GameBoyMicro
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Keepin' it real fake, part CX: Game Joy micro
We've seen a couple fake Game Boy micros in the past, but none of them have been as faithful reproductions as this one here. Sadly, we've got little to go on as far as games or other functions in this "Game Joy micro," but it looks like at least Tetris is a shoo-in, which is really all that matters. Check after the break for a few other gems of fakery.[Thanks, Johnny]
Keepin' it real fake, part LXXIV: the Game Boy Micro PMP clone
You can never have too many name-brand duping, cheap looking, Chinese sweatshop produced PMPs laying around, can you? I mean sure, we've seen little guys that boost the Game Boy Micro before, such as this number from way back in 2006, but this new entry does it with so much flair and unabashed disregard for copyright law we just had to mention it. The BMP-900 -- as this device is mechanically called -- does all kinds of exciting PMP activities, like playback of MP3, WMA, WAV, and PCM audio, MPEG4 and AVI video, JPEG, GIF and BMP picture viewing, plus e-book and TXT reading. Additionally -- and this may come as a surprise to some -- the red devil does some video game emulation, including Famicom, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color. Right now the player seems to only be available in China, or wholesale in lots of 100-199 pieces... so, go nuts.[Via PMP Today]
Promotional Consideration: You Can't Do That On Television
Promotional Consideration is a weekly feature about the Nintendo DS advertisements you usually flip past, change the channel on, or just tune out.Commercials that work for European markets aren't always in-line with Nintendo of America's more traditional approach. Join us past the post break to sample a few of the edgier, more risqué TV adverts our friends across the Atlantic have been enjoying.
Handheld history reveals PSP's slim figure [Update 1]
Joystiq, the attention-craving parent site to PSP Fanboy, recently compared the sizes of history's greatest handhelds. When looking at the handhelds in size order, one can see that the PSP sits smack in the middle. Game Boy micro: 5.6 cubic inches Game Boy Advance SP: 9.81 cubic inches DS Lite: 12.96 cubic inches Wonderswan: 13.33 cubic inches Wonderswan Color: 14.1 cubic inches Wonderswan Crystals: 14.68 cubic inches Neo Geo Pocket Color: 17.35 cubic inches Sony PSP: 17.52 cubic inches Game Boy Advance: 17.64 cubic inches GP2X: 19.61 cubic inches DS Phat: 22.01 cubic inches Game Boy: 26.39 cubic inches Gamepark 32: 26.83 cubic inches Sega Nomad: 49.36 cubic inches Game Gear: 50.86 cubic inches Atari Lynx: 68.53 cubic inches We should be thankful that the PSP is no monstrosity like the Game Gear... Then again, I did love my Game Gear (pictured).[Thanks, Zebulunite!][Update 1: Whoa, how did that HTML glitch happen? It totally wasn't like that when I typed it. Anyways, fixed.]
Nintendo MP3 player for DS coming this fall?
Music-hungry Nintendo fanboys in Japan have already been able to get their fix in the form of the Play-Yan adapter for the DS and Game Boy Advance/Micro, but it looks like the rest of us might soon be able to rock some beats between bouts of New Super Mario Bros as well if this latest bit of info pans out. According to a brochure that reportedly surfaced at the Leipzig Games Convention, Nintendo is set to release an MP3 player adapter for the DS and Game Boy Advance this fall -- October 6th to be specific (in Europe, at least) -- and like the Play-Yan, the add-on will use SD cards (up to 2GB) for storage and have its own headphone port, although it apparently lacks the Play-Yan's video capabilities. Price is reported to be €30, or just under forty bucks, although there's still no official word from Nintendo, which we'd guess would be coming fairly soon if that release date is solid.[Via Joystiq]
Game Boy Micro lands in UK bargain bin
Joystiq tipster, Jay, spotted a new price tag for Game Boy Micro at GAME, a UK retailer. The palm-sized portable is down from £69 to just £39 (about $75).Despite being $25 cheaper than the MSRP in the US, the new UK price still doesn't push our 'impulse buy' button. Get it down to the £25/$50 range and we'll gladly toss a couple into the shopping cart while we're waiting in the checkout line.[Thanks, Jay]
Keepin' it real fake, part XXIX: Gameboy Micro has a twin
Is the $100 Gameboy Micro a little too rich for your blood? Why not pick up the similar-looking One Station (not to be confused with the POP Station, although it's entirely possible that they're related), which was recently spotted for under forty bucks at a Philippine electronics shop - it offers all the fun of your favorite 8-bit Nintendo games (on special knockoff cartridges, of course) without any of the bloated costs associated with those expensive licensing fees.
