How bad is the screen on the orginal GBA?

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hx214

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How bad is the screen on the orignal GBA? Is it almost unplayable? School starts up next week, and I have like a 5 hour break (I drive back a forth to school) so Im going to have alot of downtime. It would be nice to be able to play some RPG's. But I dont know if I want to dump 80 bucks for a SP. I can pick up a reg. Advance for 30 bucks but is it worth it?
 
Yes, it is almost unplayable on the go. Within one day with the regular GBA you will wish you had paid the extra cash and gotten an SP.
 
The DS has an even better screen for playing Advance games, since it's backlit instead of frontlit. After playing for a while on the DS, the SP looks pretty bad IMO.
 
cool thanks for the help guys, I never really looked at the handhelds before, I'll keep a look out for a cheap SP
 
What a bunch of girly-men! Trying playing Tetris on Level 25 with the Original (spinach-green screen) GameBoy! You'll need a squee-gee to wipe the 'streaks' off the screen! ;)
 
[quote name='CappyCobra']What a bunch of girly-men! Trying playing Tetris on Level 25 with the Original (spinach-green screen) GameBoy! You'll need a squee-gee to wipe the 'streaks' off the screen! ;)[/QUOTE]

Later gameboys did have better screens....
Anyhow, I always found the monochrome screens much easier to see than the color screens of the GBA. Actually, even the Gameboy color screen was easier to see than the GBA, though not as easy as the monochrome gameboy.
 
i don't remember what the GBA screen looked like if it's as bad as the neo geo pocket color than yeah it's crap compared to the SP. maybe i'll have to look into putting an afterburner in my NGPC since i still play it
 
[quote name='Fox5']Later gameboys did have better screens....
Anyhow, I always found the monochrome screens much easier to see than the color screens of the GBA. Actually, even the Gameboy color screen was easier to see than the GBA, though not as easy as the monochrome gameboy.[/QUOTE]
couldn't agree more. monochromatic screens much, much easier to see than color ones.
 
I remember thinking the GBA screen was bad when it first came out, and that was before I even knew what a backlight screen was!!

To be quite honest I find the GBA, GBA sp, and the DS to be almost unplayable outside in any daylight. The PSP even is hard to see in some situations. What I found was best to do on road trip is to invest in those window shades made for babies. You just stick them on the inside of a rolled up car window, and it greatly reduces the sunlight on that side of the car. Makes gaming on long road trips much better on the eyes.
 
you can pick up an SP used on a webforum (IGN, craigslist etc.) for around $45

well worth it imo.

I've got two, tho one is a bit busted (R button is faded). I'm considering selling one but I'll hafta speak to the gf.
 
I would avoid the original GBA at all costs if you plan on playing anywhere that doesn't have a good light source. It's hands down one of the worst screens I've ever seen on a portable. I literally tried every after market light attachment and found that they caused bad reflections in the screen.

That being said, the only light that made the GBA playable was the Afterburner front light. It worked really well, but was $50. Before the SP, it was the best solution.
 
You might want to try a SP or DS. I realize it's a lot more expensive, but that screen is way too dim and you'll be losing money on batteries anyway.
 
The Triton Labs website now goes to some music website. So unless you are going to install a home made light in an air tight dust free chamber inside the GBA, then go with an SP(side lit), or better yet, the DS(Backlit).
 
I got a gamegear for chirstmas way back when it had come out, man was it ahead of its time.

I got a GBA and a GBA SP both on launch. The screen is much different and the following(true) statement can sum up how much more enjoyable it is.

Within my first week of owning an SP, i already put more playtime in every game i owned then i had with the original GBA for a whole year. Not a lie. I remember id wake up in the middle of the night and just play SP....just because i could. I took it with me everywhere and played it when ever, where ever.

I wouldnt touch an original GBA with a 10 foot pole after having an SP(Now a DS)
 
Being a Cheap Ass Just buy the regular which is the best designed, IMO, and a $5 light from somewhere. Save you like $50.
 
