The Game Boy Micro 

Its average size I swear

Fun fact: Game Boy Micro's 2" screen was NOT commisioned by Nintendo. Sharp used the exact same screen in their digital cameras at the time. They probably had a lot of them lying around, they have the exact same resolution as the GBA, and they managed to make a deal.

The sole space this console occupies in my mind is "the thing that Reggie pulled out of his coat pocket once".

There were some years I was convinced that a Gameboy Micro + a legit copy of Pokémon Emerald would have fixed my life

My favorite thing about it is the a and b buttons are in lowercase, cute.

I’ve seen one in person and I’m utterly shocked at how freaking tiny it is. The GBA Micro almost feels like a Game & Watch in its presentation, which in a way is very fitting and kinda makes thing go full circle in Nintendo’s portable systems with “Game” in them.

For someone who doesn't care about Pokemon that much, Scott really likes using Littleroot Town's theme a lot in his videos.

My dad found a Gameboy micro on the road while he was driving his tractor in the middle of nowhere. The faceplate was gone, it was scratched and didn’t power on. My dad gave it to me and I was able to get it working by just charging it. So that’s how I got a Gameboy Micro😊

Fun fact about the GBA. It turns out that Gameboy backwards compatibility did in fact take up alot of space. the GBA ran at 3.3v while the older Gameboys ran at 5V so the GBA had a switch in the cart port that switched the system between them. So the micro didn't have space for the 5v PCB traces to let older games work. That said the micro was my favorite as a casual flashcart enjoyer having all the GBA games on one cart with NES, Master System/Game Gear and, GB/GBC emulators so you could still mostly play old Gameboy games on it anyway.

"ITS NOT SMALL IT HAS A NICE PERSONALITY" -random nintendo micro fan 2005

Scott the point of the micro was to play Mario Kart hidden behind a book in one of the comfy library chairs while you hid from other kids at lunch.

"cool design but too bad it wouldnt fit in my MASSIVE HANDS" -average 3ds xl user

Watching him go gremlin mode yanking out the faceplates hits different when you know how brittle the latches for them are and how annoying it is to replace

Micro with a flash cart is legit one of my fav travel gaming consoles to this day

Thank god, scott's carpet is back i was getting worried for a second.

The Gameboy Micro is my favorite Gameboy Micro ever produced

Idk why, but I really like this stupid thing. More than the SP and original GBA. Just something about it’s design activates some neuron in my brain

I remember when the Micro was announced, they touted it as a do-anything electronic device via add-ons. It was going to have a camera, and an mp3 player, and be able to play videos, and apparently stuff like wireless messages and crap. But we got just the basic aluminum brick with plastic covers. And it's my favorite Advance system.

I remember my birthday the year this came out my dad got me one and I already had an SP and I explained to him how the DS was different and played GBA and DS games for $50 more, and he drove me to the store that day and I got the Mario Kart red DS. My father was always very tight on money but I never realized it when I was little. A very special memory of my childhood. Great video!

My sister and I had these. They were truly so tiny, pretty incredible. The screen was so much better than my old gameboy, it blew me away. And rechargeable batteries was crazy for us then too. Looking at it as an adult is hilarious because it's almost impossible to use, but that's because it was a product for children.

Technically, they also had to put an entire GBA-on-chip inside it, as well as the cartridge slot. Keeping it completely compatible with GBA games was a huge technical hurdle.

I'm a huge fan of the Game Boy Micro-it's one of my favorite Nintendo hardware designs. It's so incredibly sleek, and I think the design really holds up. The buttons feel fantastic as well. Even today, if I was doing a lot of traveling via public transit, I would consider carrying the Game Boy Micro on me. Pop in a flash cart, and those brief moments of downtime can be spent enjoying a library full of masterpieces, rather than squandering it on social media.

This is my favorite console design ever, i got the famicom one last year with an ever drive and i play it all the time

Some people just don't understand the appeal of a small device. When the iPod nano came out, it's maximum capacity was 4 GB. A regular iPod at that time had 60 GB! So nobody bought the nano, because you could also have 15 times the number of songs with the regular size for not much more money? No, the nano flew off the shelves because it's great to have an ultra-portable device you could always bring with you even in the smallest pocket. And the same goes for the GameBoy landscape when the Micro was released. Sure, the DS could do so much more, but it was an absolute brick. And the SP was also quite a bit bigger, and it didn't even have a headphone jack, which the Micro does feature. People are also wild about the Miyoo mini even though the much more performance-rich Steam Deck exists. Just because you can take the former with you in your pocket or clutch bag at all time and the latter not so much.

