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Game Boy Advance - Game Boy - GBA - DS Compatability FAQ - Game Boy Advance - by ArsonWinter - GameFAQs
Game Boy Advance - Game Boy - GBA - DS Compatability FAQ - Game Boy Advance - by ArsonWinter - GameFAQs
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 INTRODUCTION
02 HARDWARE NUMBERING SYSTEM
03 ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMS
04 HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY
05 GAME PAK TYPES
06 MODEL NUMBERS
07 REGION CONNECTIONS
08 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
09 CONTACT
10 CHANGES/NOTES/LINKS
01 INTRODUCTION
---------------
Nintendo gives all hardware they produce a specific number. This
makes identifying what you have very easy, especially across
different regions. This convention is included in every Nintendo
hardware release, and it dates back to pre-Famicom home video game
systems (Japanese non-cartridge systems). There are a few basics
about the Nintendo hardware numbers system that you should
familiarize yourself with before viewing this site.
With every new prefix since the Famicom/NES, the base system is
usually "01" or "001" (back to the first example, Nintendo DS's
system hardware number is "NTR-001"). Accessories and peripherals
follow with additional numbers. Any gaps in product number lists can
be explained by being future, canceled, or unknown hardware items.
For example, an entry for "AGB-011" does not exist, because the
hardware was never released. In the case of new hardware, such as the
Nintendo DS, gaps in the system's hardware numbers (say, from NTR-006
to NTR-009) may account for upcoming peripherals or future add-ons.
DMG - The Original Game Boy design, short for "Dot Matrix Graphics"
MGB - Product code for Game Boy Pocket or Game Boy Light
CGB - Product code for Game Boy Color
AGB - Product code for Game Boy Advance
AGS - Product code for Game Boy Advance SP
OXY - Product code for Game Boy Micro
NTR - Product Code for Nintendo DS
USG - Product code for Nintendo DS Lite
TWL - Product code for Nintendo DSi
04 HARDWARE COMATABILITY
------------------------
Here is the hardware compatibility section. The names for these
accessories were taken from store.nintendo.com. Obviously I'm not
going to include a lot of hardware-specific items in this, like
battery covers, screen replacements, cartridge cases, etc.
Game Boy
The original portable Nintendo game system. Released in 1989, then
popularized thanks to a little game known as Tetris, the dot-matrix
graphics captivated a generation of gamers. The system was notable
for having one of the longest lifespans in videogame history.
GB Link Cable
Compatible with: DMG/MGB/SGB2/GBC/GBA/GBP/SP
Connects two DMG Game Boys together. Requires a Universal Game Link
Adapter to convert between the original DMG Game Boy's link port,
and the link port used by the Game Boy Pocket (MGB) and Game Boy
Color, and compatible with the GBA line.
Nintendo DS
Released in 2004, the DS would serve as a roadmap to the direction
Nintendo was heading in with the Wii. Designed around two screens, a
touch-screen, a microphone, and two slots for games. This was the
first portable to abandon backwards compatabilty for pre-GBA paks.
Nintendo DS AC Adapter
Compatible with: SP/NTR
Once again, it's the same port on both the SP and DS.
DS Headset
Compatable with: DS/DSL/DSi
Headset and Microphone combo.
Nintendo DS Lite
Released in 2006, the DS Lite shrunk the size of the previous model,
while improving brightness. This model's Slot 2 is smaller, so paks
tend to stick out further while it's occupied.
Nintendo DSi
Released in 2009, the DSi improves screen brightness, adds online
functionality, and adds a SD card slot to the side of the unit. The
DSi does, however, remove the ability to play GBA games or use any
accessories that make use of the Slot 2 on previous models.
05 CARTRIDGE TYPES
------------------
Here is the section outlining the different types of Game Boy games,
with the colors of the cartridges included to make things easier.
Yes, I'm aware that there are some specially-colored carts out there,
like Donkey Kong Land or the Pokemon games... I think it's pretty
easy to figure out which cart type I' talking about.
