Game Boy Advance

Game Boy Advance
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Type	Handheld
Generation	Sixth
Lifespan	2001 - 2007
CPU	ARM7TDMI 16.78 MHz
GPU	Custom 2D core
Media	Cartridge
Release Date	Game Boy Advance JP March 21, 2001 US June 11, 2001 EU June 22, 2001 Game Boy Advance SP JP February 14, 2003 US March 23, 2003 EU March 28, 2003 Game Boy Micro JP September 13, 2005 US September 19, 2005 EU November 4, 2005
Units Sold	81.49 million
Top Game	Pokémon: Ruby and Sapphire Versions
Compatibility	Game Boy Game Boy Color
Predecessor	Game Boy Color
Successor	Nintendo DS

The Game Boy Advance is the third and, so far, final product in the Game Boy line. The Game Boy Advance features better graphics than the Game Boy Color as well as being backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color. It was released in 2001 in Japan, America, and Europe. It wasn't released in China until 2004.

There were reports of the Game Boy Advance, then known as "Project Atlantis", as early as 1996. The early reports of the Game Boy Advance being able to display graphics on par with the Super Nintendo were surprisingly accurate.

Designs

Game Boy Advance

The original Game Boy Advance had an oblong shape. It also lacked the later designs' backlit screen. The Game Boy Advance came in violet, milky blue, white, orange, silver, and gold. Special editions include platinum, silver, Target Red, Target Grape, Toys'R'Us Midnight Blue, Pokemon Center New York gold, Pokemon Center Japan red and blue, Chobits clear blue, King of Fighters clear black, and Megaman blue.

Game Boy Advance SP

The Game Boy Advance SP is considerably smaller than the original Game Boy Advance. It's hinged with all the buttons on the lower half and the screen on the upper half. Most importantly, the screen is backlit. It was originally available in Platinum Silver, Azulite Blue, and Onyx Black. Pearl Pink, Pearl Blue, and Famicom Color were later added.

Japanese exclusives include Kingdom Hearts edition, Donkey Kong edition, Naruto edition, Bandai edition, Famicom 20th Anniversary edition, Star Light Gold, Mana Blue edition, Jango Reed and Black, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance edition, Rayquaza edition, Charizard edition, Venusaur edition, Groudon edition, Kyogre edition, and Torchic orange.

European exclusives Mario edition(half red, half silver), Zelda edition(Gold with Triforce), pink, Tribal edition, and Girls edition(Spain only). U.S. exclusives include Lime/Orange, Surf Blue, Lime, Platinum and Onyx, Cobalt, Flame, Who Are You? edition(Black with "Who Are You?" logo), NES edition, and Tattoo edition. Other exclusives include the Dragon edition(China), Pearl(Future shop in Canada), Rip Curl(Australia), and All Blacks(Australia).

Game Boy Micro

The Game Boy Micro redesign was not as popular as the Game Boy Advance SP. A little smaller than the average credit card, the Game Boy Micro was harder to play.

The original Game Boy Micro was silver. The Game Boy Micro had a Mother 3 edition, aFinal Fantasy IV edition, and a Famicom-stylized version.

See Also

Accessories:

• E-Reader
• Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter
• Game Link Cable
• Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable

List of Game Boy Advance Games