Nintendo Announces Retro-Style Game Boy Micro

[fitbabits]

From Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz) come news (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1518&Itemid=2) on yet another entry into the Game Boy family.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the NES, the new unit will be maroon with a gold NES-inspired faceplate, and will sell for $99.99. It also will come packed with a $10 coupon that can be used toward the purchase of some Nintendo-published Game Boy Advance games."The Special 20th Anniversary Edition Game Boy Micro is an anniversary present to millions of Nintendo fans, who 20 years ago single-handedly built this entire industry," said George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications.
Nintendo have gone to the retro well too many times for my liking.

[Heretic Machine]

Piss off Nintendo! You've already irritated me with your dumbass plan for DS wifi (you have to have a laptop and a USB wifi adaptor if you plan to use it outside the house), and this Micro bullshit isn't going to get you anywhere with me either. Just show me shiney Revolution pictures if you know what's good for you!

[Xaerin]

Only the "retro well"? What about the "GBA well", the "mario well", the "zelda well", hell the entire goddamn "rehash well", the bucket has pretty much hit the dirt.

Bring on the revolution and with it, hopefully, some innovation.

[NoName]

Nintendo have gone to the retro well too many times for my liking.
Well how else do you think they'll make money selling three different handhelds all at the same time... o.0

[Ernst_Jager]

Don't you all realize that retro is the new old....errr the old new....whatever it is

[Heretic Machine]

Only the "retro well"? What about the "GBA well", the "mario well", the "zelda well", hell the entire goddamn "rehash well", the bucket has pretty much hit the dirt.

Bring on the revolution and with it, hopefully, some innovation.


Ya, because you can't have innovative gameplay with familiar franchises.

/sarcasm

[Neverborne]

Only the "retro well"? What about the "GBA well", the "mario well", the "zelda well", hell the entire goddamn "rehash well", the bucket has pretty much hit the dirt.

"Rehash Well?" Oh man, if you're gonna rag on Nintendo about that don't forget the "Final Fantasy Well," the "Splinter Cell Well," the "Devil May Cry Well," the "Ratchet and Clank Well," the "Jak and Daxter Well," the "Mega Man Well."

Jesus Christ, people. In three years we'll be playing, "Splinter Cell Wacky Terrorist Racing."

[Heretic Machine]

In three years we'll be playing, "Splinter Cell Wacky Terrorist Racing."

Best. Statement. Evar.

[Abednigo]

The Special 20th Anniversary Edition Game Boy Micro is an anniversary present to millions of Nintendo fans

Aren't presents usually free?

[31 Flavas]

Piss off Nintendo! You've already irritated me with your dumbass plan for DS wifi (you have to have a laptop and a USB wifi adaptor if you plan to use it outside the house)What the hell are you talking about.

Outside the house, the DS will operate with ANY b/g wireless signal. And every McDonalds (supposedly) will be a hotspot. You'll only need the USB adapter if the wifi signal is WPA encrypted (initially) or if the wireless signal requires VPN type softwre.

[bapenguin]

squishk squishk, squishk squisk....MOOOOOOOOOOO...hey...Itsa meeee!

Yes...that is the sound of Nintendo....milking their products to death.

[Spoon]

I agree, soon we will have available only for the GBA, something so extraordinary, so stunning, it could only be!


"Mario's Battlefield: VII"

[UnderHero5]

I thought the whole thing with the Micro was that you could customize it by buying different face plates...
So all those peopel who actually bought a Micro (suckers) and want to have theirs look "Retro" now have to buy the entire unit again (not gunna happen).

Nintendo should have put the whole facep late thing to use and just released *gasp* a retro face plate!

I don't know why anyone would buy a Micro over the SP. Especially the new BRIGHT SP. That thing is beautiful.
I've thought about buying a Bright screen SP and I only own 2 GBA games (and a DS). The screen is just soooo nice looking.

