Hey everyone! Calbh and I are looking into buying a GBA and I'm wondering...is it worth the extra money to buy the SP (I think it was SP) model? There's about 30 dollars difference. I was reading the reviews at amazon and people talking about the product were saying that the screens are too dark/hard to see on the standard model and the backlit screen is a real plus. Is this true? Is the upgrade comfortable to hold/play? It looked maybe a little unwieldy to me. Just wanted to get a variety of opinions before I commit.
Thanks,
Ink
Game Boy Advance
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Game Boy Advance
BOOSTER: Hey, No.1! Where's my cake?!
SNIFIT 1: Booster, Sir! There's a 70% chance the object you're standing on is a cake.
BOOSTER: What? THIS thing's a cake?
You have the power to say anything you want, so why not say something positive?
- Frank Capra
(in response to an interview question "Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?")
People who write below their abilities in order to crank out tons of books and make a buck. Especially Christian authors who do that. Outsiders judge us for it, and make fun of us for it, and it makes Jesus look bad. We of all artists on earth should be the most concerned with doing our best possible work at all times. We of all people should write with all our hearts, as if writing for the Lord and not for men.
- Athol Dickson
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inkhana - Posts: 3670
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I have one of the old GBAs and it's fine in good lighting, but some games on it are a bit dark (*cough* Castlevania Circle of the Moon *cough*), but still very playable in good lighting.
The GBA holds up fine battery wise, but the GBA SP has a rechargable battery back built in that lasts for a long time (though it lasts for a shorter time with the light on, the fact that it's rechargable makes up for this).
I played the SP on display and I felt that it was actually more confortable than the original GBA. The L and R buttons were more natural to push too.
IMO, the SP is probably worth getting over the older model becuase of comfort, portability (it folds down into a smaller size like a laptop computer, though the original GBA is nice and small too. The screen is the same size on both systems), the battery, and the backlight. The older model GBA is still cool, though.
As far as the backlight quality goes, the in store demo I played of Metroid Fusion had the backlight on and it made the game easier to see in poor lighting conditions with no glare. Very well designed light.
The GBA holds up fine battery wise, but the GBA SP has a rechargable battery back built in that lasts for a long time (though it lasts for a shorter time with the light on, the fact that it's rechargable makes up for this).
I played the SP on display and I felt that it was actually more confortable than the original GBA. The L and R buttons were more natural to push too.
IMO, the SP is probably worth getting over the older model becuase of comfort, portability (it folds down into a smaller size like a laptop computer, though the original GBA is nice and small too. The screen is the same size on both systems), the battery, and the backlight. The older model GBA is still cool, though.
As far as the backlight quality goes, the in store demo I played of Metroid Fusion had the backlight on and it made the game easier to see in poor lighting conditions with no glare. Very well designed light.
"Your sense of fashion, Roger, really reeks"-Dorothy, Big O
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BrianC - Posts: 226
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- Location: MD
hmm
I don't know much about the SP, but I have an old one. Good ol' GBA.
Hah, that reminds me of this Penny Arcade comic I read...It was kinda dirty language-wise, but it was funny. This kid gets a GBA SP, but he says it doesn't have a headphone jack (Don't know if this is true, but it is just a joke) and the narrator goes, "Oh well Billy. Looks like you have to wait for the GBA SP EX. This little mess up is just a reminder that this was made by Nintendo."
Very funny. Oh wait, I'm supposed to talk about the thread...Personally, I would just get an old one, especially since they have platinum...::drool:: But that's me. The lighting is bad on GBA, but it's fine if you
A) just get a lamp and play there
or
B) Buy a detachable light. Yes, there are actually lights worth buying. Mine came with a link cable, ac adapter, etc. They called it a "Phat Pack"
Cheers.
Hah, that reminds me of this Penny Arcade comic I read...It was kinda dirty language-wise, but it was funny. This kid gets a GBA SP, but he says it doesn't have a headphone jack (Don't know if this is true, but it is just a joke) and the narrator goes, "Oh well Billy. Looks like you have to wait for the GBA SP EX. This little mess up is just a reminder that this was made by Nintendo."
