GameBoy Micro Review

Game Boy Micro is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in September 2005 in the market. The system is the last console of the Game Boy line. The Micro is very small in size and has a sleek design.
The Game Boy Micro was officially unveiled by Nintendo of America's (then) vice president of sales and marketing, Reggie Fils-Aime, at the company's E3 press conference on May 17, 2005. The system was released in Japan on September 13, 2005 and in North America on September 19, 2005. It was released in Europe on November 4, 2005 and Australia on November 3, 2005. In China, it was marketed as "iQue Game Boy Micro" on October 1, 2005, and later released in South Korea on November 9, 2005. It is the final handheld console to use the Game Boy name.
The Game Boy Micro retains some of the functionality of the Game Boy Advance SP, but with an updated form factor. It is unable to play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, and is officially incompatible with the Nintendo e-Reader and some other peripherals due to design issues (the required Zilog Z80 chip is not included, as it was on the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP). It is smaller than previous Game Boy systems. Additionally, it features a backlit screen with the ability to adjust the brightness so as to adapt to lighting. The shape itself is kept to a more simple oblong—similar to the style of the Nintendo Entertainment System controller.
The Game Boy Micro features a removable face plate that allows consumers to purchase alternative designs.

• Dimensions: 50×101×17.2 millimeters (2×4×0.7 in)
• Weight: 80 grams (2.8 ounces)
• Processor: 32-bit 16.8 MHz ARM processor (ARM7TDMI)
• Colors: various
• Screen: 51 mm / 2 inches, backlight with adjustable brightness.
• Resolution: 240×160 pixels
• Battery: built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, up to 5 hours of battery life with top brightness and sound or 8 hours with both features on default
• Headphones: standard 3.5mm headphone jack

The Game Boy Micro has a two-way switch on its right side for adjusting volume up or down. By holding down the L shoulder button, the switch can also be used to adjust the backlight between five levels of brightness.

Software and hardware

The Game Boy Micro is compatible with Game Boy Advance games, including Game Boy Advance Video Game Paks.
According to the Game Boy Micro's Instruction Manual, the following games/accessories are not compatible with the Game Boy Micro system:

• Original Game Boy Game Packs
• Game Boy Color Game Packs
• Game Boy or Game Boy Advance Game Link cables
• Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter
• Game Boy Advance e-Reader
• Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance cable
• Game Boy Printer
• Game Boy Camera

While Game Boy or Game Boy Advance Game Link cables and the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter are not compatible with the Game Boy Micro system, adapters and a Game Boy Micro-compatible Wireless adapter have been released.Nintendo has also redesigned their Play-Yan music/video adapter to better fit the Game Boy Micro. This device can play MP3 and digital video files from SD cards.
As with the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP systems, there are no regional lockouts on software, so North American games can be played on Japanese or European hardware and vice versa.

• The Game Boy Micro sold over 170,000 units during its first days in Japan.
• The North American release drew some criticism; with a formal release of September 19, 2005, many stores simply ignored it, some delaying it until September 26, 2005 or as late as September 30, 2005.
  
• According to a Q1 2007 Nintendo earnings release, 2.42 million Game Boy Micro units had been sold worldwide as of March 31, 2007, including 610,000 units in Japan, 950,000 units in the Americas, and 870,000 in other territories such as Europe and Oceania.
• On July 30, 2007, GamePro.com ranked the Game Boy Micro (listed as "GB Micro") as #8 in its list of "The 10 Worst-Selling Handhelds of All Time".
• As of July 30, 2007, the Game Boy Micro has sold 2.5 million units, according to GamePro
• Generally, the Game Boy Micro did not sell well, and failed to reach the company's aim of units sold.

Satoru Iwata stated that the marketing of the Nintendo DS "must have deprived the Game Boy Micro of its momentum" in the marketplace and he admitted that Game Boy Micro sales did not meet Nintendo's expectations, commenting it "failed to explain to consumers its unique value".
The Game Boy Micro's backlit screen, which is superior to the original Game Boy Advance SP's (a later remodel added a similar high quality screen to SP systems), has been praised for its visibility.Due to a finer dot pitch, the screen is more evenly lit, and the brightness is adjustable. The smaller dot pitch has also improved the apparent sharpness of the display.
The removable faceplates have also been praised because they allow for personalization and protect the high-resolution backlit screen."