Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter

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The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter is an accessory for the Game Boy Advance. It was released by Nintendo in 2004. It provides an alternative to the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable but does not enjoy the same popularity due to a number of problems.

[edit] Connectivity

A Pearl Pink Game Boy Advance SP with the Wireless Adapter attached.

A Game Boy Player with the Wireless Adapter attached.

Like the Game Link Cable, this device allows for multiplayer gaming on various Game Boy devices, and connects to the Game Boy via the same External Extension Connector. The range of this adapter is short compared to the built-in wireless function of the GBA's sibling, the Nintendo DS: Nintendo recommends players stay within 10' of each other for best results [1]. Note that this adapter is incompatible with the Game Boy Micro. A separate wireless adapter is required for wireless play. These two wireless adapters are compatible for multiplayer gaming.

The feature's greatest usefulness is most evident in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald. While all three still support the link cable, up to sixty Wireless Adapter-connected players can convene in a "Union Room" of sorts for battles and trades. The Wireless Adapter is also used in Pokémon games to download special data, such as tickets or information, at various Pokémon-related events.

The biggest drawback of the Wireless Adapter is that it is not backwards compatible; that is, old games that do not support the Wireless Adapter cannot be used. As of 2005, fewer than twenty games support the Wireless Adapter, leading to some criticism that the Wireless Adapter is an expensive gadget that is compatible with just only a few games. Most of supported games are those in the Classic NES Series. Some people argue that such criticism is unfounded, as the Wireless Adapter was packaged with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, essentially given away free. It is NOT able to connect with the Nintendo DS.

[edit] Marketing and pricing

The accessory was packaged with FireRed and LeafGreen but not seen any other packaged deals. Nintendo also sells it on its online store for $20 USD.

There are some third-party devices that use the wireless functionality but act more like a link cable.