Very funny. Oh wait, I'm supposed to talk about the thread...Personally, I would just get an old one, especially since they have platinum...::drool:: But that's me. The lighting is bad on GBA, but it's fine if you
A) just get a lamp and play there
or
B) Buy a detachable light. Yes, there are actually lights worth buying. Mine came with a link cable, ac adapter, etc. They called it a "Phat Pack"
Cheers.
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Spencer - Posts: 597
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 4:00 am
- Location: Texas
Inkster, I'd definately go with the SP....the lighting, psh. Don't let October fool you...it's a major pain in the butt. Especially if you think ,oh hey, I'll be on a long road trip, I should bring my GBA! Ha! After half an hour of frustration, you'll find counting cows more fun than struggling with the light. And I think the controls are a little more comfortable on the SP anyway, but that's my humble opinion. Is the SP backwards compatible? If so, deeeefinately get it.
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Ashley - Posts: 7364
- Joined: Mon May 26, 2003 10:00 am
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
OK, that's good feedback...
Question #2: Does anyone know if the SP model is compatible with the standard Gamecube data cable? I got mine today and I'm not entirely sure it will fit the SP model (if it doesn't gotta take it back to Walmart). Also info on the AC adapter, please, for the same reason...I don't wanna find out that the SP has special cables or something like that...
Thanks guys!
Question #2: Does anyone know if the SP model is compatible with the standard Gamecube data cable? I got mine today and I'm not entirely sure it will fit the SP model (if it doesn't gotta take it back to Walmart). Also info on the AC adapter, please, for the same reason...I don't wanna find out that the SP has special cables or something like that...
Thanks guys!
BOOSTER: Hey, No.1! Where's my cake?!
SNIFIT 1: Booster, Sir! There's a 70% chance the object you're standing on is a cake.
BOOSTER: What? THIS thing's a cake?
You have the power to say anything you want, so why not say something positive?
- Frank Capra
(in response to an interview question "Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?")
People who write below their abilities in order to crank out tons of books and make a buck. Especially Christian authors who do that. Outsiders judge us for it, and make fun of us for it, and it makes Jesus look bad. We of all artists on earth should be the most concerned with doing our best possible work at all times. We of all people should write with all our hearts, as if writing for the Lord and not for men.
- Athol Dickson
Avatar by scarlethibiscus from LJ.
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inkhana - Posts: 3670
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 10:00 am
- Location: meh.
*whew* Good deal! Thanks!
BOOSTER: Hey, No.1! Where's my cake?!
SNIFIT 1: Booster, Sir! There's a 70% chance the object you're standing on is a cake.
BOOSTER: What? THIS thing's a cake?
You have the power to say anything you want, so why not say something positive?
- Frank Capra
(in response to an interview question "Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?")
People who write below their abilities in order to crank out tons of books and make a buck. Especially Christian authors who do that. Outsiders judge us for it, and make fun of us for it, and it makes Jesus look bad. We of all artists on earth should be the most concerned with doing our best possible work at all times. We of all people should write with all our hearts, as if writing for the Lord and not for men.
- Athol Dickson
Avatar by scarlethibiscus from LJ.
-
inkhana - Posts: 3670
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 10:00 am
- Location: meh.
Well, I have and old gameboy advance and the lighting is horrible. It's ok if you buy one of those worm lights though. I like the way the old GBA fits in your hands though. But if this is your first GBA I'd definitely go with the SP. I think the backlit screen and the rechargeable battery are enough reason to get it, plus it doesn't hurt that it's cool looking and it really compact too. I'd definitely get one if I didn't already have my other one. I might get one one day anyway, but my trusty glacier one will suffice for now:P
Oh, and if you like rpgs and don't mind magic in games and such you might want to check out the Golden Sun games I have the Lost Age and the graphics are great considering it's a game boy game. I can't say alot about the story yet though since I haven't gotten really far into it.
