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Game Boy Micro

Manufacturer	Nintendo
Product family	Game Boy line
Type	Handheld game console
Generation	Sixth generation era
Retail availability	JP September 13, 2005 NA September 19, 2005 AUS November 3, 2005 EU November 4, 2005
Units sold	2.42 million (details)
Media	Cartridge
CPU	32-bit ARM7TDMI (16.78 MHz)
Best-selling game	Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, 13 million combined (as of November 25, 2004).[1] Pokémon Emerald, 6.32 million (as of March 31, 2007).[2]
Predecessor	Game Boy Advance SP (concurrent)

Game Boy Micro (ゲームボーイミクロ^?) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. The system is the second major and last redesign of the Game Boy Advance with emphasis placed on its small size and sleek design.

History

The Game Boy Micro was officially unveiled by Nintendo of America's (then) vice president of sales and marketing, Reggie Fils-Aime, at the company's E3 press conference on May 17, 2005. The system was released in Japan on September 13, 2005 and in North America on September 19, 2005. It was released in Europe on November 4, 2005 and Australia on November 3, 2005. In China, it was marketed as "iQue Game Boy Micro" on October 1, 2005, and later released in South Korea on November 9, 2005. It is the final handheld console to use the Game Boy name.

Design and specifications

The Game Boy Micro retains some of the functionality of the Game Boy Advance SP, but with an updated form factor. It is unable to play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, and is officially incompatible with the Nintendo e-Reader and some other peripherals due to design issues (the required Zilog Z80 chip is not included, as it was on the Game Boy Advance/SP). It is smaller than previous Game Boy systems. Additionally, it features a backlit screen with the ability to adjust the brightness so as to adapt to lighting. The shape itself is kept to a more simple oblong—similar to the style of the Nintendo Entertainment System controller.

The Game Boy Micro features a removable face plate that allows consumers to purchase alternative designs.

• Dimensions: 50×101×17.2 millimeters (2×4×0.7 in)
• Weight: 80 grams (2.8 ounces)
• Processor: 32-bit 16.8 MHz ARM processor (ARM7TDMI)
• Colors: various
• Screen: 51 mm / 2 inches , backlight with adjustable brightness.
• Resolution: 240×160 pixels
• Battery: built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, up to 5 hours of battery life with top brightness and sound or 8 hours with both features on default
• Headphones: standard 3.5mm headphone jack^[3]

The Game Boy Micro has a two-way switch on its right side for adjusting volume up or down. By holding down the L shoulder button, the switch can also be used to adjust the backlight between five levels of brightness.

Software and Hardware

The Game Boy Micro is compatible with Game Boy Advance games, including Game Boy Advance Video cartridges.

According to the Game Boy Micro's Instruction Manual, the following games\accessories are not compatible with the Game Boy Micro system^[4]:

• Original Game Boy Game Paks
• Game Boy Color Game Paks
• Game Boy or Game Boy Advance Game Link cables
• Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter
• Game Boy Advance e-Reader
• Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance cable
• Game Boy Printer
• Game Boy Camera

While Game Boy or Game Boy Advance Game Link cables and the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter are not compatible with the Game Boy Micro system, adapters and a Micro-compatible Wireless adapter have been released.^[5] Nintendo has also redesigned their Play-Yan music/video adapter to better fit the Game Boy Micro. This device can play MP3 and digital video files from SD cards.

As with the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP systems, there are no regional lockouts on software, so North American games can be played on Japanese or European hardware and vice versa.

Packaging

In Japan, the handheld has been released in four colors and styles each. The four colors are black, blue, purple, and silver. The Game Boy Micro also has four limited edition styles: one based on the original Famicom video game console's controller, a blue bodied model with a faceplate based on Final Fantasy IV, a red bodied and red faced edition for the release of the game Mother 3^[6] and a red bodied model with a black faceplate containing the silhouette of the iconic Pikachu from the Pokémon franchise.

In the United States and Canada, the Game Boy Micro is available in two regular colors, each sold with three interchangeable faceplates included: silver with black, "Ammonite" and "Ladybug" faceplates, and black with silver, "Flame" and "Camouflage" faceplates.^[7] The "20th Anniversary" edition was released in December 2005, which resembles the Famicom controller.

