Nintendo Announces Game Boy Micro

In its E3 press conference today, Nintendo has announced the Game Boy Micro, a miniaturized chrome version of the Game Boy Advance that includes a backlit screen and compatibility with all current GBA software - nearly 700 games currently available in North America. The Game Boy Micro measures 4 inches wide, 2 inches tall and 0.7 inches deep, and weighs 2.8 ounces, or, according to Nintendo's measurement about the weight of 80 paper clips. In addition, and seemingly inspired by the current customizing craze, a removable face plate for the Game Boy Micro gives owners the option to buy replacements to customize the look of their systems with new colors and designs. Users can now adjust the brightness of the Game Boy Micro screen to adapt to indoor lights or outdoor sunshine. The system comes with a built-in, rechargeable lithium-ion battery and supports standard headphones. George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications, commented: "We're making the gorgeous Game Boy Micro for image-conscious folks who love video games, the ones who want the look of their system to be as cool as the games they play on it. Because of its diminutive size and industrial-hip look, Game Boy Micro immediately identifies the person playing it as a trendsetter with discriminating style." Nintendo also noted that Game Boy Micro "represents the latest evolution in the image of the Game Boy Advance line, but it is not a successor to any current system", ending speculation that a Game Boy Advance successor would be announced at this E3. The Game Boy Micro will be released this fall, but the handheld's price has not yet been revealed.