Rechargeable Batteries Cut Handheld Lives Short

Here’s a strange piece of advice for the hardcore gamers out there: Buy a Game Boy Advance. I don’t mean the SP model or even the Micro. I’m talking about the first-wave GBAs that you need to rest the sun on your shoulder in order to see its screen. You may ask, “Why would I want that old & busted thing? I have a DS, which is 100x better!” The DS truly is a technological marvel; however today’s portable devices suffer from one flaw detrimental to our long-term gaming experience: Their battery.

While the rechargeable Lithium Ion battery blesses us with more gaming hours between charges as well as saves the environment from landfills of dead batteries, it’s hardly immortal. Sooner or later, it will no longer hold a charge, rendering your handheld useless. The trouble is that Lithium Ion batteries have not been developed into a standard format, much like old-fashioned batteries have in their AAA-D denominations. Hence I can’t simply swap out my cell phone’s battery for the one in my DS in the event that it loses charge during an emergency. One could use an A/C adapter, but being tethered to a wall defeats the purpose of a portable device.

What’s also problematic about proprietary batteries is the lack of support from the device’s manufacturer after it’s rendered obsolete. Most suggest simply purchasing a new battery, but that’s only a temporary fix. During a visit to a local GameStop, I overheard a conversation between a concerned father and the clerk regarding finding a replacement battery for his son’s original model DS. He’d purchased it at the system’s launch (only three years prior) and its battery no longer held a charge. Alas, since the Lite model has become the standard, GameStop no longer carries parts for the older model. The only option given by the clerk was to buy a brand new DS Lite.

Now I’m not hating on the DS (I adore mine!) or any worthwhile portable device. I also believe that it’s for the greater good that we sacrifice the time that we’re able to enjoy our favorite games for a healthier environment. However, I’m also one who likes to have my cake and eat it too…and be able to eat it 15-20 years later. As we’ve seen in recent years, many classic games are being ported to current generation platforms. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that all of our favorites will be given additional chances at life in the future. It is for this reason that while I whole-heartedly plan on picking up the upcoming DS port of Chrono Trigger, I may just hang on to my original SNES cart for a while longer.

As I stated before, I encourage everyone to swing over to eBay and snag an original Game Boy Advance. Hell, as of this writing you can easily get your hands on one for under $20. Standard sized rechargeable batteries are widely available. That way, so long as AA batteries exist, you’ll be able to reminisce–and enjoy—your favorite GBA titles (and old school Game Boy games) well into your retirement.