A Cool Blue Game Boy

By Anita Hamilton

Quick--what's the best-selling game system of all time? Nope, it's not the PlayStation or even the GameCube. And it's definitely not Xbox. It's the humble little Game Boy from Nintendo, which, for the record, has sold more than 142 million units since its launch in 1989.

The Game Boy Advance SP ($99.95), due out March 23, should help keep the good times rolling. About half the size of the Game Boy Advance, it sports a backlighted screen, rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a choice of a pretty cobalt blue or handsome platinum case.

The improvements could present a mixed blessing. As any 8-to 10-year-old can testify, the Game Boy Advance will suck the life out of a pair of AA batteries in just a couple of weeks of regular play (or 18 hours nonstop), so the rechargeable batteries, which last about 10 hours, could mean big cost savings. But the SP's smaller size, not much bigger than a deck of cards, makes the SP easier to hide in pockets or under pillows. With the new backlight--long overdue--kids will surely spend even more quality time lost in virtual combat. Vigilant parents may need to do a few spot checks to make sure Junior isn't sneaking SP under the covers after bedtime. --By Anita Hamilton