[edit] Media The interface from the Game Boy Advance unit to the ROM cartridge includes only a 24-bit address bus multiplexed with a 16-bit data bus. (Mattel's Intellivision console had previously used a multiplexed bus.) This setup limits the directly addressable memory to 16 binary megawords (that is, 256 binary mebibits or 32 binary mebibytes), but bankswitching hardware on the cartridge can extend this by controlling the ROM's upper address lines from software, effectively switching other parts of the ROM into the Game Boy Advance's address space. Using this and the cartridge maximum capacity of 32 MB, which represents half of the N64 cartridge maximum capacity, it allows the developers to add specials contents like FMVs, in games such as Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. By early 2002, hardware became readily available for moving user code onto the Game Boy Advance. For example, in December 2001, a flash memory cartridge and its writing hardware was selling for less than $200 U.S., along with a $50 device to emulate the netbooting master. By April 2003, the prices had come down to under $100 for the flash cartridge and writer and $30 for the boot cable. Because of the drop in prices for programming equipment, a homebrew software development community has sprung up. Nintendo, however, has a history of viewing such devices as nothing more than piracy tools, since they can be used to copy cartridges containing copyrighted software. In February 2002, Nintendo began sending threatening letters to some United States resellers of such devices. Previous lawsuits had banned the importation of similar devices for the 8-bit Game Boy. [edit] Connectivity 4-Player connection with 2 GBAs, 1 GBA SP, and 1 GameCube with a Game Boy Player attached The Game Boy Advance also has a serial port for connecting to other Game Boy Advance units in a setup similar to a token ring network over a bus physical topology. A Game Boy Advance can also receive up to 256 KiB of bootstrap code through the port, even when no cartridge is present (sometimes known as multiboot or netboot). This is used for multiplayer Game Boy Advance connections, where multiple Game Boy Advances can play with only one cartridge; one Game Boy Advance with a cartridge sends boot code to the other cartridge-less Game Boy Advances. The serial port can (with a suitable cable) also connect to a standard RS-232 serial port for debugging purposes and (hypothetically) Internet play, although a TCP/IP stack has yet to be implemented in a Game Boy Advance game. The release of the Nintendo DS in 2004 made this further unlikely, given the built-in Wi-Fi of that system's release. To link Game Boy Advance games, a Game Boy Advance link cable is required. To link regular GB or GB Color games, the older GB link cable is required, even if two Game Boy Advances are being used. Nintendo also introduced connectivity between the Game Boy Advance to the GameCube console through the GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable. This function could unlock data, act as a second screen, among other things. It did not catch on very well and few games added such connectivity. The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter was released on September 7, 2004 in the United States. It allows Game Boy Advances to be linked without cords, and with more than four players at a time. It came bundled with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. However, a game has to be designed with the wireless adapter in mind, and there are only a few such games. The Game Boy Micro featured another port design; in order to make the system so small, the link port was shrunken. Nintendo has released a GBM-GBM and a GBM-Game Boy Advance adapter to restore full multiplayer compatibilit y. Nintendo has also released a special Game Boy Micro Wireless Adapter for wireless play. These items are currently only sold on Nintendo.com. [edit] Models [edit] Game Boy Advance (original model) The Game Boy Advance sold at a base price of $100 USD when it was released in North America. Prior to the release of the Game Boy Advance SP, the Game Boy Advance was the fastest-selling game console in history. Despite its success, many criticized the original Game Boy Advance for still not adopting a lighted screen, which Nintendo would rectify with later models. As of 2005, the original (non- lighted) model has been discontinued. [edit] Game Boy Advance SP Game Boy Advance SP Main article: Game Boy Advance SP In early 2003, Nintendo upgraded the Game Boy Advance giving it an internal front-light that can be turned on or off, a rechargeable lithium ion battery, as well as a folding case approximately half the size of the Game Boy Advance. It was designed to address some common complaints with the original Game Boy Advance. Also this model of the Game Boy Advance has been critized for being very uncomfortable. Around the same time as the release of the Game Boy Micro, Nintendo released a new backlit version of the SP in North America. The switch that controls the light now toggles between "normal" (which itself is already brighter than the original Nintendo DS's screen), and "bright," an intense brightness level similar to LCD television set. [edit] Game Boy Micro Game Boy Micro Main article: Game Boy Micro In September 2005, Nintendo released a second redesign of the Game Boy Advance. This model, dubbed the Game Boy Micro, is similar in style to the original Game Boy Advance's horizontal orientation but is much smaller and sleeker. The Game Boy Micro also offers the user to switch between several colored faceplates to allow customization, a feature which Nintendo advertised heavily around the Game Boy Micro's launch. Unlike the previous Game Boy Advance models, Game Boy Micro does not support Game Boy or Game Boy Color titles. [edit] Accessories Nintendo has released many add-ons for the Game Boy Advance. These include: Wireless Adapter - Released in 2004, this adapter hooks up to the back of the Game Boy Advance. It replaces link cables and allows many people to link up to each other. It markets for $20 and came included with Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen. Because it was released so late in the Game Boy Advance's life, fewer than 20 games support this hardware. The adapter's usefulness is most evident in Pokémon; FireRed/LeafGreen and Emerald feature a "Union Room" where up to forty people can enter to battle or trade Pokémon. A Game Boy Micro version has also been released - it can interact fully with both models of the Wireless Adapter. Game Boy Advance Infra-Red Adapter - This adapter was included with the game Ciberdrive Zoids as it is only compatible with this game. The adaptor was not sold separately. This is also currently the only Game Boy Advance accessory that has not been remade for the Game Boy Micro. Play-Yan - The Play-Yan is an MP3/MPEG4 player for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. The cartridge is slightly bigger than normal Game Boy Advance cartridge and includes a built-in headphone port as well as an SD Card slot. Music or videos that users have downloaded from the Internet can be transferred onto an SD Card and slotted into the Play-Yan device. Nintendo has released several mini games for the Play-Yan that can be downloaded from their website, although Nintendo later removed all mini-game functionality through a firmware update. The Play-Yan is currently available in Japan only, but a European release has been confirmed for early 2006. Since Play-Yan did not have a U.S. release to coincide with Game Boy Micro as rumored, an American release has been speculated for 2006 as well. e-Reader - The e-Reader is a rather bulky scanning device that plugs into the game cartridge slot of the Game Boy Advance. Specialized cards with codes along the side and bottom are slid through the slit, scanning the card into the Game Boy Advance. Many ideas for the e-Reader have included cards that scan classic games like Donkey Kong and Excitebike onto the handheld ready to play, as well as a collaboration with Super Mario Advance 4 to have cards that unlock content. GameCube games like Animal Crossing had cards with unlockable content as well, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game playing cards also adopted the e-Reader codes. The e-Reader works with the Game Boy Player as well as the Game Boy Advance SP . by controlling the ROM's upper address lines from software, effectively switching other parts of the ROM into the Game Boy Advance's address space. Using this and the cartridge maximum. serial port can (with a suitable cable) also connect to a standard RS-232 serial port for debugging purposes and (hypothetically) Internet play, although a TCP/IP stack has yet to be implemented