What does everyone think of GBA?

I\'m just wondering who here uses portable gamming devices. I mean no disrespect, but The only people I see with handheld gamming devices are kids. Then again I come from TORONTO, canada and it se4ems people here are big into mini disc, mp3 player etc...

Originally posted by TheOgodlyThing
I\'m just wondering who here uses portable gamming devices. I mean no disrespect, but The only people I see with handheld gamming devices are kids. Then again I come from TORONTO, canada and it se4ems people here are big into mini disc, mp3 player etc...

No disrespect taken

I think the phenomenon you\'re observing is the same that occurs anywhere else. There is no age limit to portable gaming, be it Canada, Japan, Europe or the United States. I\'m twenty two years of age and enjoy my portables, as do many of my friends. I know of many, many people in my area who enjoy Gameboy\'s, some of whom are twice my age and beyond.

The thing is, most people who play their portables out in public, or rather, lug them around for "gaming on the go," are kids. Most of the people in my age bracket, that I know, play their portables at home or while killing time on trips which are devoid of other entertainment.

Hope this answers your question, somewhat.

Frodo

Underpowered, Underwhelming, and Uninspireing.... so far. We really haven\'t seen what the GBA can do yet, seeing as how the launch games were mostly all rushed. (As per usual with new systems). After seeing what the Nomad could do 5 years ago.. the GBA\'s graphics aren\'t anything to gawk over. Plus they should have put a backlit screen in. I know I know.. what about battery life.

Well, one of the few comments Tshirts makes that I agree with, is that they could have used a lithium ion battery and extended the width of the unit a few cm to accomodate it. Another way to save batteries is to NOT go the 3D direction consoles did, but instead focus on EXTREEMLY detailed 2D graphics with limited 3D capabilities. I just don\'t see why we shouldn\'t be playing PSX/PS2 looking 2D games given the technology that could have gone in it. I mean, just look at what they\'ve done with THPS2.. now imagine enviroment and player sprites 50x or 100x more detailed. Hell with a bit of creative programing, a 2D game could be made almost indistinguishable from a 3D game.

I\'m torn right now between the idea of saving my money and buying one, despite the fact that I believe Nintnedo is holding back the handheld industry. Chances are, I\'ll most likely get one in the future some time.. long after I\'ve gotten my Nomad and the GBA has accumulated a larger library of games.

Originally posted by TheOgodlyThing
If any body can make a portable GPU that can push some polys it\'s NVIDIA.

HeyOgodly thats not a bad idea.  That thing would be a beast with power and eat gba and spit it out.

Originally posted by raslant
HeyOgodly thats not a bad idea.  That thing would be a beast with power and eat gba and spit it out.

Right before the batteries die out.

Right before the batteries die out

That\'S where you are wrong. first NVIDIA mobile chips consome so very little power, second lithium ion-Need I say more.

Ogodlything, your asking for way too much.

Let\'s take a second to remember the Sega GameGear and how it drained batteries. Overall, it was FAR superior in technology than the GB. But, it could only last 6-8 hours on SIX AA batteries. This was mainly because the backlit screen is such a power comsumer. I honestly don\'t think you truly understand how fast they will drain batteries.

Now, the GBA only need two AA batteries and it can last 10-15 hours. That\'s twice as long as the GameGear could last and the system itself is more powerful. With a backlit screen then I doubt it could last any more than half that number.

3D processors would eat batteries quickly too, perhaps more quickly then a backlit screen. And if a handheld were to be true 3D then it would need a much bigger screen than the one on GBA. Also, oth of this features would sky rocket the price of it.

Now ask yourself this-is it really that difficult to get under a good light in the right angle? I don\'t think so. A worm light could also easily fix the dark screen problem too and only at an extra 10$. The lighting isn\'t that big of a deal and being 3D would drain batteries, you would need a much bigger screen, and both of these factors would raise the price. A 3D handheld with a backlit screen wouldn\'t be very easy to create while being consumer friendly. I doubt anyone besides Nintendo could pull it off successfully.

Nintendo has almost optimised their machine perfectly. The only thing they could of done better is have an option to turn on and off a backlit screen. So when you plug it into a power outlet then it wouldn\'t drain batteries and you could play perfectly. But hey, no machine can and provably never will be perfect. And again, the lighting isn\'t that big of an issue.

