on the side of the Micro. Despite its overall smaller size, the Micro is actually 3/4 of an inch wider than the SP. The broader form factor combined with its lighter weight–3.1 ounces (with cartridge) vs. the SP’s 5.3–yielded better overall ergonomics. Gaming sessions on the Micro were more comfortable and less fatiguing in the hands and fingers.
The Micro’s screen is an inch smaller than the SP’s, but much brighter and sharper.
Read more: Ace Attorney
At just 2 inches, the Micro’s small screen appears to be a liability; it’s fully 33 percent smaller than the SP’s 3-incher. When compared to the larger screens of the original GBA and the first models of the GBA SP, your eyes will probably gravitate to the Micro’s brighter screen. Time has not been very kind to the Micro’s design as many of Nintendo’s other portables have caught up in terms of screen clarity. The
Ultimately, the biggest knock on the Game Boy Micro is its price. More sophisticated gamers will want to spring for an extra $30 to upgrade to the DS Lite–it plays a growing list of popular titles and it’s just as stylish as the Micro. Thriftier gamers will find the brighter version of the GBA SP a better deal for $20, especially since the system can play original Game Boy games. Until the system is available at a price befitting its feature set, we can’t really recommend it to anyone.
Nintendo basically invented the handheld-gaming market back in 1989 with the original Game Boy, a gawky black-and-white portable that rocketed to success, thanks largely to the handiness of the addictive Tetris game. The company continued to refine the portable concept, going discolor in 1998, then sizing things devour to the more compact in 2001. Two years late, the company released the SP model, which, with an improved screen door, a smaller size, a clamshell design, and rechargeable battery, was hailed as a closely perfect portable device by many gamers. now, Nintendo is retooling the Game Boy so far again with the Game Boy Micro.The $ 100 Nintendo Game Boy Micro — or GBM, as it has already been dubbed by the Nintendo close — lives up to its identify. It ‘s a small letter 4 inches wide, 2 tall, and 0.7 deep — that ‘s roughly the size of an ipod Mini or a minor cell earphone but bigger all around than Apple ‘s “ impossibly modest ” ipod Nano. The horizontal invention is a departure from the squarish clamshell of the SP ; in fact, the Micro looks more like a downscaled adaptation of the old Game Boy Advance. To the correctly of the 2-inch-diagonal screen is a four-way control launching pad, while the two main A/B dominance buttons are to the left. Two shoulder buttons along the top edge round out the chief controls. The Select and Start buttons are below the filmdom on an lean border.Game cartridges slide into the bottom side of the Micro. ( For the record, the Micro accepts lone the late Game Boy Advance titles, not the larger Game Boy Color or original Game Boy cartridges from decades past. ) The slot is flanked on either side by the power switch and — hallelujah — a criterion 1/8-inch earphone minijack. The latter corrects the most blazing flaw of the Game Boy Advance SP, which needed a little dongle to connect standard headphones to its proprietary port. If you do n’t have headphones, the little speaker on the Micro ‘s front man confront will suffice. A bantam rocker switch on the right english controls book. The rechargeable lithium-ion barrage is found under a screwed-down screen on the rear and can be replaced by the user when it finally poops out.The SP has two little expansion ports on its rear, but the Micro has entirely one : a new proprietary connection, centered on the peak edge between the shoulder buttons. At introduce, it ‘s limited to providing a connection for the AC world power arranger to recharge the battery, but it will finally be used to connect to some approaching Micro-specific accessories. Nintendo plans two multiplayer connect cables ( for neck and neck Micro vs. Micro and Micro vs. SP connectivity ) a well as a Micro version of the SP ‘s. so, while none of the existing SP accessories will work with the Micro, it should finally have the lapp multiplayer capabilities as its predecessor, assuming you ‘re comfortable with extraneous yoke cables and bulky radio adapters.The Nintendo Game Boy Micro ships in three colors : blacken argent, and a special twentieth anniversary version of Nintendo ‘s Famicom system ( the Japanese adaptation of the NES ). But those are just the unit ‘s body semblance — the front is actually a swappable faceplate, à la the Xbox 360. The two original colors came with three swappable faceplates, while the particular version had equitable one. Like the ship’s company has done with its other portables and systems, Nintendo adds new colors quite frequently. While the Micro loses the clamshell purpose that provided screen security for the SP, the faceplates cover the screen, so cosmetic scratches and scrapes are restricted to the coat. Expect to see a variety show of faceplate packs from Nintendo or other third-party vendors in the future.Aside from cosmetic variations, then, are there any significant differences between the Micro and the SP ? In a password, no. The Micro is equitable the SP in a smaller package ; it ‘s not intended to deliver anything new in terms of gameplay or features. even battery life is basically even, about 10 hours between charges. It comes depressed to which Game Boy delivers a better exploiter know. And while the answer is more subjective than absolute, we came down on the side of the Micro. Despite its overall smaller size, the Micro is actually 3/4 of an inch wide than the SP. The broader class factor combined with its abstemious weight — 3.1 ounces ( with cartridge ) vs. the SP ‘s 5.3 — yielded better overall ergonomics. Gaming sessions on the Micro were more comfortable and less fatiguing in the hands and fingers.At good 2 inches, the Micro ‘s small sieve appears to be a liability ; it ‘s in full 33 percentage smaller than the SP ‘s 3-incher. When compared to the larger screens of the original GBA and the inaugural models of the GBA SP, your eyes will credibly gravitate to the Micro ‘s bright screen. Time has not been very kind to the Micro ‘s design as many of Nintendo ‘s other portables have caught up in terms of screen clearness. The GBA SP has been beefed up in the brightness department, and the redesign of the Nintendo DS — the DS Lite — offers up barely as brilliant a screen.Ultimately, the biggest knock on the Game Boy Micro is its price. More advanced gamers will want to spring for an extra $ 30 to upgrade to the DS Lite — it plays a growing list of popular titles and it ‘s equitable equally stylish as the Micro. Thriftier gamers will find the undimmed version of the GBA SP a better batch for $ 20, specially since the system can play original Game Boy games. Until the organization is available at a price befitting its feature set, we ca n’t very recommend it to anyone.
