GC/GBA Connectivity

[paul]

I have felt the urge to ask this question for some time as I simply can't see the appeal.

So here goes, does anyone really care about this connectivity? Are Nintendo placing too much emphasis on this aspect of it's systems to the detriment of other areas?

Anyway, I can't say I've ever been slightly curious about the special features contained in a GC game that you can unlock with a GBA.

Having played the Wind Waker a while back, I couldn't help but feel the two 'helpers' on tingle Island were nothing more than Nintendo marketing men in disguise.

[badgerpie]

I've not seen anything that's bowled me over so far.

I've only tried it on WWaker and Animal Crossing and each time felt a little underwhelmed.

On AC : I don't see why you need the GBA to get to your holiday island, that just smacks of desperation. Downloading the island to the GBA is an interesting idea, but something i've never felt compelled to try.

But, on the bright side they may be coming up with more interesting uses. I do quite like the idea of the Pacman game. Having said that I wouldn't pay full price for it. I think they should release it as a heavily budgetted title (?10-15), it can't cost much to make after all.

But a few more ideas along these lines and it might start proving more successful an idea.

[Bomberman UK]

Rayman 3's connectivity is amazing.

[JibberX]

I think the connectivity is amazing, the only fresh thing going on atm.

WindWaker is great with it. You just gotta have open minded buddies prepared to help. THe SplinterCell connection sounds pretty cool too.

[pdhq64]

The connectivity on the Legend of Zelda: Four Swords is pretty cool.

[Lebowski]

I dont know if i agree, its a bit like the vmu thing with the dreamcast, it had all these great ideas at first, screens for stats, hidden items in multiplayer games, ect. It just turned into that anoying thing that beeps everytime you turn it on, and at the mo the gba conectivity thing is a bit like this, in that it hasent got its killa ap, mabey tetra trakkers or final fantasy crystal chronicals will remedy this.

Animal Crossing little tip for gba

if you take loads of fruit to the island and drop it all over the place, anything but cocanuts. The person that lives on the island will be so greatfull he will drop money all over the palce, but to make him do this you have to feed it to him on the gba, do this by leaving and takeing a record of your island. then all you have to do is go back and collect your money

[charlesr]

Have a look in Edge at the Pacman preview.
The player with the GBA can see the whole old school pacman view on the gba screen, but the 3 other players using GC control pads can only see a limited 3D view, with a radar showing the other 2 ghosts so they can plan their attack. Looks pretty fun to me.

[pdhq64]

It is fun.

[quirky]

It is a complete waste of time, I reckon. And I'm a big fan of both the GBA and the GC.

My GBA is portable - attaching it to a GC permanently is a waste. Unplugging it and reattaching it is a pain in the arse as well, so I usually don't bother. Using the little GBA screen when I have a perfectly useful big TV sat there is another irritation. I only have limited TV use (i.e. when the mrs is out ) so I want to make the most of it - I can play on the GBA any time I like.

The AC thing (only access the island with a GBA attached) is being dropped from the upcoming (JPN only) Animal Crossing+ extension disk. Maybe Nintendo have realised it's a load of rubbish? Oh and the Metroid Fusion/Prime link up was another con. The ability to play NES games portably is clever... but losing them on GBA power off means it's another "while the GC is switched on" kind of thing as well - plus PocketNES can do all the NES games, even ones not in AC

The only good thing I can see would be for Wario Ware/World style "try before you buy" demo levels of actual GBA games. But even that has very limited appeal.

[Scythe]

I own a Gamecube.
I don't own a GBA.
I wouldn't mind a GBA but looking at my life I can't feasibly say I need one, no public transport as I drive, when I'm at home I'd much sooner play games through my tv.
?60 is a bit steep for a glorified 'joypad'....I feel pissed off as I'm being alienated when I'm playing my favourite games as I feel I'm 'missing' something.

There is no killer app for the idea as yet, sure pacman looks interesting but 3 GBA's!!

[pdhq64]

No, 1 GBA and 3 GameCube controllers...

I've played it...

[Scythe]

No, 1 GBA and 3 GameCube controllers...

I've played it...

Oh. I stand corrected. Its still gonna have to be something special for me to part with ?60, especially after spending upto ?80 on four pads though!

[Lebowski]

i think what would be good if nintendo release some kind of offical rewriteable flash card catridge, that allowed you to save nes games, i know threre is an unoffical one allready for pirateing roms, but i think something like this might help the conectivity thing,

with a bit of tinkering im sure it would be possible as the nes games are saved in the internal memory when downloading, they would have to be cartridges that are smaller in capacity than gba cartridges for obviouse reasons that i dont want to go into here.

[quirky]

I think that would be an ace idea. A 1 or 2 meg official flash cart would be great - too small for roms, but big enough for NES games or homebrew

It'll never happen though...

[Ish]

There's nothing thats sold the idea to me yet with Pac-Man being the only thing of even mild interest. Everything I've seen so far just seems to be a (poor) way to cross-pollinate the GBA and GC markets.

Pac-man looks interesting and fun - agreed. But I won't buy it unless its a tenner. Why? Its a rare rare occasion I have 3 people round when it would be of use. I suspect this is the case for many others.

I'd be interested in seeing just how many GBA to GC link cables have been sold in each region. I suspect only a small percentage of the combined GBA/GC market. I don't own one despite owning several games that make use of it and owning both the necessary consoles.

Perhaps Nintendo need to consult there own private GBA 'map' - they seem to be losing there way.