A third version of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance may be shown off at this year's E3, according to a report from American Technology Research analyst P.J. McNealy, with an "SP" style revision of the existing hardware on the cards.[br][br]Meanwhile, Nintendo has distanced itself from a frenzied wave of Internet speculation claiming that the Japanese giant will be launching a next generation Game Boy later this year, saying that the rumours were "pulled out of the air".[br][br]A spokesman for Nintendo of Europe told GamesIndustry.biz this morning: "There is always speculation on what the next Game Boy will be, however, at this time there are no announcements about a new Game Boy SP product."[br][br]However, unofficially the Kyoto-based firm is expected to unveil a remodelled Game Boy Advance based on the existing technology at its traditional pre-E3 event. [br][br]At this stage no concrete details exist on what enhancements Nintendo will be making to the GBA, but it's expected that some of the add-ons released over the past year or so will be integrated into the remodelled console; namely the PlayYan multimedia capabilities that enable users to watch movies and listen to music on their GBA, as well as other obvious improvements such as the much missed headphone jack and, of course, wireless connectivity.[br][br]And it's on the latter point where things get potentially interesting, with the potential for Nintendo to extend its wireless download plans to the GBA, as well as include the GBA in its long-mooted online gaming plans. All of this remains in the realms of speculation, but the way is clear for Nintendo to truly extend the GBA lifespan well beyond what it otherwise might have been had it chosen to focus solely on the DS going forward.[br][br]To put the wild speculation about a next gen Game Boy console into context, the story was initially based upon a report released yesterday by American Technology Research analyst P.J. McNealy which pontificated on the likelihood of a new GBA SP being released in time for Christmas.[br][br]The report looked at the share performance of THQ and Activision, and the likely effect on trading a new GBA SP would have on them. [br][br]In turn, the report went on to list four bullet points why - in his opinion - Nintendo is likely to launch a new GBA SP, reasoning that Nintendo has averaged a new version of the GBA every two years, that the DS has not cannibalised GBA sales, that piracy concerns in Asia Pacific required a more secure version of GBA, and that - somewhat curiously - that a new GBA SP would be a "fun, new device while Sony focuses on the PSP and the expected launch of the Xbox 2".[br][br]McNealy guessed that the new GBA would be priced at around $99, fitting snugly between the DS at $149 and the old GBA SP at $49.[br][br]But nowhere in the report does McNealy suggest that Nintendo was readying a next generation Game Boy console - as, indeed, launching a next gen Game Boy having just enjoyed a successful DS launch worldwide would be a truly bizarre business decision for the Japanese giant.[br][br]Reports elsewhere talk of a "PR nightmare" for Nintendo, but it appears in this case that the only nightmare for Nintendo right now is having to deal with spurious stories "pulled out of the air" and the resulting deluge of phone calls from media outlets seeking some clarity on the issue. [br][br]The spokesman for Nintendo told us today: "It's a case of looking at this McNealy report and someone putting two and two together and coming up with five. McNealy's report is him putting two and two together and coming up with four. It's just his opinion, and not endorsed by Nintendo in any way."[br][br]An official Nintendo statement reacting to the reports also emerged this morning: "Game Boy Advance continues to be a shining star in the video game industry with more than 65.7 million units sold worldwide.[br][br]"In 2004 alone we sold 4 million Game Boy Advance SPs in Europe. [br][br]"Our newest hand-held game system, the Nintendo DS, has done extremely well since it launched in Japan and the US and similar success is expected when it launches on 11th March in Europe. Nintendo DS is on target to ship 6 million worldwide by March 31," the spokesman added. ...

