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Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

copetti.org

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Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#2
Game Boy Advance, especially the SP, was the greatest handheld console to me.

Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in (back in those days, as a kid, it was a game changer), played all your existing library of game boy games, amazing folding mechanism and portable, small size and of course a great library as well.

Perfection.

And as I say that, the Switch has proven to be an amazing challenger to the crown as well. I’m old and don’t use it as much, but I recognize it’s ergonomics and ease of use. Very well done.

Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#3

Game Boy Advance, especially the SP, was the greatest handheld console to me. Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in (back in those days, as a kid, it was a game changer), played all your existing library of game boy games, amazing folding mechanism and portable, small size and of course a great library as well. Perfection. And as I say that, the Switch has proven to be an amazing challenger…

The backward compatibility continued into the original DS - which was a phenomenal lineup increase - I also fondly remember the Game Boy Player for the GameCube - a precursor to the switch in some ways.

Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#4
post #3

Game Boy Advance, especially the SP, was the greatest handheld console to me. Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in (back in those days, as a kid, it was a game changer), played all your existing library of game boy games, amazing folding mechanism and portable, small size and of course a great library as well. Perfection. And as I say that, the Switch has proven to be an amazing challenger…

The backward compatibility continued into the original DS - which was a phenomenal lineup increase - I also fondly remember the Game Boy Player for the GameCube - a precursor to the switch in some ways.

I always thought it was interesting that (as mentioned in the article) the GBA has two processors, one for GBA and one for original gameboy/game boy color games. Similarly, the DS has an ARM7 in addition to it's ARM9 in order to play GBA games, however it lacks the sharp processor to play original game boy games. The notches on the carts prevent you from putting an original gameboy game into a DS, IIRc.

Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#5

Game Boy Advance, especially the SP, was the greatest handheld console to me. Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in (back in those days, as a kid, it was a game changer), played all your existing library of game boy games, amazing folding mechanism and portable, small size and of course a great library as well. Perfection. And as I say that, the Switch has proven to be an amazing challenger…

The DS Lite was top notch too. Both are my favorite game consoles and I still play them to this day.

Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#6

Game Boy Advance, especially the SP, was the greatest handheld console to me. Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in (back in those days, as a kid, it was a game changer), played all your existing library of game boy games, amazing folding mechanism and portable, small size and of course a great library as well. Perfection. And as I say that, the Switch has proven to be an amazing challenger…

> Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in

I don't remember that. You sure you weren't using one of those battery packs or some such?

The amount of batteries I went through as a kid … yikes.

Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#7

Game Boy Advance, especially the SP, was the greatest handheld console to me. Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in (back in those days, as a kid, it was a game changer), played all your existing library of game boy games, amazing folding mechanism and portable, small size and of course a great library as well. Perfection. And as I say that, the Switch has proven to be an amazing challenger…

> Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in I don't remember that. You sure you weren't using one of those battery packs or some such? The amount of batteries I went through as a kid … yikes.

Parent is talking about the SP not the original

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance_SP

Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#8

Game Boy Advance, especially the SP, was the greatest handheld console to me. Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in (back in those days, as a kid, it was a game changer), played all your existing library of game boy games, amazing folding mechanism and portable, small size and of course a great library as well. Perfection. And as I say that, the Switch has proven to be an amazing challenger…

The Switch is great but you have to get a third-party dock and AC adapter for optimal portability[1]. I'm kind of perplexed by the bad design of the official dock.

[1] There were some issues with unofficial docks/adapters bricking consoles, but they seem to be sorted out in the current gen third-party accessories.

Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#9
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The backward compatibility continued into the original DS - which was a phenomenal lineup increase - I also fondly remember the Game Boy Player for the GameCube - a precursor to the switch in some ways.

I always thought it was interesting that (as mentioned in the article) the GBA has two processors, one for GBA and one for original gameboy/game boy color games. Similarly, the DS has an ARM7 in addition to it's ARM9 in order to play GBA games, however it lacks the sharp processor to play original game boy games. The notches on the carts prevent you from putting an original gameboy game into a DS, IIRc.

luckily the GB/GBC was nice and slow so homebrew emulators could totally run your legally dumped gameboy carts onto your extremely legal flash carts

Re: Architecture of the Game Boy Advance

#10
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Had rechargeable batteries that you could charge by plugging in I don't remember that. You sure you weren't using one of those battery packs or some such? The amount of batteries I went through as a kid … yikes.

Parent is talking about the SP not the original https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance_SP

Oh damn, I forgot this was a GBA model. I always remembered it as a DS model, not GBA.
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