Game Boy Micro makes solid debut

Reuters has published an article today telling of the high order numbers of the GB Miro in Japan. It seems the Famicon version is the most popular. More News as it appears, to read the article read the full stoy.

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TOKYO (Reuters) – Nintendo Co.’s new mobile phone-sized game console, Game Boy Micro, attracted better-than-expected orders on its debut on Tuesday, though less than Game Boy Advance SP had done, retailers said.

Nintendo, known for software titles featuring characters such as Mario, Donkey Kong and Pokemon, launched what it said was the world’s smallest console in Japan a week before the U.S. launch with a price tag of 12,000 yen.

Nintendo dominates the portable game industry with a market share of about 94 percent, and aims to strengthen its grip with the Micro as it goes up against Sony Corp.’s PlayStation Portable.

Sony will introduce new white consoles in Japan on Thursday in an effort to boost sales. Previously the consoles were only available in black.

Nintendo, based in the western Japan city of Kyoto, hopes to draw women, casual gamers — those unwilling or unable to spend hours playing games — and older players with the new compact and stylish device.

“”Despite (the Micro’s) functions being the same as the existing models, it is popular,”” said Hirokazu Hamamura, president of Enterbrain, which publishes leading game magazine Famitsu.

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“”Consumers lately have tended to buy particular hardware because it is stylish or fashionable,”” he said, adding the popularity of the Micro reflects that trend.

Local retailers, including Japan’s biggest discount home electronics retailer, Yamada Denki Co., said the Micro was enjoying solid orders.

“”The orders have been going well,”” said a Yamada Denki spokesman. “”Especially, the Famicon colour version is really popular.””

The Micro is available in Japan in silver, purple, black and blue, with a fifth “”limited edition”” design in the colour of the once-popular Famicon game console aimed at attracting adults who played with the Famicon as children in the 1980s.

An electronics store clerk in Tokyo said it received advance orders for 70 percent of its Micro stock, mostly for the limited edition.

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Orders were brisk but less than when the Game Boy Advance SP made its debut in 2003, the clerk said. The store sold all of the SP consoles through advance orders at the launch.

Souce: Reuters