[Borys]

FFS they should just rename their company to Retrotendo.

Or Retartendo, even better.

Will this milking never stop?

[Xaerin]

Ya, because you can't have innovative gameplay with familiar franchises.

/sarcasm

But it's the "familiar franchies" with which I have the problem, I don't disagree zelda and mario games are fun, but you have to admit, especially with the recent influx of mario sports titles, it's getting a bit out of hand.

[rein]

Maybe someone will finally buy a Micro. These things are not moving very well... ..I wonder why... ...could it be that they only play GBA games? That they are the 4th handheld (5th product) made by Nintendo that plays GBA games? That they released a brighter version of their SP at the same time that is $30 cheaper? That even with 20/20 vision people have to squint to see the screen? Or, could it just be that people are sick of Nintendo's rehashing bullshit?

It is one thing to release sequels to software but how many times can you do it with the hardware?

[DaedalusFolly]

A business major in college would argue that Nintendo is simply brand-building and attemtping to entice new customers with tailored products. But I say they're milking it, let's form an angry, pitch-fork-wielding, burning-torch-throwing mob and storm NOA headquarters. I mean come on, the gall of these people.

[UnderHero5]

It is one thing to release sequels to software but how many times can you do it with the hardware?

Actually, I think all the GBA versions would be considered remakes. The DS would be the GBA's sequal, right? Or the "Game Boy Evolution" that everyone swore was real last E3.

I dunno about you, but I'd love to see ten remakes of the same movie... /sarcasm

[NightRain]

I have the Classic NES GBA SP and love it, it is very cool and looks awesome. I will not be getting this system since the Micro is way to small for my hands and I rarely use the GBA now since I've got my PSP anyway.

[fitbabits]

squishk squishk, squishk squisk....MOOOOOOOOOOO...hey...Itsa meeee!

Yes...that is the sound of Nintendo....milking their products to death.
Man, I just spat my cherry turnover all over my desk! :D

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

I like all the special editons but why the fucking hell cant they be released at launch? I want a freaking blue or red or whatever color DS but nooooo Im hardcore to the max and got a basic silver one at launch.

[Abednigo]

I like all the special editons but why the fucking hell cant they be released at launch?

For the same reason they don't release all the super duper, dragon fireball edition DVDs at the same time as the basic, no frills editions. They know people will buy it twice! :rolleyes:

[Heretic Machine]

What the hell are you talking about.

Outside the house, the DS will operate with ANY b/g wireless signal. And every McDonalds (supposedly) will be a hotspot. You'll only need the USB adapter if the wifi signal is WPA encrypted (initially) or if the wireless signal requires VPN type softwre.

Most wi-fi hotsposts I've ever seen require some sort of log in, or at least some config. The DS won't support that because Nintendo half-assed it, so it really only works with one configuration.

This is taken from Kotaku:
Nintendo released some more details about their upcoming WiFi DS service today. The only new thing seems to be some more detail about how you connect to the service outside your home.

While we’ve already reported that gamers can go to any of the 6,000 Wayport-enabled McDonald’s in the country to play for free on their DS, we’ve never known how else you can connect to DS WiFi.

I assumed that you could just hit up any WiFi spot and use the service if you were able to access it. Not so, my friend, not so. It looks like you will also have to lug along a WiFi-enabled laptop and Nintendo’s own WiFi USB Connector. I shit you not.

This is from the official press release:

When visiting other pay-service Wi-Fi hotspots, such as those at coffee shops or airports, players can use a laptop computer and the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector to access Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector provides a conduit to play games via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection by enabling the Nintendo DS to share an Internet connection established by a laptop running Windows XP (regular Internet access fees may apply at pay-service hotspots).

[reptilezero]

would be nice if it looked more like the american controller (like the classic nes gba that was released).

[TheEpicOfTyler]

I don't see why anyone is making a big deal over this. Nobody is making you buy it.

