AM3 Reveals GBA Downloadable Content Dispensers
Vending machines to offer movies in a flash!
As yet, the GBA’s ability to run reprogrammable flash cartridges has been notably under-exploited by even Nintendo itself. Although unscrupulous pirates may have already taken the opportunity to download GBA ROMs from illegal sources on the Internet, this has largely been with the use of unlicensed, third-party equipment.
Today, in conjunction with Nintendo, technology manufacturer AM3 announced that it would be piloting its new Advance Gachapon machines in Japan. These units effectively work as public content dispensers, where AM3 movie-enabled GBA owners (i.e. those with the relevant peripheral) can plug in a 32 MB flash cart and download whatever takes their fancy, for a small fee. At this stage these machines carry only episodes of popular Japanese cartoons, but it is hoped that a wider variety of material, including games, music and comics, will be available through these dispensers at some point in the future. There has even been talk of downloadable maps to facilitate the journey of disorientated GBA owners as they wander through unfamiliar streets, eyes firmly fixed to their Nintendo handhelds.
AM3 won’t be embarking on widespread distribution until October, with only a handful of trial units cropping up this summer, but the company does hope to have about 10,000 machines in Japan by this time next year. Unfortunately, there’s been no mention of any such system for Europe or the US. The vending-machine phenomenon is a particularly Japanese thing, as is the passion for all things anime, so perhaps AM3 will never venture beyond the land of the rising sun...
Stay posted for all the news on how this intriguing scheme unfolds.
Today, in conjunction with Nintendo, technology manufacturer AM3 announced that it would be piloting its new Advance Gachapon machines in Japan. These units effectively work as public content dispensers, where AM3 movie-enabled GBA owners (i.e. those with the relevant peripheral) can plug in a 32 MB flash cart and download whatever takes their fancy, for a small fee. At this stage these machines carry only episodes of popular Japanese cartoons, but it is hoped that a wider variety of material, including games, music and comics, will be available through these dispensers at some point in the future. There has even been talk of downloadable maps to facilitate the journey of disorientated GBA owners as they wander through unfamiliar streets, eyes firmly fixed to their Nintendo handhelds.
AM3 won’t be embarking on widespread distribution until October, with only a handful of trial units cropping up this summer, but the company does hope to have about 10,000 machines in Japan by this time next year. Unfortunately, there’s been no mention of any such system for Europe or the US. The vending-machine phenomenon is a particularly Japanese thing, as is the passion for all things anime, so perhaps AM3 will never venture beyond the land of the rising sun...
Stay posted for all the news on how this intriguing scheme unfolds.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
Funky 7 Jul 2004 10:29
1/3
So that's what a Japanese condom machine looks like.
Joji 7 Jul 2004 10:53
2/3
I wouldn't rule anything out these days. We never thought dance mats take off and they did. I think what AM3 have done with the GBA Movie player is great. It's a nice cheap bit of kit with features you'd usually have to pay hundreds of pounds for.
Now they are letting you download content from vending machines for a price. What a brilliant idea. Lucky folk in japan have a vending machine for drinks, meals, books and now games.
I'll never know why these different types of vending machine haven't taken off outside japan, perhaps we like shops more, who knows. Would be nice to be able to download anime, games and music for a price and not have to be online to do it. I hope that the flash cards are scratch proof, this is an area Nintendo will alsso need to sort if the DS is using a similar type of media.
It's nice to see AM3 and Nintendo working together to achieve something positive, when AM3 fist released the player I wasn't sure if Nintendo would get behind them, but it's appearance at E3 shows their support I guess. Sweet, I'll keep an eye on this story for further development.
Now they are letting you download content from vending machines for a price. What a brilliant idea. Lucky folk in japan have a vending machine for drinks, meals, books and now games.
I'll never know why these different types of vending machine haven't taken off outside japan, perhaps we like shops more, who knows. Would be nice to be able to download anime, games and music for a price and not have to be online to do it. I hope that the flash cards are scratch proof, this is an area Nintendo will alsso need to sort if the DS is using a similar type of media.
It's nice to see AM3 and Nintendo working together to achieve something positive, when AM3 fist released the player I wasn't sure if Nintendo would get behind them, but it's appearance at E3 shows their support I guess. Sweet, I'll keep an eye on this story for further development.
Joshyua 12 Jul 2008 07:24
3/3
I want to download a gba on my computer how do I do it because my old pc had to be restart so how do I do it