Goozex Forum Moderator I'm reading: nothing I'm watching: Becoming Jane I'm listening to: Eric Hutchinson & Marie Digby Join the Folding@Home Goozex team: Team Goozex #80197 We're talking to you PS3 and PC users.
EBGames was having an excellent trade-in special back when the GBA SP came out (combined with some coupons, IIRC) that actually - only time ever, I think - made it worth trading in. So my GBA (orig) is gone and I have as SP as do both of my kids.
-- Mike Managing Editor - GamerDad Editor - RPGWatch
I've never had one but that sounds so cool.
Check out my travel blog (I'm in New Zealand currently) - www.lakerr.com
magiic:I've never had one but that sounds so cool.
The original GBA had a pretty crappy screen ... I really liked the SP better in just *so* many ways ... still use it to this day! (despite having the DS Lite)
While I entirely agree about the screen of the original GBA, hence the reason mine is Afterburnered, I prefer the handle on the original GBA. I don't have huge, huge hands. (I dislike the hamburger original Xbox controllers.) But the size of the smaller SP is just too uncomfortable to game on. My hands get major cramping with any extended gaming on the SP.
Anyhow, I will throw up pics of the Afterburner GBA if there is interest in a look-see.
Here is a link that shows doing the upgrade and the impact
txa1265: Here is a link that shows doing the upgrade and the impact
Thanks for the hook-up, saved me some bandwidth.
You are not alone, I still have my launch GBA fitted with an afterburner. I haven't touched it in years, but I don't have the heart to part with it. I actually have an extra afterburner kit still sitting around as well minus the reflective film (I screwed up my first install).
The afterburner sure made GBA gaming easier, but I moved to an GBAsp once those hit the streets.
Moving from the GBAsp to the DS was quite a striking improvement in screen brightness, only to once again be upgraded by the DS Lite. I still fire up Metroid Fusion / Zero Mission every now and then as well as Zelda: Minish cap. The GBA sure did have its share of great games.
GameJabber.com | My CAG Blog
I never owned an original Advance...I bought my first unit when the SP came out...I knew it was coming, so I waited for it. It was quite an advancement in portable gaming technology...as powerful as an N64, but it folded and fit in my pocket. I mostly bought it to play Zelda, Super Mario, and Donkey Kong Country on the go. Before that I had the Gameboy Color, so the SP was a nice step up. I still own 2 SPs (my original red unit and a limited edition NES version) plus the Famicom 20th Anniversary version of the Gameboy Micro. I don't use the SPs except to play original Gameboy and GBC games. I use the DS to play GBA games usually, unless I'm on the go and don't want to carry the DS, then I might slip the Micro into my pocket with Mario Tennis or Tactics Ogre in it.
I still have a GBA with the Afterburner kit installed in mine. I kind of screwed up my first kit when I installed it so I had to buy a second one. I got pretty good usage out of it though, and it was fun to get it all working and installed by myself. Haven't played my GBA in awhile since I got a DS Lite last year, but I guess it's handy if I ever want to play some original GB games.
I don't know if it is still possible to buy Afterburner kits as the demand for them have gone with the advent of the Micro and SP. You might be able to pick one up on Ebay, but I imagine that they would go for a pretty penny as what demand there is, is chasing a smaller number of units that are still floating around un-installed.
psychord:I'm squinting at a black screen, with a book-light clipped on my shirt playing the original GBA. Any idea where i can still get the Afterburner kit? Goozex should consider trading hardware on a sister site at least.... i really want a Wavebird controller for GameCube.
I'll have to kick around my junk pile, but I think I still have a new Afterburner. I used to install a lot of them back in the day, and they really do make the original Advance much nicer. I hope you have rechargeable batteries, though.
I know I have a Wavebird at the house as well.
I still have one somewhere as well - would have to hunt to dig it out, though I know it's missing the reflective film thingie that you needed to stick to the screen.
Tengaport:I still have one somewhere as well - would have to hunt to dig it out, though I know it's missing the reflective film thingie that you needed to stick to the screen.
That film piece was nice, but I'm not sure you actually needed it. I think it just displaced the light evenly, making for a better viewing experience.