Konami Releases 'Solar-Powered' GBA Game

Posted on Wednesday 4th February 2004 at 21:10 by Phoenix

In an apparent effort to get gamers to play in the great outdoors, Konami has released it's latest GBA title: "Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand."
The Action/RPG title, designed by the creator of the Metal Gear series, requires players to expose their GBA unit to direct sunlight through a small solar sensor contained within the game cartridge. Sunlight both affects key events in the game and provides energy to the game's weapon, a pistol named the "Del Sol."

Boktai sells for about $35 USD, and is available for purchase.
Further information about the title can be found at Konami's Website.

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Go! Outside! Expose your pale skin to the glory of the sun... and... continue your gaming out there!
Or you can sit next to a window as you play.
At least it's been programmed to only "accept" real sunlight: Desklamps, flashlights, and such don't affect the sensor.

Anyway, I'm surprised the technology for the sensor is so compact and cheap enough to warrant mass production on a video game cartridge. And furthermore, the gimmick behind the game is unique. While the game can be played in the absence of sunlight, Konami notes that it becomes significantly harder since players must be conservative in use of their gun's stored energy.

Posted in: Gaming Industry News

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Phoenix

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Comments

Dark Paladin

Comment 1: 2004-02-04 21:37

Now THAT takes creativity.

Quote (Phoenix @ 4th February 2004 16:10)

Sunlight both affects key events in the game and provides energy to the game's weapon, a pistol named the "Del Sol."

Del is gonna have fun with that

Del S

Comment 2: 2004-02-04 22:12

Quote (Dark Paladin @ 4th February 2004 21:37)

Now THAT takes creativity.

Quote (Phoenix @ 4th February 2004 16:10)

Sunlight both affects key events in the game and provides energy to the game's weapon, a pistol named the "Del Sol."

Del is gonna have fun with that

Too right, mate!

Quite a novel idea, but does it HAVE to be sunlight? we dont get much of that here...

Hanyou

Comment 3: 2004-02-04 22:25

You can use a black light as well. Fluorescents and halogens don't work, but UV lights do.

Phoenix

Comment 4: 2004-02-04 22:37

How healthy is it for you to be sitting next to a black light for hours of gaming?
I mean, sunlight isn't healthy in large amounts because of ultraviolet light--isn't sitting right next to a blacklight exposing yourself to incredible amounts of UV light?

Hanyou

Comment 5: 2004-02-04 22:47

You know now that you mention that...I used to have a black light on in my old apartment for about a year, I wonder if that was a bad thing...

I played it before and did spend a good amount of time on my patio playing it, but I am a night owl and the sun isn't always there so the black light was my solution.

FraudulentTommah

Comment 6: 2004-02-04 23:05

My brother has this game and uses a black light.

Will keep tumors and cancer that develops up to date.

Phoenix

Comment 7: 2004-02-05 19:14

Quote (FraudulentTommah @ 4th February 2004 11:05)

Will keep tumors and cancer that develops up to date.

Thx. I predict thread resurrection in forty to sixty years. ^_^

Figaro

Comment 8: 2004-02-05 20:21

I dunno if I like this idea. A game that is semi-solar powered? I can see some major design flaw in the game... but on the bright side*, it's a very original idea.

*Bad pun intended

i90east

Comment 9: 2004-02-06 00:05

So in the winter you're supposed to freeze your fingers off? Heh, in the summer I'd have no problem playing this at the pool. Well, reading is better anyway. Oh well.

It's a very interesting idea indeed, noooo doubt about it. If it's a popular game it'll probably be emulated with unlimited sunlight.

Neal

Comment 10: 2004-02-06 00:52

Haha, that's great. What happens on cloudy days? I thought kids were supposed to get exercise when it's sunny, not just for their fingers...and play games inside when it's cloudy and rainy!

Ejoty

Comment 11: 2004-02-06 02:34

Right on, Neal. When a friend told me about this a few weeks ago he mentioned that a lot of kids will probably neglect their homework because they have to play before it gets dark... and then time for dinner... and then, well, I wanna go to sleep Mom

.

