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Game Boy Player Delayed until June

by Rick Powers - March 13, 2003, 9:19 pm EST
Total comments: 14 Source: Nintendo

For some unfathomable reason, the Game Boy player, due to release this month in Japan, is being delayed until June. And a possible price hike?

UPDATE: Thanks to PGC Reader Scott Thompson who has provided us with a link to the EBGames website, which lists the GameBoy Player with the June 23rd date, as well as the $49.99 price tag.


We were recently contacted by a couple of different stores with information that their computers are showing a new date and price for the Game Boy Player. Instead of launching in May for $39.99, it's now slated to arrive on June 23rd. Worse yet, the price tag now appears to be $49.99.

While we can't get confirmation on the new pricing from Nintendo just yet, Nintendo's own webpage for GameCube accessories does clearly list the date for the Game Boy Player as June 2003.

Talkback

Ian SaneMarch 13, 2003

Um, Nintendo. I really like you but F*CK YOU! This is total bullsh!t. I'm not very appreciative of being deprived of a GB Player for an extra month and paying more money to have to priviledge of waiting longer just so that GBA SP, a product that should have been released in 2001, can sell better. Maybe you guys shouldn't have released them so close together in the first place, hmmmm? The fact that they're being so wishy washy with the boot disc info is even worse. "You have to wait longer and pay more money but don't you DARE IMPORT."

If this is because of the GBA SP I can safely say the SP is officially the biggest "f*ck off" to Nintendo fans of all time. First every current GBA owner is screwed by having to buy an inferior product only to have something better get released less than two years later (must suck to have got a GBA last Christmas) and now every one of those said GBA owners who doesn't feel like buying another GBA in order to see the damn screen has to wait longer to get the best solution they've been waiting for (unless they don't own a Cube) and PAY MORE MONEY FOR IT.

I can't wait until the GB Player is released in Japan and PGC can confirm whether it can easily be used on a non-modded American Cube. If it's not a big problem I will import for sure. Afterall I've got an extra month of waiting to justify the import.

I hope this turns out to just be a goofup.

TmanMarch 13, 2003

I've got a modded cube, 2 jap GBAs(1 is SP) and now my 3rd GBA product(GB player) is being imported after reading this, of well i guess NOA doesn't want thier cut of my money. On a side note, when do you think we will find out if PN03 is import friendly? I want that game now.

StrikerObiMike Sklens, Podcast EditorMarch 13, 2003

Quote

Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Um, Nintendo. I really like you but F*CK YOU! This is total bullsh!t. I'm not very appreciative of being deprived of a GB Player for an extra month and paying more money to have to priviledge of waiting longer just so that GBA SP, a product that should have been released in 2001, can sell better. Maybe you guys shouldn't have released them so close together in the first place, hmmmm? The fact that they're being so wishy washy with the boot disc info is even worse. "You have to wait longer and pay more money but don't you DARE IMPORT."

If this is because of the GBA SP I can safely say the SP is officially the biggest "f*ck off" to Nintendo fans of all time. First every current GBA owner is screwed by having to buy an inferior product only to have something better get released less than two years later (must suck to have got a GBA last Christmas) and now every one of those said GBA owners who doesn't feel like buying another GBA in order to see the damn screen has to wait longer to get the best solution they've been waiting for (unless they don't own a Cube) and PAY MORE MONEY FOR IT.

I can't wait until the GB Player is released in Japan and PGC can confirm whether it can easily be used on a non-modded American Cube. If it's not a big problem I will import for sure. Afterall I've got an extra month of waiting to justify the import.

I hope this turns out to just be a goofup.


If you want one so badly why not just mod your GameCube and import one? Your amount of rage seems to indicate that you really want one, so it's probably be worth the import + mod price.

olanmillsMarch 13, 2003

Also remember that NOA originally announced that the GameBoy Player would only be available in black. Maybe NOA is using this delay to make other colors too, hopefully.

Anyways, Nintendo prolly wanted to focus on getting the SP out on time, in sufficient numbers. If that meant pushing back the GB Player, I guess it makes sense.

