Game Boy Goes Zoom-Zoom
Aka the "backseat babysitter."Tom Krazit
Can't think of another electronic entertainment device to cram into a new car? Well, Nintendo recently licensed its Game Boy Advance technology to automotive electronics supplier Visteon to use as part of a new portable gaming system for bored passengers. The companies announced the news at this month's Consumer Electronics Show.
Dubbed the "ultimate backseat babysitter" by Visteon Vice President Greg Gyllstrom, the Dockable Family Entertainment System will play game cartridges from Nintendo's Game Boy Advance in addition to DVDs. The system resembles a small laptop computer or portable DVD player, with a 10.2-inch screen. It can sit on a lap or dock into a port on the inside roof of a car. The system hangs upside-down when docked, with the screen folding down as with other portable automotive DVD players.
A wireless controller and wireless headset come standard with the system, Gyllstrom says. Users can play any of their Game Boy Advance titles on the system, or plug in another Game Boy to allow two players to compete against each other for bragging rights or the honor of choosing the restaurant at the next rest area on their journey.
Nintendo has licensed its games and technology to other manufacturers in the past, such as for use in hotel entertainment systems and on airlines, says Peter Eck, director of Nintendo Gateway Products for Nintendo of America. But this is the first time Nintendo has licensed the technology to a portable device maker, he says.
Visteon will not formally release the Dockable Family Entertainment System Featuring Game Boy Advance until April, and the company does not plan to release pricing information until then, Gyllstrom says. He likewise declines to name any automotive manufacturers that have contracted for the system, but Visteon already has BMW Group and Nissan as customers for the Dockable Family Entertainment System, he says.
Tom Krazit writes for the IDG News Service.