NeilT

Dreamweaver - depends on the airline - most are ok with them (as long as you turn it off during take off and landing), but Easyjet dont seem to like them much

MOH? mmmm not sure what that is - but you only need to games 1)MarioKart 2) Duke Nukem Advance

Neil



[Edited by NeilT - 4/1/2003 9:44:42 AM]

NeilT

Hi

Wendy (me wifey) bought me one and it arrived today so quick review after an hours play....

I used to travel throughout europe each and every week so the previous GBA became somewhat of an essential piece of my kit for airports and long flights, so I was looking forward to the new SP model.....

First off its small and very neat, looking good in the silver.

Unfolding it the screen sits at the top and the controls at the bottom and looks similar to a mobile phone (just a little square'r).

The controls initially appear too small to be of any real use to anyone older than 5 but when playing they are suprisingly ergonomic and easier than the previous versions layout.

The screen is the obvious improvement over the previous version of the Gameboy Advance (which had a terrible flaw of having no internal light!) The SP isnt backlit but has a built in front light underneith the screen and it works a treat - the display is clear and very clean - 200% better the the previous version.

The processor is marginally faster too, meaning games like Duke Nukem and Doom run super smoothly

The other bonus is that it comes complete with a rechargeable battery pack - which will undoubtedly save £££ on AA's.

Only problems I can see are a) lack of headphone socket b) mono speaker

Apart from that this is the product that the original Gameboy should have been

Go get one!

Neil
31 going on 10!
www.scoobyworld.co.uk

carl

I thought it was going to be backlit


[Edited by carl - 3/31/2003 2:38:38 PM]

NeilT

doesnt appear to be - BUT it does the job 100% - so probably doesnt matter

DrEvil

So, in some ways they've moved forward and others backwards...

Hmm..

NeilT

no, definately a leap forwards - the screen is light years ahead of the previous version, its faster, smaller and looks better just a shame about the headphone socket

try one out!

ChristianR

iTrader: (1)

you can use ear phones, but you need to purchase an adaptor? plugs into where you can recharge battery or something

PiNkEyE69

So finally the GB catches up with the Atari Lynx then
Seriously (not that I'm putting down my Atari Lynx), I was tempted to get one (and give my GBA to my Nephews) but I'm in two minds.
I find it a mickytake that the machine is $99.99 in the states, and yet £89.99 here!
Anyone seen any good deals? I like virgin's GBSP + sickered Game of your choice _ Official carry case for £100
Has it been proven that the Processor is faster? Every review I read says it's the same processor as the GBA.

It has that multi-access port, which allows you to use the headphone adaptor (available in UK soon) with it, so that's no great loss.

NeilT

faster processor - well certainly seems to be - i.e. Duke Nukem runs much smoother on it than on the 'old' GBA

chiark

$99.99 + sales tax...
£76 quid + sales tax...

EU Duty on games machines - is it 4%?

Doesn't look quite so bad as it could be. Kudos to them for not just saying "100 dollars = 100 quid"

PiNkEyE69

Hmmm, maybe a faster refresh on the new screen makes it look smoother??

Official specs
Gameboy Advance:
CPU 32-Bit ARM with embedded memory
MEMORY 32 Kbyte + 96 Kbyte VRAM (in CPU), 256 Kbyte WRAM (external of CPU)
SCREEN 2.9" TFT reflective screen, 240x160 resolution, 40.8mm x 61.2mm screen size, 32,768 possible colours, 511 simultaneous colours in character mode, 32,768 simultaneous colours in bitmap mode
SIZE(mm) Width 144.5mm / Depth 24.5mm / Height 24.5mm
WEIGHT 140g
POWER 2 AA batteries
BATTERY LIFE 15 hours

Gameboy Advance SP
CPU 32-Bit ARM with embedded memory
MEMORY 32 Kbyte + 96 Kbyte VRAM (in CPU), 256 Kbyte WRAM (external of CPU)
SCREEN 2.9" TFT reflective screen with integrated screen light., 240x160 resolution, 40.8mm x 61.2mm screen size, 32,768 possible colours, 511 simultaneous colours in character mode, 32,768 simultaneous colours in bitmap mode.
SIZE(mm) Width 82mm / Depth 24.3mm / Height 84.6mm
WEIGHT 143g
POWER Built in rechargeable Lithium Ion battery.
BATTERY LIFE 10 hours continual game play (18 hours with light off) with approximately 3 hours recharging time.


[Edited by PiNkEyE69 - 3/31/2003 4:22:18 PM]

DrEvil

Pinkeye - problem with cut-n-paste?

PS. I'm still getting one - and ChristianR is right, there is an adaptor for headphones.

[Edited by DrEvil - 3/31/2003 4:28:11 PM]

NeilT

mmm...strange, must be down to refresh rates then....definately smoother... [scratches head]

DrEvil

Forgot to say..

GET ZELDA - A link to the past - awesome...

BTW does anyone know how to get the book of Madras or Mudora what ever its called? I can see it on top of the book shelf in the library near the village, but can't get it down!!!

PiNkEyE69

Yeah Dr Evil, for some reason I couldn't highlight and copy the official specs from Nintendo's site, managed it in the end though.
I'm interested in it but I'll probably wait for a while yeat (just spent out £200 on games, a recharable battery pack, and 5.6" TFT screen addon for my Gamecube )

DrEvil

Pinkeye at least you can access the site from work.. its not going to be long before SN is banned as well at work for me

What did you get for the cube then? And whats the TFT screen like for it and which one did you get?? (maybe you could start another thread on this)

NeilT - sorry don't mean to hi-jack your thread.


[Edited by DrEvil - 3/31/2003 4:37:54 PM]

NeilT

Dr Evil - no probs [calls in hijack negotiator]

DrEvil

(wish my present from the misses would hurry up.. blinkin couriers!)

RB5-Black

Dr Evil isn't that the bit you've got to use the faster running shoes and head but the shelf sorry if that's the wrong bit but I was a lot younger the last time I played that

Dream Weaver

Can you use these on planes? i.e. will I get bollocked by the cabin crew?

Got about 30 hours flying coming up, so could do with something to while the time away Whats MOH like for it?

Dream Weaver

MOH = Medal of honour, noticed it the other day in Game, good fun on PS2, if a little hard.

DrEvil

RB5 Black - thats it mate, worked it out last night.

Thanks anyway

RB5-Black

DrEvil

Got my gameboy advance SP - its a big improvement!

NeilT

good isnt it!

now get Duke Nukem!

Neil

DrEvil

I've just got the new FZero game and am still playing Zelda - got the sword now and in the Dark land.....

NeilT

yeah, F zero rocks!

Zelda, mmm still cant bring ,yself to buy it - just doesnt look that good [climbs into flame suit]