Topic: Play-Yan Gets a Micro Upgrade

[WindyMan]

A new model of the media player will replace the old one for the new Game Boy hardware.

The Play-Yan Media Player for the Game Boy Advance has been around in Japan since February, and has had some success there.  The device turns the mild-mannered GBA SP into an MP3 and video player, using files stored on SD memory cards, which are inserted into the Play-Yan unit.    

With the upcoming release of the Game Boy Micro, Nintendo decided that it was time to tweak the interface of the Play-Yan to work better with the new hardware.  The result is the Play-Yan Micro.    

For all intents and purposes, the Play-Yan Micro is the exact same device as the standard Play-Yan.  The size of the hardware is exactly the same.  Both still playback MP3s and ASF format MPEG-4 video natively.  Both versions of the Play-Yan will work on all Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Micro units.    

Though the basic hardware is unchanged, there are some differences between the old and new Play-Yan, and here they are:    

 
• Updated: The firmware update that allowed the original PY model to use MP4 format video files will now be included in the Play-Yan Micro.  This means the Micro can play the video format without the 500kb patch taking up valuable storage space.  
• The graphical interface has been given a face lift, with the cute little guy that jumps around as music is being scrolled through being replaced by a more pedestrian figure.  More color has also been added to spruce things up.  
• The sleep function has been changed to accomodate the Game Boy Micro's design.  Previously, hitting L+R put the 'Yan to sleep, and hitting any face button woke it up.  Since all of the Micro's face buttons are exposed (unlike the closed SP), the system may accidently come out of sleep mode.  Because of this, sleep is now assigned to holding down the Start Button.  
• The Play-Yan Garage Games will no longer work on the Micro version, likely due to the redesign of the interface (and also because seeing the games on the tiny Micro screen would probably be impossible).  
• The bundled Media Stage software comes on a full-sized disc, rather than the smaller 8cm disc previously included.  The version of Media Stage included appears to be the same version that came with the old Play-Yan model, which means no encoding support for the new firmware-enabled MP4 video.  
• The Play-Yan has exclusively been sold through Nintendo's website.  While the PY Micro will still only be availble through online retailers, the device will be available through online retailers other than Nintendo, such as Amazon Japan.  

   

The current Play-Yan model will be available in Japan until September 11th, after which it will be discontinued.  The new Play-Yan Micro will go on sale on September 13th for the same price as the original model, Â¥5,000 ($46) for the stand-alone unit, or Â¥6,000 ($55) for the Play-Yan/Media Stage software bundle.    

Nintendo has yet to provide any information as to if the Play-Yan will come to the United States.

[NotSoStu]

So is it any smaller, cartridge-wise?

(Also, that's a creat day to discontinue it... >_>)

[WindyMan]

Quote
Originally posted by: Stu L Tissimus
So is it any smaller, cartridge-wise?

Nope, it's the exact same size.  The hardware is exactly the same, the only changes are what's listed there in the story.

[ShyGuy]

So is Nintendo bundling this with the Micro here in the US?  

[Nephilim]

well the full size cd is a good idea, my old computer had a slide in dvd player...annoying that I couldnt insert mini-dvd's

[therat]

so ....same thing as old one? i really want a gb media player but i am lost on the best one to get

[dafunkk12]

Quote
Originally posted by: PGC NewsBot

• The Play-Yan Garage Games will no longer work on the Micro version.

 

Uh-oh.  The older version's just become a collectable.

[ib2kool4u912]

Aside from the sleep function change, it seems they are making it worse.

[ruby_onix]

Quote
With the upcoming release of the Game Boy Micro, Nintendo decided that it was time to tweak the interface of the Play-Yan to work better with the new hardware.

And yet, they still won't come out with a version designed to take advantage of the DS's superior CPU power and screen resolution. Playing GBA-level media on your DS is "sufficent" to compete with the PSP.

Of course, we shouldn't complain about NCL, as NOA thinks the DS can get by without even being able to play GBA-level media.

Nintendo hates teh grafx.

[vudu]

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The Play-Yan Garage Games will no longer work on the Micro version.

Why would Nintendo take this feature out?  Was it being used for illegal ROMS?

[KDR_11k]

No but for homebrew development.

[ssj4_android]

When will we see this thing on Amazon USA? Will they import it or anything like they do with CDs?