something to play on the plane?
 

Let me start off my saying this - I don't know anything about hand-held games. I wouldn't know a gameboy from a...a...shit, I don't even know what else there is.

Anyway...I need something to keep me busy while I'm traveling. Sometimes, I get burned out on reading, and the other passengers don't like it when I just sit there and play with myself while thumbing through the latest issue of "Skank."

So I'm thinking that one of those little gameboy thingamadoobers might come in handy. So what's cool? What sucks? What should I buy/consider/avoid altogether?

I like arcade-style games. Hell, I like first person shooters and RTS games, but I doubt they have any good ones for the Gameboy-size machines.

Please, spew your pearly wisdom all over me. (Damn, I am in an odd mood. Business travel has fried my brain)

there are lots of cool games you could like for the gameboy advance.. Golden Sun, Advance Wars, Final Fantasy Tactics, That one Legend of Zelda 4play co-op game (i am not sure of the title).
Whatever you do DONT GET A NOKIA NGAGE! Mr. Deflok can elaborate on why :)

Heh, definitely get a gameboy advance SP... What a wonderful little console. It's got RPG's and action games, and it's got first person shooters, if you can settle for doom/duke3d type graphics.

Orrrrrr... you can wait for the PSP (playstation portable) which is supposed to come out in 200X! Yeah, that soon.

(I have no idea when it's coming out)

I have a lot of faith in the PSP, sony's creating a new type of portable media specifically for it, and it's supposed to push almost PS2 quality graphics once it comes out (or so they SAY). Plus, it's gonna have FOUR action buttons on the front, plus shoulder buttons, and a d-pad and analog stick. I'll definitely be buying one if it's as cool as it sounds.

I've got two N-gages in hand and one GBA SP.

Trust me. Get the GBA. The N-gage is going to be one of the biggest flops in gaming history.

Also en route is a new device called the Zodiac from Tapwave (http://www.tapwave.com), which is a combo Palm/gaming device. It'san excellent piece of hardware with real world functionality, but the game selection will be limited at launch. (Well, actually, it'll be compatible with every Palm game ever put out, but it'll be short on games specifically written for the Zodiac.)

If you go the GBA route, I have yet to meet anybody who hasn't LOVED "Wario Ware" - no matter what genres they usually like.

Agreed on the GBASP, I gots me one & its the shit.
I would recommend Advance wars 1 or 2. Its a very entertaining turn based strategy game.
If youre into mario theres a heap of them out but beware Super maroi advance 1,2,3 &4 are remakes of The old nontendo maroi games.
Warioware rules, Very goofy mini games.
RPG? Golden Sun.
THeres a heap load of FPS's too.
Go check out a review.

Beware those? Why?

Nothing better than Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island and (soon to be)Super Mario Bros 3(one of the best games, EVER) in your pokcet...

do you have a Palm or similar handheld ? There are plenty of places to download games for it on the net.... some are even pretty good !
(although most are made to expire in a set numeb of days....)

Right on, people! Thanks for all the advice. I think I'm going to cut out of work early and buy a Gameboy Advance SP

I have no wisdom, but id be happy to spew pearls on you!

Just to go against the crowd for once, I'm going to suggest something else. Do you have a laptop? Grab yourself a controller and some classic games and you'll be set. You can find ROMs for just about any console up to the PS1 or N64 very easily. Just keep in mind, it's only <i>legal</i> if you own the original games.

Just one problem: Battery life. Most laptop batteries last about 2 hours (even if they claim to last more), and for long flights that might not cut it. Besides, GBA is the sweetest handheld ever. (Until new ones come out... maybe.)

That is a very good point which I hadn't thought of. My Dell can go for around 4 hours without needing to be plugged in, but if you're on longer flights (which I suppose Clavus will be), you'll need another battery or some sort of power source. Oh well, it was a thought, eh?

yeah, the SP is the way to go for the mile high (gaming) club. it's small, slick, good battery life and has the biggest catalog of games of any other gaming platform (counting the original gameboy games). plus, it's backlit for those longer flights where they darken the cabin for most of the journey.

check out IGN.com's gameboy reviews and filter out games that rated below an 8 to see the cream of the crop.

well it's not exactly handheld, but I personally get a kick out of taking a laptop on the plane, loading up Flight Simulator 2004, and flying the profile of the airplane I'm in (take off when it takes off, bank when it banks, etc). The reactions from the other passengers are great! I actually had one dimwit convinced that I was flying the plane remotely from my seat in business class :D

Looks like you alread got the advice you need, so I will simply add that I love to read your writing, Clavus. Your choice of words is always top notch, with a little humor (some times a lot) thrown in for good measure.

i agree with the GBA sp, golden sun and its sequel are very good games.

Watch out clavus; I think CoachAlan is watching you from outside your window! ;)

shakran: Some people are just plain gullible...but still that's funny as all hell.

Clavus, I implore you to buy Tetris because it never gets old! The damn pieces never stop falling.

Lol happy buying.

dont you mean plane gullible.

ok everyone groan unison now. :p

The best GBA games for trips:
Advance Wars 1 & 2
Mario and Luigi
Mario Golf
Mario Vs. DK (the best GBA game released in a long while)
Astro Boy (beware - very challenging for casual gamers)
Metroid Zero Mission

There's other good GBA titles, but these are best for long trips and whatnot. Much easier to pick up and play, and (for the most part) the ability to save and stop anytime. Mario Vs. DK comes especially highly reccomended. It got me through a 3 hour plane ride to E3 this spring.

Whoa, this is an old thread! How'd you go Clavus?

Hopefully you didn't get an N-gage, what Ganguro meant by me explaining why is answered in this link:
http://www.sidetalkin.com/photos.html