Unpacking the Game Boy Micro

So we were able to get our greedy little mitts on Nintendo's adorable little Game Boy Micro a few days in advance (no pun intended), and figured we'd share the joy of opening up a new toy with you in our grand tradition of gadget unpacking sessions. It's a little like sneaking downstairs to open your presents the night before Christmas, if you think about it, but a little more anticlimactic.

Yup, comes with two faceplates!

Why doesn�t anyone believe us when we tell them the first thing we do is read the health and safety precautions booklet?

Thanks for the pouch, guys! That white thing (which we�re lovingly referring to as the Game Boy Micro Toilet Seat Cover) triggers the faceplate release mechanism.

This thing is a serious fingerprint magnet.

You probably don�t want to rock the industrial look, but hey, nothing�s stopping you from doing so and scratchin� up that screen.

Dark blue and black? What a faux pas!

[Swarner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Man, that thing's REALLY small! I wonder how it plays with a screen that small...

[Shayne Leevy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Gah! This looks kind of too small, really. Seems kind of useless, like you wouldn't get a good grip on it. I already have problems with losing the game paks; I don't need to lose the system too. I suggest saving up for a DS: It's bigger, plays Advance/SP games, dual-screened, and best of all: it plays 'Nintendogs'.

[Edwin Avalos @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Even though i dont like the rerelease of it for the upteenth time (exaggerating) that thing is damn sexy

[Justin Wong @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Does the black remind anyone of something made by SONY? *Cough* PSP *Cough* How does the Game Boy Micro Toilet Seat Cover work

[Derek @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

It is good that it looks like the PSP. The PSP looks good!

[1984 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

psp is ugly, this is sexy

[Andrew Hsieh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Sexy. I can't see the screen with my hands, though =/ Plus, no GB/C compatability? Darn you, N! Darn you to heck!

[Oshi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Where's the key ring? Too small for me. Even the GBA SP is too small for me.

[Troy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

How close is that in size to the original NES controller?

[Ryuukuro @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

They need to come out with a clear cover for it. That or an old school NES cover (which is almost a given.)

[Buttonbasher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Damn. I hate it when Nintendo Does this. I have A GBA, GBASP, DS, all of which can play the same games. The thing I hate is that It looks so damn good. I had said back around E3 that I would NOT buy this, but it keeps looking better. Plus I agree with sheik124, I could play it in public without looking like a tool. So... Anyone wanna dontate 100 bucks????

[aimee b @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

ok cool gr8 job nintendo- damn sexc-but no gb/c compatibility man! i've got 32 gb/c games and how can i use them without my sp!ok ok its still gr8 though-congrats

[Fixitdave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Hello sexy :)

[danny floyd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

why do you keep calling this game 'boy' ...sexy? pervs.. ;x

[sheik124 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Awesome Nintendo, I can play this thing in public without looking like a 6th grader. I want one!!

[seaotter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

cuby: that is kind of harsh. isnt the freedom of opinion a thing that is granted to all? and opinions differ from one another? hey, i respect your opinion about it. just.....it sounds so...degrading to all those people who bought game systems and are happily married . or are you suggesting that buying a game system is akin to gettign a child? :P ( your sell the condoms phrase - unprotected sex? :P)

any idea how much are the face plates people?

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I strongly believe I'm somehow going to get one of these before 2006...its just EXACTLY what I need (ok ok WANT) :-) It is extremely portable, unlike my DS which I use kind of like a home console. Also this thing has built in screen protectors w/ the faceplates!

A NES controller faceplate would be pretty sweet...Japan got a famicom one, so why not over here?

Hmm, now just got to get $100...this could be tricky...maybe sell a LEGO mosaic? =P

[Vagabond Artist @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

nintendo has become capcom...

next year there will be the Gameboy Advance Turbo Alpha 3

[Stephen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Bleh. Amazon says they don't know when they'll get a shipment of the Micros.

[booboo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I personal think it's big. Especially when releasing the micro this late. Now that the ipod nano is out..this micro is thicker longer and wider than the nano.

[Jake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

The Nintendo fairy recently visited the local Toys R Us and left lots of free swag like pens, Nintendog stickers, rulers and stuff! And over in the corner of the display was the GB Micro is its giganto box. I know it was going to be small, but sheesh! It really is as tiny and portable as they say.

[phosfiend @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

looks ill, can't wait to get one (or two) running nanoloop.

[Durandal @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

sorry booboo but if you knew your metrics it goes micro nano pico, from biggest to smallest respectively. So it makes sense that a gameboy micro would be bigger than something that is nano. However if i see a pico anything i might have to tear out my eyes.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

ummm....why did all you americans get your Micros so late? We've had them up here (in Canada) since the 20th. I went and checked them out at a couple of local stores.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Why did you guys turn the brightness all the way down? Or are you just too ignorant to turn the brightness up.

[Stephen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I won't get it for sure. I don't think there's enough changes from the GBA SP to make me and my friends buy one. It's pretty pricey for a handheld that used 4 years old technology. Besides, I have a DS anyways.

I tried out the GBM on some of the stores here (Canada got them on the 20th). The screen is sharper than the previous Gameboy, but it's way too small. I understand handheld should be easy to carry, but I found GBM is way too small to be comfortable. The screen is just too small for me. In terms of size, I think GBA SP is the best out of all the portables (including PSP and DS). PSP has the best screen quality in my opinion.

Maybe I am just tired of Nintendo keep on releasing new edition of GBA. I think they should have make the DS smaller instead, or maybe develope a new handheld system that doesn't use cartidges.

