GBA versus GBA SP

[breegull_master]

I know that this isn't as exciting as P.o.t.O's "guess a number between 1 and 500" topic, but here we go anyway... :rolleyes:

Which do you think is the better averall system, considering that the only difference is the light, battery, and layout? I would just as soon have a regular GBA that, when the batteries run out, I dont have to wait for 3 hours to charge back up. Plus, the GBA runs longer per set of AA's than the SP's rechargable battery. Besides, I have a light that runs for 24 housr nonstop on one AAA battery of it's own, and it works very well. Lastly, I think the SP's layout looks a little hard on the hands... you can't reach for those pause and select buttons very fast, either.

Now then, rant and throw things at me for bashing the SP, or whatever. Bah, allright, I'm done. :p

[Kaz da Breegull]

Well, I don't have a SP... yet. But I'm not really interested in one, 'cause my GBA is good enough. As long as I have something that can play GBA stuff, it's cool. But still, SP looks pretty cool...

[SubDrag]

I owned the GBA, and traded it for GBA SP. The GBA became unplayable, and the GBA SP is amazing. The normal GBA is just plain unplayable.

[Gold Jinjo]

I agree with Sub. The GBA just becomes useless once you've played games on the SP. It's also got the classic Game Boy layout, which scores points in my book. The light is absolutely luxurious, especially since the beginning of the Game Boy we've been struggling to see the screen. The way the buttons click is nifty, too. It's also smaller than the normal GBA, so putting it in your pocket isn't so uncomfortable (I don't normally like things in my pocket period, so the compact, folding design of the GBA SP is perfect)

My only problem is the shoulder buttons. They can be a bit akward. Other than that, it's the best handheld. And it doesn't take 3 hours to charge ;) That lithium battery actually lasts pretty long. Long enough, at least. Just charge it when you're not using it. Stop complaining ;)

My only other problem is that they didn't launch with the black one. I like my platinum GBA SP, but I'd prefer the black.

But I guess it's a matter of opinion. When people think about the GBA, myself included, the original design comes to mind. Which is why I wish they launched with the SP design from the beginning :p

[Hakey Wake]

Hmm, I think that the GBA:SP's button layout is utter ¬*&^%@ but there you go.

Go GBA purely because (I find) it's a lot easier to use, and i'm nearly ALWAYS around a light anyway, so the screen isn't a problem.

Of course the GB light also had a backlit screen...so the SP wasn't *tha* revolutionary....

And to conclude : Sega Nomad> All handhelds

[John]

The SP is what should have been released in the first place. I like it a lot better than the original GBA. However, I feel that they should have waited for the next Gameboy instead of trying to cash in by getting people to buy more than one version of the GBA.

One problem... It is nearly unplayable in sunlight, like when you are in the front seat of a car in the middle of the day and it shines through. The glare is terrible. Yet another reason to hate the sun. :D

Also, I'm not buying that they were unable to fit a tiny little headphone jack on it. I see it as yet another way to force people to buy some peripheral. The official adapter also blocks the charge port. Of course, they didn't release their official headphone adapter right away so I ended up with a Mad Catz version that has an extra port on it (I usually never buy 3rd party peripherals, but I'm an impatient person and Nintendo was frustrating me).

[Grey Jinjo]

Originally posted by Gold Jinjo
My only other problem is that they didn't launch with the black one. I like my platinum GBA SP, but I'd prefer the black.


O_O. I would NEVER buy a black handheld device. In the summer it'll cook your hands...

[Gaming Master2k]

I'd much rather the GBA SP. Even when I was in the light with my original GBA I still could hardly see the screen. When I first got my GBA SP I could finally see the game. I've never been able to see the game properly. Me and my Bro we got at one end of a room each and showed each other with the screen and we could still see it (ok we couldn't read anything cause that was too far away but you could certainly get the general Idea of everything.

I find the button layout good. It think they are all extremely easy to access.

I also love the size. The GBA is so big comapred to the GBA SP. Once playing the GBA after spending a long time on the SP I find that it seems to bulky and hard to use.

[R Hunter]

the SP for very practical reasons

1: Longer Battery Life (and rechargeability too!)
2: Back-Lit Screen
3:Smaller Design

the only thing i don't like is the way they put in the cartridge slot it makes playing some games impossible (ie: Kirby's Tilt and Tumble)

And there's my info tidbit for the day:)

[Gold Jinjo]

Originally posted by Hakey Wake
Hmm, I think that the GBA:SP's button layout is utter ¬*&^%@ but there you go.

The SP's button layout is the same as past Game Boys... how can you single it out as being shite? ;)

Cripes, people must have been hit with some kind of "unique" bug when the first GBA came out. A lot of people seem to forget the GBA SP is the same design as its predecessors. Which makes me question their competence with the GBC or original GB...

Originally posted by Grey Jinjo
O_O. I would NEVER buy a black handheld device. In the summer it'll cook your hands...

Why the hell would you leave it out in the heat for anyway? Cripes, when I'm not using my Game Boys, they're in my room in one of those cheap plastic drawers you can get at Wal-Mart :D Where do keep yours? The oven? ;) :p

[Hakey Wake]

Originally posted by Gold Jinjo
The SP's button layout is the same as past Game Boys... how can you single it out as being shite? ;)

Two letters: 'L' and 'R'.

[banjosrevenge]

with me it's not a matter of "gba vs. sp" it's a matter of size
I can't see the gba's and sp's screen so gb player win hands down

[Gold Jinjo]

Originally posted by Hakey Wake
Two letters: 'L' and 'R'.

Well yeah, the shoulder buttons are akward and should be on the bottom of the GBA SP where the index fingers actually are when holding it... :)

[Gaming Master2k]

Originally posted by Gold Jinjo
Well yeah, the shoulder buttons are akward and should be on the bottom of the GBA SP where the index fingers actually are when holding it... :)

My fingers rest on the L and R buttons naturally. I've trained myself to do that so when I get a game that needs to use them I am always ready. If it's a game where I don't need to use them then I might put my fingers underneath (because I've told myself to) but I find a lot of the time they are on the L and R buttons

[Icy Guy]

Originally posted by Hakey Wake
And to conclude : Sega Nomad> All handhelds

Only problems were that the backlit screen sometimes made it blurry and that it went through four AA batteries faster than....uh...well, fast. Other than that, it was great. :)

[Hakey Wake]

And was never released here. :(