NintegaMarch 13, 2003

I don't think a month delay is anything to worry or get pissed at Nintendo about. We should all be used to the delays from Nintendo. I'm definitely getting one but I already have a GBA w/ afterburner. I'll just be enjoying Wind Waker and hopefully Soul Calibur 2 import. I can't wait until August to play the game. Thank God for the freeloader boot disc.

bubba23March 13, 2003

I don't know whether to believe this or not. This past week NOA changed the expected release dates of Wario World from May to June and F-Zero from June to August, and then all of a sudden changed them back to their original dates. If you check the NOA website the Gameboy Player they show is platnium colour yet I hear it will only be available jet black, and now a price increase and a pushed back release date? Sigh. The further adventures of Nintendo.

WindyManSteven Rodriguez, Staff AlumnusMarch 13, 2003

My theory on the GB Player is that it's all made in English, and needs the boot disc to turn everything into Japanese. Of course, the thing that contradicts that is that all the colors are being made for Japan, and all the US gets is the black one. Wouldn't make much sense to make everything in English and have three of the colors exclusive to Japan.

The first thing I'm going to do when I slap on my import Indigo Game Boy Player is switch my GameCube region switch to North America and turn on the GameCube without the disc. Then we'll see.

Ian SaneMarch 14, 2003

"Your amount of rage seems to indicate that you really want one, so it's probably be worth the import + mod price."

Actually my amount of rage indicates more how cranky I was already when I read the news. face-icon-small-smile.gif At the time I was already in a semi-bad mood and the news kind of set me off. Anyway I figure I might as well wait and see if I have to mod my Cube or not. There's not really much point to mod my Cube specifically for the GB Player when it may not be necessary.

"I don't think a month delay is anything to worry or get pissed at Nintendo about. We should all be used to the delays from Nintendo."

True but there's a big difference between this delay and Nintendo's typical delays. Usually Nintendo delays a game to add extra polish and make sure the game is near perfect. Those delays benefit us because while we have to wait longer we get a better game in the end. Here the product isn't being improved on or anything. They're just delaying it likely to sell more GBA SP's. We the gamers don't get a better product and we have to pay more money.

Army_F_bodyMarch 14, 2003

definately a bummer, but I agree it's worth the wait. I'll get one no matter what just to protest the SP. I rarely play my GBA anymore because I cannot see it, which really killed my whole "Link to the past" experience (only got the second pendant before I said to hell with this)! At least on the big screen it'll feel like the "olden days" playing "Link to the Past" again.

Dolphin64XMarch 14, 2003

This has happened before, I think-Nintendo delaying titles for a steadier release chart. It doesn't really surprise me that much. I'll really only be mad if F-Zero and Wario World are delayed, because they are actual new titles, whereas the Game Boy Player (which I'll get), is just a cool gadget.

AlkettoryMarch 14, 2003

I preordered from EBGames in February, and when I checked my order status, it still listed a price of $39.99. I've received no notification from EBGames of a price change.

In addition, as of this moment, GameStop is still taking preorders at $39.99.

AdvancedGamerMarch 16, 2003

YA I NO!! Why didn't they release the SP in the first place... that really pisses me off. I was seriously considering the GB player but if they release it for $50 I defiantly won't buy it face-icon-small-mad.gif I seriously suggest that they release it for $30 because they will lose alot of money if they do. Besides all you really have to do is download the GBA Roms and Emulator and buy a skills USB connecter and that's a game boy player right there.... lol

BloodworthDaniel Bloodworth, Staff AlumnusMarch 16, 2003

Quote

Originally posted by: AdvancedGamer
YA I NO!! Why didn't they release the SP in the first place...


Well, I don't know for sure, but I would think it has something to do with costs. They couldn't have released a system with a light for $100 when the GBA first came out so they did what they could for the price-point, waited for the demand to lower costs, and now that the production costs are lower, they can introduce the SP.

AlkettoryApril 24, 2003

Buy.com is taking preorders for the Game Boy Player at $39.99, not $49.99:

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=50014055

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