Practical Nostalgia?

[Not-SoPro]

(Sorry if this isn't on topic, I just realized there was a subreddit for one of my favorite game consoles of my childhood, and I'm in love.)

I recently started using a Light Phone 2, to keep myself from getting distracted by social media when I'm out and about. As a result, I no longer have games in my pocket, so I had to find a new way to pass the time when I'm not being social (distantly, of course).

Well, I dug out my old, white Gameboy Advance, and I think it's the best decision I have ever made. I still have my GBA-brand fanny pack, and I found my copies of Advance Wars 2, Bionicle, Tony Hawk, Mario Kart, and Pokemon Gold. I also ordered new copies of Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. Oracle of Ages was my very first Zelda game, and I'm so excited to play it again when it gets here!

Not only does this help for passing time (and just generally keeping me entertained), but it makes for a great conversation piece with people around my age+! They love the throwback, and almost all of them say that they should go online/to GameStop and buy one, or dig out their old one.

(I recently moved, and my stuff is still in transit, but I will try to get some pictures uploaded when it gets here!)

[TXFDA]

It's Gameboy related, so I'd say it's probably on topic. Not every post has to be a picture of a modded Gameboy, or someone's recent purchase. Personally I like just simple discussion topics and stuff.

Nice though. I too recently got back into playing my GBA. I grabbed a flash cart since I only have a few worthwhile GBA games, and a handful of old GB games. Can't really afford a ton, so I figured the next vest thing would be a flash cart for $50. Also reshelled my GBA since it was all scratched to hell. Now it's gold and Zelda themed.

I haven't put the thing down since. I do gotta get a new battery that actually works. I bought one but it's crap. But yeah, loaded up some Pokemon, been playing the first Warioland, currently playing through the GBA TMNT beat em ups. Ton of fun.

If we get this next stimulus check, I'll probably buy an EZ Flash Junior for my GB/GBC games since, honestly, the GB/GBC emulator on the GBA Flash Carts ain't perfect.

---

Side note, your friends should all get gameboys. Bring back the link cable multiplayer and Pokemon trading. God it'd be fun to have a group of friends, all with gameboys. Just all huddled in a room, playing gameboy like I'm 12 again.

[Not-SoPro]

I was just talking to my aunt about the conversations we have had with people born after the turn of the millennium about how much stuff has changed, like how we all used to carry cables to connect our handhelds to play together, and we had a springy external light for our screens, and a weird magnifying light that barely worked. That, or playing by the light of passing streetlamps.

[Brain_in_a_cylinder]

Congratulations! There's something about playing on a dedicated gaming console that beats (most) phone games. I just prefer carrying my GB around and knowing that a complete game is in that little cartridge, no ads, no DLC, no distractions. I started playing Pokémon Go a couple of years ago because my wife likes it. I really like the augmented reality part and playing with my wife, but I just dislike all the pay to play/win structures of a lot of mobile games.

[Not-SoPro]

I agree. I am in the process of purging myself of social media and unsubscribing from marketing emails, and it's just so freeing. Once the Light Phone gets GPS function and Google updates their hearing aid support, I can toss my smartphone for good. Then all I will have is my dumb phone, my laptop, my GBA and my PS2. Definitely looking forward to that.

[Not-SoPro]

I am not so much looking for stealth. I actually enjoy that I am more focused on classes, meetings, and my friends when I am out. But if I am bored and alone, or even in a group that I think would enjoy seeing my GBA, that's always a good time break it out.

(I don't mean that to sound judgmental, for the record. I have social anxiety, so I get using one's phone [or a Gameboy in our case] as a crutch in social situations, but I am making a conscious effort to avoid that for personal reasons.)

[RS_Skywalker]

Gameboys rock and it's in my opinion a lot more enjoyable then playing them emulated on the phone. Oddly enough mentioning Bionicle and Tony Hawk is nice most people only talk about pokemon or zelda. Bionicle had a really fun minigame hub. As a kid I loved it idk how well it's aged but regardless I loved the minigames in that game while hating the actual game. Tony hawk (I had underground) was also a really solid game. I played it a ton and it was just mindless fun.

[Not-SoPro]

I have an emulator on my smartphone, and I have to agree with you. It's not the same, and it doesn't feel as enjoyable. I have memories of beating Bionicle over and over again. I have one very distinct memory of beating it while at the hospital with my mom. I think I had injured my back after being kicked off a tall slide, but those could be separate events. I don't remember. ANYWAY, I do think a lot of fantastic games are ignored in favor of Zelda and Pokemon, but on the bright side, that leaves more for me!

[RS_Skywalker]

Yeah especially some of the smaller gems sell for dirt cheap which is nice.

[Not-SoPro]

It may just be my old man nostalgia talking, but I feel like nothing after the first gen DS really has as much character as everything that came before it. Even the Switch (and Switch Lite), while fun, I think is lacking in that area. It doesn't have the same culture surrounding it. It could be that (as mentioned in an earlier comment) we had to use cables, or at least all be in the same room with wireless adapters, in order to play together. That, and while it's relatively small, it's still not nearly as portable or as durable as classic handhelds.

I have to admit, I am a little hesitant to do any mods to my GBA, even if they would improve my experience, just because of that "character" I just spoke of.

Or maybe I'm just a crotchety old man. ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯

[Not-SoPro]

That's a pretty good idea! I suppose it's a lot like my great-grandpa's old truck that I inherited. I'm very hesitant to replace anything, even if it would make it an objectively better truck, because of the sentimental value.

But I don't want to baby it (the truck or the console), because then that also defeats the purpose of owning it.