The Nintendo Game Boy: New Micro Outsells PSP as Backlit SP Sneaks Out
Secret launches and sales success – a week in Nintendo land.
The Game Boy Micro has sold very will in Japan, shifting 148,000 units (or 14.8 ten thousands if you happen to be Japanese – what’s all that about?) during the first six days on sale in Japan.
This sees the Micro outsell the PSP at launch, with silver, black and Famicom versions selling out across the country, as reported this morning by Bloomberg News. Although only 60% or so of the launch stock shifted, this is still a staggering number of consoles - especially when put into context:
Pretty good going, we’re sure you’ll agree.
In related news, Nintendo America sneakily soft launched a new version of the Game Boy Advance SP last week, featuring an all-new back-lit design. As you will be aware, this is the first deployment of back-lighting, with current SP models using a front-lit system.
The screen is considerably brighter in the new version (Model AGS-101) and features two settings, very bright and, erm...quite bright. Nintendo boast of 13 hours playing time on the brightest setting.
As this device is something of a public secret, we have no idea when/if the new GBA will hit stores outside of the US, though it’s a near certainty that residual stocks of SP will be replaced with the AGS-101. Of course, Nintendo is understandably eager to focus your attention on the delicious new Micro, a full review of which will be appearing on these very pages within the next few days.
And speaking of Game Boy Micro again, remember that you can grab one free courtesy of your bestest friends on the whole Internet (that’s us, by the way) right here.
This sees the Micro outsell the PSP at launch, with silver, black and Famicom versions selling out across the country, as reported this morning by Bloomberg News. Although only 60% or so of the launch stock shifted, this is still a staggering number of consoles - especially when put into context:
Micro is the third iteration of Game Boy Advance
The Micro costs less to manufacture than any Game Boy console since 1989 launch
It is the fifth device capable of playing GBA software successfully launched by Nintendo and follows the original Game Boy Advance, the GBA SP, the GameCube Game Boy Player and the Nintendo DS
It’s based around the Super Famicom, a fifteen year-old machine
The Micro costs less to manufacture than any Game Boy console since 1989 launch
It is the fifth device capable of playing GBA software successfully launched by Nintendo and follows the original Game Boy Advance, the GBA SP, the GameCube Game Boy Player and the Nintendo DS
It’s based around the Super Famicom, a fifteen year-old machine
Pretty good going, we’re sure you’ll agree.
In related news, Nintendo America sneakily soft launched a new version of the Game Boy Advance SP last week, featuring an all-new back-lit design. As you will be aware, this is the first deployment of back-lighting, with current SP models using a front-lit system.
The screen is considerably brighter in the new version (Model AGS-101) and features two settings, very bright and, erm...quite bright. Nintendo boast of 13 hours playing time on the brightest setting.
As this device is something of a public secret, we have no idea when/if the new GBA will hit stores outside of the US, though it’s a near certainty that residual stocks of SP will be replaced with the AGS-101. Of course, Nintendo is understandably eager to focus your attention on the delicious new Micro, a full review of which will be appearing on these very pages within the next few days.
And speaking of Game Boy Micro again, remember that you can grab one free courtesy of your bestest friends on the whole Internet (that’s us, by the way) right here.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
jadnice 22 Sep 2005 13:56
1/17
SWEET!!!!
This company knows how to make money and be profitable.
This company knows how to make money and be profitable.
dmgice 22 Sep 2005 17:06
2/17
I bought one of the new Back Light SP units this morning at Wal-Mart.
HOLY CRAP.
Okay, I will also be buying a Micro because I love the form factor of it and the size.
The screen on this thing.. it just has two settings.
1. Nintendo DS bright.
2. GOD DAMN.
The only real downside is that a lot of GBC games.. really were made to match the non-backlit screen of the GBC. So, they have some strange color saturation. Games like Shantae, Xtreme Sports, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, and other color heavy GBC games will just BURN YOUR EYES with their vibrant colors. It's like.. wow.
