GAMEBOY SP v GAMEBOY MICRO

Spotty_Dog_5

Does anyone know which is the best? My wee boy would like a gameboy for his birthday in February - he is only 5. Have they stopped making the SP as not everywhere seems to stock them. Is the micro for older children? Also any good post Christmas deals?

Helix

Micro is simply a smaller version of the SP. Nintendo DS is the completly new console.

Lorian

Spotty_Dog wrote:

Does anyone know which is the best? My wee boy would like a gameboy for his birthday in February - he is only 5. Have they stopped making the SP as not everywhere seems to stock them. Is the micro for older children? Also any good post Christmas deals?

The current (old) SP has a frontlit screen which is not so good. The very latest SP's that have only made it into the UK in small numbers have backlit screens which are much better (curently only in certain colour machines like Graphite and Pearlesant Blue and spongebobs). The boxes are maked "Now with a brighter backlit screen!".

You can read about this here and here

The Micro has a backlit screen, but the screen is much smaller (too small for my old eyes!) and is very pocket sized, just like mobile phone. Also it has "express-on" type covers available which are easy to change if the screen gets scratched. It laso has a standard headeset socket, where the DS needs an adapter. The SP can also play regular gameboy game as well as the Advance games. After it is actually a Gameboy Advance SP to give it its full title.

The micro cannot play old "gameboy" games. Generally these are not as good as Advance games anyway (IMHO), and not a problem really if you don't already own lots. .

Personally (and others will not doubt have their own opinions, as it's very subjective) for a 5 year old I think the micro is a bit small.

Ebay is a good source for second hand current-generation SP's.

One other word of warning. Plenty of games say 3+ on the packet. This doesn't mean a 3 year old will be able to play them, it means the content is suitable, so if possible check out the games first (or ask!) to make sure they are easy enough but get harder etc to keep their attention.

fox2319

We've got an SP for my 7 yr old and a micro for my 5 yr old. Both enjoy them very much but to me the screen on the micro looks much better but the text is much smaller. Probably not a big problem for the very young but definitely noticable as you get on.

One other thing to note is that the link cables for the micro aren't yet available. Only really a problem if they want to play multiplayer with friends etc. (such as a 5yr old vs a 7yr old at pokemon emerald

If you do get a micro, HMV had a quite nice accessory kit for around $5 with a decent case, headphoneas and a couple of cartridge cases.

Cheers

Jeff

Spotty_Dog_5

Did you get a bundle package for the Micro or did you just buy the console as your 7 year old had the SP?

fox2319

Actually bought the micro in Duty Free in november. Got a free game with it at HMV in Gatwick for £60 all-in (although I think the game should have cost £5 but I can be a very confusing customer ) I also got a Hello Kitty game for the 5yr old daughter while in the US which doesn't appear to be out over here.

The only problem with sharing the games (as he already had it) is that a lot of GBA games save their games on their cartridge.

What can I say, a pink Micro and Hello Kitty make daughter a very happy grrrl.

Happy new year!

Jeff

fox2319

Almost forgot, our local Blockbuster appears to be selling the GBA SP for £60. No games though (I think)

Jeff

Mandles

i buy & sell these on ebay & i would recommend you buy a ds , he'll love it. Buy one off of ebay with 2 to 3 games for about under £100 , flog the games back on ebay when you get it and youve got a great touch screen game console for £50-60 bargain! ..if you buy it on its own it you will get it for about £80 (included p & p). So go on get the ds & madagasgar is a great game he will love.Hope this helps.

highguyuk

You can buy the DS brand new for £100 with games - why buy off ebay! lol.

DS are very good, must admit I want one.

mjenn5

My daughter got an SP for her birthday last April and has not stopped playing it since.

Even though she has piles of Xmas presents she is still playing her SP.

My son has a DS and it is very good and there are a few more things you can do with it.

The micro to me looks very good but a little small and I would have said poss. a little more gimiky. Could be lost easily and I know I have had to hunt for the SP quite often.

diamond57

My ds aged 5 has had a Gameboy colour and Gameboy Advance - both bought second hand - until now, I bought myself a DS for Christmas and she will be getting my old SP. Yes, the DS is better in a lot of respects but I am not sure if there are many DS games that a 5 year old could play - although she likes Tetris and plays Zoo Keeper on the DS. We have a variety of games that are old Gameboys ones that she plays, like Rugrats and Spiderman, that would not play on a DS and I think that even with a screen protector left unsurprised the screen would soon be scratched to pieces.

You may be best trying Gamestation and Game for second hand and asking about packages, bought SP as package with used game worth £20 ish for about £40 - a few months ago and can't remember exactly, but nearly all other used games were about £5 included in the offer but I hunted out a Harry Potter one I wanted and found it was included.