I love my Game Boy Micro :) I just recently finished all the Super Mario Advance games on mine.

I used to own a Famicom one that my older brother found at a Goodwill a long time ago. Played a lot of a Mother 3 repro on it, until I lost my save file. I do regret selling it even if at the time I didn't have a job and wanted the money, but MAN I loved that little thing for what it was.

I was enchanted by these as a kid, only because the face plates were EVERYWHERE like stacks of them but I never saw a single one actually for sale at any store. I started to wonder if they were even real.

10:04 Uh-oh, that's a Micro, not an SP. I think the Wii U videos he's been working on finally got to his head.

This and Apple's ipods really makes it feel like the 2000s had a fixation on miniaturization. The technology was there and they knew they could do it and what once felt impossible was now able to be done, so of course they would try it. The whole race of technology up to that point was making it as small and portable as possible. But while sad that devices have been getting bigger in recent years, it makes sense, you need a screen to be as big as possible while still being *just* portable enough to carry around. I hope the advent of AR glasses can bring back on that competition to miniaturize our tech again because at that point we won't be limited by physical screen size.

Fun fact the DS actually was not meant to replace the Gameboy. The DS was intended to just be something Nintendo can throw out to compete with the PSP while the next gamebow was in development. The DS was backwards compatible because it essentially was just an upgraded gameboy cobbled together in 2 years. Those plans changed when the DS became the huge success it was.

I actually love this little thing. Love busting it out at work when its slow.

Still got my Micro and I love it. When I travelled Thailand I opted taking it with, with 4-5 games, over my DS (travelling light). It’s simplicity makes it so nifty and just looks so sleek. If they bought it out again with downloadable games I’d be all over it.

There was also a MOTHER 3 version that was sold in bundle with the game and a Franklin Badge.

I had this one as a kid and i loved it, it felt so premium and although the display was small it was so nice to look at.

I had a GB-micro growing up and I loved it. The clamshell is overall a better design like you said, but the screen was so great on the micro, especially as a kid.

I love the backwards compatibility for the sole fact that the Pokémon DS games have GBA Pokémon integration

When I used to collect GameBoy stuff years ago, there was two white whales for my collection: the Micro and the NES controller version of the SP. I did manage to get a Micro, in a rather lurid pink hue, but never did get to own that NES SP. Did get to hold one at a convention so I've at least gotten to hold one.

a handheld only an eye doctor could love!

I absolutely love the Gameboy Micro, I still have my original one! I really like how it's made with metal, it still feels quite nice despite how small and cramped it is.

With all these companies that we buy from it’s just interesting how they will initially sell us a decently good product. But as time goes on the features we get are less at the same / higher price. I don’t know it just had me thinking when Scott mentioned pricing of the micro with the sp going for a $100 in 03 and the micro going for $90 in 05.

I picked one up about 15 years ago on eBay for £27. I still love it! The metal body gives it a super premium feel

I have one and its a blast and always turns heads as not many have seen them.

I had the special edition gameboy micro! I loved it's form factor for taking to school, using on the bus, staying up way too late under covers, and of couse back of car. Sure I had the SP but it was a lot bigger and did not stay open under covers. I honestly miss that thing, they're so stupidly expensive now

I got my Micro back in 2006 when most retailers were trying to offload them and clear up shelf space. Was able to snag the famicom version brand new for $50 and an official case for 70 cents from Toys R us. It was special to me since I had a famicon when I was in kindergarten!

2:56 Hear me out. Nintendo mimicks a lot of decisions based on Apple. 2001 - Nintendo GameCube has a handle. Just like the iMac the year before. Uses PowerPC architecture just like Mac. 2005 - Game Boy Micro's form factor seems inspired by the iPod Nano. 2006 - DS Lite's bright white aesthetic seems similar to iPod's marketing at the time. 2008 - iPhone's App Store seems to influence Nintendo DSi's DSiWare. 2010 - iPad allows apps to be enhanced by a bigger screen. DSi XL was released. 2011 - the iPad design seems taken into account for the Wii U Gamepad. 2020 - Macbook transitions to ARM architecture with their Apple silicon chipset. Nintendo beat them to this, but also adopted ARM architecture as their main focus with the Nintendo Switch.

