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Nintendo's new Game Boy Micro makes solid debut
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.
"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 color version is really popular."
The Micro is available in Japan in silver, purple, black and blue, with a fifth "limited edition" design in the color 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. Continued ...
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On the 20th birthday of Nintendo's mascots, Mario and his brother Luigi, Nintendo has released the newest addition to the popular Game Boy line.

The Game Boy Micro is the smallest handheld release by Nintendo to date. Unlike other handhelds in the Game Boy Advance series, the Game Boy Micro can only play Game Boy Advance games and not games designed for the original Game Boy system. The handheld features a new link port, includes multiple removable faceplates, and additional faceplates can be purchased separately. This system has an MSRP of USD$99.99.