Game Boy Advance SP

The Game Boy Advance SPTemplate:Efn (SP stands for "Special")<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a 32-bit handheld game console made by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on February 14, 2003, and in international markets in March. The SP is an upgraded version of the Game Boy Advance with a more compact clamshell design.

The SP was the first Game Boy device with a rechargeable battery, and the first widely releasedTemplate:Efn model with an integrated screen light, starting with front lighting and later transitioning to backlighting. The light made it easier to play in low-light conditions than its predecessors, which relied on reflective screens. It was followed by the Game Boy Micro in 2005.

History

The Game Boy Advance SP was championed by Satoru Okada, who led the development of the original Game Boy Advance. When Okada first pitched to Nintendo leadership the idea of a small and thin Game Boy Advance that used a rechargeable battery, the feedback was almost entirely negative. Not deterred, Okada told one of his hardware engineers to build a conceptual model as small and thin as possible without regard to the feasibility of manufacturing the device. What resulted was the clamshell design of the Game Boy Advance SP. When Okada took this conceptual model to the same leadership group that rejected his initial pitch, they were quickly won over.<ref name="Kurokawa 2022">Template:Cite web</ref>

In addition to being smaller and using a rechargeable battery, the Game Boy Advance SP also addressed a key shortcoming of the original Game Boy Advance: the reflective color display that was hard to see in dark conditions.

The first Game Boy Advance SP had a frontlight that illuminated the front of the display and a reflective surface behind the screen that sent light back through the liquid crystal pixel elements to the viewer. A later revision replaced the frontlight and reflective surface with a backlight that also illuminated the liquid crystal pixel elements.

All Game Boy Advance SP models were discontinued globally by the end of 2010, outlasting the Game Boy Micro by two years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hardware

Technical specifications

	Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-001)	Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)
Height	Template:Cvt (closed), Template:Cvt (open)
Width	Template:Cvt
Depth	Template:Cvt
Weight	Template:Cvt
Display	2.9-inch (diagonal) reflective thin-film transistor (TFT) color liquid-crystal display (LCD), Template:Convert with frontlight	2.9-inch (diagonal) backlit TFT color LCD, Template:Convert
Resolution	240 (w) × 160 (h) pixels (3:2 aspect ratio)
Frame rate	59.737 Hz<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Color support	32,768 colors, up to 511 simultaneously in character mode, all may displayed simultaneously in Bitmap mode
System on a chip (SoC)	Nintendo CPU AGB
Processors	Template:Unbulleted list
Memory	Template:Unbulleted list
Battery	Rechargeable lithium-ion pack provides 10 hours of use with light on and 18 hours with light off, 3-hour recharge time
Sound	Template:Unbulleted list
I/O	Template:Unbulleted list
Controls	Template:Unbulleted list	Template:Unbulleted list
References: <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Copetti 2019">Template:Cite web</ref>

Headphone jack

Nintendo-official headphone adapter for Game Boy Advance SP

Nintendo removed the 3.5 mm headphone jack from the SP, which had been included on all previous Game Boy models. Headphones designed specifically for the GBA SP can be purchased, or standard headphones can be attached with an optional adapter that plugs into the same port as the AC adapter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As both the AC adapter and headphones use the same port, it is not possible to charge the SP and listen to headphones at the same time with the Nintendo-brand adapter. There are, however, third-party adapters that "split" into two different cords: the power jack on one side and a headphone jack on the other.

Backlit model (AGS-101)

The pearl blue AGS-101 GBA SP model that featured an improved backlit screen<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On September 19, 2005 (around the same time as the Game Boy Micro's release), Nintendo released an improved version of the Game Boy Advance SP in North America, featuring a brighter backlit screen instead of the previous version's frontlit screen. This GBA SP was Nintendo's first internationally-released handheld system to feature an integrated backlight. (However, there had already been a backlit system years earlier with the Japan-only Game Boy Light, which was essentially a Game Boy Pocket with an electroluminescent backlit display.) The AGS-101 was never officially released in Japan, and the frontlit AGS-001 models were still available on the market until the end of production.

The new model can be distinguished by the following features:

• The box states "Now with a BRIGHTER backlit screen!" to distinguish the new model from the older, frontlit models.
• The model number of the backlit SP is AGS-101, whereas the model number of the original frontlit SP is AGS-001. This can be found on the label at the bottom of the unit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The mini button at the top center of the console's lower face is now referred to in the manual as the "Brightness Switch" and selects between two levels of brightness, "Normal" (Low) and "Bright" (High) with no off setting. On the frontlit models, this button turned the frontlight on or off only. With the backlight set to "Normal" (Low) the brightness still surpasses the original AGS-001 with the frontlight on.
• When powered off, the backlit model's screen is completely black, but the frontlit model's screen is noticeably lighter.

The North American backlit version comes in three standard colors: "Pearl Blue", "Pearl Pink" and "Graphite" (a greyer version of Onyx Black). There were also two Toys "R" Us exclusive backlit models; a "SpongeBob SquarePants" model<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a "Limited Edition Pikachu" model.

In 2006, the AGS-101 backlit model also saw a very limited release in Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Few models made it to market, likely due to the release of the Game Boy Advance-compatible Nintendo DS one year prior. The European version was released in "Surf Blue"<ref>Template:Cite youtube</ref> as well as re-issued in "Pink" and "Tribal" editions.

Unlike the North American release, the European box does not feature any prominent text to distinguish the backlit models from the older frontlit models. In addition, only the "Surf Blue" color was unique to the AGS-101, the other two colors "Pink" and "Tribal" had already been released as frontlit models – for these reasons it can be very difficult to identify a European backlit SP. Apart from the AGS-101 model number on the base of the unit, the only other obvious distinguishing feature of the European backlit model is the large picture of the Game Boy Advance SP featured on the front of the box. (The European frontlit models of "Pink" and "Tribal" only feature small pictures of the Game Boy Advance SP on the sides of the box and Flower/Tattoo patterns on the front, respectively.)