Mine is Pearl Blue, because it looks the closest to the Ice Blue GB Pocket.. which was my favorite color iteration. The other one is a shiny black "graphite" color. But. Yeah. Games like Super Monkey Ball, GT3 Advance Tour, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, and others.. just.. freaking.. just import one. You'll be glad you did. Especially when playing GBC games like Dragon Warrior 1 & 2, and Dragon Warrior 3.. where the colors.. make you feel like you're playing an NES on a plasma screen. This thing is just as bright as the PSP's screen. Best part.. was that it was the same price as the normal GBA SP units.
That said.. NOA and NOE are getting so much better...
NOE is starting to get games out on time, in some cases.. before the US gets them.
NOA is putting out products on its own.. like the Back Lit GBA SP and Final Fantasy 4.
Needless to say.. I've been loving this thing all morning.
HOLY CRAP.
Okay, I will also be buying a Micro because I love the form factor of it and the size.
The screen on this thing.. it just has two settings.
1. Nintendo DS bright.
2. GOD DAMN.
The only real downside is that a lot of GBC games.. really were made to match the non-backlit screen of the GBC. So, they have some strange color saturation. Games like Shantae, Xtreme Sports, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, and other color heavy GBC games will just BURN YOUR EYES with their vibrant colors. It's like.. wow.
Mine is Pearl Blue, because it looks the closest to the Ice Blue GB Pocket.. which was my favorite color iteration. The other one is a shiny black "graphite" color. But. Yeah. Games like Super Monkey Ball, GT3 Advance Tour, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, and others.. just.. freaking.. just import one. You'll be glad you did. Especially when playing GBC games like Dragon Warrior 1 & 2, and Dragon Warrior 3.. where the colors.. make you feel like you're playing an NES on a plasma screen. This thing is just as bright as the PSP's screen. Best part.. was that it was the same price as the normal GBA SP units.
That said.. NOA and NOE are getting so much better...
NOE is starting to get games out on time, in some cases.. before the US gets them.
NOA is putting out products on its own.. like the Back Lit GBA SP and Final Fantasy 4.
Needless to say.. I've been loving this thing all morning.
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tyrion 22 Sep 2005 18:11
3/17
Not so sure on the "outsold PSP" at launch claim. The only figures for the PSP launch I've been able to find say 160,019 - that's apparently from Media Create, the Japanese version of ChartTrack.
DS v PSP Sales Chart
That was for the week ending 12 Dec 2004, the day the PSP launched in Japan, meaning those figures were for the launch day. The Micro figures appear to be for the first six days of sales.
If all the above facts are correct, then the Micro did not outsell the PSP launch. If they are not correct then it might have.
DS v PSP Sales Chart
That was for the week ending 12 Dec 2004, the day the PSP launched in Japan, meaning those figures were for the launch day. The Micro figures appear to be for the first six days of sales.
If all the above facts are correct, then the Micro did not outsell the PSP launch. If they are not correct then it might have.
Thrace 22 Sep 2005 18:30
4/17
IGN says that the Micro and the DS outsold the PSP each this week, and the SP still made its normal quota, despite the PSP launching a new white color. Its looking more like the free wifi solutions Nintendo is offering next month will be the nail in the coffin for PSP dreams. It will probably linger for another year or two though.
Joji 22 Sep 2005 20:23
5/17
Lol...what a result! A new GBA SP and the Micro hits stellar sales too.
Part of the Micro's appeal is it's simplicity and similarity to the NES controller. I suppose a lot of japanese gamers and former gamers, see this and the fact it's the closest we are gonna get to a handheld SNES, now the DS is already out
Now I wonder if we'll see a NES style one over here?
New SP is gonna have to be purchased considering how cheap they are now.
Part of the Micro's appeal is it's simplicity and similarity to the NES controller. I suppose a lot of japanese gamers and former gamers, see this and the fact it's the closest we are gonna get to a handheld SNES, now the DS is already out
Now I wonder if we'll see a NES style one over here?
