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GB Micro, New SP or nothing?

S

Snowball

Banned
Having the following portables:

GBA (first one, not Afterburned)
DS
PSP

And of course using DS even to play GBA games (screen rocks for GBA titles too), what would you do with the new Nintendo consoles?

[A] Buy Micro and leave NEW SP where it is. Mirco is THE portlable console.
Buy NEW SP and leave MICRO where it is, Micro is nice but 90$ is too much.
[C] Save your money and don't waste them with these systems.


Thanks for suggestions. :)
 
I just bought a new SP instead of a Micro yesterday. It's fairly awesome. The screen really is comparable to computer monitor on the brighter setting, and I prefer the GBASP design to the Micro's (and still care about stuff like GC connectivity and B/W compatibility).

The Micro has a headphone jack, yes.
 
Or you can do what I did:

1) Buy Famicom Micro - "Hey, this thing fucking rocks. Bit small, but such an awesome screen."
2) See GBA SP+ - "Hmm, that looks pretty awesome. And it plays GB/GBC games."
3) Buy GBA SP+ - "Curse you Nintendo, why must I have this compulsion to give you my money."
 
[D] Buy both.

Personally? I think the GBA SP v2 is better than the Micro because of the bigger and better screen, but I'm getting the Micro first because I really need something that small. It's perfect.
 
The D-Pad and feel of the Mirco is undoubtly better than the SP. The quality of the picture is also much better and the headphone jack is there as well. So I think it is worth it, some people are bashing the Mirco but to me its a great handheld for people who missed out on the SP, doesn't like the SP style, or just looking for a new handheld to add to the collection.
 
After holding a Micro yesterday, I'd say go with the SP+, especially if you already have a DS to play GBA games on. SP+ is the most fully featured Gameboy yet, and it's backwards compatible. Grab a micro when they're worth $25 used.
 
:lol I have no desire to buy the micro due to me being very pleased with the ds, part of that comes from just buying castlevania, but from what you listed, it sounds like gba sp is the worst idea. isn't the new sp basically the ds screen in a sp case? if you already have a ds, then go with nothing.
 
Yeah, the new SP's screen trumps the DS screen.

The question, I guess boils down to how much GBA gaming you plan on doing. If it's not that much, you *are* probably fine with just a DS.

Really, it's a matter of taste, judging by the responses already gathered in this thread. I find screen size to be a key issue, so the SP wins for me. Other people prefer the Micro's size (which isn't *that* much smaller than the folded SP) and control layout. Maybe just go to the store & try them both out?
 
The Micro screen honestly looks better than the SP even though it's smaller. I'm not sure what benefit you get out of the slightly higher brightness of the new unit over it either. Plus it has a better D pad. And headphone jack.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the SP, it's a classic. They're both nicer than the DS for playing gba games, imo because the buttons and portability. The DS isn't that great to carry around. But I play gba more than the DS.
 
Oh, one thing I'll mention is that I tried doing a screen comparison between the systems.

Using Super Mario Bros. as the benchmark, I saw that the reds were a bit too intense on the new SP's screen, but the entire picture looked a bit washed out (and smaller) when I tried playing it on the DS. The old SP looks like crap, with a purple tint, in comparison to either.

I don't have a Micro, but I'm sure it looks great on there, if a bit small.

One thing about the systems is that the DS has superior speakers to the SP. The sound effects on the DS sounded just like the NES version while the SP muffled them somewhat. I am not sure about how the Micro's stack up to either.
 
Unison said:
Oh, one thing I'll mention is that I tried doing a screen comparison between the systems.

Using Super Mario Bros. as the benchmark, I saw that the reds were a bit too intense on the new SP's screen, but the entire picture looked a bit washed out (and smaller) when I tried playing it on the DS. The old SP looks like crap, with a purple tint, in comparison to either.

I don't have a Micro, but I'm sure it looks great on there, if a bit small.

One thing about the systems is that the DS has superior speakers to the SP. The sound effects on the DS sounded just like the NES version while the SP muffled them somewhat. I am not sure about how the Micro's stack up to either.
Click to expand...
How does it compare to the PSP screen? That screen looks like what you'd find on a decent laptop (only much smaller). Amazing viewing angle and a very even looking image (brightness and contrast are perfectly even across the screen).

How do the new SP and Micro screens compare on all those fronts?
 
I've actually found that the sp when playing gameboy games at a low volume, is all hissy and weird, anyone noticed? that common with any other kind of gba? I notice it especially on smb3
 
dark10x said:
How does it compare to the PSP screen? That screen looks like what you'd find on a decent laptop (only much smaller). Amazing viewing angle and a very even looking image (brightness and contrast are perfectly even across the screen).

How do the new SP and Micro screens compare on all those fronts?
Click to expand...

Basically, the new SP screen is like the Micro's but bigger (and *slightly* brighter). It's like the DS's screen, but with better color definition.

The whole screen on the new SP is lit up uniformly. The acceptable viewing angle might be slightly less than the PSP under normal conditions because the plastic protecting the screen would give you glare at a certain point under lights. The screen's about the same quality as the PSPs, with the lower GBA resolution.
 
