Game Boy Advance
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| File:Game Boy Advance.png The original Game Boy Advance | |||||||||||||||||
Available colors:
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| Manufacturer | Nintendo | ||||||||||||||||
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| Type | Handheld | ||||||||||||||||
| Release date(s) | Japan March 21, 2001<ref name=IGN>IGN Staff (August 23, 2000). "Game Boy Advance: It's Finally Unveiled". IGN. </ref> United States of America June 11, 2001<ref name=GameSpot>Lauren Fielder (May 16, 2001). "E3 2001: Nintendo unleashes GameCube software, a new Miyamoto game, and more". GameSpot. </ref> Europe June 22, 2001<ref name=Eurogamer>Tom Bramwell (March 21, 2001). "GBA Day: June 22nd". Eurogamer. </ref> Australia June 22, 2001<ref>"Hyper #94". Hyper. pp. 9.</ref> | ||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued | Japan Q4 2006 United States of America May 15, 2010 Europe Q4 2008 Australia Q4 2008 | ||||||||||||||||
| Media | Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance Game Paks | ||||||||||||||||
| Input | +Control Pad, face buttons, shoulder buttons | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Game Boy Color | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Nintendo DS | ||||||||||||||||
The Game Boy Advance (GBA) is a handheld video game console made by Nintendo and released in 2001. While no Animal Crossing games were released for the Game Boy Advance, Doubutsu no Mori, Animal Crossing, and Doubutsu no Mori e+ feature GBA connectivity via the Nintendo GameCube–Game Boy Advance link cable. Additionally, several series of e-Reader cards for the aforementioned games were released for the GBA's e-Reader accessory.
The GBA sold a total of 81.51 million units worldwide.<ref>Nintendo. "IR Information : Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units". nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved August 24, 2021. </ref> It was succeeded by the Nintendo DS in 2004.
Animal Crossing content
Advance Play
In Animal Crossing and Doubutsu no Mori e+, when interacting with an NES game item while a Game Boy Advance is connected to the Nintendo GameCube, the Advance Play option appears. Advance Play downloads the NES game's data to the GBA and allows it to be played there. Afterward, the GBA can be disconnected from the GameCube; it can be reconnected to transfer data back to the GameCube to save progress.
Clu Clu Land D, Punch-Out!!, Wario's Woods, and the unobtainable The Legend of Zelda do not support Advance Play as they are too large to be stored in the GBA's RAM.
Animal Island
In Doubutsu no Mori and Animal Crossing, Animal Island can only be accessed while a Game Boy Advance is connected to the Nintendo GameCube. When on the island, when the player asks Kapp'n to return to the mainland, he gives them the option to save the island to the GBA. If the player does this, the Template:AI minigame appears on the GBA. In the minigame, the player can interact with the islander, helping them catch fish, eat fruits or coconuts left on the ground, dig up buried items, chop down trees, or catch flying presents. The next time the player visits the island, any changes made to the island in the minigame are uploaded to the GameCube.
In Doubutsu no Mori e+, the Animal Island minigame is removed, as the island no longer requires a GBA connection to visit and is instead unlocked after paying off a loan.
Design maker
In Doubutsu no Mori, Animal Crossing, and Doubutsu no Mori e+, the player can create and edit designs on the Game Boy Advance if one is connected to the Nintendo GameCube when speaking to Mabel at the Able Sisters.
Doubutsu no Mori e+: Doubutsu-tachi to Asobou!
In Doubutsu no Mori e+, the player can access one of three minigames, collectively known as Doubutsu no Mori e+: Doubutsu-tachi to Asobou!, is a collection of three Game Boy Advance minigames that can be accessed from the wishing well while a GBA is connected to the Nintendo GameCube. These minigames feature villagers from the player's town alongside the player. If won, the player receives one of 18 exclusive furniture items.
e-Reader
The e-Reader is an accessory for the Game Boy Advance that can read special scannable cards, which transfer data to the GBA. Multiple series of cards were released for Doubutsu no Mori, Animal Crossing, and Doubutsu no Mori e+. In Animal Crossing and Doubutsu no Mori e+, a GBA with an e-Reader can be connected to the GameCube for additional features.
Models
| Name | Image | Release dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy Advance | File:Game Boy Advance.png | Japan March 21, 2001 United States of America June 11, 2001 Europe June 22, 2001 Australia June 22, 2001 China June 8, 2004 |
Original model of the Game Boy Advance. |
| Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-001) | File:Game Boy Advance SP.png | Japan February 14, 2003 United States of America March 23, 2003 Europe March 28, 2003 Australia March 28, 2003 |
A model of the GBA that incorporates a clamshell design and a front-lit screen but removes the headphone jack. |
| Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) | File:Game Boy Advance SP 101.jpg | Japan Not released United States of America September 2005 Europe 2006 Australia ??? |
An updated version of the original GBA SP that features a backlit screen. |
| Game Boy Micro | File:Game Boy Micro.png | Japan September 13, 2005 United States of America September 19, 2005 Europe November 4, 2005 Australia November 3, 2005 China October 1, 2005 |
A more affordable and compact GBA model that lacks backwards compatibility with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. This model is not compatible with the e-Reader. |
Gallery
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A diagram depicting Game Boy Advance connectivity with the Nintendo GameCube in Doubutsu no Mori
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An insert included with Doubutsu no Mori that explains the game's GBA connectivity for Template:AI
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The back cover of Doubutsu no Mori e+, which shows Advance Play and Doubutsu-tachi to Asobou!
