Game Boy Micro launches September 19 in US, November 4 in Europe

With the big Game Convention in Leipzig today, there’s plenty of gaming news hitting the wire. Next up we’ve got the little console that could: the Game Boy Micro. Nintendo’s "smaller is better" approach to portable gaming will be launching on September 19 in the United States (and likely Canada), and November 4 in Europe.

The Game Boy Micro will be priced at US$99 (€99 in the Eurozone), making it more expensive than the Game Boy Advance SP in the US ($79.99), and the same price as the Advance SP in Europe. We expected the Micro to come in at a lower price than the Advance SP, but Nintendo is clearly counting on the Micro’s size to move product. It also appears that Nintendo did some market research before settling on a launch price:

"Non-gamers thought the price should be lower but gamers thought it should be higher," Nintendo’s European Marketing Director Jim Merrick told Reuters in an interview.

One matter remains unclear. According to the European press release, the Micro will come in four colors: silver, green, blue and pink. However, the US press release says that it will come in either black or silver, but faceplates such as "camouflage," "flame" and "ladybug" will also be available.

The black Game Boy Micro will include one faceplate with a "Flame" design of fiery yellow double helixes on an orange background. It also will come with a green "Camouflage" faceplate and a chic silver faceplate. The silver Game Boy Micro will include an "Ammonite" faceplate with a dark blue swirling pattern. It also will come with a "Ladybug" faceplate that features a ladybug on a large pink gerbera daisy, and a slick black faceplate. Images are available at www.gameboy.com.

In any case, the gist is clear: the Micro will be customizable for all of the slaves to fashion. Indeed, Merrick talked up the "style" of the device, underscoring his hopes that that the Micro will appeal to gamers’ supposed desire for "sleek and sassy."

"The Game Boy Micro is the latest fashion statement from Nintendo and is an absolute must have for those looking for a stylish console. This new product takes everything gamers know and love and condenses it into a sleek and sassy shell. Game Boy Micro is about expressing yourself and the way you play video games."

So, should we expect two-toned TV ad spots featuring people dancing and doing flips with their Micros? And here I thought it was just kind of cool to have Super Mario Bros. in your pocket.