[fitbabits]

I don't see why anyone is making a big deal over this. Nobody is making you buy it.
It's a big deal because it's so damn appealing! I mean, how could you not want one? :rolleyes:

[emperordahc]

The micro doesn't support multiplayer via cable or wireless and it doesn't jack into my GC for games that support connectivity. No thank you.

[The Iron Weasel]

Yeah I'm sick of them plunking out the same product 17 times. This is just getting rediculous.

[pacmanfever]

Most wi-fi hotsposts I've ever seen require some sort of log in, or at least some config. The DS won't support that because Nintendo half-assed it, so it really only works with one configuration.

i guess all of these configuration screens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apreche/sets/1139761/show/) are just there for decoration then, right?

but back to the actual topic, i too think this would be much cooler if they styled it after the NES and not the famicon, since that's the version they released over here.

[31 Flavas]

Most wi-fi hotsposts I've ever seen require some sort of log in, or at least some config.Right, because most hotspots want you to pay to use them, or for that matter are private networks. You're not going to be able to use ANY wifi device at these kind of hotspots unless you can load software on your device to make the VPN connection or login. So your PSP is going to be just as useless at these hotspots, as well.

Asside from that you can connect to any b/g network (aside from WPA protected networks, initally)..

[Heretic Machine]

(aside from WPA protected networks, initally)..

Asside from that you can connect to any b/g network

So let's see... I can't connect to my own network, since that's WPA. I can't connect to my school's network, because that requires a log-in. Lucky me, I get to walk my ass from campus to McDonalds to use their wi-fi connection.

Ya, that's not half-assed.

[fitbabits]

So let's see... I can't connect to my own network, since that's WPA. I can't connect to my school's network, because that requires a log-in. Lucky me, I get to walk my ass from campus to McDonalds to use their wi-fi connection.

Ya, that's not half-assed.
There has to be a joke in all of this about Nintendo and McDonalds.

[jacktion]

Well, at least this is kind of like lowering the price. A 10$ coupon is sort of the equivalent of a $90 gameboy micro which is closer to a reasonable price.

[fitbabits]

Well, at least this is kind of like lowering the price. A 10$ coupon is sort of the equivalent of a $90 gameboy micro which is closer to a reasonable price.
I think the pertinent question to ask is why release it in the first place? Other than to milk the Nintendo fanboys out of even more money.

[31 Flavas]

So let's see... I can't connect to my own network, since that's WPA. I can't connect to my school's network, because that requires a log-in. Lucky me, I get to walk my ass from campus to McDonalds to use their wi-fi connection.

Ya, that's not half-assed.And so your PSP can login to your schools network and supported WPA out of the box too? Yea, thats what I though. So take a seat with your "half assed" PSP.

Want to use emulators AND WPA? Sorry, you gotta downgrade to 1.5 for the emus and loose the WPA. Even still PSP only supports WPA - TKIP, which is semi-broken already. If you run WPA - AES your PSP can't connet.

[nonchalance]

And so your PSP can login to your schools network and supported WPA out of the box too? Yea, thats what I though. So take a seat with your "half assed" PSP.

Want to use emulators AND WPA? Sorry, you gotta downgrade to 1.5 for the emus and loose the WPA. Even still PSP only supports WPA - TKIP, which is semi-broken already. If you run WPA - AES your PSP can't connet.

Who gives a fuck?
That doesn't excuse Nintendo being half-arsed. You can't just go
"Nintendo didn't screw up, because Sony also screwed up, and you don't want to say Sony screwed up so you can't say Nintendo screwed up nerneenerneener"


If PSP jumps off a cliff DS should too?

For the record, I own a DS and love it, and do not own a PSP because I don't fucking want one.

[31 Flavas]

Who gives a fuck?
That doesn't excuse Nintendo being half-arsed. You can't just go
"Nintendo didn't screw up, because Sony also screwed up, and you don't want to say Sony screwed up so you can't say Nintendo screwed up nerneenerneener"There are obviously technicalities and complications involved in implimenting WPA since most wireless products, produced even today (i.e. PSP), still do not support any form of WPA when initally launched.

