GBA v Nintendo DS

[forward pass]

My son wants a GBA for Christmas and was wondering if anyone here knows what is best between a GBA or a Nintendo DS.

The Nintendo DS has two screens which seems better to me but GBA seems to be the most popular. There is also a Game Boy Micro out too now but I have no idea what that is all about.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Jordan]

A DS is definitely the better system. It's more powerful and it's not that much more than a GBA.

Also, the DS is backwards compatible, which means you can play GBA games on it anyway.

 

[gaterooze]

GB Micro is the same as a GBA but smaller.

Eventually new games will stop appearing for the GBA, but DS should be getting new releases for a long time yet.

Apart from the Dual Screen, the DS also has a touch-screen, a microphone, WiFi connectivity and other fun stuff. On the down side, it is bigger/chunkier and a little more expensive.

Personally, I'd go with the DS, especially so he can play with his friends when/if they have one (using the WiFi).

 

[Thunderstruck]

Yeah, DS can play GBA games but I don't think it will let you play multiplayer GBA games, only multiplayer DS games.

DS has a headphone jack, something the GBA doesn't, so other people won't have to hear all the beep boop beep bop's of the game if you give your son a set of earphones. GB Micro has it as well but the screen is really small, probably not too good for kids' eyes. They're sharp but I can't get over the fact that it has such a small screen for so many details in the games.

 

[forward pass]

Thanks guys - really appreciate the comments. You have all been a great help.

Looks like its a DS for sure !!

 

[gaterooze]

DS has a headphone jack, something the GBA doesn't

Just a note that you can get a headphone adapter for the GBA for about $8 (on eBay) which solves that problem.

Ridiculous that it wasn't built-in though.

 

[MrSharky]

PSP!!!!!!

 

[Jordan]

PSP!!!!!!

Yeah, and that's like twice the price of a DS...


...didn't stop me from buying one though

 

[Thunderstruck]

Just a note that you can get a headphone adapter for the GBA for about $8 (on eBay) which solves that problem.

Ridiculous that it wasn't built-in though.

Didn't know that, where would you plug it in though?

 

[gaterooze]

Didn't know that, where would you plug it in though?

In the EXT.2 port at the back of the unit (where the AC adapter/charger goes). It was (stupidly) designed that way and you can get official Nintendo headphone adapters but they cost double of course.

 

[Jordan]

It wasn't built in because apparently there just wasn't enough room in the unit for it to be included. Quite strange.. but I remember Nintendo advertising the headphone adapters when the SP was releaded, so it was probably a way for them to squeeze a bit more money out of you. They probably should've just been included with the console itself being a portable and all, though.

 

[Thunderstruck]

Seems that they've learned from it since both DS and micro have audio out jacks. I wonder, is micro completely compatible with GBA in that you can play multiplayer games with GBA units using the link cable?