Goodbye, GBA

by Alisha Karabinus { Oct 6th 2008 at 12:00PM }

While the DSi isn't going to be a factor for those of us in the U.S. and Europe until next year (unless you're importing), we're already gathered in a solemn knot and singing a dirge in honor of the Game Boy Advance. Nintendo's last juggernaut was supposed to be alive and kicking, healthy as can be, and part of a three-pillar strategy for Nintendo's control of the gaming universe. Instead, we're preparing to bid farewell to those fat cartridges, and with them, a bevy of DS/DS Lite accessories, add-ons, and extras.

If you're trading in or selling a DS to fund a DSi purchase, you'll be gaining a lot ... but today, we're here to mourn everything you're going to lose, and if you've bought a lot of DS accessories, you stand to lose a lot if you don't keep a DS or DS Lite around. Step right into the gallery to kick off the tour of tragedy, or slip past the break for a moment of song in honor of the death of the GBA slot.

NEXT >>

Tags: dsi, gba-slot, joystiqfeatures, nintendo-dsi, slot-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nigeria @ Oct 6th 2008 12:13PM

Now where will all my plastic, add-on crap go?

Damn you, Nintendo.

KaBob799 @ Oct 6th 2008 12:46PM

Well I doubt we will be seeing many more gba add-ons now so by the time it comes out there wont be as much of a demand for having a gba slot.

aj @ Oct 6th 2008 1:04PM

I've never heard of, let alone seen, about 95% of those things on the list.

But I do play GBA games. And I want my copy of Final Fantasy VI to always have a home, dammit! And what of Fire Emblem? WHAT OF FIRE EMBLEM?!?!

Puddles @ Oct 6th 2008 2:02PM

GBA games are the reason I won't be getting a DSi. The 2 Fire Emblem games alone make it worth having the GBA slot.

Jason Hill @ Oct 6th 2008 5:40PM

As much as i am willing to shell out money for a 3rd ds, i will be keeping both my NES Gameboy Advance SP and Gold Triforce DS Lite. The next handheld better be a brand new ds or i wont be supporting these changing dses anymore.

Ravnos @ Oct 6th 2008 2:42PM

I honestly can't stand when people say "Who needs the GBA slot, you'll be able to download the games anyway!" There are compelling arguments to be made for removing the GBA slot on the new DS, but "buying games I already paid for" is not one of them.

Professor Lario @ Oct 6th 2008 3:15PM

Can someone make a list of the best GBA games to pick up while the getting is good?

Monodi @ Oct 6th 2008 7:08PM

There are a lot. A. LOT.

Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga
Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem the Sacred Stones
Drill Dozer
Megaman Zero
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Zero Mission
Golden Sun
Golden Sun 2: The Lost Age
Kirby Nightmare In Dreamland
The Legend of Zelda Four Swords/Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda Minish Cap
WarioWare Inc. Mega Microgame$
Wario Land 4
Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen
Final Fantasy VI
Mystical Ninja Goemon
Donkey Kong Country 2 (though I hate the toony sound effects)
Try importing Mother1+2 and/or Mother3

Zealot @ Oct 6th 2008 7:38PM

This is just a quickly-cobbled together list from memory of things I enjoyed and things I haven't played but are generally considered good, but...

Castlevania Aria of Sorrow/Circle of the Moon/Harmony of Dissonance
Drill Dozer
Final Fantasy IV/V/VI/Tactics Advance
Fire Emblem/FE: The Sacred Stones
Golden Sun/GS: The Lost Age
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Minish Cap
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Metroid Fusion/Zero Mission
Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald/FireRed/LeafGreen
Scurge Hive
Sigma Star Saga
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story
Super Mario Advance 1-4
Tony Hawk�s Pro Skater 2

I didn't include a couple of things that I like but are impossible to find anymore, but this list should be a good starting point.

