Toronto Thumbs

SUPERSIZE ME
Nintendo DSi LL

Say hello to the Nintendo DSi LL, the next version of the Nintendo DSi. It’ll go on sale November 21, 2009 in Japan for 20,000 yen (roughly $220 USD/CDN). Though it’s hard to tell from this photo, the DSi LL has significantly larger dual screens and comes with a larger, more ergonomic stylus. The target market for this updated system appears to be the elderly, or anyone else that would have trouble with the screen size of the current DSi.

Though Nintendo hasn’t mentioned any details of a possible North American release, it seems likely since Europe is apparently getting the system early next year.

While the DSi LL is much bigger than any previous DS system, I’d still love to try it. The screen resolution might be the same but I don’t believe the games would suffer too much due to what is, in layman’s terms, screen magnification. In fact, some older games might look really cool with bigger pixels. To speculate, I think this might be Nintendo’s attempt at testing the market before unveiling an even larger portable device along the lines of a netbook computer. Think about it! Little big screen gaming on the go would be amazing.

One thing I’m wondering about, however, is whether this larger form factor means Nintendo could conceivably fit the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot into the system’s design. It was present in both the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DS Lite but was removed from the DSi. Furthermore, I wouldn’t mind seeing upgraded cameras on the device, as the DSi’s camera is really only useful in very bright lighting.

All speculation aside, I don’t believe it could be argued that you can seriously crush a toe if you were to drop the DSi LL on your foot.

Posted in Awesome, DS, DSi, Game Boy, News Bytes, Nintendo | 3 Comments »

HAPPY 20th ANNIVERSARY
Nintendo Game Boy!

I can’t believe the Game Boy has been around for 20 years. Mine still works! The Christmas I got my Game Boy was one of the best ever.

Posted in Awesome, Game Boy | 12 Comments »

RETRO REVIEW
Déjà Vu I and II – The Casebooks Of Ace Harding

Step into a nightmare with the shoes of a man who is constantly threatened to die. These shoes are probably nicely-polished, slick dress shoes because this story takes place in 1941. Back in the ‘40s, Film Noir detective films were popular and this is what Déjà Vu is: a classic crime fiction where you play a hardboiled private eye trying to crack a case of MURDER and MONEY LAUNDERING.

Déjà Vu I and II for Game Boy Color is a point and click graphic adventure game ported from Mac/PC versions developed by Icom Simulations. Déjà Vu was originally released in 1985 as the first-ever graphic adventure game that won awards (at that time) while Déjà Vu II was released in 1988, continuing the nightmare.

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Posted in Game Boy, Reviews | 4 Comments »

UPCOMING CHIPTUNES ARTISTS TAKE NOTE
This USB Game Boy Cartridge is Your Friend

Photo credit: BleepBloop.

If you’ve ever wanted to get into the world of creating chiptunes, now’s a good time. Over at Gameboydev.org, you can purchase a USB Game Boy Cartridge designed by Jose “BleepBloop” Torres from 8bitcollective.com.

It was designed with LSDJ (a popular chiptune homebrew application) in mind. On top of the $75 price tag, you’ll have to also make a minimum donation of $2 at the Little Sound DJ website in order to get the LSDJ ROM file. The cartridge also includes a user-serviceable battery compartment and a USB port for easy data transfer. Added frills include your choice of circuit board and label colours as well as a printed “I love my Gameboy” on the board itself.

Posted in Awesome, Game Boy, Music | No Comments »

GEAR REVIEW
Zagg Invisible Shield for DS (Screens Only)

We are certainly all about playing games here at Toronto Thumbs. But what about something to protect the integrity of the devices that we play games on?

I had bought a screen protector when I first purchased my DS Lite a few years ago. It was a bit of a pain to apply (and truthfully, I actually messed up the first one and had to use another one - good thing I bought a multi-pack). When I ran my stylus over the surface of my protected screen I have to admit that it felt a bit sticky. But better a slight inconvenience than a scratched-up screen, right?

Over the course of its life the screen protector certainly took a lot of damage. It showed wear and tear even after the first day of use. I knew I would have to replace it eventually, but I procrastinated.