The DS will get WPA, so chill. But like everything else its going to take some time. Nintendo is still developing and engineering the software, games, and network.

I mean, where all of PSP features and functions complete at launch? Hell no. But was anyone calling the PSP half-assed? Fuck no. All that matter was that it did z0mg so many millillion jiga-flops and ploys per second.

[nonchalance]

I mean, where all of PSP features and functions complete at launch? Hell no. But was anyone calling the PSP half-assed? Fuck no. All that matter was that it did z0mg so many millillion jiga-flops and ploys per second.

Point is this:
Because one handheld does something badly is not an excuse for the other to also do it badly.

Therefore, this:
And so your PSP can login to your schools network and supported WPA out of the box too? Yea, thats what I though. So take a seat with your "half assed" PSP.

Want to use emulators AND WPA? Sorry, you gotta downgrade to 1.5 for the emus and loose the WPA. Even still PSP only supports WPA - TKIP, which is semi-broken already. If you run WPA - AES your PSP can't connet.
is a pointless argument.

Plus, I seem to remember quite a few people calling the PSP half-assed, specifically in regards to the way the fact it's a handheld gaming device seems to be a secondary consideration.

[TKO]

Wow.. Is today "hate the tiny GBA day"? I didn't get that memo. I mean, yeah sure, there are a few models of GameBoy around these days. But this one is *tiny* (tiny=portable .. how is that bad for a handheld?)

I have a cellphone, mp3 player, pen-drive, wallet, keys .. a gaming-device has to be small to fit my lifestyle unless I commit to pocket-replete cargo pants all the time. Da GB-Micro fits that bill nicely.

And don't forget the girlies out there for whom small + cute = yes for all gadget-purchase equations. :) ..Nintendo ain't dumb. They know this device claims a little more of the handheld market for them.

(Damn, that all sounds so serious and logical. Saving final move: Boobies!) :D

[mister_slim]

But it's the "familiar franchies" with which I have the problem, I don't disagree zelda and mario games are fun, but you have to admit, especially with the recent influx of mario sports titles, it's getting a bit out of hand.
I don't understand this, really? If they want to make a lighthearted and casual version of some popular sport they should make up a bunch of new characters? Like Marvel Nemesis? The characters are meaningless, so just use some that people like and recognize. Note that 1080 and Wave Race get realistic characters to go with their realistic design.
Most wi-fi hotsposts I've ever seen require some sort of log in, or at least some config. The DS won't support that because Nintendo half-assed it, so it really only works with one configuration.

This is taken from Kotaku:
Can we wait and see on this? That Kotaku quote is pretty obviously out of context.
The micro doesn't support multiplayer via cable or wireless and it doesn't jack into my GC for games that support connectivity. No thank you.
I think it does, it just doesn't support the old cables.

[31 Flavas]

Point is this:
Because one handheld does something badly is not an excuse for the other to also do it badly.In a perfect world everyone would be able to get what they wanted when they wanted it. And you'd get WPA w/ Nintendo WiFi Connection on release day. But we don't live in a perfect world. And implimenting WPA is not a click of the checkbox. And no WEP isn't going away anytime soon either so Nintendo can't drop it in favor of WPA.

Would you honestly want Nintendo to have delay online and wait until WPA was tested and stable to release Nintendo WiFi Connection?

[nonchalance]

Hell no, I wouldn't want to wait. But I'm not that fussed anyway. Most of my DS online will be at home, because wireless hotspots aren't particularly common in Melbourne anyway.

But why did we have to wade through three posts full of 'but the PSP isn't any better' to get to the valid points?

[Chimpbot]

So let's see... I can't connect to my own network, since that's WPA. I can't connect to my school's network, because that requires a log-in. Lucky me, I get to walk my ass from campus to McDonalds to use their wi-fi connection.