[quote name='David85']Being a Cheap Ass Just buy the regular which is the best designed, IMO, and a $5 light from somewhere. Save you like $50.[/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly. The light might not be perfect, but it helps. Those of us who were early GBA adopters struggled through with our old first-gen units and still managed to get some pretty decent gaming on! :)
 
I got a GBA because I have big hands and I dont like how small the SP is. My GBA is afterburner'd with extra loud speakers and LEDs. Too bad I never play it...
 
[quote name='David85']Being a Cheap Ass Just buy the regular which is the best designed, IMO, and a $5 light from somewhere. Save you like $50.[/QUOTE]
That doesn't cover the battery issue.

Fortunately, a $10 set of a charger and some AAs to go with it will. :D

Come to think of it, DO NOT get an SP if you're using it in a car. If your batteries die, you're screwed. The versatility that comes with the AAs is more than worth it, especially since the SP's "upgrades" can all be had on your GBA for very little.
 
[quote name='captaincold']At this point in time there really no reason to get a GBA or SP system.
EB games has Used DS systems for $99.99[/QUOTE]

I just bought the Jet Black GBA from amazon.com for $35 so I could play FF:Crystal Chronicles and Four Swords multiplayer. It was cheaper than getting an SP, and I already have a DS, which nintendo stupidly removed the link port from.
 
[quote name='captaincold']At this point in time there really no reason to get a GBA or SP system.
EB games has Used DS systems for $99.99[/QUOTE]
Yes there is. Not everyone has or wants a GBC or GB for older games. The GBA can play those; the DS can't.
 
[quote name='Gothic_Walrus']...Come to think of it, DO NOT get an SP if you're using it in a car. If your batteries die, you're screwed. The versatility that comes with the AAs is more than worth it, especially since the SP's "upgrades" can all be had on your GBA for very little.[/QUOTE]Err.. umm... they make a car charger. How long do you plan to play your SP in the car?
 
I had a buddy at school that needs some extra money. He offered to sell me his Red Sp (MINT) and mario cart, for 60 bucks. Was just about to give in and just buy it, then I was like ah crap I have to pay for lunch, so I waited and went to class. I have another buddy that was in my next class and I was talking to him and he said he had a computer class earlier that he was going to by a book for, and I said "Ah I have that book still from last semester, in fact its still in my book bag, so I just gave it to him" "Then he goes, HEY THANKS, here I'll trade you, and pulls out a GBA from his book bag and hands it to me. I was like what thefuck ?!!

Turns out he was at work and the nintendo rep came and and was putting in a DS display, and pulled the demo GBA and told him to throw it in the dumpster! He just kept it, but he already had a SP. What strange luck that was.
 
well I figured because I was the one that started this thread asking which GBA to buy, then just had one handed to me, I thought I would let you guys know I ended up with the orginal instead of the Sp...
 
[quote name='Gothic_Walrus']That doesn't cover the battery issue.

Fortunately, a $10 set of a charger and some AAs to go with it will. :D

Come to think of it, DO NOT get an SP if you're using it in a car. If your batteries die, you're screwed. The versatility that comes with the AAs is more than worth it, especially since the SP's "upgrades" can all be had on your GBA for very little.[/QUOTE]


That's what I don't like, if I'm on a trip I want to change batteries on a plane, you can't with the SP.

I had a light I got for like $6, and protects the screen. I lost it, but still was good. :)
 
[quote name='Gothic_Walrus']That doesn't cover the battery issue.

Fortunately, a $10 set of a charger and some AAs to go with it will. :D

Come to think of it, DO NOT get an SP if you're using it in a car. If your batteries die, you're screwed. The versatility that comes with the AAs is more than worth it, especially since the SP's "upgrades" can all be had on your GBA for very little.[/QUOTE]



You could just buy an AC adaptor for cheap.
 
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