I just ordered an all white GBA! And trying to program my own game. Great video!

The Gameboy Advance has always been one of my favorite handhelds, I can't remember a time growing up where I didn't have my GBA SP in my pocket so it's nice to learn more about the development and history of it all!

I preferred the form factor of the original GBA over the SP.

Seeing Rayman on GBA blew my mind as a kid - I knew it was a PC game that shipped on a CD so seeing it in a cartridge was amazing

I remember buying my GBA back in 2010, man I played soo much holy hell

Looking forward to your DS history video! Its a subject I think is lacking on KZfaq

I think I like the Atlantis title over Advance, but the Game Boy Advance SP is my top GB ever! To this day I only travel with my GB Advance SP. All my other handhelds stay home. No more batteries was a huge moment for me. This was an awesome history of my favorite Handheld of all time! As always, thanks for the Retro Break!

Gorgeous video !!! As a mega fan of the GBA i really appreciated your work. Nice !

Fascinating insight on the Atlantis project! And regarding design, I do think the regular Game Boy Advance looks the best and it´s also comfortable for my hands. Too bad about that dark screen though 😆

That's a cool retrospective, it really brought back the memories of seeing the GBA being announced and waiting for it to finally release!

You are the best, thank you for these well scripted videos. I've said before, you really take a subject I have found off-putting and gate-keeping for years, and you make it not only digestible but fun and exciting. I so appreciate the way you break things down without getting into the weeds, and you keep things very easy to follow. Thank you for years of awesome videos. You're awesome possum. - Hannah

Thanks man here's interesting video and lot of new Ingrid that I don't hear somewhere else :)

This is a really cool different type of vid, can’t wait for more of these!

Great video! Thank you so much for everything you do

Great video Nick! Very informative 🕹️

12:40 🤤🤤🤤 The GBA is my absolute favourite handheld console! As a kid I never owned one but as an adult 20 years later I finally bought a modded one 😂 This is the first time I‘m seeing this colour way, clear shell and blue buttons, and now I‘ll mod my GBA to this colour way for sure.

Amazin video!! Great work , love it.

The original GBA is my first video game console/handheld

Great video dude really enjoyed it

Thanks so much for your informative input that was really great. Over the years I’ve had most of the different hand helds and still have most of them but I was always a bit disappointed by the lack of backlighting. I loved collecting all the various games and types though and found my favourite was the GBA SP. I hated playing GBA games on the DS as it just didn’t work for me having one blank screen felt all wrong. As a Pokémon fan I have always wanted a Japanese Pikachu version of the GBA SP and yesterday I managed to purchase a re-shelled one where Pikachu’s cheeks light up on a sensor, it’s called a Cheekachu GBA SP. This one features a bright adjustable backlit screen so I’m really hoping that it will be a pleasure to play my collection of GBA cartridges on. It’s a shame that Nintendo didn’t feature or make any of the handhelds with the backlight as it made gameplay very difficult. I think they eventually released one that did have a backlight but I don’t think it was very bright and was also quite limited to get hold off. These past few days I have been playing my GBA carts on a GameCube Player on the big screen and it’s been really fun but original Gameboy games and Gameboy colour games don’t translate very well in my opinion. I wish Nintendo would revisit the GBA SP with today’s technology I bet they could recreate it with some brilliant features with their iconic and timeless clam shell design which in my opinion was definitely the best in the series. I do enjoy playing on my switch but it’s quite big and bulky just to slip into your pocket to carry around for a quick game fix. As for the shows and expos I went to the launch of PlayStation 2 in London and it was very similar to your footage. I was definitely an adult in a sweet shop and had already spent a ton of money as soon as I stepped foot in the door and received a carrier bag of free demos.

This video has some excellent quality. Wish you the best to get more views! Your passion is evident in all your videos I've seen so far, keep it up!

I LOVE the design of the original gba, it is so much more comfortable to hold than the sp when I play gba games nowadays, I use a modded (backlit) version of the original gba

The PSP is the reason that pushed the GBA into early retirement with the release of the Nintendo DS. At the time, prior to GBA, Nintendo essentially had a monopoly on the hand held market, as rivals were no where selling close to what gameboy/GBC were doing.

Great video!

Awesome channel!