The AGS-101 Game Boy Advance SP was the final Nintendo handheld to have backward compatibility with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games in North America and Europe.

Unit colors

The GBA SP launched in Platinum Silver and Cobalt Blue, with the addition of Onyx in Europe and Japan.<ref name="IGNGBASP" /> Later colors include: Flame Red, Pearl Pink, Pearl Blue, Graphite, Midnight Blue, Charizard Fire Red, Torchic Orange, Venusaur Leaf Green, Groudon Red, Kyogre Blue, Rayquaza Green, NES classic design, and Pikachu Yellow. A limited gold edition with a Triforce and the Hyrule Royal Family crest was available in Europe which included a copy of The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2003, Toys "R" Us sold an exclusive gold edition (without any Zelda symbols) in the US starting on Black Friday of that year, initially with a Super Mario Advance 4 game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Japan, it was released in a variety of standard colors and special packages. In most other regions it was released in Platinum Silver and Charcoal Black. Later, a Flame Red version was released. Six special editions have also been released: an NES Classics model with the same color scheme as a classic NES controller (and designed to resemble an NES deck when closed), a SpongeBob SquarePants model, a Pikachu model, and a silver model with a tattoo design printed on it, known as the 'Tribal Edition'.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In other regions, such as Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, additional colors have been released, such as Pearl Green and Starlight Gold.<ref>Gameboy Advance SP Star Light Gold Toys R Us Limited Edition (GFF-3663) Template:Webarchive</ref>

Reception

M. Wiley of IGN called the Game Boy Advance SP "a step in the right direction for Nintendo", praising the system's new redesign over the original GBA and highlighting its inclusion of a backlit screen and rechargeable battery, although minor criticism went towards the system's omission of a headphone jack.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Engadget gave it a global score of 84 out of 100, also praising the new features of the redesign while noting the system's lack of a headphone jack.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lawson Wong of Fresh Gear called it "darn close to perfection" aside from the missing headphone jack.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Matthew D. Sarrel of PC Magazine suggested it to consumers as an improvement over the original model, praising the backlight and integration of a charger as well as improved visual quality, though he noted that players with larger hands may find difficulty with the system's design.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sales

As of June 30, 2009, the Game Boy Advance series has sold 81.48 million units worldwide, of which 43.52 million are Game Boy Advance SP units.<ref name="earnings release Q2 2009">Template:Cite web</ref>

Life-to-date Number of units sold

Date	Japan	Americas	Other	Total
2003-03-31<ref name="earnings release Q1 2003">Template:Cite web</ref>	0.82 million	0.83 million	0.46 million	2.10 million
2003-06-30	?	?	?	4.84 million<ref name="earnings release Q2 2003">Template:Cite web</ref>
2003-09-30<ref name="earnings release Q3 2003">Template:Cite web</ref>	2.33 million	4.32 million	2.38 million	9.04 million
2003-12-31<ref name="earnings release Q4 2003">Template:Cite web</ref>	3.14 million	7.82 million	4.34 million	15.30 million
2004-03-31<ref name="earnings release Q1 2004">Template:Cite web</ref>	3.68 million	8.78 million	4.70 million	17.16 million
2004-06-30	?	?	?	19.33 million<ref name="earnings release Q2 2004">Template:Cite web</ref>
2004-09-30<ref name="earnings release Q3 2004">Template:Cite web</ref>	5.02 million	12.46 million	6.21 million	23.68 million
2004-12-31<ref name="earnings release Q4 2004">Template:Cite web</ref>	5.94 million	16.13 million	8.67 million	30.73 million
2005-03-31<ref name="earnings release Q1 2005">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.00 million	16.69 million	9.10 million	31.79 million
2005-06-30	?	?	?
2005-09-30<ref name="earnings release Q3 2005">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.16 million	18.08 million	10.08 million	34.32 million
2005-12-31<ref name="earnings release Q4 2005">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.35 million	20.40 million	10.64 million	37.40 million
2006-03-31<ref name="earnings release Q1 2006">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.42 million	20.95 million	10.86 million	38.23 million
2006-06-30<ref name="earnings release Q2 2006">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.46 million	21.30 million	11.08 million	38.84 million
2006-09-30<ref name="earnings release Q3 2006">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.48 million	21.95 million	11.37 million	39.79 million
2006-12-31<ref name="earnings release Q4 2006">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.50 million	23.06 million	11.78 million	41.33 million
2007-03-31<ref name="earnings release Q1 2007">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.50 million	23.47 million	11.95 million	41.92 million
2007-06-30<ref name="earnings release Q2 2007">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.50 million	23.78 million	12.14 million	42.43 million
2007-09-30<ref name="earnings release Q3 2007">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.51 million	24.01 million	12.31 million	42.82 million
2007-12-31<ref name="earnings release Q4 2007">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.51 million	24.01 million	12.51 million	43.02 million
2008-03-31<ref name="earnings release Q1 2008">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.51 million	24.00 million	12.71 million	43.23 million
2008-06-30<ref name="earnings release Q2 2008">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.51 million	24.00 million	12.89 million	43.41 million
2008-09-30<ref name="earnings release Q3 2008">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.51 million	24.00 million	12.97 million	43.49 million
2008-12-31<ref name="earnings release Q4 2008">Template:Cite web</ref>	6.51 million	24.00 million	13.00 million	43.52 million

See also

• List of Game Boy Advance games

External links

• Template:Webarchive
• Template:Webarchive
• Comparison of GBA SP model 101 vs 001