Nintendo Game Boy Micro

In Autumn 2005, Nintendo released a second redesign of the Game Boy Advance, called the Game Boy Micro (or iQue Game Boy Micro in China). Although the new console is similar in style to the original horizontally-held Game Boy Advance, the Game Boy Micro is much smaller and sleeker, and allows users to customise its look through the use of coloured faceplates. The unit also features a backlit screen that may be adjusted to adapt to the current lighting conditions by holding down the L shoulder button, along with a two-way switch on its right side for adjusting volume up or down.

In its first year of release, the Game Boy Micro sold over 1.87 million units across the world, including 800,000 in Europe and Australia.

Games

Although the Game Boy Micro is compatible with all Game Boy Advance cartridges, it does not support games made for the original Game Boy or Game Boy Color. However, as there are no regional lockouts on software made for the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP systems, European games can be played on Japanese or North American hardware and vice versa.

Styling

In Europe the handheld is available in four different colours, with one matching faceplate: blue, silver, pink and green. In Australia the colours are black, silver, blue, pink and red.

In Japan, the console has been released in four colours: blue, black, purple and silver. There have also been four limited edition styles: a red bodied model with a black faceplate containing the silhouette of Pikachu from the Pok�mon franchise; one based on the original Famicom (NES) video game console's controller (available through the Nintendo reward scheme); a red bodied and red faced edition for the release of the game Mother 3; and a blue bodied model with a faceplate based on Final Fantasy IV.

In North America, the Game Boy Micro is available in two standard colours, each sold with three interchangeable faceplates included: silver with black, Ammonite and Ladybug faceplates, and black with silver, Flame and Camouflage faceplates. In addition, a new "20th Anniversary of Mario" edition was released, which resembled the Famicom style Game Boy micro.

Although replacement or additional faceplates have not been released in Europe or North America, players can buy them from third-party companies, or import them from Japan.

Functionality

Due to its small size, the Game Boy Micro relies heavily on proprietary (non-standard) ports, with its game cartridge port differing from the one found on the Game Boy Advance SP. The console is not compatible with the Game Boy Advance SP's functions without special cables, with players needing to buy two link cables (Game Boy Micro to Game Boy Micro and Game Boy Micro to Game Boy Advance) to restore full multiplayer functionality.