One thing that could cure the lighting problem is being able to play your GBA on a TV. Since the GBA has a connectivity with the GameCube then maybe it could happen. It would be a great idea though.

My only complaint about the GBA is the colour of them. I hate all of them, they look ridiculous. I wish Nintendo could of usen the GBA colours they had a Spaceworld. They were sweet. Take a look.

My only complaint about the GBA is the colour of them. I hate all of them, they look ridiculous. I wish Nintendo could of usen the GBA colours they had a Spaceworld. They were sweet. Take a look.

For once we agree on something. I prefer that silver/teal look over any of the current GBA models. Oh well..

- dm
- the trick is to keep breathing.

[Living-In-Clip]

Originally posted by Jumpman
Ogodlything, your asking for way too much.

Let\'s take a second to remember the Sega GameGear and how it drained batteries. Overall, it was FAR superior in technology than the GB. But, it could only last 6-8 hours on SIX AA batteries. This was mainly because the backlit screen is such a power comsumer. I honestly don\'t think you truly understand how fast they will drain batteries.

Now, the GBA only need two AA batteries and it can last 10-15 hours. That\'s twice as long as the GameGear could last and the system itself is more powerful. With a backlit screen then I doubt it could last any more than half that number.

3D processors would eat batteries quickly too, perhaps more quickly then a backlit screen. And if a handheld were to be true 3D then it would need a much bigger screen than the one on GBA. Also, oth of this features would sky rocket the price of it.

Now ask yourself this-is it really that difficult to get under a good light in the right angle? I don\'t think so. A worm light could also easily fix the dark screen problem too and only at an extra 10$. The lighting isn\'t that big of a deal and being 3D would drain batteries, you would need a much bigger screen, and both of these factors would raise the price. A 3D handheld with a backlit screen wouldn\'t be very easy to create while being consumer friendly. I doubt anyone besides Nintendo could pull it off successfully.

Nintendo has almost optimised their machine perfectly. The only thing they could of done better is have an option to turn on and off a backlit screen. So when you plug it into a power outlet then it wouldn\'t drain batteries and you could play perfectly. But hey, no machine can and provably never will be perfect. And again, the lighting isn\'t that big of an issue.

One thing that could cure the lighting problem is being able to play your GBA on a TV. Since the GBA has a connectivity with the GameCube then maybe it could happen. It would be a great idea though.

My only complaint about the GBA is the colour of them. I hate all of them, they look ridiculous. I wish Nintendo could of usen the GBA colours they had a Spaceworld. They were sweet. Take a look.

I agree. The current color selection is horrible, in my opinion. I perfer the ones showed at SpaceWorld.


I remember taking a trip from Kentucky to Florida non-stop once with my Uncle and Aunt (both college students, ah those was the days). We took the gamegear and gameboy. I was playin\' the gamegear and the damn thing drained the batteries faster then I had planned, yet the GB was still goin\' strong on its four batteries. So, I really don\'t whine about the light issue. I rather deal with small light problems, then drained batteries all the friggin\' time.

For those that want a 3D portable and say 2D is dead... was the PSX your first console? Seems like it.

They are young\'in\'s , we should make them all sit down and play the good ole\' 2D classics.

Maybe I am asking too much, but I\'m the kind of guy who expecs nothing but the best in Technology

Maybe I am asking too much, but I\'m the kind of guy who expecs nothing but the best in Technology[/b]

LOL Godly.  No you are not asking for too much.  You are a rare visionary.  I bet you are Sega fan, and not surprisingly rooting the Xbox on.  You(much like I) are the ppl whom are simply not content with the state of the industry and would like to see things move forward rather than at a standstill.  We thrive on innovation, and we are not merely satisfy with simple rehashes and overused ideas.

Jumpman

The lighting isn\'t that big of a deal [/b]

Have you ever had the pleasure of seeing the beauty of a Sega Nomad in all of its back-lit glory sitting in the dark?  Nice isn\'t it?  Having a back-lit actually improves the outlook and the resolution of the screen.  With no back-lit, it is hard to locate the correct lighting, and thus the screen looks dark, murky, and very low res.  It is like playing a computer emulated Genesis game with Kreed\'s(the upgrade via computer) and then turning it to scanline mode.  Huge difference!

BTW, regarding the battery issue....

