Nintendo Space World events live on in gaming history, from a time when Nintendo would save some of its very biggest reveals for the show. It's also a collector's goldmine, with demos, hardware and more revealed at the show before disappearing into obscurity.
One example is the Silver and Teal Game Boy Advance; it's from a notable year, 2000, as that was the show that unveiled the true successor to the Game Boy. We've seen this trick from Nintendo multiple times of course, unveiling handhelds with all sorts of colours that don't make it to market, so it's always a thrill when they're discovered.
As noted in the tweet, it's going to pop up in an analysis video on Hard4Games, a channel that only recently showed off another Space World-era GBA model, and yet another last year.
It is rather pretty, but thankfully with the Switch the age of multi-coloured hardware iterations lives on, even if Space World is a distant memory.
Comments 26
We've had quite a few limited consoles cropping up again. First the Golden Wii, now this
Nice, would love to have it with a V2 IPS screen! I must say that the first GBA i bought was pretty similar in colors. Was a pain to play Pokemon Ruby under a lamp.
Ooooh...! 😲
That's beautiful color schemes. 😀
This looks really good. Still I prefer the SP in every way
Listed on eBay in 5, 4....
Seriously good looking.
I wish nintendo would release GBA looking like that with proper backliit screen for a limited time.
It's almost as if Nintendo never returned to those colour of buttons until way later into the future, when they decided to make the New 2DS XL.
Ah, pocketable handhelds, what a time it was to be alive..
Nice. I really liked this one (even more so the orange/silver version they showed). I wish these ones had been released - though the purple one they launched with was good in its own way (and more consistent with GameCube). You can get replacement shells in these colours now and it really works.
So cheap and tacky looking.
If only it was one of the sp models- the backlit screen is important to me
@Roibeard64 Look up rose color gaming, they make backlit screens
@NinChocolate
Ah impossibly small screens. I don't miss em..
@Zuljaras all 3 GBA models have pros and cons.
The original model is the most confortable, yet the lack of front or backlite really hurt. Using alcaline batteries is bad in the short term but better in the long term, since rechargeable batteries lose power over the years.
The GBM is very confortable to me, I have no problem holding It and seeing the action. The lack of GB/GBC compatibility is a con, but I wouldn't want to use carts that big in a console that is supposed to fit in any pocket.
The SP might just be the best overall. Confortable, but not so much as the original. Front or backlight. Compatible with GB/GBC/GBA. Though It is the most fragile and the most susceptible to scratches in the casing.
My favorite? Game Boy Micro.
@Paulo Better to have scratches on the case than on the display. Also the AGS-101 screen has the perfect size and brightness.
I want to get a micro but they are too expensive for that they are
@Zuljaras I also would like a micro, but as a teenager, I don't have nearly enough money.
I love to see Kevin Perjurer do a Defunctland video on the history of the Nintendo Space World 1989-2001.
I was in 9th grade the year this debuted at Spaceworld. I was so obsessed I made a GameBoy Advance fan site during my technology class. My teacher was less than impressed since my projects weren't completed and the eye roll was priceless when I excitedly tried to explain why the site was a better use of my time because EVERYONE needed to know about it lol
@pixelpatch @Roibeard64
For GBA, there's a lot of sites selling IPS screen replacement kits. But often, they are just resellers. The exact same kits are being sold directly from China.
It is worth supporting local sites because a lot of them are also developing new shell designs and other accessories (so their income does go towards good projects) - and it does help grow the community. But it is also worth knowing that you can get these screens from China, from sellers on Ali Express and similar sites. it's a longer wait time but, from what I've seen, it is the same product being sold, for much cheaper. The main downside would be that customer-service is probably non-existent if you had problems after buying. But it is an option.
As for Rose Colored Gaming, I really wouldn't recommend them. I bought a backlit GBA from them a few years ago and was disappointed with the quality. Main issue was that the d-pad was massively unresponsive, barely working at all. Later, the speaker stopped working completely. Very pretty but completely unplayable as a gameboy.
Well there's the Switch Pro colour scheme sorted.
Can't remember what colors the OG 3DS (the originally boxy design, not the rounded one. Was that the "3DS lite" design?) actually made it to market with, aside from the launch black and aqua.
Pretty sure the purple shown at E3 never made it. Didn't they also have orange and red that didn't make it?
I remember another SpaceWorld with the N64 reveal had a (non-atomic) purple controller that also was never released, I don't think.
Amazing because as the GameCube showed us, Nintendo was rather fond of that color.
@Zuljaras you are right, and if you use a leather or silicone case, It won't scratch at all. The AGS-101 is a marvel indeed.
I have more than 1 Micro because I bought them at the right time. Around 2006 until 2008 if I recall correctly, you could still find them in online stores for real cheap, because nobody was buying them. I bought one sealed in an online store for 40 dollars.
@Splodge yeah I've seen a few altered screens on ebay and the like but it's a bit of a gamble on quality of the screen or mod someone has done.
In particular I'd love the original model over the more commonly altered sp. Due to comfort factor.
I love my old SPs portability back in day but now I'd prefer not to have hand cramps and tiny shoulder buttons.
Always cool to see items like this found and still intact. I've been watching Hard4Games for a while and they do good work. It's so odd to see how the channel has developed and changed since I started watching. They didn't specialize in the sort of preservation and rare and prototype items that they focus on now. I guess they found a niche that works better for them and they do well with that, so no complaints here. The hardest part is just the access to items such as this, but they seem to have that worked out. I look forward to their video on it.
Very cool find! I love the color scheme. I love Nintendo handhelds in general.
This was going to be the color scheme I was going to buy.
Tap here to load 26 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...