Great videos I was at the UK show and my pic was in EDGE playing the GBA.

Awesome video on my favorite handheld. I prefer the ergonomics of the original GBA and have modded a couple of them for use today with basically all new parts except the main screen. I has 2 unmodded SP's as well, but I gave one of them to a friend. Please keep up the awesome work!

That phone looks a lot like the LG Chocolate. I had one in my college years and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

I remember in a game magazine we had, they said that because the GBSA was horizontal, it would surely fail.

Thank you for the video, really interesting. I love handhelds and the GBA is one of my favourites with such a great format and massive library. I was hoping that Geeks-line would do some handheld books but alas, but at least they recently reprinted their GameCube book, one of my favourite home consoles.

oooooh a documentary style video.nicely done.

It wouldn't all fit in the description, so here's all the websites I used to research for this video! Hope you learned something new, and enjoy these resources to find out even more! References: Nintendo's Portable History: Part 4, Game Boy Advance & Beyond www.pocketgamer.com/history-of-nintendo/nintendos-portable-history-part-4-game-boy-advance-beyond/ Nintendo’s Original Game Boy Successor Was Not The GBA mynintendonews.com/2016/04/19/nintendos-original-game-boy-successor-was-not-the-gba/ The development of the final GBA didn’t start until the Game Boy Color was released. It only took about two years. Project Atlantis) nintendo-online.de/upload/images/2016/03/09/110326906656e03cc6097c88-22465637.jpg GDC Masato Kuwahara talk www.gdcvault.com/play/1442/The-Inspiration-Behind-Nintendo-DSi sm64-conspiracies.fandom.com/wiki/Project_Atlantis Arm710 Chip Development - By Dave Jäger Video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lZyjm5NqnKrPZZ8.html Talking about Nintendo: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lZyjm5NqnKrPZZ8.html Worked with Nintendo in 1994! Game Boy Advance Finally Unveiled www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/24/game-boy-advance-its-finally-unveiled Game Boy Advance History en.gbasp.ru/historygba.html Game Boy Advance Development Kit Revealed www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/22/game-boy-advance-development-kit-revealed Hard4Games GBA Dev Kit Video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m-CWmbRym6_WY2w.html Behind The Code IS AGB Dev Kit: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i7liiNp_yLK8no0.html GBA Dev Team Interview: www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/14/game-boy-advance-developer-team-interview Prototype Spaceworld 2000 www.gameinformer.com/2020/09/16/rare-gameboy-advance-prototype-pops-up-during-auction Rare Gameboy Advance Prototype Pops Up During Auction - Game Informer Spaceworld 2000 footage kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rKd1gdaa0rmaZaM.html Hard 4 games prototype console: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/d5Ndha2GnreRl5c.html (28) FOUND! Game Boy Advance Space World Prototype! - KZfaq TS2 Dev board / prototype www.retroreversing.com/game-boy-advance-development-kit/ www.retroreversing.com/game-boy-advance-development-kit/ August 2000 - IGN Dev kit: www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/22/game-boy-advance-development-kit-revealed IGN first hands on: web.archive.org/web/20000510085911/pocket.ign.com/news/18966.html Wide-boy 64 nesworld.com/n64-wideboyagb-1.php devkits.handheldmuseum.com/GBA_Wideboy.htm Hard4Games: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gteeeb2DlarSaIk.html Purple GBA prototype kzfaq.info/get/bejne/est4qMWjqqzcpGQ.html A History of The ARM Microprocessor | Dave Jaggar kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lZyjm5NqnKrPZZ8.html Satoru Okada: www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/9902/b_box/staff/index.html Interview with Game Boy Color Project Manager (nintendo.co.jp) Japanese interviews site: www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0009/01/index.html This is the Game Boy Advance!! ~Announcement of topical specs~ (nintendo.co.jp) GBA Dev: www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0009/03/inter_01.html This is how Advance was made! ~Game Boy Advance Developer Interview PART2~ (nintendo.co.jp) ESCTS 2000: www.rllmukforum.com/index.php?/topic/294475-found-some-old-photos-of-ects-2000/ Nintendo - Project Atlantis Alternatehistory.com www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/nintendo-project-atlantis.433361/ GBA Widely www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/13/gba-wide-boy-advance-in-the-works GBA Dev Kits: www.retroreversing.com/game-boy-advance-development-kit/ twitter.com/_behindthecode/status/1367609733138550794?s=61&t=a6D3ZPLKk8q8BlWMtxb6mA Hard 4 games clear purple prototype: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/est4qMWjqqzcpGQ.html Red GBA dev unit: consolevariations.com/variation/prototype/game-boy-advance-dev-kit-red-edition IS Dev kit video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i7liiNp_yLK8no0.html ECTS 2000 www.eurogamer.net/ects2k-diary www.rllmukforum.com/index.php?/topic/294475-found-some-old-photos-of-ects-2000/ Gamestars Live (Nintendo magazine DVD) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iJeTo6-HurHZhnk.html Wideboy64 - Hard4Games (again!) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gteeeb2DlarSaIk.html&t=1s Early wide-boy version: www.nesworld.com/n64-wideboyagb-1.php Wonderswan advert: WonderSwan (Launch) Japanese Commercial kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h9-oqZV8t8_PlZc.html Retroversing www.retroreversing.com/game-boy-advance-development-kit/ Hope you all enjoyed the video! If you want more handheld history, check this new book out! www.lostincult.co.uk?aff=27 (Affiliate link)