Ok. Pics time. I had to dig up some pics in the other thread:

PSP vs. GBA SP v2, credits to jooey:

noo_gbaG.jpg


All GBA playing handhelds, credits to CVXFREAK:

DSC00203.JPG


Best comparison shot GBA SP vs. GBA SP v2, credits to vitaflo:

newsp.jpg


IGN, this shot makes the Micro look better oddly enough, but, AFAIK, the GBA SP v2 really is brighter than the Micro:

gba-sp-goes-brighter-20050921020330737.jpg
 
[C] Save your money and don't waste them with these systems.

You already have a handheld that plays gba games so why waste money on another?
 
evil ways said:
You already have a handheld that plays gba games so why waste money on another?
Click to expand...
He's got a DS, it's a bit big for quick on-the-go gaming. It's huge compared to the Micro.
 
I bought the new GBA SP v2 over the mirco. I enjoy the MUCH brighter screen when playing in darker areas. Now the Mirco is nice and all but not really worth the cash for customizable faceplates and smaller screen tha'st unprotected unlike the SP which has the clamshell design with a bigger screen and a bit cheaper.
 
EGM92 said:
smaller screen tha'st unprotected unlike the SP which has the clamshell design with a bigger screen and a bit cheaper.
Click to expand...

The Micro's screen is protected. The faceplate covers it.
 
If you have a DS already, I honestly wouldn't bother with either.

DS has too many good games coming out this holiday (Castlevania, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, etc.) and has a very nice screen for GBA software.

If you need something that you can comfortably put in your pocket, then I would say go with Micro.

It's more compact and still seems to have a better screen than the new GBA SP even if it is smaller.
 
soundwave05 said:
It's more compact and still seems to have a better screen than the new GBA SP even if it is smaller.
Click to expand...
No.

Judging from all the pics I've seen, the screens are like this (at least the brightness):

GBA SP v2 > Micro > DS > GBA SP > GBA
 
gba-sp-goes-brighter-20050921020330737.jpg


That picture doesn't exactly agree with you.

It's not just about brightness either. The Micro screen seems to have better color vibrance.
 
The SP+ has the most vivid colors --- they're almost offensive they're so vivid.

the micro's settings work well for all games.
 
dark10x said:
Uhh, it's not just about brightness, he said.
Click to expand...
You can't tell the goodness of the colors in either pics.

I think someone with both GBA SP v2 and Micro should enter the thread.
 
sammy said:
The SP+ has the most vivid colors --- they're almost offensive they're so vivid..
Click to expand...

QFT. The reds bleed in some games (e.g. Super Mario Bros.), but games with a darker palatte like Metroid or Castlevania look best on the SP+.
 
Yeah the only thing I want on the GBA is the Dr. Mario/Panel De Pon collection to replace Super Mario 3 in the GBA slot on my DS.

Software wise there's really not much coming out for the GBA from here on out.

The only reason I'd consider a Micro is for those times when I'm rushing out of the house and need something I can slip into my pocket and still be able to carry my wallet/cell phone comfortably as well.
 
B.K. said:
The Micro's screen is protected. The faceplate covers it.
Click to expand...

I don't like the idea of having to regularly buy faceplates to keep the screen from looking marred. The SP just has a smarter method of protecting the system. I'll agree the Micro is more portable and has a great gadget-appeal to it, but the GBA screen was small enough to begin with.

As for my DS, I'm really excited about the games coming out for it, but I'm less than excited about having to carry the thing around. For a portable system, it's too bulky. When I initially bought the DS I carried it around quite abit, then I gradually started going back to my SP for my mobile gaming fix. It's just a more intelligently designed portable and the recent LCD upgrade only makes it moreso.
 
the SP really does have a better screen than the micro. Really! See, the micro has a similar backlight to the DS, the "lamp" type where you can see a glow around the edges. The SP simply lights the screen more... individually, I guess, and the color definition is near-totally accurate.

and I think IGN was fishing for a word count when they mentioned the ghosting, it's literally no different than what GBs did since the Color.
 
I thought it only seemed marginally better in person. Maybe I was blown away at how well the scaling worked on the micro. It looked sharper with the same games to me. But it definitely has the better d-pad...and I think that should be a weighted factor.
 
Musashi Wins! said:
I thought it only seemed marginally better in person. Maybe I was blown away at how well the scaling worked on the micro. It looked sharper with the same games to me. But it definitely has the better d-pad...and I think that should be a weighted factor.
Click to expand...

Naturally it's going to appear sharper, as it's running at the same resolution, only within a tighter dot pitch due to the screen size (is pixel size actually referred to as 'dot pitch' on LCDs?). This is similar to that whole "my 14" TV has an awesome picture" debate.
 
C, without a doubt. I would never buy a GBA myself, because I already have a DS. I would much rather spend the money on games in that case.
 
Yikes. After seeing those pictures with your hands in them, no way I'm getting a micro. The SP is on the bottom end of tolerable in terms of size, that thing is absolutely puny, not to mention a smaller screen.

I think if I can score an SP+ on the cheap, I'll pick one up for mobile GBA gaming, otherwise I'll just carry around the bulge-producing DS
 
[A]

GBmicro is in many ways the perfect handheld. Amazing screen (OMG TEH BRIGHTNESS!), huge library of time tested gaming gems, it fits anywhere and it's just so damn cool looking.
 
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