Lithium ion is simply the new wave of the future.  We\'ve been using double AA for more than 20 years now.  Don\'t you think it is time to move forward?  Lithium ions are 4x-5x(not sure) more powerful than regular batteries and they as cheap as a worm light; and on top of that they are rechargable with a long life span(10 years?).  Like I said before, Nintendo is using old tradition hardware and it sucks we have to suffer as a result considering they have such a grasp on the portable market.

) are the ppl whom are simply not content with the state of the industry and would like to see things move forward rather than at a standstill

You read my mind, also yes I am a sega Fan.  One of the problems with this industry is technological advances or leaps is only happening mainly in the computer industry. Why cause people are willing to drop the old and spend money for the new.


Take HDTV,  we were supposed to have them standardized by 1998. Instead we have to wait till 2006.
In 1990 the industry wanted to bring in the digital widescreen TV\'s for all consumers. George Bush(the first) the FAG he is, said NO.

Also regarding DVD=ok nothing special. DVD\'s sound is what makes it worth the purchase not the video. They need to bring HD-DVD in the market, George Lucas wont release Star Wars until they do, I believe it\'s called Blue laser technology. High Definition DVD\'s has 3x times betterpicture than DVD. For those whom have a HDTV this new dvd format will really show off your TV\'s potential.

GBA is a big step back-wards in my opinion, SEGA had the nomad 4-5 years ago. you guys keep saying that a 3d Gpu will eat power up, well you are wrong. Granted a 3d chip will use more power than a 2d but depending how the chip is made, not much more. NVIDIA made the gefore2 mobile that uses 3x less power than the gefore gts. Just think if NVIDA made the TNT2 mobile chip, Peice of cake. That would rock a handled tnt2 chip. All that is left is a good lithium ion battary and you have a kick ass portable handheld.  I hope mS makes one cause it seems to me the guys at redmond are the only ones who would actually attempt to do this.


REMEMBER folks lithium batteries last 4 time longer than convential AA, and you can recharge then for years.

Anyhow I have blabbered on enough.

[Living-In-Clip]

Originally posted by Tshirts
Maybe I am asking too much, but I\'m the kind of guy who expecs nothing but the best in Technology

LOL Godly.  No you are not asking for too much.  You are a rare visionary.  I bet you are Sega fan, and not surprisingly rooting the Xbox on.  You(much like I) are the ppl whom are simply not content with the state of the industry and would like to see things move forward rather than at a standstill.  We thrive on innovation, and we are not merely satisfy with simple rehashes and overused ideas.

Jumpman

The lighting isn\'t that big of a deal [/b]

Have you ever had the pleasure of seeing the beauty of a Sega Nomad in all of its back-lit glory sitting in the dark?  Nice isn\'t it?  Having a back-lit actually improves the outlook and the resolution of the screen.  With no back-lit, it is hard to locate the correct lighting, and thus the screen looks dark, murky, and very low res.  It is like playing a computer emulated Genesis game with Kreed\'s(the upgrade via computer) and then turning it to scanline mode.  Huge difference!

BTW, regarding the battery issue....

Lithium ion is simply the new wave of the future.  We\'ve been using double AA for more than 20 years now.  Don\'t you think it is time to move forward?  Lithium ions are 4x-5x(not sure) more powerful than regular batteries and they as cheap as a worm light; and on top of that they are rechargable with a long life span(10 years?).  Like I said before, Nintendo is using old tradition hardware and it sucks we have to suffer as a result considering they have such a grasp on the portable market. [/B]

I\'m a Sega fan also, and I encourage innovation, but innovation too early also leads alot of time to market suicide. By all means, the Saturn was alot more innovate then the Psone. The Nomad was the most innovate handheld. Sega was always the most innoviate company, but they also had alot of the biggest commecial failures (note: That does not mean I am calling their products bad. I love Sega more then any company. I loved my SegaCd, Nomad, 32X).

I will agree that we should move to lithium for handhelds. But, in my opinion there is a place and time for everything. Expect it in the next handheld.

Living in clip the nomad had a few problems.

1. It too like the Gamegear eat your batteries alive
2. Way to expensive
3. real heavy

[Living-In-Clip]

Originally posted by TheOgodlyThing
Living in clip the nomad had a few problems.

1. It too like the Gamegear eat your batteries alive
2. Way to expensive
3. real heavy

My point exactly. If you add a backlit and so on, they will eat your batteries. You add onto the price also, if you want all these powerful extras in a handheld.