Today was a good day.
As someone who enjoys gaming hardware in a similar way to the actual games, I've always been drawn Nintendo's handheld hardware, it's versions, performance and revisions.
In a similar vein to my other thread about the 3DS TN/IPS screen differences, I have finally addressed something I've been looking for for a while.
The GameBoy Advance SP AGS-101.
If you're from the UK, or even Japan, these revised GBA-SP's are a bit hard to track down. Being a late run revision to the already popular GBA-SP, the AGS-101 had a much improved (backlit) screen and was available in America, the European continent and other parts of the world......but not the UK.
The key difference between the models is the the AGS-001 had a top, bottom and side lit screen. Which was a wonderful addition to the GBA as the original model was almost impossible to view in anything other than perfect light.
The AGS-101 had a per-pixel backlit screen, which gave a much much clearer appearance and was a huge, improvement over the 001. Even with the backlight off, it's still lit up wonderfully.
I've been aware of these models for a while and have been actively looking for one for about two years now.
The actual screen technology isn't that expensive really and many people, modify, or even build their own with parts available very cheaply from China and Japan.
I've always sort of wanted a Nintendo built one though.
The work-around I've been using is a good one and cheap too - a DS Lite.
The DS lite has the capacity to play GBA games in its slot 2 and does a damn fine good job of it too in fact. If an AGS-101 is 100%, the a DS Lite is 90%. The missing 10% being that the colour that the DS gives out isn't as vivid as the GBA LCD screen.
The only thing stopping the DS Lite being the perfect GameBoy unit for all occasions, is that it won't play any cartridge other than GBA. Original GameBoy and GameBoy Color are a no go.
So ultimately, the best option is the GameBoy Advance and it's versions, for your entire library of GameBoy carts.
**Now, I'm fully aware that a lot of the bigger GameBoy, GBC and GBA games are available on the 3DS VC, when my batteries run out in my carts I often resort to the 3DS's VC to play games - but I always try and play on original hardware where I can, I just prefer it. Besides, I've got well over 100 GameBoy carts so I still what a sweet way to play all those.
I've liaised with many a shop, many a foreign friend (including users on here from Japan, Germany & Holland) in the hope that they can track me down an original version.
They often come up on eBay, either for more than I'm happy to pay (£200+) or are missing the base stickers (a key indicator that that is probably a 001 with a cheap screen put into it) or have clearly seen a bit of a hard life.
Anyway, I've now got one.
It's a little hard to see in the image above but of you look at the base stickers in the top left hadn't corner you should just about be able to see the model numbers.
On the left is an AGS-001 and the right an AGS-101.
Sadly, it's not boxed, has a few light scratch's (nothing I'm worried about - it's in better nick than any of my others !) and appears to have had the battery cover removed.
But the boards are genuine and the screen is unmarked, misted, or dusty in any way - I'm happy.
The difference is immediately noticeable, even on boot up.
To be honest, having the back light on, is a little overkill and can look a little blown out in the dark and I'm sure is there for when you're outside.
Here's some comparison pictures between my 001 and my 101, with a few GBA games - the difference, even in the pictures is massive but they still don't do it justice, it's just so clear, fast and vivid.