Unless this goes to less than 50 Canadian, I can't justify it when I already have a SP and a DS...

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Handhelds are supposed to use cartridges. They have nearly ZERO load times, have no mechanical parts (these things may get dropped being portable), use much less battery than any disc based system, are much more durable in the pockets (dust doesn't matter)... Cartridges make too much sense for handhelds to stop and go the other way... Some may say that they cost more to make, but prices of cart based portable games are still cheaper than disc based portable games.

They also may hold less information, but this is the only advantage discs have over carts.

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Still waiting for my black GBM.
I ordered the Black and Amonite covers too.

http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/micro/accessories.jsp

[Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Sadly for me, the Japanese Micro doesn't come with any faceplates. If anyone has unwanted faceplates and is interested in a trade or something, please e-mail me at [e-mail]. In exchange I could pick something up that is available here in Japan that you want -- toys etc.

[Josh Glaser @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

"A few days in advance"?

I'm not sure what the official release date on this is (each store seems to be getting them at different times), but I could have picked one up from my local GameStop yesterday.

I love it, even though A) it does seem to be a bit late for a new GBA system, B) I wish the thing came with a keychain (although the pouch is nice) and C) I'm not sure I like Nintendo of America's decision to ship black systems with silver faceplates and silver systems with black faceplates on this side of the Pacific. Despite having a DS, I'm surprised I haven't picked one up yet...the only reasons I haven't being that I just bought an iPod nano two weeks ago and I'm waiting to see if there's going to be a Powerbook update next week. Gotta save...but the Game Boy Micro...so small...so cool...ack.

Once Tetris Attack (er, "Puzzle League") comes to the GBA this winter, I don't think I'll be able to resist.

I don't get how people can possibly say this isn't small enough. It's the smallest system ever. They made it as small as they could. It's pretty damn small, regardless of the size of the iPod nano. :|

[Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Why does anyone want this thing to play gameboy color games, the whole thing about it is its cool and small no one wants a game thats bigger then the micro sticking out the back and even more so it would make it look ugly and the screens too small for the game boy games just get the new brighter screened GBA it plays GBC games and for the first time it plays them backlit!

[pspimp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

This thing looks so cool.

I originaly said it would be cool to have one for my psp to have sex with, but I think this little guy might just have his way with the psp while he is recharging!

Good job NintendO!

[ill trooper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Nice backlighting through the 'start' and 'select' buttons...

[GuyManDude @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

"Piece of crap gimmick. Get a psp morons."

Yeah, why get a system that has a selection of hundreds of games when you can get a system with how many games? =)

[John Tokash @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Has anyone else noticed the power jack(I think) above the a button, under the faceplate? I think it's for faceplates that have embedded LEDs. I want a Tron faceplate bad.

Here's what I know so far: http://blog.ronin64.com/archive/2005/09/gameboy_micro_f.php

[djphatjive @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Anyone who needs this thing can just play games on there cell phone. Its already in your pocket!

[Miranda @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I tried the Game Boy Micro in Japan last week. It's hella-cute, but it's too small to be held comfortably (and I'm a woman, with average-sized hands). The screen is pretty small too. I'd recommend the SP over the Micro, if you -- for some reason -- want to buy a Nintendo handheld but don't want to be able to play DS games.

[ketch @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

What I want to know is how can people get this when there's a new SP with backlit screen, 30 dollars cheapper, bigger screen, plus plays old GB & GBC games.

Is it just me or this thing needs a price drop FAST!

[maurik willemse @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

It's quite sexy to be honest... :)

[Tech^CF @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Maybe this is targetted at children (pre-school)? As a part of Nintendos plan to get everybody to play videogames from their born till they die of age. The size would sure fit them better.. and the games will not be that advanced (e.g. no touchscreen requiring good motoric properties in your hand)

That's my theory.. it's ment for pre-school children

[EgoDemens @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

John Tokash, the "plug" you're looking at looks more like a variable resistor. V5 would mean variable resistor #5. It's probably for controlling brightness or contrast. You can see in the first image you link to on your blog indents to turn/adjust it with a flat head screw driver.

[ggroflmaobbq @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

how nice i can squint even more when im playing gb ^^!!

[shellac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

those of you with a japanese micro, do you know if it can play american GBA and micro games fine? i may pick one up the famicom-style one from tokyo, but i need to make sure it can play american titles.

[dodz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

GB+GBC+GBA+GBASP+GBAM+DS < PSP

[ColaCola @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

45 -- yes the can.

[Marco @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Those faceplates are puke enducing.

[Decee @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Sick shit... definetly ILL! Very sexy indeed. I think thissis 4 people who don't like carrying shit around there necks, get that? Maybe you don't wanna b seen with a Gameboy or you just wanna be able to take in anywhere you want without having to carry a brick like the SP. Should get cheaper though... =/
Whatever, it's ILL!

[Azerael @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Nintendo are becoming the sexiest gamestuff makers on the planet.

They should have called it the iBoy. That would have made it sell ten-times more.

[Bob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

PSP < GB
PSP < GBP
PSP < GBC
PSP < GBA
PSP < GBASP
PSP < GBAM
PSP < DS

Lesson learnt?

Doesn't matter how much cheap plastic your console is made out of, its the games that matter.

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

"Lern" this:

I own a PSP v1.50.
Until they work the bugs out of GBA emulation I'm going to also carry a device that runs GBA content.

Also, anyone worried about what they look like doing anything they like to do should review why they are doing what they are doing in the first place, be it gaming or anything else.

Just be, grasshoppers. Just be.