Please explain Gameboys

[Partridge4ever]

My kids have never asked for a Gameboy, but they've seen their friends' and seem to enjoy playing them. DD is almost 10 and her wish list is pretty short. Santa might bring a Gameboy. There's a new version coming out, right? What's the difference? Is it "new and improved" enough to justify the expense or is the current version (SP right?) OK?

If I decide to go with the SP, will I get the best deal before Christmas or will they go on clearance afterwards? Her birthday is in February so that's another possibility.

Thanks!

 

[Tamis3girls]

Both my girls have them, ages 10 and 7, they play with them periodically, and it was a thing that they wanted originally, but my 10 year old has moved beyond the Gameboys now and wants to do everything on the computer, emailing, IMing, surfing the net, downloading music, so this year she is getting a MP3 player. I like the gameboys, and there are fun games out there too, I always like to get the games that are somewhat educational too!!!

Not sure about the difference between the old version and new versions?

Good luck!!

 

[VSL]

Are you sure she doesn't want a PSP [Playstation Portable]?
These are one of the newest and most popular handhelds on the market at the moment (me and my BF want one - but we are students with all our money plugged into WDW at the moment, so it's a no-go!).

 

[sbaldasare]

There is a new version of Gameboy out - Gameboy Micro. It oblong in shape with no flip up screen. A thin design that fits into your pocket. I think the brightness of the screen is suppose to be improved.

As far as Gameboy Advance SP. Walmart will be having those on sale 5-11 am on the day after Thanksgiving for 48.88 - which is an awesome deal. I think the Advance SP's are running about 75 - 79 right now and the new GameBoys are 99.00 this week in Meijer's ad.

My boys love their Gameboys and are great for traveling. I even enjoy playing the Mario and Luigi games with them. Reminds me of when I was a kid and they get a kick out of their mom knowing how to play a video game. They are 6 and 9.

 

[corie161]

There is also the Nintendo DS which is another version on the handheld game. This is what I opted for, for my DD. It's a little more expensive, but has the popular Nintendogs game for it. It also takes Gameboy Advance Games so it hits 2 things at once.

 

[umaangel00]

I would opt for the Nintendo DS. I have one and so does DH. They can be expsensive but when you think it plays more than Nintendo DS games it's well worth it.

To be honest do not go with the PSP. They are 250 bucks and not worth it at all.

I have the pink DS and DH has the grey one. Depending on the color you want is dependant on the price as well.

 

[calie_j]

The gameboy SP has been out for awhile and sells for 79.99, there's already news on this board of a black friday sale of 48.88 at Walmart. The newer version of gameboy is the mini, from what I've seen it's not as good or popular as SP and the screen is very small. The latest version of gameboy if you want to call it that because it plays gameboy advance games is the Nintendo DS, this starts at 129.99 and since it's new it will be hard to find it cheaper.

My kids have had gameboys for many years starting with the gameboy color and upgrading to the advance 2 yrs ago and handing down the GB color to their sister (I bought the games for her on Amazon since they were getting hard to find with advance system replacing the old color system). This year I'm getting DD and 1 of her brother's the SP and my oldest the Nintendo DS. The SP because it will play both the new advance games and the old color games they have, it has the fold down design to protect the screen, is more compact, and comes with a better rechargable battery (all my old gameboys still work fine, only problems are the rechargable battery packs are worn out and hard to find anymore). I'm not sure what I think of the new Nintendo DS because I think it has more then my kid's need in wireless features but I'm going to try it for my 15yr old because it will play his old advance games too.

Hope this helped. I've found the info and reviews at Amazon are great for checking out things like this.

Calie

 

[Partridge4ever]

Thanks for all the quick replies! I've never heard of a Playstation Portable. I'll look into it. And I know they'd like the Nintendogs, so I'll check on that too.

The Wal Mart special is what got me to thinking about these. Kmart also has them on Thanksgiving Day only: Gameboy Advance SP w/ Metroid Zero Mission and Spyro Orange - $79.99. Not sure if that game is worth the extra $$$$ but I'm not a big Black Friday shopping fan...too scary.

