Game Boy Micro lands in UK bargain bin

26 Comments by James Ransom-Wiley Aug 28th 2006 11:25AM
Filed under: Culture, Portable, Business

Joystiq tipster, Jay, spotted a new price tag for Game Boy Micro at GAME, a UK retailer. The palm-sized portable is down from £69 to just £39 (about $75).

Despite being $25 cheaper than the MSRP in the US, the new UK price still doesn't push our 'impulse buy' button. Get it down to the £25/$50 range and we'll gladly toss a couple into the shopping cart while we're waiting in the checkout line.

[Thanks, Jay]

Tags: Game, Game Boy Micro, GameBoyMicro, UK, United Kingdom, UnitedKingdom

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

dsub: Aug 28th 2006; 11:28AM

this thing should cost $50. End of story. However, I'd still rather have a GBASP. Only because it still play original gameboy games.

Deuz Augustine: Aug 28th 2006; 11:41AM

In Canada, they are usually like $60 CAD. True story! Usually at Wal-Mart and EB.

mykie: Aug 28th 2006; 11:47AM

I love the GBMicro, the screen is so crisp and clear, but I'm uber-pissed that Nintendo doesn't make a GCN-to-GBMicro link cable, which is the only reason I haven't bought one yet.

If I was REALLY motivated, though, I'd just make one:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79849

Roddie: Aug 28th 2006; 11:49AM

I think it's £39 preowned btw

Mike Mayer: Aug 28th 2006; 11:59AM

The screen is only great if it wasn't already in the new GBA SP, so kinda lost it's edge on better looking screen, not to mention the DS Lite is the same as well screen wise.

Jay: Aug 28th 2006; 12:05PM

Roddie; nope. I asked the guy at the desk if this was a special Bank Holiday deal but the low price is here to stay.
To be honest I like the GB Micro. Haven't touched my SP since. I'm just really glad I wasn't tempted to buy the £70 one, got mine second hand off eBay for a very beautiful £20. Great machine but priced so, so wrong. Glad to see GAME trying to change that though.

Just like the DS Lite over the DS fat. It was the light weight that won me over.

Hunting_Phoenix: Aug 28th 2006; 12:07PM

"...but I'm uber-pissed that Nintendo doesn't make a GCN-to-GBMicro link cable, which is the only reason I haven't bought one yet."

QFT.

These also have been as low as $50 online from I think Amazon (or one of their affiliates) a while back. I didn't jump on it because of the above reason. I can't link it to the GCN without building a cord. I'm too lazy for that.

Petrie: Aug 28th 2006; 12:13PM

I'm waiting for these to hit the magic $50 price point so I can pick one up on sale for $35. I want one if nothing else than to give FFT:A another playthrough, but just can't justify anything more than a cool $35 on another gameboy.

paul haine: Aug 28th 2006; 12:25PM

I got one of the Famicom Micros when they first came out a year ago for extortionate prices. I don't regret it though - people are very dismissive of the Micro but I've found it to be the best GBA so far. Hell, I'd even be tempted by another one at £39.

paul haine: Aug 28th 2006; 12:31PM

I like the way Game sells them for £39 on their own but for £79 if bundled with 'Chicken Little'

Montana: Aug 28th 2006; 12:35PM

They're only $69 Canadian now...

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10065681&catid=23338&logon=&langid=EN

Enzo: Aug 28th 2006; 12:45PM

Once I can find one for $35-40, I'll pick one up. I already have a DS Lite, but it's still too big to just throw in my pocket, so it usually sits in my car.

Miharu: Aug 28th 2006; 1:04PM

I would buy one of these for 50€, but there's two things: Doesn't play GB/GBC games (I would like to play SMB Deluxe and Zeldas), and as said before, there is no GCN-GBA cable. Not even a third party one!

Rufo Sanchez: Aug 28th 2006; 1:22PM

I picked one up from CompUSA yesterday - they were blowing them out for $60, although there was some confusion on the price so that may not be applicable to all locations. It's impressive how small yet usable it is - the LCD is very nice, and the sharpness is unbelievable - it's almost like going from the original GBA to the GBA SP all over again. Things look tiny, but really good. Overall I'd tend more towards recommending the DS Lite for most folks, but if you really want a nice small GBA to play any games you're still working on finishing up then go for it - it's definitely a nicer experience for GBA games.

josh: Aug 28th 2006; 1:41PM

these are a little TOO micro for my hands. i would buy one to have in my travel bag (for that dreaded missed connection that turns into an overnight layover)... if i didnt already have a GBASP that resides there.

page: Aug 28th 2006; 2:15PM

The GameBoy Micro is a much better system than the Nintendo DS.

fumonisins: Aug 28th 2006; 2:54PM

I hesitated for a while before getting one of those Famicom Micros because of all the bad critiques floating around the net. However, once I brought one home with me, I can't stop playing with it! The screen is sharp and gorgeous. Battery life is good. It does not bother me to much that it can't play GB and GBC games since I have a good library of GBA games already. Never a fan of the GC connection stuff. I hate the layout of GBA SP. It makes my hand cramped. Till today, I feel the money was well spent even I did pay by a premium price for the Micro.

ALH: Aug 28th 2006; 3:30PM

£39..oh man...thats quite nice. A little cheaper and i'll be there with cash in hand- I love my DS but it can be a bit awkward getting it out for a quick game of Rythm Tengoku or wario ware while im waiting in line.

Pepsi: Aug 28th 2006; 3:58PM

I picked up a famicom version at a thrift store for 20 bucks in mississippi.

Natali: Aug 28th 2006; 4:25PM

Zing! Time to buy one.

AssemblyLineHuman: Aug 28th 2006; 4:27PM

Page: Purely based on asthetics? If I'm not mistaken the Gameboy Micro only plays GBA games. The DS can do the same, so unless size is a huge factor for you, your inner-troll is definitely showing.

JacKal: Aug 28th 2006; 5:37PM

I agree with AssemblyLineHuman.. if it's a personal preference of form factor, and lack of need/interest for DS options or games, that's fine... but to just say a statement like that for no reason is bound to look trolly (if I can make "troll + y" a word)

Jay: Aug 28th 2006; 7:00PM

My GBM offers me (seemingly) longer battery life for GBA games than the DS does (both at full brightness). The user replaceable front makes it very robust, if anything badly damages the screen you can just replace it with a 99p new face. oh and preference - I find the buttons are better than anything else. the closeness of the 'b' and 'a' buttons just make NES classic games so much easier to play. to me though it's little things that make it great, certainly my favourite GBA playing device to date.

wiesnertroy: Aug 28th 2006; 7:28PM

I got my micro for only $50! When Sammy Goody was going out of business everything in the store was 50% off, so boomshakalka, I win!

Donutta: Aug 28th 2006; 8:32PM

I got rid of my GBA SP when I bought my DS. I figured that I might as well, since the DS plays GBA games. But when the DS Lite was announced, I knew I would be getting one, and I knew that GBA games are a bitch to play in them because of how they stick out. That's when I picked up a GBA Micro. And I also don't regret it at all. It's sheer size means that it's really easy to take around for those bus trips and lines, and I find the classic style of gaming to be better suited to short bursts.

Tequila Mockingbird: Aug 31st 2006; 5:13PM

OMFG!!! NINTENDO IS DEAD!!!

MICRO -SO- COPIED GBA'S SHOULDER BUTTONS!!!! OMFG!!!

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