Scott is just one of the best and funniest mans I've ever heard. He makes me understand Video Game History even better.

As a minimalist, this really makes me tingle. I wish I never sold mine.

I love the Game Boy Micro it’s so portable it’s my favorite way to bring and play GBA games on quick trips

10:55 Think about it, if you swap the faceplates then you could finally have a GameBoy that looks like the suitcase armor from Iron Man 2

Praise be! Carpet cam is back!

I love this thing. My main driver for GBA games while out and about. Unlike the Switch, I can pocket this

This was actually my daily driver for a few years, up until my parents upgraded me to a DS. I remember playing Emerald on it while waiting the full 90 minutes for Old Faithful to blow at Yellowstone. Lost my original on a road trip to Colorado, and then my parents got me a DS lite for Christmas. Good times

Idk why I love these videos so much

Very much agree with you - it was a statement piece, maybe more for collectors or casual shoppers. Most already had an SP or a DS, both of which offer way more features than the Micro. It's a collectable now, but only because of the fact it's not as popular as everything else. In terms of pure functionality, it's perhaps right down there with the original bricks

I love the small crisp screen of the Micro. Played a ton of Pokémon and gundam fighters on it.

My favorite console of all time. I got myself a flash cart and changed out the batter for a much larger one. Now when I go on trips I can bring 100s of games and the battery will last for 10+ hours!

Another limitation of the GB Micro is that Nintendo never released a Gamecube to GB Micro link cable. So unless you make your own using a GB Micro link cable and a GC to GBA link cable, GC to GB Micro connectivity is impossible. Furthermore, GB Micro link cables and wireless adapters are expensive. Unfortunately, Nintendo only made an adapter that allows GBAs to use GB Micro link cable, not the other way around, so you have no choice but to pay the extra cost. The adapter is also rare and expensive. However, the GB Micro does look really cool aesthetically (especially the Famicom model), and the faceplates are a nice unique feature. The screen, while small, does make games look sharper also.

Best D-Pad I ever used. Loved collecting games and playing on this little wonder.

Man I had one of these and I absolutely loved it, even after having an SP for years. I also love the PSP GO...there is just something about these form factors that despite their tiny size and tradeoffs you must make they are still so great.

Reminds me a bit of the 2DS XL. When it was new no one really cared, but as soon as the overall platform got discontinued people picked them up as a backup in case their main system broke.

Picked up a mint famicon version on ebay from japan for a crazy cheap price as a bit of an impulse buy, had a japenese copy of FF IV with it. After adding a flash cart it quickly became one of my favorite handhelds ever.

I’ve always wanted a Gameboy Micro. They seem so small and convenient, but i don’t know if i could play on one for a long period of time because i have massive hands lol One of my teachers in my old school had one, i saw him play Castlevania on it. Awesome.

The Game Boy Micro has a special place in my heart. When I was 8 my parents took me to a pawn shop and picked up the famicon edition for 50 dollars. Back then it felt a lot bigger than it looks now- I definitely played the crap out of it too as it was my first ever handheld system.

With the prevalence of people modding regular GBAs with SP screens, I feel like the SP didn't really feel like the definitive form factor. The GBA fits the hands way better. Though I will say that the SP being clamshell did help keep the screen from getting scratched up.

The GameBoy Micro is such an interesting little thing. It's just so fascinating. I also have the Famicom version and I love it to bits. Though I am more likely to use my GameBoy Player on my GameCube than playing on the Micro.

Ngl you got me fired up at the beginning. You know how to keep ppl hooked

I've always wanted one of these.

I somehow managed to snag a Famicom GBA Micro for $5 from a friend in high school who just... didn't want it, I guess? It was scratched to hell, but for $5 I can't complain at all. The thing was beautiful and handled fantastic. You aren't just exaggerating when you say how gorgeous that screen is either. Definitely plan to try and restore it someday, just need to find the time.

I'm nervously checking the clock, just 2 more minutes and Scott will have successfully made a gameboy mini video without mentioning the famicon edition

Finally an episode I can relate to

Nice to see the carpet back!