The DS will introduce a whole new generation of people to videogames, regardless of their age, gender and previous gaming experience. It's a statement we've heard before, but this time Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata has gone on record claiming that the touchscreen handheld will redefine gaming.[br]And when Iwata-san talks, we listen. Speaking to Japanese game website Hobo Nichi and translated by GameScience, Iwata-san discussed the development of upcoming DS title Jam With the Band (also known as Band Brothers) and stated that games of this type will change the way people look at videogaming.[br][br]He went on to mention several new DS titles that would stimulate players in new ways and "increase the brain's activity". Alongside the Tamagotchi-style dog training game Nintendogs, Iwata-san also mentioned unspecified games that would us an electronic dictionary (sounds, um, riveting) and games that would concentrate on the player interacting with light and sound.[br]In Jam With the Band multiple DS users can join together to form a rhythm action performance group using the handheld's wireless networking and Game Sharing, which lets multiple users play from one game card. Each player chooses and instrument and must play it at the right time to make the tune come to life. We've had a go and it's ruddy brilliant.[br][br]Similarly, Nintendogs lets you interact with three ridiculously cute wee dogs simply through touch. You can pet them, chuck balls and Frisbees for them to fetch, or make the little buggers skip a rope. You'll even be able to teach the dogs to react to your voice and teach them vocal commands like 'sit'.[br][br]Iwata-san spoke of how games like this transcended any knowledge of videogaming conventions and made the necessity for gaming experience redundant.[br][br]Iwata-san's comments come hot on the heels of speculation that Nintendo are planning to launch the successor to GBA before the end of this year. Check here for the rumours and rebuttals.[br][br]As the European launch of DS on March 11 looms ever closer we can't wait to see if British gamers agree with Iwata-san's views. And while opening up the videogaming citadel to those without knowledge or experience of games is a noble business, we hope Nintendo don't forget the hardcore gamers who've been buying their consoles for years.[br][br]Lots more DS coverage coming real soon. ...

The voting is over and the results are[br][br]Emulator of the year 2004:[br]Neo-Geo CD with 12 votes[br][br]well done to Quzar, Ian Michael, Fosters, GPF, BlackAura, BlueCrab and all of those that were involved.[br][br]runner-up was GenesisPlusDC PVR with 5 votes [br][br]and a close third was UAE4all with 4 votes[br][br][br]Homebrew of the year 2004 [br][br]Revolver and Joggle with 3 votes each[br][br]well doe to Vortexx and Warmtoe[br][br]a close third was Bugs with 2 votes[br][br][br][br]thanks to all those that voted. ...

Hey

New poster here, i hope someone can help me!

I've recently bought Mario golf advance tour, but I'm having trouble - I can't seem to load saved data.

I can save a game whilst playing the story mode - and when I quit I get the full menu, like story, quick game etc.

But if I turn off the GBA and turn it back on, I don't get any option to load a saved game or have a quick start as one of the characters. Am I being stupid and missing something obvious? It's a right pain as it asks me to create a character and go through the story mode every time I turn it on!

Any ideas? ...

The new Nintendo DS handheld has had the most successful hardware launch ever in the Australian market, where it launched last Thursday ahead of its planned European roll-out on Friday, March 11th.[br][br]"The retail and consumer feedback from Thursday's Nintendo DS launch has been astounding," according to Nintendo Australia's sales and marketing director Rose Lappin. "We are eagerly awaiting the official market sales figures this week to fully solidify our place in the Australian marketplace as the most successful current hardware launch ever."[br][br]Official figures for the launch are expected to be revealed on Wednesday by market research firm GfK, with Nintendo's current claim - that sales in the first 12 hours have been the highest ever for a new hardware platform in the region - based entirely on retailer feedback.[br][br]The DS launches in Europe on March 11th, priced at UKP 99 / 149 Euro, the last major territory to receive the hardware after hugely successful launches in Japan and North America before Christmas.[br][br]The platform is already a huge success despite strong market anticipation for Sony's PlayStation Portable - whose European launch was recently pushed back indefinitely due to stock shortages.[br][br]Over 2.8 million units of the DS were sold through in North America and Japan by mid-January, and the company is believed to be on track to meet its aggressive target of selling five million units worldwide by the end of its financial year on March 31st. ...

[br] A preview release of HuCast, a PC Engine CD / TurboDuo emulator for the Dreamcast by Quzar[br][br]This emulator is not fullspeed, but can play Hu-Card games and SuperCD games at speeds matching/surpassing DreamEngine.[br][br]Download availible HERE ...

The Atari Lynx emulator for the GP32 has been updated with a new release, heres whats new:[br][br]It runs much better then v0.02! But sound doesn't work..[br][br]With 156Mhz many games run with fullspeed![br]Hopefully, he can apply the sound code again.[br][br]Download HERE ...

Those of you who are German will probably know this site but for those that dont its one of the best Emulation sites on the net and one of my personal favourites. Check out E-Lation.net ...

You can tell that the Euro/UK release is coming in a few weeks time when major import companys like GBAX.com reduce the price of the Nintendo DS to £89.99 and the console with Mario DS to £109.89. [br][br]More Nintendo DS news Here ...