Game Boy Advance SP
An early front-lit version of the Game Boy Advance SP in Cobalt Blue | |
| Also known as | Frontlit: AGS-001 Backlit: AGS-101 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo Research & Engineering |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Product family | Game Boy[1] |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Sixth |
| Introductory price |
|
| Discontinued | 2010[2] |
| Media | Game Boy Game Pak Game Boy Color Game Pak Game Boy Advance Game Pak |
| CPU | ARM7TDMI @ 16.78 MHz Sharp SM83 @ 4 / 8 MHz |
| Memory | 288 KB RAM, 98 KB Video RAM |
| Display | Frontlit or backlit TFT LCD, 240 × 160 px, 40.8 × 61.2 mm (1.61 × 2.41 in)[3] |
| Backward compatibility | Game Boy Game Boy Color |
| Predecessor | Game Boy Color[4] |
| Successor | Nintendo DS |
| Related articles | |
Search Game Boy Advance SP on Amazon.
The Game Boy Advance SP[lower-alpha 1] (SP stands for "Special")[9] is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on February 14, 2003, and in other regions 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 released[lower-alpha 2] 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.[10]
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 and marking the end of the Game Boy hardware series.[11][12][13]
Hardware
Technical specifications
| Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-001) |
Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 84 mm (3.3 in) (closed), 155 mm (6.1 in) (open) | |
| Width | 82 mm (3.2 in) | |
| Depth | 24.4 mm (0.96 in) | |
| Weight | 142 g (5.0 oz) | |
| Display | 2.9-inch (diagonal) reflective thin-film transistor (TFT) color liquid-crystal display (LCD), 40.8 mm × 61.2 mm (1.61 in × 2.41 in) with frontlight | 2.9-inch (diagonal) backlit TFT color LCD, 40.8 mm × 61.2 mm (1.61 in × 2.41 in) |
| Resolution | 240 (w) × 160 (h) pixels (3:2 aspect ratio) | |
| Frame rate | 59.737 Hz[14] | |
| 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 |
| |
| Memory |
| |
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion pack provides 10 hours of use with light on and 18 hours with light off, 3-hour recharge time | |
| Sound | ||
| I/O |
| |
| Controls |
|
|
| References: [15][16][17][18][19] | ||
Headphone jack

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.[20] 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)
On September 19, 2005 — shortly after the release of the Game Boy Micro and about a year after the launch of the Nintendo DS — Nintendo released an updated Game Boy Advance SP in North America, featuring a brighter backlit screen in place of the earlier model's frontlit display.[21] While this model was well regarded for its improved screen, some took issue at to its inferior pixel responce and how its expanded color space potentially disregards the artistic intent of earlier released games.[22]
It was Nintendo's first handheld system released worldwide with an integrated backlight, although the Japan-only Game Boy Light had used an electroluminescent backlit display several years earlier.
The AGS-101 revision was not officially released in Japan, and the frontlit AGS-001 model remained on sale until production ended.
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.[23]
- 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[24] and a "Limited Edition Pikachu" model.
In 2006, the AGS-101 backlit model also saw a very limited release in Europe.[25] The European version was released in "Surf Blue"[26] 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.[6][27] 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.[28] 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.[29]
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'.[30] In other regions, such as Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, additional colors have been released, such as Pearl Green and Starlight Gold.[31]
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.[27] 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.[32] Lawson Wong of Fresh Gear called it "darn close to perfection" aside from the missing headphone jack.[33] 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.[34]
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.[35]
| Date | Japan | Americas | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-03-31[36] | 0.82 million | 0.83 million | 0.46 million | 2.10 million |
| 2003-06-30 | ? | ? | ? | 4.84 million[37] |
| 2003-09-30[38] | 2.33 million | 4.32 million | 2.38 million | 9.04 million |
| 2003-12-31[39] | 3.14 million | 7.82 million | 4.34 million | 15.30 million |
| 2004-03-31[40] | 3.68 million | 8.78 million | 4.70 million | 17.16 million |
| 2004-06-30 | ? | ? | ? | 19.33 million[41] |
| 2004-09-30[42] | 5.02 million | 12.46 million | 6.21 million | 23.68 million |
| 2004-12-31[43] | 5.94 million | 16.13 million | 8.67 million | 30.73 million |
| 2005-03-31[44] | 6.00 million | 16.69 million | 9.10 million | 31.79 million |
| 2005-06-30 | ? | ? | ? | |
| 2005-09-30[45] | 6.16 million | 18.08 million | 10.08 million | 34.32 million |
| 2005-12-31[46] | 6.35 million | 20.40 million | 10.64 million | 37.40 million |
| 2006-03-31[47] | 6.42 million | 20.95 million | 10.86 million | 38.23 million |
| 2006-06-30[48] | 6.46 million | 21.30 million | 11.08 million | 38.84 million |
| 2006-09-30[49] | 6.48 million | 21.95 million | 11.37 million | 39.79 million |
| 2006-12-31[50] | 6.50 million | 23.06 million | 11.78 million | 41.33 million |
| 2007-03-31[51] | 6.50 million | 23.47 million | 11.95 million | 41.92 million |
| 2007-06-30[52] | 6.50 million | 23.78 million | 12.14 million | 42.43 million |
| 2007-09-30[53] | 6.51 million | 24.01 million | 12.31 million | 42.82 million |
| 2007-12-31[54] | 6.51 million | 24.01 million | 12.51 million | 43.02 million |
| 2008-03-31[55] | 6.51 million | 24.00 million | 12.71 million | 43.23 million |
| 2008-06-30[56] | 6.51 million | 24.00 million | 12.89 million | 43.41 million |
| 2008-09-30[57] | 6.51 million | 24.00 million | 12.97 million | 43.49 million |
| 2008-12-31[58] | 6.51 million | 24.00 million | 13.00 million | 43.52 million |
See also
Notes
- ↑ ゲームボーイアドバンスSP (Japanese: Gēmu Bōi Adobansu SP)
- ↑ The Game Boy Light, released in 1998 had an electroluminescent screen, but was only sold in Japan.