New SP is gonna have to be purchased considering how cheap they are now.
Joji 22 Sep 2005 20:29
6/17
I can hear those words of Corporal Hicks from Aliens already with regards to PSP, ''It's Game Over, man, It's Game Over''
fluffstardx 22 Sep 2005 22:14
7/17
To be honest, PSP isn't a very Japanese idea. Oh no. The appeal is really for Westerners; all those flashy features we love. The Japs... just want to play games.
Now, the EU Micro launch will be interesting.
Now, the EU Micro launch will be interesting.
soanso 23 Sep 2005 02:09
8/17
I wasn't that interested in another gba when they showed it at E3 and I've no intention to buy one since I can already play gba games. But after seeing a couple in the shop the other day, the Famicom one and a black one I think,they look GORGEOUS.
It;s almost tempting.
It;s almost tempting.
SPInGSPOnG 23 Sep 2005 07:14
9/17
Joji wrote:
'It's Game Over, man, It's Game Over''
It's kinda weird how the same people who would NEVER have called Game Over for Xbox due to its embarrasing defeat by PS2 in the first round are now claiming that the fight's over just because PSP looks likely to lose the first round.
They all seem to be forgetting that the GB has a billion install user base, and offers backwards compatibility. A lot of these people will just be upgrading from their GBAs due to the frankly laughable screen.
tyrion 23 Sep 2005 08:26
10/17
Rod Todd wrote:
A lot of these people will just be upgrading from their GBAs due to the frankly laughable screen.
There's also the fact that the Japanese game buyer has the Pokemon aspect - gotta buy them all. Especially where Nintendo is concerned.
Let's face it, Nintendo is the largest proponent of the "new hat" marketing idea*. How many limited edition GameBoy, GBA and SP models have there been? I think each one has had a Famicom edition.
They will be continuing this scheme with the DS, blue and pink models will be released at the same time as Nintendogs in the UK. How long before we see a tribal edition?
At least with the GBA->SP and SP->Micro upgrades they introduced something worthy of upgrade, even if the SP upgrade was mainly to banish that useless GBA screen.
Why do people put up with this from Nintendo? If Sony brought out a limited edition PS1-themed PSP, there would be cries of disgust at their money-milking efforts. There are substantial mutterings on some boards regarding the slimline PS2, calling it a money grabbing move, how is that different to the Micro?
Not trying to cause a holy war here, just wondering about the thoughts of the board on this matter.
*From the Simpsons episode Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy for those that don't know.
kid_77 23 Sep 2005 10:19
11/17
Joji wrote:
I can hear those words of Corporal Hicks from Aliens already with regards to PSP, ''It's Game Over, man, It's Game Over''
$ony are claiming they've sold 6 million PSPs globally.
I doubt they'll be panicking just yet.
Happydwarf 23 Sep 2005 17:44
12/17
kid_77 wrote:
I doubt they'll be panicking just yet.
Yeah but sony might be worried bout this
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11711
The DS is being released in blue and pink with nintedogs for £99.
We all know how well nintedogs is doing in japan at the mo so the possibility of a well priced DS package in the european regions is deffinatly good news.
OptimusP 24 Sep 2005 09:46
13/17
Seriously, Sony can't even produce 6 million PSP's in this timespan... even if they can , Sony always uses it's shipped numbers as it's sold number. To give a analogy, Atari isseud with the coming launch of Enter the Matrix that it 'shipped' 4 millions copies to retailers (it actually did that). if we replace Atari with Sony we would have to replace 'shipped' with 'sold' and 'retailers' with 'consumers'...without a difference between the 2 situations.
At the current situation i would say 3.5 millions sold PSP's against 6.5 millions sold DS would be more realistic.
At the current situation i would say 3.5 millions sold PSP's against 6.5 millions sold DS would be more realistic.
dmgice 24 Sep 2005 17:35
14/17
tyrion wrote:
Why do people put up with this from Nintendo? If Sony brought out a limited edition PS1-themed PSP, there would be cries of disgust at their money-milking efforts. There are substantial mutterings on some boards regarding the slimline PS2, calling it a money grabbing move, how is that different to the Micro?
