GBA vs SP

[bluegenes]

I'm looking to buy a gameboy advance system. The older GBAs used are dirt cheap compared to the knewer SPs. I understand the SPs have a lot of advantages, but can anyone possibly offer some kind of affirmation that buying an original GBA is a good idea?
Heres something else I have a question about. I went to check out some used SPs the other day. They were looked terrible. The screens were multicolored, scraches everywhere and the buttons felt really loose, especially those tiny R and L buttons on the side. Yeah, it's obvious it had to do something with the little monsters who played them, but the SPs just didnt look very "study." Is that a possible argument? What do you think?

[Sylentwulf]

GBA's REALLY aren't worth it, spend the extra $30, you'll save that much in batteries and eye-strain.

[Immutable]

I recall selling my old GB back in the early 90's. I yearned for the lit up screen of the SP.... heck, if Sega could make a lit up handheld, I knew Nintendo would have been more than capable of doing so back then. Too bad it took them over a decade to get to it. :roll:

To answer your question about buying a GBA, I overlooked that one due to the lack of lit up screen. If someone wants to collect every handheld that Nintendo owns, that's their perogative. But for everyone else who wants the best handheld that plays a ton of GB, GBC, & GBA games, get a SP.

[tylerwillis]

I recently ditched my GBA for an SP. Glad I did it, wouldn't want to go back. Get the SP, if you look hard enough you ought to be able to find a used one in decent shape.

[bluegenes]

sounds like good advice. I've seen some nice SP units, but im just really cheap. thanks for the help. I think i'll get myself a neat little black SP...

[tholly]

i voted other cuz you didnt have an all option in your poll

but as for your GBA ?.....get the Classic NES GBA SP...small, reliable, easy on the eyes, back light, rechargable and the Classic NES version just looks awesome

just the backlight and batteries are worth the extra $30

no more sitting under a desklamp sweating and straining your neck....and the recharable battery will start saving you money instantly

stay away from pre-owned though.....portable systems are always used in the bathroom....you dont want to hold something that someone else held while they were doing their business

[Damaramu]

Nope. Don't like SP's personally. They're too small for my hands. The GBA is a perfect fit; just the right width for me.

Not seeing the screen isn't really a problem for me, as I usually play my GBA before hitting the sack. There's a lamp right next to my bed. No worries. If it really bugged me, I'd just purchase a GBA Halo light attachment. X_x

This is why I also have my eye on the PSP; it feels comfortable in my hands.

[Algol]

The controls on the original GBA are less cramped than the SP, and using the e-Reader on the SP is supposed to be a little awkward. If those don't drive you away from the new handhelds, SP or DS would probably be best.

[Necromutant]

I too ditched my GBA for a GBA SP, it is well worth it. In some ways I would recommend the DS over the SP, in others would not. The games look better on the DS for sure, BUT the SP is half the size and $50 cheaper. I actually have both an SP and a DS, but I play my SP more because the games I want to play now are still GBA games and it is so much easier to carry the SP in your pocket if you are really playing on the go. This will change when Castlevania DS and Advance Wars DS are released though.... ;)

[AlexKidd]

I would definitely get an sp over and older gba. The sp is at least semi-backlit. On the older gba it's very hard to see what's going on especially in the darker games like Castlevania-circle of the moon. If you have the cash I'd really recommend a ds as the screen on there is the best one you can play gba games on. And it's a nice system itself as well. As for your poll I picked psp cause I'm playing it right now.

[Flack]

Other. GP32.

[PDorr3]

right now im playing psp most. DS is getting some playtime due to star wars though.

[Bluteg]

I play my GBA games on the DS. Once you try it, you will not be able to go back.

[Videogamerdaryll]

SP is my favorite all around.....I hardly touch the DS or GBA.

[sharp]

Other, Neo Geo Pocket Color.

About GBA vs SP. I own a original GBA with a Logic 3 light which can be clapped over the screen when your not playing. For me it works perfect as I mainly play in darker places. The SP is too small in my opnion and the DS is quite big (but has by for the best screen).

[maxlords]

I have fairly big hands and I have no problems with the SP. It took me a while to get used to it, but the sheer portability in addition to the battery life and backlight make it the best overall choice for me. I didn't care for the DS at all...too bulky.