Well, I guess it's fortunate that the black light works.

Urza

Comment 12: 2004-02-07 15:20

It's a very original idea. Makes me wish I had a GBA.

Sephiroth

Comment 13: 2004-04-01 20:20

I agree...it is a very original idea however I don't like the idea that I can't play at night...this is also a bad idea,since toward the end of the year it gets dark at around 5pm...and the whole black light thing gets on my nerves...however we have a copy of it in a crane machine type game in our arcade...I might take a couple of shots at winning it but I certainly won't pay $35 for this.

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Dark Paladin	Comment 1: 2004-02-04 21:37
	Now THAT takes creativity. Quote (Phoenix @ 4th February 2004 16:10) Sunlight both affects key events in the game and provides energy to the game's weapon, a pistol named the "Del Sol." Del is gonna have fun with that
Del S	Comment 2: 2004-02-04 22:12
	Quote (Dark Paladin @ 4th February 2004 21:37) Now THAT takes creativity. Quote (Phoenix @ 4th February 2004 16:10) Sunlight both affects key events in the game and provides energy to the game's weapon, a pistol named the "Del Sol." Del is gonna have fun with that Too right, mate! Quite a novel idea, but does it HAVE to be sunlight? we dont get much of that here...
Hanyou	Comment 3: 2004-02-04 22:25
	You can use a black light as well. Fluorescents and halogens don't work, but UV lights do.
Phoenix	Comment 4: 2004-02-04 22:37
	How healthy is it for you to be sitting next to a black light for hours of gaming? I mean, sunlight isn't healthy in large amounts because of ultraviolet light--isn't sitting right next to a blacklight exposing yourself to incredible amounts of UV light?
Hanyou	Comment 5: 2004-02-04 22:47
	You know now that you mention that...I used to have a black light on in my old apartment for about a year, I wonder if that was a bad thing... I played it before and did spend a good amount of time on my patio playing it, but I am a night owl and the sun isn't always there so the black light was my solution.
FraudulentTommah	Comment 6: 2004-02-04 23:05
	My brother has this game and uses a black light. Will keep tumors and cancer that develops up to date.
Phoenix	Comment 7: 2004-02-05 19:14
	Quote (FraudulentTommah @ 4th February 2004 11:05) Will keep tumors and cancer that develops up to date. Thx. I predict thread resurrection in forty to sixty years. ^_^
Figaro	Comment 8: 2004-02-05 20:21
	I dunno if I like this idea. A game that is semi-solar powered? I can see some major design flaw in the game... but on the bright side, it's a very original idea. Bad pun intended
i90east	Comment 9: 2004-02-06 00:05
	So in the winter you're supposed to freeze your fingers off? Heh, in the summer I'd have no problem playing this at the pool. Well, reading is better anyway. Oh well. It's a very interesting idea indeed, noooo doubt about it. If it's a popular game it'll probably be emulated with unlimited sunlight.
Neal	Comment 10: 2004-02-06 00:52
	Haha, that's great. What happens on cloudy days? I thought kids were supposed to get exercise when it's sunny, not just for their fingers...and play games inside when it's cloudy and rainy!
Ejoty	Comment 11: 2004-02-06 02:34
	Right on, Neal. When a friend told me about this a few weeks ago he mentioned that a lot of kids will probably neglect their homework because they have to play before it gets dark... and then time for dinner... and then, well, I wanna go to sleep Mom . Well, I guess it's fortunate that the black light works.
Urza	Comment 12: 2004-02-07 15:20
	It's a very original idea. Makes me wish I had a GBA.
Sephiroth	Comment 13: 2004-04-01 20:20
	I agree...it is a very original idea however I don't like the idea that I can't play at night...this is also a bad idea,since toward the end of the year it gets dark at around 5pm...and the whole black light thing gets on my nerves...however we have a copy of it in a crane machine type game in our arcade...I might take a couple of shots at winning it but I certainly won't pay $35 for this.
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