06 MODEL NUMBERS
----------------
Here is a section full of all the model numbers on the Nintendo Game
Boy and DS hardware family. To explain the missing model numbers,
every now and then Nintendo creates hardware it doesn't release (like
the Game Boy Advance GameEye, prototypes, etc). These products may be
assigned a model number, even if they've never been produced.
Super Nintendo:
SNS-027 Super Game Boy
SNS-042 Super Game Boy 2 (limited US release)
05 REGION CONNECTIONS
---------------------
The Game Boy family has always been region-free, which means that you
can play European games in Japanese systems, using a North American
link cable. The Nintendo DS range is region-free, too.
--
There is one big exception: the E-Reader.
While it works in any region, E-Readers will only read cards from the
same region (i.e. North American E-Readers will only read North
American E-Reader cards). More importantly, there are TWO types of
Japanese E-Reader systems. Europe did not release an E-Reader.
The Japanese E-Reader can read dot-codes off playing cards. The "E-
Reader +" is modeled after the US release (however they are not
backwards compatible). Besides adding voice to the main menu, this
version also adds the ability to connect to the GameCube ("Pokemon
Channel") or another Game Boy Advance ("F-Zero: Falcon Legend"), the
ability to save a program, and a few "stock" game sounds/music. The
"E-Reader +" can read Japanese "E-Reader" cards.
--
Simple Answer: In order for, say, GBC games to work on the DS, the
voltage would have to be increased internally. On the GBA, GBP, and
SP, there was a switch that did this when an older game was inserted
(compare the notches at the bottom of a grey DMG cart to the bottom
of a GBA cart). The extra ridge of the DMG cart pushes down a button
to switch the GBA/GBP/SP into "GBC mode," making it work just like a
GBC. The switch changes the voltage internally, so the processor has
more power to work with (to try to bring it up to normal GBC
speeds). The DS doesn't have this switch, and thus, blocks this
ridge, and thus prevents DMG/GBC games from being inserted.
Q. Where can you purchase these accessories (the Universal Game Link
Adapter for the DMG Game Boy, for example)?
A. Nintendo has an excellent online store for all sorts of
accessories and components: http://store.nintendo.com
Q. Do you know where to buy a GBA Play-Yan Adapter and what does it
look like?
A. The Play-Yan Adapter (to play MPEG-4 and MP3 files off Panasonic
SD cards) will launch in Japan in February of 2005 via Nintendo's
online store. A North American or European launch is not yet
confirmed. Officially, the adapter has been announced with a price
of 5,000 yen (that converts to around $48 USD if you're considering
importing it). For pictures, check out NCL's official Japanese Play-
Yan site at: http://nintendo.co.jp/n08/playan/feature/index.html
08 CONTACT
----------
If you're going to contact me, might as well do it over AIM. If you
have any corrections, questions, or comments, please talk to me.
Please don't e-mail me about Pokemon. I get ten e-mails a week about
Pokemon. I will not repond to these questions if you send me them.
E-Mail: tideblue@gmail.com
09 CHANGES/NOTES
----------------
Version Changes:
1.0 12/19/04 FAQ started
1.1 12/21/04 Added a few minor updates
1.2 12/22/04 Added a new FAQ question
1.3 12/23/04 New FAQ question, and other minor corrections
1.4 12/27/04 Added model numbers to Hardware and Cart sections,
Separated the DMG Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket on the lists
1.5 12/28/04 Added more model numbers, and Mobile GB info
1.6 01/02/05 Loads of updates, added Region Connections
1.7 01/19/05 More info on the Play-Yan
2.0 08/31/05 Updated layout, added Game Boy Micro, online links
2.1 02/09/06 Added more Micro and DS Lite info
2.2 04/25/06 Added a few DS Lite loose ends.
2.3 09/04/09 Added DSi information and fixed errors; changed name
Special Thanks:
Links:
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