| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Product family | Game Boy line |
| Generation | Sixth generation era |
| Release date |
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| Units sold | 2.42 million (details) |
| Media | Game Pak |
| CPU | 32-bit ARM7TDMI (16.78 MHz) |
| Predecessor | Game Boy Advance SP (concurrent) |
Game Boy Micro (ゲームボーイミクロ Gēmu Bōi Mikuro) 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.
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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.
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.
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:[2]
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.[3] 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.
In Japan, the handheld has been released in four colors and styles each. The four colors are black, blue, purple, and silver. The Game Boy Micro also has four limited edition styles: one based on the original Famicom video game console's controller, a blue bodied model with a faceplate based on Final Fantasy IV, a red bodied and red faced edition for the release of the game Mother 3[4] and a red bodied model with a black faceplate containing the silhouette of the iconic Pikachu from the Pokémon franchise.
In the United States and Canada, the Game Boy Micro is available in two regular colors, each sold with three interchangeable faceplates included: silver with black, "Ammonite" and "Ladybug" faceplates, and black with silver, "Flame" and "Camouflage" faceplates.[5] The "20th Anniversary" edition was released in December 2005, which resembles the Famicom controller.
In Europe the Game Boy Micro is available in four different colors, with one matching faceplate: silver, green, blue and pink. In Australia the colors are silver, black, blue, red and pink.[6]
There are reportedly no plans to sell additional faceplates in the US retail locations (as indicated in the letter page in issue 200 of Nintendo Power) or the UK.[7] Nintendo of Europe cannot supply replacement faceplates of any kind, and the feature is omitted from the product's marketing, packaging, and manual in Europe. However, some third parties are manufacturing such faceplates for sale in the US and Europe, and some importers stock faceplates acquired from Japan. Nintendo of America sells some of the faceplates individually online.[8]
| Date | Japan | Americas | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-09-30[9] | 0.41 million | 0.29 million | 0 | 0.70 million |
| 2005-12-31[10] | 0.57 million | 0.47 million | 0.78 million | 1.82 million |
| 2006-03-31[11] | 0.58 million | 0.47 million | 0.79 million | 1.83 million |
| 2006-06-30[12] | 0.59 million | 0.47 million | 0.80 million | 1.86 million |
| 2006-09-30[13] | 0.59 million | 0.47 million | 0.80 million | 1.87 million |
| 2006-12-31[14] | 0.60 million | 0.96 million | 0.85 million | 2.40 million |
| 2007-03-31[15][16] | 0.61 million | 0.95 million | 0.87 million | 2.42 million |
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".[19]
The system retailed for US$99,[20] compared to US$79 for the Game Boy Advance SP. The system was originally available in black and silver, and a red 20th Anniversary Edition was later released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment system.
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.[21] 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."[21]
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