[boatofcar]

I too have huge hands, and have no problem with the GBASP. Even though I have a PSP, portable gaming will always begin and end with me with Nintendo. I play portable games for quick and easy pleasure. The PSP just takes too long to load up, from the intro screen to the game screen to actually starting to play, it feels like at least a minute. I love how you can just flip it on and start playing. I also love how it fits nicely in your pocket for lulls at work or traffic jams. It's also so (relatively) cheap that I dont have to feel like I'm walking on eggshells like I do when I carry my PSP places with me. GBA SP all the way! (I have the classic NES version too, and it is awesome)

[doomedpeasant]

Well my vote is for the PSP. I'm loyal to Sony, almost everything I have is Sony, that's electronic. I have nothing against Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft, Etc. but I've just always liked Sony products better. GBA SPs aren't bad at all, there;s just not a whole lot that interests me thats on the GBA. I would definatly go with a SP rather than a Regular GBA they're quite a bit better in my opinion. and if yor interested I have a Lime Target Exclusive w/ Donkey Kong Country SP System and a Classic NES SP System, both are 100% complete with less than 8 hours of play. They were bought new by me and only used by me.

[bluegenes]

in all honesty, i just wanted to play the new castlevania games. castlevania on the go? thats sweet. I plan on picking up street fighter and final fight too. I like the 2D stuff. So, what are your favorite gameboy advance games?

[pragmatic insanester]

stay away from pre-owned though.....portable systems are always used in the bathroom....you dont want to hold something that someone else held while they were doing their business

if you think that's bad, wait till you get a used DS in the future from a hentai game fanatic. heh.

[tholly]

stay away from pre-owned though.....portable systems are always used in the bathroom....you dont want to hold something that someone else held while they were doing their business

if you think that's bad, wait till you get a used DS in the future from a hentai game fanatic. heh.

....shudders....

[Aswald]

I voted for the GBC, because, well, that's all I have now. On that list, that is.

Man, I CANNOT believe how hard it is to find games for it!

But here're a few I am looking forward to:

http://www.telegames.com/towers_gbc.htm

Nice! :D :D :D :D :D :
http://www.telegames.com/t2_gbc.htm

[GrayFox]

Always used in bathrooms?

Heh, I never use mine in my bathroom. So, I wouldn't say always.

Anyways, I'd rather go new on portables as well, but, recently found a damned good condition original GBA used, so I had to pick it up, and that's how I found my SP.

Granted, I want to get some new ones, but, they were in pretty damned good condition. Luck of the draw I guess.

And now I can only think of my GBA's in some bathroom, damn you tholly :)

[bluegenes]

I dont think game boy color games are that hard to find. You can buy them on ebay for anywhere from $4 - $25 and that's with shipping. there's this one lady who sells a whole bunch and all her auctions start at .99 cents. And if you buy more than one, you don't have to pay for seperate shipping costs. Just one flat fee. Fair prices and quick shipping.
http://stores.ebay.com/The-Game-Square_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

If this link doesn't work, her store is call "the game square."

[RetroYoungen]

i voted other cuz you didnt have an all option in your poll

but as for your GBA ?.....get the Classic NES GBA SP...small, reliable, easy on the eyes, back light, rechargable and the Classic NES version just looks awesome

just the backlight and batteries are worth the extra $30

no more sitting under a desklamp sweating and straining your neck....and the recharable battery will start saving you money instantly

stay away from pre-owned though.....portable systems are always used in the bathroom....you dont want to hold something that someone else held while they were doing their business

I couldn't have said it better myself. I picked up the NES SP a few days before it was officially on sale (I have friends at Target, they got some early, and I was told not to tell anybody they had any. :D ), and I've really enjoyed it. Though I don't know if it would be really worth it for you, as I've spent more time still on my original GBA. It got really comfy in my hands after a while.

Plus, no matter which one you pick, Lunar Legend still plays well on the john. LOL

[SuperNES]

i use my NGPC for most of my portable gaming, but from that list i would have to say SP. i got mine for $40 from a friend, and i love it because it's really small, the screen stays protected, it's got a nice backlight, which you can turn on and off with the press of a button, unlike the DS.

[bargora]

Personally, I would only go with the standard GBA at this point if you can find it for $30 or less (preferably new). The standard screen is a real pain in the ass to see under most lighting conditions.

However, if you can find an Afterburner kit and you're handy with sharp blades and a soldering iron, then you could go the GBA + Afterburner route. I've got an Afterburned GBA and a GBA SP. From an image quality standpoint, a lot depends on how well you do the installation. If you do it right, it looks pretty much as good as an SP. If not, well, you can try a re-do if you have an extra AR film.

I would only suggest this route, though, if you greatly prefer the d-pad and button layout of the GBA. I don't have any problems wrapping my hands around an SP and I like the way that it folds up to a smaller size with the screen protected. That way I can just throw it in my pocket with no worries.

Plus, you'll have to dig around these days to find an Afterburner kit. Triton labs seems to have gotten out of the Afterburner business. If you check ebay, though, you may find Afterburner kits or GBAs already installed with an Afterburner up for auction.