Using The Nintendo Game Boy Advance Quiz

The directional pad, or D-pad, serves as a directional button that moves up, down, left, or right. It is primarily used to move characters through the games, navigate through menus and settings, and activate specific character actions like speaking short phrases.

Fun Fact: Nintendo was awarded a Technology & Engineering Emmy by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 2007. It was first developed by Gunpei Yokoi in 1982 when he was working on the Game and Watch, which was Nintendo's first handheld game. He took the clunkier joystick and made it smaller so that the game would close.

The start button on a Game Boy Advance has a variety of functions. It can be used to pause the game, and navigate through the game menus. It can also be used in combination with other control buttons. For example, holding down the start, select, A, and B buttons reboots the game without needing to turn the system off and back on.

Fun Fact: From a parent point of view, the downside of spending $99.99 on the Game Boy Advance was that it did not come with a Game Pak. Now, Nintendo says that the reason it was done that way was because they wanted to keep the price of the system low and did not want to make buyers pay for a game that they potentially did not want. Game Paks typically sold for $30-$50.

The purpose of the Select Button on a Game Boy Advance changes according to the game that is being played, but it generally is used as a shortcut for using the game map, powering up, or using a special item. It is, for example, a fast way to change weapons without having to pause the action.

Fun Fact: The good thing about Game Boy Advance system was that it had a backward compatibility with other Nintendo games and systems. If you were upgrading from a Game Boy (1989) like we did, you could also play the games on the GBA. Game Boy Color (1998) games had the same compatibility.

Moving the power switch on a GBA to the right turns on the game. It is important to be sure to turn off the Game Boy Advance before removing the Game Pak. The components that are used to operate the function are made of metal and can easily oxidize and collect dust. If the power switch becomes too dirty, it will flicker or turn off when bumped.

Fun Fact: The best selling GBA Game Pak was the "Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire". Released in 2002, it sold 16.22 copies worldwide. Ultimately over 1,000 licensed Game Paks were released for the Game Boy Advance.

At start up, the Game Boy Advance logo appears on the screen and then changes to show the logo of the Game Pak that has been inserted. The GBA has a reflective 2.9 inch (7.37 cm) diagonal liquid-crystal display. While it can show over 36,000 colors, it requires some source of overhead lighting. Players do complain about the eye strain that it causes. Finally, in 2005 Nintendo introduced a backlit screen for the GBA.

Fun Fact: Over time, Nintendo released two other versions of the Game Boy Advance - the Game Boy Advance SP in 2003 and the Game Boy Micro in 2005.

The Nintendo Game Boy Advance needs two AA batteries to operate. The LED power indicator turns green if the batteries are new. When the power indicator turns red, it is a good idea to save the game being played immediately so that the data is not lost.

Fun Fact: Players could purchase an e-Reader Accessory that plugged into the cartridge slot and allowed them to scan codes that unlocked mini-games and other items.

On a Game Boy Advance, the B button is located a bit lower and to the left of the A Button. It depends on the game, but the B button is normally used to make characters dash or run, run faster, or even use the game's main weapon.

Fun Fact: Players could also buy a GameCube-Game Boy Advance Link Cable that would create a connection between the two games. It enabled players to privately view items like maps that didn't show on the television screen and unlock special bonus items.

The A button in the Game Boy Advance is used for the main actions of the game, like jumping or attacking. It is slightly taller than the B button to accommodate the curved contour of the game's shell due to its location closer to the edge.

Fun Fact: A German company called Medical Imaging Electronics adapted the Game Boy Advance hardware for use in their heart monitoring equipment.

The built in speaker on a Game Boy Advance isn't the greatest. It produces a very quiet mono signal that is easily overcome with other noises. Some people complain that it buzzes and hisses. There are kits available that are designed to help with this problem, like "CleanAmp", but the modifier must have basic soldering skills and be willing to pry the shell open!

Fun Fact: Nintendo also marketed the Glucoboy with the Game Boy Advance to encourage diabetic children to regularly check their blood sugar. They would be awarded extra points for doing so, and the points could be used to open mini-games and in-game items.

Luckily the Game Boy Advance came with a 3.5 mm headphone jack. For the kids, that means that the internal hardware's output produces stereo sound, and for the parents, it provides a quieter home environment.

Fun Fact: The Game Boy Advance was taken off the market in 2008 in the United States and by 2010 it was discontinued worldwide. The Nintendo DS, launched in 2004, replaced the GBA.