- ↑ 4.194304 MHz for Game Boy backward compatibility, 8.388608 MHz for Game Boy Color backward compatibility.
References
- ↑ Ishihara; Morimoto. "Pokémon HeartGold Version & Pokémon SoulSilver Version". Iwata Asks (Interview: Transcript). Interviewed by Satoru Iwata. Nintendo. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Sales Transition by Region" (PDF). Nintendo. February 3, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Technical data". Nintendo of Europe GmbH.
- ↑ Umezu; Sugino; Konno. "Nintendo 3DS (Volume 2 – Nintendo 3DS Hardware Concept)". Iwata Asks (Interview: Transcript). Interviewed by Satoru Iwata. Nintendo. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP review". CNET. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2013. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Harris, Craig (January 6, 2003). "Game Boy Advance SP". IGN. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "N-Europe News: GBA SP Press Release". Ashley Jones. March 7, 2003. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2012. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Sales Transition by Region" (PDF). Nintendo. February 3, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "- Nintendo – Customer Service – Game Boy Advance SP – Frequently Asked Questions". nintendo.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kurokawa, Fumio (2022). "Satoru Okada – 2022 Retrospective Interview". 4gamer.net. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ↑ "Consolidated Sales Transition by Region" (PDF). Nintendo. February 3, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Vega, Nick. "A look back at the Game Boy Micro, the Nintendo console that time forgot". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ↑ "7 Things Everyone Should Know About the Game Boy Advance". PCMag UK. 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ↑ Korth, Martin. "GBATEK LCD Dimensions and Timings". problemkaputt.de. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "GBATEK – GBA/NDS Technical Info". Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "CowBite Virtual Hardware Specifications". cs.rit.edu. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "GBA ASM Tutorial". Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "GBA Technical Specifications". Nintendo. Archived from the original on October 3, 2005. Retrieved December 23, 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Copetti, Rodrigo (August 18, 2019). "Game Boy Advance Architecture - A Practical Analysis". Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ↑ "Game Boy Advance SP | Corporate | Nintendo". Retrieved August 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP Review – Consoles". CNET. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2012. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Color Correction on the Game Bub". Crowd Supply. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ MARU-CHANG. "AGB/AGS/OXY: Game Boy Advance". maru-chang.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "GBA SP Gets Brighter". Archived from the original on June 14, 2010. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Brighter SP coming to Europe". eurogamer.net. September 23, 2005. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Gameboy Advance SP – European AGS-101 Model (Backlit) Unboxing. F1RES0UL. August 22, 2009. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016 – via YouTube. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 27.0 27.1 M. Wiley (March 20, 2003). "Game Boy Advance SP". IGN. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Harris, Craig (September 17, 2004). "Legend of Zelda GBA SP". Archived from the original on October 5, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2011. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "TRU Exclusive Gold GBA SP/Super Mario Advance 4 Bundle for Sale". Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Tribal Edition GBA SP for Europe – News". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Gameboy Advance SP Star Light Gold Toys R Us Limited Edition (GFF-3663) Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP review". Engadget. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Wong, Lawson (December 30, 2003). "Review: Game Boy Advance SP". TechTV. Archived from the original on February 14, 2004.
- ↑ "Nintendo New Game Boy Will Knock Your Lights Out!". PC Magazine. March 17, 2003. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "IR Information : Sales Data – Dedicated Video Game Sales Units". Nintendo Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved 2020-02-19. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. May 22, 2003. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. August 5, 2003. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. November 13, 2003. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. January 29, 2004. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. May 27, 2004. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. July 28, 2004. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo Co., Ltd. November 25, 2004. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. January 26, 2005. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. May 26, 2005. p. 39. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo Co., Ltd. November 24, 2005. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. January 26, 2006. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. May 25, 2006. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. July 24, 2006. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated financial highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. October 26, 2006. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Financial Highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. January 25, 2007. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Financial Highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. April 26, 2007. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 12, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Financial Highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. July 25, 2007. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Financial Highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. October 25, 2007. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Financial Highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. January 24, 2007. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2007. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Financial Statements" (PDF). Nintendo. April 24, 2008. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Sales Transition by Region" (PDF). Nintendo. July 30, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2008. Retrieved July 30, 2008. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Sales Transition by Region" (PDF). Nintendo. October 30, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2008. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Consolidated Sales Transition by Region" (PDF). Nintendo. January 29, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2008. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External links
- Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived June 15, 2004)
- Game Boy Advance section of Nintendo.com at the Wayback Machine (archived March 12, 2008)
- Comparison of GBA SP model 101 vs 001
This article "Game Boy Advance SP" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- Backward-compatible video game consoles
- Discontinued handheld game consoles
- Game Boy Advance
- Game Boy consoles
- Golden Joystick Award winners
- Handheld game consoles
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- Products introduced in 2003
- Products and services discontinued in 2008
- Regionless game consoles
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