Oh, and if you like rpgs and don't mind magic in games and such you might want to check out the Golden Sun games I have the Lost Age and the graphics are great considering it's a game boy game. I can't say alot about the story yet though since I haven't gotten really far into it.
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blue elf - Posts: 421
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 3:50 pm
- Location: Virginia
I've heard some good things about Golden Sun; I'm seriously considering getting those. And I looooooove rpgs, the magic element doesn't bother me. To me, the backlight and the battery pack were really important points (although I went ahead and bought an ac adapter; who wants to blow all their batteries, right?)
BOOSTER: Hey, No.1! Where's my cake?!
SNIFIT 1: Booster, Sir! There's a 70% chance the object you're standing on is a cake.
BOOSTER: What? THIS thing's a cake?
You have the power to say anything you want, so why not say something positive?
- Frank Capra
(in response to an interview question "Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?")
People who write below their abilities in order to crank out tons of books and make a buck. Especially Christian authors who do that. Outsiders judge us for it, and make fun of us for it, and it makes Jesus look bad. We of all artists on earth should be the most concerned with doing our best possible work at all times. We of all people should write with all our hearts, as if writing for the Lord and not for men.
- Athol Dickson
Avatar by scarlethibiscus from LJ.
-
inkhana - Posts: 3670
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 10:00 am
- Location: meh.
IMO, the advantages of the SP more than make up for the lack of a headphone jack, tough it was kind of a dumb thing to omit. There is an adaptor for the headphones that you can buy seperately, though. I got the original GBA over a year ago, so I'm sticking to that one for now.
"Your sense of fashion, Roger, really reeks"-Dorothy, Big O
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BrianC - Posts: 226
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 9:00 am
- Location: MD
Euw, the headphone jack is a dumb thing to omit, isn't it? What were they thinking? (rhetorical question; I try not to question these sort of things anymore...*sigh* so don't bother answering...LOL)
BOOSTER: Hey, No.1! Where's my cake?!
SNIFIT 1: Booster, Sir! There's a 70% chance the object you're standing on is a cake.
BOOSTER: What? THIS thing's a cake?
You have the power to say anything you want, so why not say something positive?
- Frank Capra
(in response to an interview question "Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?")
People who write below their abilities in order to crank out tons of books and make a buck. Especially Christian authors who do that. Outsiders judge us for it, and make fun of us for it, and it makes Jesus look bad. We of all artists on earth should be the most concerned with doing our best possible work at all times. We of all people should write with all our hearts, as if writing for the Lord and not for men.
- Athol Dickson
Avatar by scarlethibiscus from LJ.
-
inkhana - Posts: 3670
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 10:00 am
- Location: meh.
It may seem strange at first, but the SP is awesome! I think it is worth the money. My cousins and I all have one and we love them. The original GBA= so last year! 
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Corkyspaniel - Posts: 79
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- Location: South Carolina
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ShiroiHikari - Posts: 7564
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2003 12:00 pm
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LOL! Umm... when this thread was posted, the DS wasn't even out yet... That was like someone asking what type of ink they should use for writing their scroll and someone coming a long 2000 years later and saying, "theres not much difference. You do know you can just use a printer though."
Ya, that's old this thread is. In fact I had to blow dust off to properly read everyones post.
Ya, that's old this thread is. In fact I had to blow dust off to properly read everyones post.
"Take me down, shake me out. Give me a brain, that I might know You better"
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Scarecrow - Posts: 1354
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SUPER GRAVEDIIIIIG.
For our new members' notification, we here at CAA (and in the forum world in general) usually prefer that old threads are not "gravedug," or posted on again after they've been untouched for a year or more unless you have something really, really important to say. Since the advice being asked in this thread is so old, this is clearly a case where one should just let the thread die. I'll lock it since there's really no need to keep this one open.
For our new members' notification, we here at CAA (and in the forum world in general) usually prefer that old threads are not "gravedug," or posted on again after they've been untouched for a year or more unless you have something really, really important to say. Since the advice being asked in this thread is so old, this is clearly a case where one should just let the thread die. I'll lock it since there's really no need to keep this one open.
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