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GAMEPORT
JA/EN
Game Boy Advance handheld

Game Boy Advance

ゲームボーイアドバンス

No. 02221 Mar 2001

Game Boy Advance

Manufacturer
Nintendo
Type
Handheld game console · 32-BIT
Note
Model AGB-001

03

Overview

Overview

A 32-bit handheld released by Nintendo in 2001. It used an ARM7TDMI CPU and a 240×160 reflective TFT colour LCD, and is backward compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color software.

04

Industrial Design

Industrial design

The form factor changed from vertical to landscape. It was designed by French designer Gwénaël Nicolas and his Tokyo-based studio Curiosity Inc. Launch colours in Japan were violet, white and milky blue.

A Game Boy Advance Game Pak
Game Boy Advance Game Pak

05

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications

Model number
AGB-001
CPU
ARM7TDMI 16.78 MHz (+ 8-bit Sharp SM83 for Game Boy compatibility)
Memory
RAM 32 KB internal + 256 KB external / VRAM 96 KB
Display
2.9-inch reflective TFT LCD, 240×160; 32,768 colors
Bits (period term)
32-bit
Generation (Wikipedia)
6th generation

Values are from the sources below. Where sources differ, see the notes under Sources.

06

Controller

Controller

A landscape layout with the D-pad on the left and A/B buttons on the right, plus newly added L and R shoulder buttons, Start and Select.

07

Media Format

Media format

  • ROM cartridge (Game Boy Advance Game Pak)

  • ROM cartridge

    A software medium housing ROM chips on a circuit board inside a plastic shell. The Famicom used this format from its 1983 launch; Nintendo's Western packaging called them 'Game Paks'.

08

Launch & Context

Launch & historical context

Release (Japan)
21 Mar 2001[2]
Release (North America)
11 Jun 2001[1]
Release (Europe)
22 Jun 2001[1]
Launch price (Japan)
¥9,800[2]
Launch price (North America)
$99.99[1]
Units
81.51 million(sold, as reported · worldwide · Life-to-date in Nintendo IR data through FY3/2025 (Game Boy Advance family))[3]

Released in Japan on 21 March 2001 at ¥9,800; the price was reduced to ¥8,800 on 1 February 2002.

09

Notable Games

Notable games

No games from this platform are in the archive yet.

10

Gallery

Gallery

  • Game Boy Advance handheld

    Game Boy Advance (milky blue)

  • A Game Boy Advance Game Pak

    Game Boy Advance Game Pak

11

Timeline

Timeline

  1. 1998.11.27DreamcastSEGA
  2. 1999.03.04WonderSwanBandai
  3. 2000.03.04PlayStation 2Sony
  4. 2001.03.21Game Boy AdvanceNintendo
  5. 2001.09.14Nintendo GameCubeNintendo
  6. 2004.12.12PlayStation PortableSony

12

Related Consoles

Related consoles

About Nintendo →

13

Sources

Sources

  1. [1]
    Game Boy Advance

    Wikipedia (English)

    ReferenceAccessed 2026-09-26
  2. [2]
    ゲームボーイアドバンス

    Wikipedia (日本語)

    ReferenceAccessed 2026-09-26
  3. [3]
    Consolidated Sales Transition by Region (historical data)

    Nintendo Co., Ltd.

    ManufacturerAccessed 2026-09-26
  4. [4]
    任天堂の歴史

    任天堂

    ManufacturerAccessed 2026-09-26
Notes on conflicting sources

Units (81.51 million, Japan 16.96 million) cover the whole GBA family; Nintendo IR breaks out Game Boy Advance SP at 43.57 million within it. Compatibility CPU: EN 'Sharp SM83', JA 'Z80'. VRAM: EN 98 KB, JA 96 KB. Generation: EN Wikipedia '6th' used (JA fetch summary indicated otherwise). JP price tax treatment not stated. AU release date not verified.

14

Image Credits

Image credits

  • Game Boy Advance (milky blue)

    Game Boy Advance handheld

    PhotoEvan-Amos

    Wikimedia Commons·Public domain

  • Game Boy Advance Game Pak

    A Game Boy Advance Game Pak

    PhotoEvan-Amos

    Wikimedia Commons·Public domain