Zealot @ Oct 6th 2008 7:41PM

Oh, and add to that the stuff from Monodi's list. As has been happening a lot lately, the post wasn't there when I clicked on this thread and suddenly appeared afterward.

Professor Lario @ Oct 7th 2008 10:36AM

You guys rock. I saved your responses in my 'Games I want' watch list. : )

HairyBalls @ Oct 6th 2008 4:43PM

I'm going to keep my DS Phat and get a DSi.

I also have a GBA SP and Micro, so no GBA slot on the DSi doesn't matter to me.

gukid @ Oct 6th 2008 5:45PM

I just actually bought "another" GBA Micro the other week. Got the Famicom 20th Anniversary one from Play-Asia while it was on sale. Great little toy :P Also picked up a copy of Magical Vacation for $6. So many great Japanese GBA games that still haven't come out here, so with my flashcard and hopes of further fan translations (whooo, Kaio-Shin!) I'll be playing GBA for years to come, whether NoA likes it or not.

Monodi @ Oct 6th 2008 6:53PM

I hate to say it this way, but this is one nail to Gunpei Yokoi's cross. Even if he was the father of portable gaming, the GameBoy signature was a legend and to see it end this way on the name of evolution is sad.

Luckily we still have Metroid and hopefully Kid Icarus soon which will give the retribution to the real person who pushed Nintendo into the gaming market.

Sigh.

Oh anyway, I have been thinking about splitting them up. Not literally of course. I might sell my DSLite to get a DSi but also I would like to get either a GBASP or the Mother3 Edition of GameBoy Micro.

ecco6t9 @ Oct 6th 2008 8:11PM

I will miss my Taito Paddle and Rumble Pak.

I would say case and stylus but I've got a feeling Waterfield and Panache should have DSi products.

Jacksons @ Oct 6th 2008 8:16PM

That not-yet-released Tony Hawk really irked me. I have no interest in the DSi, but obsoleting a game that's not even out? That's messed up.

J.K. @ Oct 6th 2008 8:25PM

I got rid of my GBA stuff and Guitar Hero made my hand hurt more than anything in gaming before so it's no loss to me personally.

BE ADVISED... Nintendo has said the DSi is REGION LOCKED! WTF?! If you own any games outside your region they will NOT work in this, and I do - Electroplankton! >:\

David D. @ Oct 6th 2008 10:32PM

@J.K.

Don't worry, DS cartridges aren't region locked. Nintendo seems to be only locking downloadable content.

freestyler_rmg @ Oct 7th 2008 5:34AM

well... i don't quite agree with DSi... Nintendo's trademark is backward compatibility... you can use Game Cube's controller on Wii... or you can play gameboy's game on gameboy advance... or you can play gameboy advance's game on Nintendo DS... well... DSi is a media player... there's a lot usefulness for gba slot... well... let's see what Nintendo have in their mind...

potatochips1337 @ Oct 8th 2008 11:44PM

Don't you think that the dsi will have its own new game, and have full ds compatibility??? It seems like the most likely answer because they will have more ram due to the browser, bigger screens, and the two cameras.

I don't know if this is true, but I think it seems like it.

Hoffer @ Oct 7th 2008 7:31AM

I will probably buy a DSi, but will not sell my current DS.

low tech @ Oct 7th 2008 8:33AM

This man has the right idea. I don't see why buying a DSi automatically means you'll lose the functions of your current handheld. This looks to me like a situation where you _can_ have your cake and eat it too.

low tech @ Oct 7th 2008 8:41AM

Disregard that, I'm a big dummy.

maifren @ Oct 8th 2008 8:05PM

I am unhappy becase of the pokemon translation feature of the last 2 pokemon games , but if i get the DSi I wont have my old DS so I wont be able to translate all my good pokemons from my pokemon GBA pack anymore to platinium and dont forget the thingie that I dont remember now the name about it depends on wich GBA pack do you have you could get pokemons that you cant get in any other place