New version GBA details emerge
More buttons, new battery, new screen and more inside.
You may remember that several weeks ago, we broke the fact that Nintendo Europe had taken a new model Game Boy Advance hardware unit in for testing over in its German HQ.
Well, new details have been released on the as yet unnamed machine update, with some incredible revelations.
Some of the best news is that the machine will be backlit, but this you already knew. Then there will be more buttons. In fact, the new model will feature four forward-facing buttons in the classic SNES layout. As well as being better for gaming, this will enable easier ports of Nintendo’s 16-Bit back-catalogue, one of the most profitable aspects of GBA development.
We also hear word that the new model will feature four shoulder buttons, though this seems a little less likely.
Then there’s the screen. We can reveal that the screen on the new Game Boy Advance will be larger than that seen on the current release, similar in fact to that seen on the Korean handheld offering, the Game Park 32. There is also rumour that the machine will feature a flip-top lid system, reminiscent of that seen on the Game and Watch machines, as released by Nintendo in their millions through out the 1980’s. As to whether this is just a protective cover or an actual flip-out screen has net been determined.
Further intrigue comes in the fact that the new GBA will be powered by a lithium ion battery pack as seen in modern mobile phones and other wireless devices. It is thought however, that this may just be an optional extra, due to the price of the battery technology. Some reports that stated this battery pack will only offer 10 hours play life are completely wrong unless Nintendo is planning on adding rumble capabilities. Which we don’t think it is. But it might…
Our exclusive access to Nintendo Europe insiders has revealed that this ‘Super Game Boy Advance’ is scheduled to hit Japan in the coming months, with a western rollout to follow shortly afterwards.
You may also remember that we exclusively broke the news that Nintendo had insisted from the outset that developers of Game Boy Advance software developers must incorporate infra-red compatibility with all multiplayer games that make use of the link cable, even though the current GBA has no such capability. Does this mean that the new model will feature wireless multiplayer gaming? Let’s hope so!
Well, new details have been released on the as yet unnamed machine update, with some incredible revelations.
Some of the best news is that the machine will be backlit, but this you already knew. Then there will be more buttons. In fact, the new model will feature four forward-facing buttons in the classic SNES layout. As well as being better for gaming, this will enable easier ports of Nintendo’s 16-Bit back-catalogue, one of the most profitable aspects of GBA development.
We also hear word that the new model will feature four shoulder buttons, though this seems a little less likely.
Then there’s the screen. We can reveal that the screen on the new Game Boy Advance will be larger than that seen on the current release, similar in fact to that seen on the Korean handheld offering, the Game Park 32. There is also rumour that the machine will feature a flip-top lid system, reminiscent of that seen on the Game and Watch machines, as released by Nintendo in their millions through out the 1980’s. As to whether this is just a protective cover or an actual flip-out screen has net been determined.
Further intrigue comes in the fact that the new GBA will be powered by a lithium ion battery pack as seen in modern mobile phones and other wireless devices. It is thought however, that this may just be an optional extra, due to the price of the battery technology. Some reports that stated this battery pack will only offer 10 hours play life are completely wrong unless Nintendo is planning on adding rumble capabilities. Which we don’t think it is. But it might…
Our exclusive access to Nintendo Europe insiders has revealed that this ‘Super Game Boy Advance’ is scheduled to hit Japan in the coming months, with a western rollout to follow shortly afterwards.
You may also remember that we exclusively broke the news that Nintendo had insisted from the outset that developers of Game Boy Advance software developers must incorporate infra-red compatibility with all multiplayer games that make use of the link cable, even though the current GBA has no such capability. Does this mean that the new model will feature wireless multiplayer gaming? Let’s hope so!
Companies:
Nintendo
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