Japanese hardware sales, 19 June - 25 June: the bigger they are
... the harder they fall. The Japanese population's brief rekindling of their romance with the DS Phat, showing a massive 1559% increase in sales last week, seems to have died out for now. Our obese friend takes the sharpest fall this week, with slimmer, trimmer machines like the Game Boy Micro and DS Lite faring better. The ranking, according to number of units sold:- DS Lite: 157,022 15,535 (10.98%)- PS2: 25,467 4,730 (22.81%)- PSP: 24,737 84 (0.34%)- DS Phat: 10,132 12,616 (55.46%)- GBA SP: 3,784 858 (18.48%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,502 208 (16.07%)- Gamecube: 1,197 195 (19.46%)- Xbox 360: 1,169 238 (16.92%)- GBA: 25 5 (25.00%)- Xbox: 10 5 (33.33%)The rest of the chart seems intentionally unremarkable, with the Lite reigning on top and the spinless Xbox sweeping the ground floor. Very soon, it will be expected to clean up the explosion of confetti and glitter accompanying the launch of the Noble Pink DS Lite.[Source: Media Create]
Kingston announces K-PEX media player
Perhaps a bit jealous of fellow memory manufacturer SanDisk's successes in the portable audio space, Kingston is breaking in with their own portable media device. Titled the K-PEX (Kingston Portable Entertainment eXperience), the unit sports a 2-inch LCD, SD card slot, and about all the video and audio codec support you could ask for. Weighing 2.3-ounces, the device manages a lot for its size: a built-in mic and speakers are included, and you can hook up your camera via USB to pull off pictures on the go. You wouldn't be wrong to think this thing looks like a certain portable gaming device; Kingston is packing in two games with the device, and while third party support is never a given, we're guessing there should be a few more options down the road. We're not sure on date or price just yet, but the K-PEX should be coming to the US "soon" in 1GB and 2GB capacities.
Japanese hardware sales: Micro management
The numbers for the week are in and, in a remarkable break from tradition, are actually pretty interesting. The PSP finally stands triumphant over the DS, though perhaps not for the reasons it was originally hoping for (to be fair, the system has been getting some really great games recently). The Phat's on its way out, it seems, with the Lite assuming a comfortable position at the top of the charts. The Japanese hardware sales charts for the week ranging from 17 April to 23 April are presented below. The ranking, according to number of units sold: DS Lite: 168,809 27,840 (19.75%) PSP: 32,323 5,983 (22.71%) PS2: 25,763 1,786 (6.48%) Game Boy Micro: 18,390 14,714 (400.27%) GBA SP: 11,044 4,672 (73.32%) Phat DS: 8,051 29,153 (78.36%) Xbox 360: 3,990 2,064 (107.17%) Gamecube: 1,106 26 (2.41%) GBA: 58 12 (26.09%) Xbox: 16 14 (46.67%) There are two noteworthy things happening here. The original DS is plunging to the bottom of the charts (no doubt a new and scary experience for the little guy) whilst the Game Boy Micro jumps up by a whopping 400%, stopping only to give the plummeting DS a high-five as it goes hurtling by. You can probably thank the Japanese release of Mother 3 for the good fortune of Nintendo's most diminutive of devices. Previously: Now with added numerical goodness! (10 April - 16 April) Lite still on top (3 April - 9 April) The Lite fantastic (27 March - 2 April)
No Game Boy Micro faceplates for Europe
It seems Europe just can't win. While they're finally getting Shadow of the Colossus, it looks like they'll never get any new faceplates for their Game Boy Micros. British Gaming Blog contacted Nintendo and received this reply, "I have not heard that Nintendo will be selling replaceable face plates in Europe. They are available in the USA but not over here unfortunately." Ouch!Well, if Nintendo won't sell them, someone else will. It appears eBay has plenty if you really want to change the look or your diminutive handheld.
