I have already asked at most stores and they all seem to be saying not until March. The stores I asked were: Toys'R'Us, Daiei, Bic Camera, Tsutaya, and some other smaller shops. Most places got really small allocations of stock...I get the feeling that Nintendo has made a rather limited release for now to drum up excitement. Most of the big retailer were getting under 50 units not including the prebought units. Smaller chains were getting 10-15 units.

I am glad I got mine yesterday before the rush and did not have to line up for them....I just don't understand how someone could have chosen to line up in the FREEZING cold last night...it is freaking cold right now in Tokyo btw to all you in west thinking it might be warm here. If is was summer and not a work day it would have been cool to hang out w/ fellow geeks and enjoy the launch...but this is not really a new system launch so the geek level isn't that hight hehe =). People could have easily prebought their GBA SP's in advance at Lawson's....oh well, I shouldn't talk cos I 4got to prebuy mine =).


- blankoboy

This is pretty amazing. I know they are just trying to build the hype factor, but considering how well the old GBA has been selling in Japan....it's just amazing. If only Nintendo could be as solid on the Gamecube side Of course, I think they should have held off on the SP until they release Pokemon Gamecube, and then they could have offered a super bundle.

Ah well...this is good for Nintendo!

How weird is it that a portable that is essentially the same product that everyone bought about two years ago except with new features it should have had in the first place sells completely out while the Gamecube, which isn't all a bunch of 5+ year old ports and argueably has a better lineup of ORIGINAL content, has lukewarm sales. I guess it just shows that if Nintendo put a fraction of the effort they put in promoting the GBA towards promoting the Gamecube maybe the Cube wouldn't be in last place everywhere but Japan.

alotta people really wanted a lighted up screen...

demoncrono, maybe if they release a special edition Gamecube with a backlit lid?

Ian Sane, the main reason the SP has sold out, while the Gamecube is having "lukewarm sales", is quite obvious. the GCN has been out for quite some time now, so chances are most people who would want a cube already have one. the SP is brand new. you really should compare the launch of the SP to that of the GCN. one of the best marketing tactics is to release something new and exciting

another reason for why it sold so well is that the SP is much better than the original GBA. adding a backlit feature is enough of an improvement to make this system be the next generation of Gameboy.