I remember the silver Space World models which Hard4Games also showed at some point from magazines at the time. Always wanted one of those, eventually I got the clear purple one which we sold after mom got me the metallic blue GBA SP. For that, I still have the indigo one, however some batteries leaked years ago, I can no longer use it :( Loved the GBA GameCube connectivity too! Thought that feature was so cool!

The Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance were two handheld gaming consoles released by Nintendo between 1998 and 2001. The Game Boy Color was an upgraded version of the original Game Boy, featuring a color screen and enhanced processing power. In contrast, the Game Boy Advance was the successor to the Game Boy Color, boasting even more processing power and a higher-resolution screen. During this period, many game developers sought to release their games on both consoles, taking advantage of the different capabilities and audiences of each. Some games were exclusive to one console, while others were released for both. However, there was a drawback exclusive games only released for Game Boy Color became popular in titles like "Pokémon Crystal", "Super Mario Bros. Deluxe", "The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons", and "Wario Land" games that cause sequels to go on the Game Boy Advance causing a rift in graphics and storylines. These games utilized the different capabilities of the two consoles, offering more advanced graphics or additional features in some versions. The release of both the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance expanded the range of games available for Nintendo's handheld consoles and played a significant role in the success of future handheld gaming systems. However, the introduction of the Game Boy Advance in 2001 presented a new challenge for Nintendo, as it threatened to make the Game Boy Color obsolete. To address this challenge, Nintendo continued to support both systems for several years, releasing new games for both and introducing the Game Boy Advance SP, a redesigned version of the Game Boy Advance with a backlit screen and a foldable design. The release of both the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance within a short period presented both challenges and opportunities for Nintendo. The Game Boy Color upgrade in 1998 allowed Nintendo to extend the life of the Game Boy brand and maintain its dominance in the handheld gaming market. However, the significant leap forward in handheld gaming technology represented by the Game Boy Advance threatened to make the Game Boy Color obsolete. Nintendo successfully navigated these challenges by continuing to support both systems for several years and introducing the Game Boy Advance SP. This redesign with a backlit screen and foldable design helped to extend the life of the Game Boy brand and ensure that Nintendo remained the dominant player in the handheld gaming market. Overall, the release of both the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance expanded the range of games available for Nintendo's handheld consoles and played a significant role in the success of future handheld gaming systems. Nintendo's continued support for both systems and the introduction of the Game Boy Advance SP allowed the company to maintain its position as the leader in the handheld gaming market.

That's a really cool history lesson on the gba😃very well done Nick🙂

The accessory came out in June 11, 2001. I have my Game Boy Advance since October 2001, when I lived in Texas. Now 22 years later, I still own it and play it. It was my 3rd Game Boy console and 3rd handheld gaming console, after the Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color. The accessory lets me play all Game Boy Advance games, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Super Mario Advance on the GBA blew my mind and I beat the game. I know it was a port of Super Mario Bros. 2, based on the Super Mario All-Stars remake, also contains a remake of Mario Bros. I still have my GB, GBC, and GBA games. I didn't get a Game Boy Advance SP but not yet (It will be in my room one day, along with my GBA, the original GB, Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color). That was about 20 years ago, but I'm just trying to get back in the into the GB, GBC, GBA library and developing my Game Boy/Game Boy Advance family line, and playing my Game Boy, and Game Boy Color games on TV one day.

