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Game Boy Micro is a , 2005 . consumer, with emphasis placed on its small size and sleek design. According to Nintendo Of America executive Perrin Kaplan , its codename during development was '''Oxy'''. The unit also has a model name of "OXY-001" on the back of the unit. INTRODUCTION The Micro was officially unveiled by Nintendo's vice president of sales and marketing, Reggie Fils-Aime , at the company's E3 press conference on May 17 , 2005 . The system was released in Japan on September 13 , 2005 and in North America on October 2 , 2005 . It was released in Europe on November 4 , 2005 and Australia on November 3 , 2005 . It has also been released in China as "iQue Game Boy Micro" on October 1 , 2005 . The system retails for US$ 99 in the United States, compared to US$79 for the Game Boy Advance SP . Later, the Black, Silver, lime green and 20th Anniversary Edition (available only at Game Crazy stores) were released. The Game Boy Micro's price has since dropped to US $89. In Japan, the handheld runs for about ¥ 12,000, ¥3,000 more than the SP. The system sells for € 95/£69 in Europe. In Australia, although its retail price is listed as AUD$ 149.95, it has been selling for as little as AUD$99. And in China , it sells for ￥ 880, ￥212 more than the iQue GBA SP. DESIGN AND SPECIFICATIONS The Game Boy Micro retains most of the functionality of the Game Boy Advance SP, but with an updated form factor. It is smaller than previous Game Boy systems; slightly bigger and about two thirds the weight of an IPod Mini . Additionally, it features a backlit screen with the ability to adjust the brightness so as to adapt to lighting. The Game Boy Micro also features a removable face plate that allows consumers to purchase alternative designs.
The Micro also has a two-way switch on its right side for adjusting volume up or down. By holding down the L shoulder button, the switch can also be used to adjust the backlight between five levels of brightness. In keeping with the system's target market (the " IPod generation"), Nintendo has redesigned their Play-Yan music/video adaptor to better fit the Micro. This device can play MP3 and digital video files from SD cards. Software The Game Boy Micro is compatible with all Game Boy Advance cartridges, including Game Boy Advance Video cartridges. Unlike the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP, however, the Micro does not support games made for the original Game Boy or Game Boy Color . The E-Reader card series is also officially incompatible according to the manual, although it does fit in the system and is playable. However, the design of the e-Reader makes the Select and Start buttons difficult to access during gameplay, and it's size and shape in relation to the system makes it awkward to hold. As with the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP systems, there are no regional lockouts on software, so North American games can be played on Japanese hardware and vice versa. PACKAGING In Japan, the handheld has been released in four colors and styles each. The four colors are black, blue, purple, and silver. The Micro also has four limited edition styles: one based on the original , 2006 . Retrieved April 20 , 2006 ., and a red bodied model with a black faceplate containing the silhouette of the iconic Pikachu from the Pokémon franchise Game Boy Micro (Pokémon Limited Edition) . Play-Asia.com. (Out of print.). In the United States, the Micro is available in two regular colors, each sold with three interchangeable faceplates included: black with silver, "Ammonite" and "Ladybug" faceplates, and silver with black, "Flame" and "Camouflage" faceplates. "Stylish New Game Boy Micro Ships Sept. 19" . Nintendo.com. August 17 , 2005 . A new "20th Anniversary" edition was released on December 5 , which resembles the Famicom style Micro. However, it was only renamed and lacked the distinctive 20th Anniversary symbol featuring the iconic Mario . In Europe the handheld is available in four different colors, with one matching faceplate: silver, green, blue and pink. In Australia the colours are silver, black, blue and pink. "Game Boy Micro launch date and price!" . Nintendo Europe. August 17 , 2005 . There are reportedly no plans to sell additional faceplates in the US (as indicated in the letter page in issue 200 of , 2006 . Nintendo of Europe cannot supply replacement faceplates of any kind, and the feature is omitted from the product's marketing, packaging, and manual in Europe. However, some thirdparties are manufacturing such faceplates for sale in the US and Europe, and some importers stock faceplates acquired from Japan. RELEASE AND SALES
REACTION Criticism Because the Micro is so small, it relies heavily on proprietary (nonstandard) ports. There has been much criticism that many , 2005 ., but there is no native support. Additionally, the shrunken power port means that the SP/DS AC adapter cannot be used, so it is not as readily swappable or replacable if the GBM adapter is lost, since some people may already own an SP or DS. Consumer conversion to proprietary accessories is an idea that is no different from any other Game Boy release, as buyers generally had to upgrade their accessories along with the new unit for the releases of Game Boy Pocket , Game Boy Color , and Game Boy Advance. For an item that is considered part of the Game Boy Advance family, however, many of the differences were criticized as being too major. The SP was another upgrade, and although its design was radically different, it retained most of the original GBA's functionality. The lack of Game Boy / Game Boy Color backwards compatibility has also been heavily criticized. Without the backwards compaibility, many gamers have said that the Micro is more novel than useful, especially with the functionality issues. Critics have noted that the Nintendo DS can also play GBA games with an admittedly dimmer backlight, but with the added ability to play DS games. In addition to the previous critcisms, some people complain that the Micro's diminutive size causes hand cramps when playing games that require heavy use of the shoulder buttons - '' Mario Kart Super Circuit '', for instance. Price is an another factor in criticism for the Micro. At $99, the Game Boy Micro is the same price as a Nintendo GameCube (as of the 2005 holiday, with a free copy of '' Mario Party 7 '' and an extra controller), $20 more expensive than the backlit and original Game Boy Advance SP and $30 cheaper than the more functional and sophisticated Nintendo DS. Many gamers have noted that they would be willing to buy a Micro if the price were lower. Nintendo has since dropped the price of the Black and Silver models to $89. The near-simultaneous, albeit extremely low-key release of the . September 21 , 2005 , but retains the SP's software and accessory compatibility. Lastly, the North American launch itself has been criticized. Early on, Nintendo did not create any major hype through widespread marketing, and both Nintendo and retailers clashed on the release dates. The official Nintendo release date was September 19 , 2005 , but many stores did not have it in stock until the week after. After the unit was in stores, however, a fair marketing campaign appeared on television, in magazines and in comic books. Praise The Game Boy micro has been praised for returning to the original Game Boy Advance horizontal layout. Many people disliked the vertical layout (used on the Game Boy and SP ), because they found it uncomfortable to fit their hands so close together when operating the controls. The Micro's A and '''B''' buttons are also much larger than any previous model, making them easier to use. Naturally, the system's smaller form factor - the smallest in the Game Boy line - has been welcomed. The Game Boy Micro's Backlit screen, which is superior to the Game Boy Advance SP's, has been praised for its visibility. The screen is similar to that of the Nintendo DS in terms of legibility, however due to a finer Dot Pitch the screen is more evenly lit, and the brightness is adjustable. The smaller dot pitch has also improves the apparent sharpness of the display. The screen is also significantly brighter than that of the Nintendo DS . The release of a Game Boy Advance SP with a brighter screen has made this benefit a somewhat moot point. Despite the mediocre launch and perceived problems, gamers are pleased that Nintendo has not ignored the Micro. Nintendo also has created a host of new accessories, and has adapted the Play-Yan to better accommodate the Micro's formfactor. Removable faceplates have been praised for providing a straightforward means to replace a scratched screen cover or remove dust. GALLERY REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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