You do not understand the portable market at all. The cries of disgust would -of course- come from the internet chat forums, where people are incredibly out of touch with reality. The internet breeds a special kind of stupid that no one should base market trends upon. Back in the days of the origiinal brick Game Boy, people put stickers or bought those screen replacements to differentiate their portable from other peoples portables. In the same way that customization works in cell phones, such has it worked on handhelds since the original brick Game Boy.
If Sony put out a PS1 flavored PSP and put some effort into it, the damn thing would be awesome. I think Sony misses out on a lot of opportunities. For example, they had a Coco Cola special edition that just had a small Coca Cola logo on it. WASTED OPPORTUNITY. Had it been a red and white PSP, that would have been a lot better.
People will pay for items that look unique. It's the same reason why we buy t-shirts with things written on them, or why Alienware is not out of business. Yes, the industry revolves around money. That's the entire freaking point. I bought a Slim Line PS2, because I prefer something that will fit on my shelves with the rest of my systems. I bought the upgraded GBA SP, because I want to play my 300+ GB/GBC/GBA games on that screen. Also, I love the form factor of the SP. It's a perfect system.
Oh, if you want to see my collection of GB/GBC/GBA games right now.. here's a directory link.
http://www.dmgice.com/dang/
Joji 24 Sep 2005 21:03
15/17
Hey it's okay to be tempted by the Micro, it's a nifty more compact design of a good handheld. I think I might bag one just to take with me on a weekends post clubbing chill time. Sweetly small enough to fit in a jeans pocket too.
To Optimus I don't believe that bs about 6 million PSPs sold at all, because that would ean Sony are including all those import PSPs sold that they tried so hard to stop us from getting our hands on.
Sony know it's over and despite wanting to dominate this market as well as the home sector. I find it very suspect where these extra few million PSPs have turned up from all of a sudden to match the DS sales.
The home console sector is similar but different beast to the hand held one, so when someone said about Xbox and PS2 I had to laugh. Sony got the PS2 out early, sold it on the backfoot of DVD movies (strangely like they are trying to with UMD movies for PSP) as an option, and as had plenty of support from the previous PSone developers, along with being backwards compatible. As for Xbox technically better but a lot less games and support. Had it (and this goes for GC too) arrived earlier it might have had a chance against Sony.
To Optimus I don't believe that bs about 6 million PSPs sold at all, because that would ean Sony are including all those import PSPs sold that they tried so hard to stop us from getting our hands on.
Sony know it's over and despite wanting to dominate this market as well as the home sector. I find it very suspect where these extra few million PSPs have turned up from all of a sudden to match the DS sales.
The home console sector is similar but different beast to the hand held one, so when someone said about Xbox and PS2 I had to laugh. Sony got the PS2 out early, sold it on the backfoot of DVD movies (strangely like they are trying to with UMD movies for PSP) as an option, and as had plenty of support from the previous PSone developers, along with being backwards compatible. As for Xbox technically better but a lot less games and support. Had it (and this goes for GC too) arrived earlier it might have had a chance against Sony.
Happydwarf 25 Sep 2005 12:21
16/17
Joji wrote:
Sony got the PS2 out early, sold it on the backfoot of DVD movies (strangely like they are trying to with UMD movies for PSP) as an option, and as had plenty of support from the previous PSone developers, along with being backwards compatible. As for Xbox technically better but a lot less games and support. Had it (and this goes for GC too) arrived earlier it might have had a chance against Sony.