DD6 wants the Disney thing that looks like a Pixter. I think it's too expensive for the number of games that are available. And DH wants xbox 360. I was going to get that for our anniversary (Dec. 18) and then a game for Christmas, until I realized how much the thing costs!

 

[umaangel00]

If you think your kids will want the Nintendogs game, then the only system to play it is the Nintendo DS. I have that game and I love it! I know they will too!

 

[Partridge4ever]

OK, you guys are great and saving me so much time researching ! I had no idea the Playstation thing existed or that they cost $250! Scratch that altogether.

 

[VSL]

Probably the best thing to do is look at what games are available for each, and then make a decision based on that. It does seem to be the case that Nintendo caters more for a younger audience than PS does

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

If she wants Nintendogs then definately go with the Nintendo DS - it is the only one that plays the Nintendogs - which is very popular this year - My DD got one for her birthday and she loves it!!

 

[bigolive9]

For a young kid, either the DS or the SP would be good. The flip up screen will help protect it from being ruined if it gets dropped. Also, the screen is less likely to get scratched. The only downside to the DS is that it has a little stylus that is used for some games- this is very easily lost. My husband has all variations of game boy (except the new micro), so i consider him a bit of an expert, and these are his suggestions for kids. Also, Nintendo has much more family friendly games than Sony, wich is another reason why I would lean towards the Gameboy and not the overpriced PSP.

 

[jeancbpugh]

If you think your kids will want the Nintendogs game, then the only system to play it is the Nintendo DS. I have that game and I love it! I know they will too!

Both my sons have DSs and Nintendogs. They like Nintendogs, but I'm the one addicted to it!!

 

[NikiM20]

DD (6) has the plain old regular Game Boy Advance and she LOVES it...Its good for car trips and I got it on sale last year for $40. We may upgrade in a few years. She can play all gameboy advance games and gameboy color games.

 

[leight]

Debating about NinDS for dd8 or gameboy advance SP. She's had neither so I am thinking the gameboy. I was also thinking of getting a used gameboy for dd5 so they can both use the games but I don't have to spend $$ for my 5yr old to break it. Any one familiar with GameStop or EBGames and their used systems?

 

[crisi]

I'd find out what their friends have. Trading games (which are like $45 each, so you have to watch this) is an elementary school hobby on its own. Our school is a GBA (Game Boy Advanced) school. The Nintendo DS may be cool, but it won't play the same games as Logan or Austin's Gameboy, so its useless.

My husband has a PSP and loves it - but for him its a $250 portable game system and portable video player. We don't let the kids use it out of our sight.

 

[hsmamato2]

my ds's have the sp's- they adore them!I honestly don't know if the ds is worth the extra money, unless nintendogs is your main goal- I got them a few sp videos for our next long trip, too- it looks like there's a few full length movie ones coming out that will play on the sp- but they just love the games,keeps them busy for hours on along trip!

 

[Minnie]

As the mother of a DS (12) we have had nearly every gameboy system out frmo the old black/white pocket to the new Nintendo DS.

I would absolutely go for the Nintendo DS or at least the SP. Do not waste your money on the micro as the screen is tiny. The Nintendo DS has a flip down screen that protects it, a rechargable system (no batteries to buy!), and plays all the game boy games out there. I think it started out at $149 but I have seen it in Walmart for $129 lately.

 

[FourFlans]

DDs 8 & 5 both have GB Advance. They play with them in spurts at home (will play every day for a week and then not pick them up for a couple of weeks). But they are invaluable for road trips. In fact, we were just discussing this morning getting all their games organized and the GBs charged up for our upcoming trip to WDW (especially since I just traded in the minivan that had a DVD player for a Jeep that doesn't).

For my girls the variety of games available for the GBs is great! DD8 usually gets a game that is a little too complicated for DD5 at first, but she quickly catches on from watching and then they happily trade back and forth.

The deals on Black Friday sound like the way to go!