Always wanted one of these things, not really to actually use but it looked cool to have

The Gameboy Micro is by far the COOLEST Nintendo handheld thus far. I had one for a good while a couple years back and it was a joy to revisit my classic GBA games like Legacy of Goku 2, Metroid Zero Mission, minish cap ect. They looked better on that miniature beauty than on anything else. Hand cramps were real though. I love this little console

I love this thing and still occasionally use it when I want to play a GBA game. I bought a replacement Famicom faceplate from Nintendo for mine since I already had one when the anniversary one came out.

I honestly really enjoy being able to play gameboy games on my ds because I lost my Gameboy when I was young so it was nice still being able to play my games.

Funny enough none of the base model GBA have everything that I would want. With hardware mods I know this is possible now but growing up I wanted was the size and form factor of the Original GBA, the rechargeable battery of the SP and the screen sharpness of the Micro.

I love this. :) I collected like 5 of these that I picked up in 2010 when these were worth 30-40. Still use it today.

It was either 2016 or 17 when I came across 4 of these things. Before then, I’ve never seen one in person. I kept 2 of them (silver and black) and have a few faceplates (camo, black, silver, and ladybug lol)

I have been for scott to do it’s own video for so long

Backwards compatibility was a big deal then. There was no hesitancy, this console was hugely hyped.

Game Boy Micro is so cute!

So glad to have the carpet.

my brain is imagining that everytime scott does a new episode of this he is just laying on the floor talking about stuff with his legs swaying in the air like a highschool girl writing in her diary on her bed

I want one of these so bad. We really need a bootleg micro in all black with colorful ABXY buttons.

GB/GBC backwards compatibility on the GBA worked by just having a whole ass GameBoy Color CPU built in so the games could run natively, so it's not super unsuprising a late-gen console refresh removed that to save costs (as dissapointing as it is from a user perspective)

I have a famicom micro with a ruby colored Everdrive. I exclusively take it on planes and trips. It's easy to carry around. The games look fantastic because the screen is so small.

I got the 20th anniversary version of the micro. Still have it and play it. Still looks great, too.

Ah yes, my first gaming device, when mom and dad didn’t want to buy another DS for one of their sons.

There is always a reason for things this size I would love one but they sooooo expensive now. Because of the tiny size I think this and the psp go are some of the most appealing retro handhelds

I wish they were less expensive on places like eBay. I would love to own one of these as an avid Nintendo fan. I did actually get the virtual boy last year, and I will say Scott, I used your video to do most of the research :-)

There’s a universe where the DS was called the “Game Boy Flip”

So glad I got the Famicom special edition a couple years ago. Been on the hunt for the box ever since

My friend lent me one of these for a day back in 2nd grade, the Famicom version specifically. I've tried all gameboys except the light and I gotta say, this one was my favorite. If I find one for a decent price I might get it just to see if my opinion has changed after 17 years.

honestly it being that small is so nice. I usually reach for mine when i know i'm only going to be playing for a little bit, but carrying something larger would be cumbersome

I picked up the Famicom edition at Walmart for $25 on Black Friday. It was great! Easy to pocket, had long battery life and fun. I took it to work and played Mario on my lunch break. I traded it to a local game shop a couple of years later for $200 in trade, because the owner wanted it for his collection.

I had one of these! I had this instead of a regular gameboy when I was a kid. It was one of my first gaming consoles with some of my first games. Unfortunately, one of those was Sonic the Hedgehog GBA. The other was Pokemon Leafgreen though. I wish I hadn't given the Micro away

I always wanted one of these in elementary school. Swore I’d be able to sneak play it as if my head wouldn’t be craned downward

I loved my GB Micro. 1. It was smaller than the GBA and DS, it was more comfortable carrying it around with my phone. 2. The screen size makes the picture sharper and overall better looking than a GBA or DS. 3. I didn't want a DS. 4. I didn't need to play GB games.

I was already in college when the GB micro came out, my roommate had it and found it way too small and outdated when the PSP and DS came out, which I bought the PSP later on for 3D games and even played UMD movies! I already had the GBA SP, it was basically Nintendo’s last attempt to keep the GBA line relevant in the mid 2000s. But they should’ve priced it at $70, it would’ve been a great budget handheld!

My fav gb. It’s peak technology crafting.