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Posted in DS, Game Boy, Gear Reviews, PSP, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 | 4 Comments »

BYTE-SIZE REVIEW
Game & Watch Gallery 4

With Club Nintendo recently opening its arms to North American gamers after having shunned them aside for years, many of us have been leaping at the opportunity to register games for virtual coins. Among the most sought-after goodies available from Club Nintendo is the pricey Game & Watch Collection for Nintendo DS. Because I don’t have this game, I can’t comment on its greatness. But from what I’ve read about it, it only contains three games.

Sure, it’s an exclusive Club item and one I’m sure with fetch a great resale value at some point. I was considering dropping my coins for it until I realized that the GBA title Game & Watch Gallery 4 could be purchased used for relatively cheap and that it included more games on it, including 14 unlockable games.

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Posted in Byte-Size Reviews, Game Boy | 2 Comments »

SINCE WE’RE STREET FIGHTER CRAZY
Street Fighter Alpha 3 for GBA, Showing Love For

Shaun had a quick post the other day about the TMNT game for Game Boy Advance, and this reminded me of two things. The first is that I haven’t written anything for Toronto Thumbs in a good long while. The second is that I have a particular favourite game for the Game Boy Advance. It’s a giant-size arcade game in a diminutive cartridge: Street Fighter Alpha 3.

I play this game every week, in short bursts. It’s great for its pick-up-and-play factor and if you can get past the fact that the GBA is short a set of buttons (you need to push both punches or both kicks at the same time for the third punch or kick strength, depending on your configuration) it’s an outstanding port. And M. Bison is still a jerkface jerk!

If you can find a used copy of this game anywhere, and if you have ever liked a Street Fighter game, I strongly recommend picking it up. It’s incredible how much detail and fun has been crammed into this little gem.

Posted in Awesome, Game Boy | 1 Comment »

RECENT PLAYS
TMNT for Game Boy Advance

I’ve been carrying around my Game Boy Micro lately, thanks to many of my fellow 4 Color Rebellion staff members getting back into the system. I picked mine up for about $50 from Zellers when they were clearing them out a few years back. The Micro was originally retailing in Canada for over the $100 mark, which I feel was a huge marketing mistake on Nintendo’s behalf and likely is what doomed it to sell so poorly compared to the SP (another factor being the relative old age of the Game Boy Advance).

This week I started playing TMNT for the GBA. Yes, it’s a movie tie-in title - but it’s really good! I love beat-’em-up titles and this game is a huge homage to them. The only downside is that it doesn’t have a multiplayer option. But considering I take a train in to work by myself, and only play the Micro while in transit, I’m okay with that.

Posted in Game Boy, Overviews, Recent Plays | No Comments »

UNDERRATED: Game Boy Micro

With the Game Boy now ending its reign as the portable system champion, I find myself looking back on its career with a great fondness as a parent would recall a child’s academic success. The Game Boy has been a part of my life for just about 19 years now and to be honest it freaks me out a little that it has already been that long.

My first Game Boy was the original grey brick with the yellow-green screen and I loved that thing like it was part of my family. I took it with me on family trips, to friend’s houses, and on days when I was feeling more adventurous, to school.

The monochromatic graphics never bothered me. How else could I play Tetris? I didn’t have an NES and even if I did, taking it to play in the car wouldn’t have been realistic. I also had the Nuby Game Boy light so I could game in the dark, which made the Game Boy trump my then-loved Sega Master System as my favourite gaming device.

Today my original Game Boy sits housed in a Rubbermaid container underneath my living room sofa with all its games and its sleeker cousin, the Game Boy Color (which I bought in 1999 when my obsession with Pokémon caused me to go through AA batteries too quickly for my budget). It still works.

I skipped over the Game Boy Advance entirely and instead picked up its successor, the Game Boy Advance SP and enjoyed many hours with it. The first game I bought for it was the excellent Phantasy Star Collection and I was immediately blown away by the idea that a system as tiny as the SP could basically take the power of the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo and put it into my hands.

But little did I know it would get even smaller.

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Posted in Editorial, Game Boy, Nintendo | 7 Comments »