Nintendo is to re-release its Game Boy Advance SP handheld games console in a new slimline casing and re-brand it as the Game Boy Micro, the company announced yesterday.

The Micro's 10 x 5 x 1.8cm silver shell is pitched at consumers who have become accustomed to stylish personal music players rather than the boxy, plastic game consoles of yore. The Micro weighs a mere 79g.

And in a touch borrowed from the mobile phone world, the Micro's face-plate slips off past the 2in backlit colour display, allowing Nintendo to sell punters replacement covers in different colours and styles. Speaking of the display, Nintendo said the screen has its own brightness control.

The outer casing may be new, but the internals are pure GBA SP, ensuring full compatibility with all the hundreds of games available for the platform.

The Micro will ship in the US this autumn. ®

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