Great content as always, man. I suggest to give a look to the Game Boy Player history. It is awesome too. Form SNES (two versions of GB player there) to GameCube. 🤗 (Looking forward for the DS history video.)

I genuinely think that the GBA has one of the most important libraries in video game history, and the GBA SP is Nintendo's most important revision

I had gameboy, gameboyadvance and gameboy advance SP back then.. I love those system even it not powerful at their time but huge game library..

This is excellent timing for me, I just got back into the GBA library. I'm about to break out the soldering iron and finish my original GBA mod so my backlit screen has adjustable brightness and my shoulder button switches are replaced with super clicky ones. Golden Sun is up next after my quick run through of A Link to the Past.

Wonderful video. I love the passion. Personally I prefer the GBA because of the horizontal setup. The GBA SP is just too cramped.

I don’t mean to be rude and give unsolicited advice but this video would have had so many more views if you had a better title! Such a deep and interesting story, really well explained and documented. This is the first I’ve ever heard of the Atlantis!

I bet the KZfaqr Dawn & Dusk would be down to do a translation of that Japanese only video of prototypes. He’s a one piece KZfaqr who is a native Japanese speaker and professional media translator.

The ARM talk is about external memory. In the end the GBA had cache. ARM 7 from 2000 only needs half the number of transistors than a 68k from 1980. So you could use all the rest for cache. The 32 bit in ARM are packed with information. Maybe improve the compiler instead to cripple the CPU? They should have used a hardware decompressor when the code is loaded from the cartridge.

Great video on the gameboy advance. I was thinking about picking one up and adding it to my retro collection. I have never heard anyone explain what the shoulder buttons are used for though. Are they really needed to play games?

New here cool video 😎 do you mess with Sonys handhelds like the psp or vita? Would you ever do a history video on those?

What is that 3ds cover? Where do you get it!? at 3:00

I prefer the form factor of the original GBA. Less hand cramps. All it needed was a backlight and it was perfect. I did purchase the backlight kit for mine. I wish Nintendo had stuck with the GBA longer. I preferred it over the DS family.

I slaughtered/sacrificed my original GBA for the Intec Gaming HD kit. Sadly the kit's video quality is so terrible and the bluetooth controller support disconnects so much that it's useless

I agree when you hear anybody say that the original GBA design is the best, I did pick up a GBA SP later and even though I think it looks really cool, it was not my favorite to hold and play on..

the pose 😂😂😂

I love(d) the look of the original GBA, but a friend had it and it was virtually unplayable with the unlit screen. I did buy the SP when it came out, and used it a lot in public transport. On the hand I’d still like to own a GBA with backlight mod, and also a Micro. But at the same time I know that I wouldn’t really use them. Emulation is so much more convenient!

The phone that was designed looks very similar to the ones used in the matrix

just noticed but i think your copy of fire red at 7:00's a reproduction it's got a translucent red shell

Makes me mad to this day that the states never got the gameboy light. A front light gameboy would've been great. I wonder why the color and horizontal advance not have front lit screens when the gameboy lite was a thing?

What's the name of the website with the timeline?...

Im playing Grand theft Auto Advance right now and its so sick lol

Would Nintendo Alantis release a TV tuner as well if the screen was backlit.

Considering the time it was developed, the Atlantis would have probably launched at a ludicrous price and/or with a terrible battery life, two factors that killed so many of their competitors on arrival. Plus the flop of the Virtual Boy must have given them cold feet on releasing new handheld.

The GBA got a lot 3d games but the batteries got not drained. The GBA copied the AtariJaguar. The latter has two linebuffers so that it can display SuperScalar games using minimal memory. On the former the LCD has no vertical retrace, so no dedicated time slot to draw sprites. None of it can draw polygons fast.

U couldn’t even see the screen

It's getting old, give us an upgrade..... Nintendo..... How about the same, just with a slightly different screen? Rinse and repeat