Author Topic: SP Headphone Adapter MIA? (Read 7275 times)

RickPowers · « **on:** March 20, 2003, 01:50:44 PM »

Despite the early shipment of the Game Boy Advance SP, the Headphone Adapter is nowhere to be found. Here's why ...

Update: We've been contacted by people from both Nintendo of America and Nintendo Australia, and both companies are choosing to NOT distribute the Headphone Adapter in retail channels. Much like the Component Video Cable, this means that they will only be available Online through Nintendo's store.

Retailers around the US are receiving their Game Boy Advance SP shipments, but a key accessory is strangely missing. When Nintendo redesigned the Game Boy Advance, they lacked the room to include a headphone jack in the case. An accessory was developed that uses the same port you use to recharge the unit to attach a headphone jack for stereo sound.

The adapter is supposed to retail for under $10 ... if you can find it. We haven't found a single retail chain that has the headphone adapter in stock, not even Nintendo's own company store. This echos the situation in Japan, where the Headphone Adapter wasn't available for launch.

Fans waiting to hear their favorite Game Boy Advance games in full Stereo sound are going to be waiting a little while longer.

VideoGamerJ · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2003, 03:40:23 PM »

Well, it's obvious that the average consumer doesn't use headphones. It will problably be after things calm down. A lot of things are going for Nintendo right now, they really have to prepare for other things. Perhaps there was a problem?

dafunkk12 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2003, 04:36:30 PM »

I noticed MadCatz's kit on EBGames has a splitter w/ both a charger and headphone plug so you can do both at once ($15, hardcase, magnifier, headphone/charger splitter cable, car adaptor). I could do without the first two (I've seen various types of better SP holder thingies), but if only for the latter two, it seems like a halfway decent price.

LilMac2010 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2003, 08:05:31 PM »

Well I for one am looking forward to playing my GBA SP almost exclusively with headphones on and was planning on simply picking up the official adapter come the 23rd. However, the aforementioned deal dafunkk12 spoke about sounds pretty sweet indeed. It appears that I will be hunting come the release date though as I just recently decided to purchase the SP (my first portable) last week, unfortunately all the big chains in my town have filled up their pre-orders so I'll be bouncing between places that didn't have a presell system and see if I luck out that way.

PIAC · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2003, 11:59:00 PM »

a minor inconveniance really, i only use the headphone jack on my GBA to hook it upto my pc speakers (cant seem to find my good headphones) and once the gameboy player comes out wont need todo that

this is no big deal for me, a quick call or email or what ever to NOAus and im set

Alkettory · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2003, 12:47:43 AM »

Quote
This echos the situation in Japan, where the Headphone Adapter wasn't available for launch.

I had no trouble getting one from NCSX with my import GBA SP, back in February. Unfortunately, they don't have them in stock anymore.

Fluke Worm · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2003, 01:58:53 AM »

I for one am not at all impressed . To me a hand held and headphones go together like bread and butter. Also it seems couter intuitive to make a newer & sleeker GBA only to have it tainted by a cumbersome adapter.

aoi tsuki · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2003, 09:42:20 PM »

i've found it to be a non-issue, really. i almost never use the headphone adapter because it's a hassle to hook up unless i really intend on playing for a while, and the GBA's sound output is pretty bad. i'd sell (or give) mine away, but i know as soon as i do, i'll want to use it.

Bad deal for Nintendo; i'd imagine the adapter is practically profit (at least production-wise), and they'll be losing that to third parties.

Jollus · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2003, 09:43:37 PM »

EB had some third party adapters when I was there today. They came with some earbuds, but you could use any headphones you like with emm.

Gibdo Master · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2003, 09:50:45 PM »

I have a feeling that you will only be able to get replacement batteries at the official store as well. I have to say that I really feel that the need to buy an adapter to use headphones on a hand held is a money making gimmick. Either that or it's just stupidity. Nintendo always seems to fall just short of perfection with this kind of thing and it's usually over something pretty stupid like this. Is there really any reason why they couldn't have just put a head phone jack in the damn thing. It reminds me of the fact that you have to buy a sold separately remote control to use the X-box's DVD.

The next After Burner type thing for the SP will be an internal head phone jack hack. At least it's not as big of a pain in the ass as not being able to see the damn screen.

Sarail · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2003, 07:48:29 AM »

It's just another bad, horrible decision on Nintendo's part once again. *sigh*

kicks · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2003, 11:20:46 AM »

I was bummed out by the lack of availability for the official adapter and I still am.

I actually picked up the earbud one from eb and it's working great. It closely resembles the images I've seen for the official one. Here's a link to ebgames site for the product

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/product.asp?pf_id=234081

They sell it for $7.99. Not saying you have to go buy it, but I didn't feel like waiting

Fluke Worm · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2003, 05:59:39 PM »

Quote
Nintendo always seems to fall just short of perfection with this kind of thing and it's usually over something pretty stupid like this.

well said Gibdo Master

and somehow it seems getting just close to prefection is worse than total failure.

Fluke Worm · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2003, 06:11:50 PM »

Aslo I would like to see earbuds that work with the GBA SP without an adapter, of course you couldn't use the headphones for anything else but I guess that's what Nintendo would want.

Another thing, I tried to edit my message so I wouldn't have two posts in a row but it said I couldn't post to this catagory

Gibdo Master · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2003, 08:10:53 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Fluke Worm
Another thing, I tried to edit my message so I wouldn't have two posts in a row but it said I couldn't post to this catagory

Same thing happened to me. Must be a glitch.

Fluke Worm · « **Reply #15 on:** March 22, 2003, 09:46:47 PM »

Quote
Aslo I would like to see earbuds that work with the GBA SP without an adapter, of course you couldn't use the headphones for anything else but I guess that's what Nintendo would want.

OOH My F`in GOD I just saw that Nintendo IS making a special pair of headphones for the SP! They better produce greater sound quality VS headphones using the adapter. nuff said

Kraid · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2003, 04:22:44 AM »

I guess there's no need to curse Nintendo for their poor design if there is a set of headphones that will work without the adaptor. I've been meaning to subscribe to Nintendo Power anyway so it works out pretty good.

Gibdo Master · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2003, 08:20:35 AM »

Well www.penny-arcade.com has a wonderful comic up today addressing Nintendo's stupidity with this situation. Click here to see it.

Quote
While they were in there, though, they added a few more problems, just so we'd know it was still from Nintendo.

Classic.

aoi tsuki · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2003, 03:59:57 PM »

Play Asia has the adapter (as well as rechargeable batteries) for $2.99. Cheaper than the US version if you're preordering something like say, Soul Calibur II, due out in three days.

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Author Topic: SP Headphone Adapter MIA? (Read 7275 times)