In Europe the handheld is available in four different colors, with one matching faceplate: silver, green, blue and pink. In Australia the colors are silver, black, blue, red and pink.^[8]

There are reportedly no plans to sell additional faceplates in the US retail locations (as indicated in the letter page in issue 200 of Nintendo Power) or the UK.^[9] Nintendo of Europe cannot supply replacement faceplates of any kind, and the feature is omitted from the product's marketing, packaging, and manual in Europe. However, some third parties are manufacturing such faceplates for sale in the US and Europe, and some importers stock faceplates acquired from Japan. Nintendo of America sells some of the faceplates individually online.^[10]

Release and sales

• The Game Boy Micro sold over 170,000 units during its first days in Japan.^[19]
• The North American release drew some criticism; with a formal release of September 19, 2005, many stores simply ignored it, some delaying it until September 26, 2005 or as late as September 30, 2005.^{[citation needed]}
• According to a 2007Q1 Nintendo earnings release, 2.42 million Game Boy Micro units had been sold worldwide as of March 31, 2007, including 610,000 units in Japan, 950,000 units in the Americas, and 870,000 in other territories such as Europe and Australia.^[17]
• On July 30, 2007, GamePro.com ranked the Game Boy Micro (listed as "GBA Micro") as #8 in its list of "The 10 Worst-Selling Handhelds of All Time".^[20]
• As of July 30, 2007, the Game Boy Micro has sold 2.5 million units, according to GamePro.^[20]

Price history

The system retails for US$99.99,^[21] compared to US$79 for the Game Boy Advance SP. The system was originally available in black and silver, and a red 20th Anniversary Edition was later released.

Reception

Praise

The Game Boy Micro's backlit screen, which is superior to the original Game Boy Advance SP's (a later remodel added a similar high quality screen to SP systems), has been praised for its visibility.^[22] Due to a finer dot pitch, the screen is more evenly lit, and the brightness is adjustable. The smaller dot pitch has also improved the apparent sharpness of the display.

The removable faceplates have also been praised because they, "...allow for personalization and protect the high-resolution backlit screen."^[22]

Criticism

Satoru Iwata stated that the marketing of the DS "must have deprived the Micro of its momentum" in the marketplace and he admitted that Game Boy Micro sales did not meet Nintendo's expectations, commenting it "failed to explain to consumers its unique value".^[23]

References

External links

Nintendo portal

• Official North American website
• Game Boy Advance at Nintendo.com (archived versions at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
• Nintendo's Game Boy Micro FAQ

From Wikia Gaming, your source for walkthroughs, games, guides, and more!

Portal: Game Insustry		Game Boy Micro at Nintentopedia

The Game Boy micro

The Game Boy micro (Note the small 'm' without capatlization) is a redesign of the Game Boy Advance. It features the same technology, just a new design. Nintendo claims that despite the screens small size, it is the brightest and clearest screen they have put on any handheld. According to Reginald Fils-Aime, it is designed for "the image conscious gamer". It was revealed at E3 2005. Unlike its advanced brethren, Micro lacks the ability to play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games and it will not be able to use a link cable for multiplayer without a special adaptor.

The Game Boy micro will launch in Japan on September 13th for 12,000 yen (coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. series), North America on October 2nd for $99.99, and in Europe on November 4th for £69.

Design and specs

The unit itself is slightly smaller than an iPod mini. In North America the micro will be available in two colors, each including two interchangeable faceplates for gamers who want to customize it (these being silver with "Ammonite" and "Ladybug" faceplates and black with "flame" and "Cammouflage" faceplates). while Europe will be receiving it in four colors: Silver, Green, Blue, and Pink. Japan once again kicks the asses of other regions in the colors department, along with the American Black and Silver colors and the European Blue, Japan will get a Purple micro and a micro resembling a controller for the Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES).

• Dimensions: 50 x 101 x 17.2 millimetres (2 x 4 x 0.7 in). It is almost the size of an average credit card.
• Weight: 80 g (2.8 ounces) About the weight of 80 paper clips
• Processor: 32-bit 16.8-MHz ARM processor (ARM7TDMI).
• Colors: Various
• Screen: 51 mm / 2 inches (compared to 74 mm / 2.9 in. for the GBA), backlight with adjustable brightness. According to the Game Boy Micro's press release, the "best Game Boy screen ever".
• Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels.
• Buttons: The Game Boy Micro has lines on the d-pad. Possibly to match with that of the DS Lite and Wii.
• Battery: built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery( Up to 5 hours of battery life with the brightness turned up and the sound on max or 8 hours with both features on regular)
• Headphones: supports standard headphones without additional accessories.

Software

The Game Boy Micro is compatible with all Game Boy Advance cartridges, including Game Boy Advance Video cartridges. Unlike the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP, however, the Game Boy Micro does not support games made for the original Game Boy or Game Boy Color. The e-Reader card series is also officially incompatible because although the accessory can fit, the design of the e-Reader makes the "Select" and "Start" buttons difficult to access during gameplay. Its size and shape in relation to the system also make it awkward to hold. This can be avoided by removing the E-Reader from the cartridge slot after the game has loaded.

As with the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP systems, there are no regional lockouts on software, so North American games can be played on Japanese or European hardware and vice versa.

Gallery

See also

• Game Boy Advance games
• List of Game Boy Advance games

External links

• Images of the North American Game Boy micro colors and faceplates