Ya, that's not half-assed.

Or...you could just use that USB Wif-Fi adaptor.
As far as I know, you just plug it into a computer with an active internext connection and you're good to go.

Problem solved?

[31 Flavas]

But why did we have to wade through three posts full of 'but the PSP isn't any better' to get to the valid points?Uh.... it should have been obvious. WPA programing takes time, like I stated, espicially when you are doing many other things like just getting the network to work at all and then get it installed at the 50 bazillion McDonalds between Japan and the US. Not to mention programing, publishing, and distributing not only Mario Kart DS and Animal Crossing DS, but every other Nintendo produced game and working on the Revolution all at the same time.

You jumped in on my argument w/ perigon and were only concerned with "DS DOESN'T SUPPORT WPA SO ITS HALF ASSED" So kiss my ass. Like you could do better. I don't think its any streach of the imagination that this is also the reason why the PSP didn't ship with WPA or the Web browser to start with.

[nonchalance]

You jumped in on my argument w/ perigon and were only concerned with "DS DOESN'T SUPPORT WPA SO ITS HALF ASSED" So kiss my ass. Like you could do better.

No, I wasn't.
I was talking about the lack of ability to login to protected networks, but what my real point was is this:
Why the fuck does the PSP has to be involved in any discussion of the DS's capabilities?
Here's your first post in the argument.

Right, because most hotspots want you to pay to use them, or for that matter are private networks. You're not going to be able to use ANY wifi device at these kind of hotspots unless you can load software on your device to make the VPN connection or login. So your PSP is going to be just as useless at these hotspots, as well.

[Heretic Machine]

Or...you could just use that USB Wif-Fi adaptor.
As far as I know, you just plug it into a computer with an active internext connection and you're good to go.

Problem solved?


Ok, let's forget the fact that they are basically requiring the purchase of a $35 perphriel along with a laptop to use a "feature" that they advertised... It's still ass that I have to have my laptop to use my DS on the go. I sort of wanted the DS's wi-fi support to work out so that I would be able to have something that connects to the internet without packing around a big laptop case.

I don't play handhelds at home, saying that it works fine on a home network (which it doesn't without WPA support, considering that my wi-fi card doesn't support WEP) just invalidates the whole point of a handheld. At home I have a gaming class PC, an XBOX, a PS2, and a Gamecube. I have no reason to touch my DS at home.

EDIT: Oh, and the Nintendo fanboys need to stop acting like this plan is perfectly fine. It's bullshit, there is no defence for it.

[Heretic Machine]

Personally I think it's wireless networks that require a login that are "half-assed". That always seemed like a very clunky way of doing it, and since not all of them are the same it would be extremely difficult for nintendo to try and make the DS work with all of them.

In my opinion, if you make a WI-FI device then you should expect that it needs to be as configurable as a laptop. It's as simple as that, anything less is half-assed.

[31 Flavas]

Ok, let's forget the fact that they are basically requiring the purchase of a $35 perphriel along with a laptop to use a "feature" that they advertised... It's still ass that I have to have my laptop to use my DS on the go. I sort of wanted the DS's wi-fi support to work out so that I would be able to have something that connects to the internet without packing around a big laptop case.Ok, but you realize that these closed networks are out of Nintendo's hands. You can't connect to these closed networks because they use proprietary VPN software or non-standard network login/authentication. I can't believe that you are holding Nintendo responsible for this. You should be railing the store owners or probably the IEEE so that there is an easy way for non PC wifi devices to connect, but that allows bussiness to still charge for / control / limit access.

You can't do this with current wifi standards, hence, the use of proprietary software.

EDIT: Oh, and the Nintendo fanboys need to stop acting like this plan is perfectly fine. It's bullshit, there is no defence for it.Oh geez so im a fanboy. Go blast the PSP for not working with any of these networks as well.