Post by: StrikerObi on December 15, 2004, 06:29:43 AM
While third parties have previously released devices to allow GBA owners to play music and movies on their hand-helds, Nintendo has stayed silent on the issue. A new listing on the company's website reveals that Nintendo will be releasing their own media reader for the GBA in February 2005.
Nintendo's preview website for the product explains that their media reader will play both MP3 audio files and MPEG4 movies. It will read them off of Secure Digital (or SD) cards. The reader should also be able to play on the Nintendo DS, which also plays GBA games.
Post by: Plugabugz on December 15, 2004, 06:42:40 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on December 15, 2004, 06:42:54 AM
Post by: Plugabugz on December 15, 2004, 07:09:33 AM
Now it's recommended so that the DS "can do as" the PSP, matching all it's features [bar the poor battery life] plus the extras on top that the PSP cannot.
Post by: Bill Aurion on December 15, 2004, 07:28:43 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Wait a second. I thought Nintendo was "game only". That "no DVD player" stuff regarding the Cube certainly sounds like a lame excuse now. If they don't want to put DVD playback in the Revolution that's fine but they're going to need a real excuse this time.
Stop complaining about every little thing...This is only an option for those who are thinking about getting a PSP for media capabilities...
Post by: Artimus on December 15, 2004, 08:24:03 AM
Post by: vudu on December 15, 2004, 08:42:54 AM
QuoteHow about the added cost? That seems like a real excuse. You can get a stand alone DVD player real cheap these days. Hell, I got a free one in my breakfast cereal the other day.
If [Nintendo doesn't] want to put DVD playback in the Revolution that's fine but they're going to need a real excuse this time.
Post by: Ian Sane on December 15, 2004, 08:56:59 AM
It IS a real excuse. That's what I want to hear. Not "we only concentrate on games" or some lame spin doctored excuse that only applies when they want it to.
Post by: vudu on December 15, 2004, 09:40:20 AM
QuoteKeep in mind, the GameCube design was finalized over 3 years ago. What held true then, may not hold true today. Nintendo is a company that makes video games. But it's entirely likely that they realize that many people out there would like to be able to use their systems for other things besides playing games. It's even possible (though I doubt it) that Nintendo realized its mistake prior to the GameCube's release, but it would have taken far too long to redesign it to play DVD's.
It IS a real excuse. That's what I want to hear. Not "we only concentrate on games" or some lame spin doctored excuse that only applies when they want it to.
Does this mean we're going to see a Nintendo-branded personal organizer for the DS? I doubt it. A third party can just as easily create one that's just as good (if not better) than what Nintendo could do. But I think Nintendo knows that third-party hardware is a completely separate beast. Most third-party hardware (controllers, memory cards, etc) sells like crap compared to officially licensed items.
EDIT: I just thought of an even better excuse for Nintendo to exclude DVD playback. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember reading that the GameCube's laser reads from the center of the disc to the outside (instead of the conventional outside to in) and the game discs spin in the opposite direction from conventional standards. Wouldn't adjusting the laser and the spinner to go both ways make the GameCube prone to breaking (a'la the PS2 laser)? Just a thought....
EDIT #2: Apparently Nintendo just announced a dictionary/translator for the DS. So much for my argument that Nintendo was making the add-on because it was hardware, not software.
Post by: joshnickerson on December 15, 2004, 09:41:35 AM
"If you want to watch DVDs, just go buy a DVD player. Seriously, they're cheap as hell. Like 20 bucks a pop. You'll still be saving money by buying the player and this console than buying just a PS3 or Xbox2."
But seriously, where will this put Majesto and their GBA Video series?
Post by: MattVDB on December 15, 2004, 09:48:06 AM
I may be mistaken, but I don't seem to recall Nintendo saying that as a company they were only focusing on games, but they applied that to individual systems.
Either way, I think this is an awesome idea, and is really holding sway in me picking up an SP or DS. I think it was a wise move to cater to both the GBA and SP market, effectively draining Sony of half of the appeal to the PSP. With such a large GBA userbase, I don't see how many people would prefer to pay 200 dollars, base price, for a PSP to play MP3's or MPG's when they could just buy this. Wise movie. Wise move indeed.
Post by: Procession on December 15, 2004, 10:10:39 AM
Post by: Artimus on December 15, 2004, 10:58:54 AM
Post by: brian577 on December 15, 2004, 11:10:36 AM
Post by: joshnickerson on December 15, 2004, 11:14:39 AM
Post by: brian577 on December 15, 2004, 11:17:18 AM
Post by: Nephilim on December 15, 2004, 11:31:54 AM
only problem i can think of is the sd card sticking out really far, kinda like perfect dark plugged into a gba
*cant wait to watch tekkaman eps at work all day lol*
Post by: nickmitch on December 15, 2004, 11:35:13 AM
Post by: UncleBob on December 15, 2004, 11:58:53 AM
What are the odds of the DS using an SD card for saving data for online games... (like a hard drive)...?
Just a thought...
Post by: Berto2K on December 15, 2004, 12:03:09 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Artimus
If it uses SD cards then it's no different than the PSP's cards.
Actually its cheaper. The Sony Memeory sticks are expensive as hell compared to SD cards. The memory sticks are also required for game saves, which takes up some room unless you put it on another stick. This will be soley for a/v. Nothing with games.
Post by: MattVDB on December 15, 2004, 12:14:01 PM
"Although Play-chan was announced by Nintendo as supporting the Game Boy Advance, it's also compatible with the DS. Only one screen is used for display, though. The standard Game Boy Advance is not compatible with the product."
It works with the SP and the DS. Alright. I can handle that. That isn't too shabby, as personally, I doubt I would use my AA batteries to watch movies like this. With the rechargable batteries, I wouldn't mind it.
Post by: UncleBob on December 15, 2004, 01:03:23 PM
I think he's reffering to that it doesn't work with the non-SP version of the GBA...
Post by: MattVDB on December 15, 2004, 02:23:37 PM
Post by: theRPGFreak on December 15, 2004, 02:39:30 PM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on December 15, 2004, 05:53:26 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Berto2KQuote
Originally posted by: Artimus
If it uses SD cards then it's no different than the PSP's cards.
Actually its cheaper. The Sony Memeory sticks are expensive as hell compared to SD cards. The memory sticks are also required for game saves, which takes up some room unless you put it on another stick. This will be soley for a/v. Nothing with games.
A SD Card @ 1gb will run you $65 at Fry's Electronics
A Sony MS PRO @ 1gb will run you $379 at Fry's Electronics
So if you ask me....... I think there is a HUGE difference
Post by: Nile Boogie on December 16, 2004, 04:03:31 AM
Post by: novastar512 on December 16, 2004, 08:45:40 AM
but now I can turn my GBA in my mp3 player too sweet.
JUST BRING TO TO NORTH AMERICA NINTENDO.
Post by: SgtShiversBen on December 16, 2004, 09:06:00 AM
