Gameboy Micro

[kripp]

Im wondering why Nintendo would decide to remove/disable Gameboy and Gameboy Color compatibility/support on the Gamboy Micro. Anyone know if this is simply a cartridge design limitation or a embeded hardware limitation?

http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/g...bilitychart.jsp

Thanks.

[NFG]

GB/GBC compatibility on the old GBA was a result of extra hardware.  Now that the GBA library's big enough I think the logic was the system could stand on its own.  

[kendrick]

It's likely also a cost-saving measure. If it's really important to you to have GB/GBC games on the Micro, then there are software emulators that make this possible.

-KKC, who is unusually brief today. :)

[TJ_Kat]

since I'm really too lazy to look for the answer, and this thread is already here, I was wondering if the micro still has the linking port to connect it to a game cube. i would consider getting one if it does because I really don't like the gba sp. =p

[kendrick]

A quick look at the page http://www.nintendo.com/accessoriesgba shows the following phrase repeatedly:

"Note: Game Boy micro requires a different [insert part name here]."

I infer from that that the port is not only in a different location, but is in fact a different type of port. There's apparently some kind of adapter that lets you connect the Micro to a standard GBA/SP link cable, but I'm not sure if it properly connects to the Gamecube linker or not.

Truthfully, I don't see the Micro as a good Gamecube peripheral, given the dimensions and the display requirements. The original GBA is still best for that purpose, so you Crystal Chronicles and Pac Man Versus players should take note.

-KKC, who doesn't have enough friends to justify any multiplayer peripherals. :)

[kripp]

Well im glad to hear the GB/GBC games can be emulated on the Micro, thats what I understand anyways.

I really have no passion for the games these days, just a hard-on for hardware!

[Endymion]

As the carts are physically different, as well as whatever hardware ran the Gameboy games, the removal of these instantly gives Nintendo a much smaller portable. It's possible to emulate anything, the question is how worthwhile it will be considering the results you can get., just so we're clear Nintendo isn't doing this emulation. The screen of the Micro is brighter than the Gameboy Advance SP, and there is a new GBA SP just released which has this nicer feature as well. (The original GBA SP does not have a backlit screen, the light is in front of the screen, the new one distributes light more evenly for a brighter, crisper picture, no word on what this does to battery life comparatively.)

It's all about give and take, wanting to make a highly compact unit, they made some good tradeoffs.

The wisdom of making it in the first place is questionable, however. Another video game hardware company that used to be on top of the world started to go down the toilet when they overextended themselves with nearly a dozen completely distinct and separate hardware platforms all concurrently selling.

[Akir]

Actually, the most probible reason besides the size issue is the fact that the GB© cartredges took up (this number might be wrong) 10 more volts.

[kripp]

About the whole emulation thing, I found this site that just tickled me pink...

http://users.skynet.be/firefly/gba/e-reader/index.htm

I bought one of them E-Readers today for $15, im having a blast with it on my Micro. I had to open it up and remove the pass-through connector on it, it was just a little too big to fit in the Micro unmodified.




Found out too that the LED's behind the Select and Start buttons are multi-colored, red when on and blue when charging. Nice touch.

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

I came accross this aswell...

http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?t=66...der=asc&start=0

Some talk about the only restriction to playing GB/GBC games on the Micro is voltage supply. I guess the older games need 5v and the newer only 3.3v

[Adeptus]

Just out of curiosity (since I don't have a GB of any description & am not very likely to get one) - has anyone scanned the E-Reader cards to share with the whole internet?

[DarthCloud]

Just out of curiosity (since I don't have a GB of any description & am not very likely to get one) - has anyone scanned the E-Reader cards to share with the whole internet?

check there, but I don't think they scanned commencial card, but it's possible:

http://users.skynet.be/firefly/gba/e-reader/
http://www.caitsith2.net/ereader/index.htm

[phreak97]

Actually, the most probible reason besides the size issue is the fact that the GB� cartredges took up (this number might be wrong) 10 more volts.

it's only a 1.5-1.7v difference.. gbc games are 5v and gba games are either 3.5or 3.3, one or the other, i forget.
the gameboy and gbc compatability is actually entirely different hardware, there's a physical switch in the cartridge slot which is pressed by gbc/gb carts and untouched by gba games, this switch changes everything over.

the link port question.. i see no reason why it wouldnt link to a gamecube via the adaptor, even if, in the worst case scenario, you have to modify the casing on the adaptor. the e-reader is the same deal, as already proven.
my guess is that you will need no modification to anything for play on gamecube.

about the leds, why are they only red? are you sure theyre not green at full charge and red at <20%? every other gameboy beyond gbc is this way, why not the micro?