Not to sure about that, Sony had massively pushed the emotion engine and there marketing of the PS2 managed to convince the easily lead out there that the PS2 was going to change the face of gaming forever. The dreamcast was released before the PS2 and was better IMHO than the PS2. You only have to look at games like shenmue and Jet set radio to see that the machines were similar in power just that they did the same thing differently. The problem with Sony is they will bend the truth regarding there systems but never actually deliver the goods. The PSone was a fluke. The right time the right market. The PS2 was sold through peoples ignorance and off the popularity of the PSone. I'm hoping as a games player the same won't happen with the PS3. I hate what sony has done to the market and so truly believe that they will not be able to deliver the machine they are raving about. Compare this to the xbox 360 which although i hate to admit it will be a good machine and will bring communities of people together through there live network. But will the 360 face the same fate as the dreamcast because people are too stupid to learn from there mistakes with the PS2? We don;t know yet lets hope that the market can recover from the endless pap that is being churned out on the PS2. OH i don't say i'm a sony hater, i'm not, i just have a problem with the way they do things. The PS2 has some fantastic titles that are PS2 exclusives but there are Sooooooooo many titles out there that mean these really good titles are diluted and lost to the market of crap.
If sony can release a truly market expanding machine then i will retract my above statement but the popularity of the PS3 is already massive world over (just look at the surveys done in japan) and people will buy it because of the success of the PS2. Please don't let this happen microsoft and nintendo we don't need a rehash of the last 5 years. I am getting bored of sequels and really need to have some more fun titles like the gamecube warioware, a game incedently none of my PS2 owning friends had heard of :(
OptimusP 25 Sep 2005 18:42
17/17
Why the PS2 sold even if the DC kicked its ass and the long drought of good games months after the release:
1) Sony's hype which in no way delivered
2) The Playstation brand
3) DVD capability
4) backwards compatiblity
5) Nintendo en Microsoft's consoles only releasing a year afterwards.
The problem with the PSP is that it does add new things to the handheld scene but they're all BAD things... the first handheld with loading times and memorycards! YEAH! Plays movies that are cheaper if you buy them on DVD, YEAH! You get my drift.
And sorry if i brake any feelings but Microsoft is actually no hair different then Sony in regards to the console market. There's a reason why some pleople call the Xbox HaloBox and not because it has innovative games... (and don't even try calling Halo an innovative game... Goldeneye will turn in its grave twice!). Yes the Xbox also had some very nice fresh games (a few from SEGA even) but nobody bought them because it didn't play like Halo... nice fanbase, jeezs.
Which i don't mean that Nintendo is the allmighty saviour and N-fans speak the undeniable truth. All have done sins and wrong, on purpose or not. But a new generation is on the horizon, a time for cleansing and maybe a innovation or 2 to keep my appetite going (however i do like the blaststuffmindlessly-games time to time). With the choices sequelbox, boomerangstation and wandlution i prefer the wand (gives me a extra reason to dress up like a wizard while playing rpg's too) thank you very much.
1) Sony's hype which in no way delivered
2) The Playstation brand
3) DVD capability
4) backwards compatiblity
5) Nintendo en Microsoft's consoles only releasing a year afterwards.
The problem with the PSP is that it does add new things to the handheld scene but they're all BAD things... the first handheld with loading times and memorycards! YEAH! Plays movies that are cheaper if you buy them on DVD, YEAH! You get my drift.
And sorry if i brake any feelings but Microsoft is actually no hair different then Sony in regards to the console market. There's a reason why some pleople call the Xbox HaloBox and not because it has innovative games... (and don't even try calling Halo an innovative game... Goldeneye will turn in its grave twice!). Yes the Xbox also had some very nice fresh games (a few from SEGA even) but nobody bought them because it didn't play like Halo... nice fanbase, jeezs.
Which i don't mean that Nintendo is the allmighty saviour and N-fans speak the undeniable truth. All have done sins and wrong, on purpose or not. But a new generation is on the horizon, a time for cleansing and maybe a innovation or 2 to keep my appetite going (however i do like the blaststuffmindlessly-games time to time). With the choices sequelbox, boomerangstation and wandlution i prefer the wand (gives me a extra reason to dress up like a wizard while playing rpg's too) thank you very much.