Dockable Entertainment featuring Game Boy Advance
ManufacturerVisteon
TypeVideo game console
GenerationSixth
Lifespan
  • NA: July 2006
MediaCartridge, DVD, CD
CPUARM7TDMI, 16.78 MHz
GraphicsCustom 2D core
Controller input

The Visteon Dockable Entertainment System (officially referred to as Dockable Entertainment featuring Game Boy Advance) is a portable DVD player created by Visteon in 2006 for the US market at an MSRP of $1299 USD.[1] The player is notable for containing officially licensed Game Boy Advance hardware, as Visteon partnered with Nintendo to announce the product at CES 2006.[2] Initially due out in April, the product was then delayed to May before finally launching in July of that year.[3][4][5] To celebrate the product's launch Visteon held a photography and writing contest.[6]

The device was not sold at general retailers, but rather at car dealerships in combination with a roof docking head mount for installation, or already equipped in select models of certain vehicles.[7]

On April 1, 2008, Visteon introduced a model mounted into headrests for $1699.[8][9] Later that year the company expressed interest in creating similar products for the Nintendo DS and Wii platforms, though neither materialized.[10]

Hardware specifications

The most common roof-mountable version is based on the Visteon XV101 portable DVD player, and shares specifications in all aspects except those regarding Game Boy Advance compatibility.

Alongside this, the player came with a wireless game controller (a modified Sky Active gamepad), a set of wireless headphones, a remote control, and compatibility with MP3 and WMA CD files.[11]

Unique to the headrest model was a 7" TFT LCD screen, backlit DVD controls plus an additional remote, headphone and game controller.[8]

Neither version of the hardware was backwards compatible with Game Boy or Game Boy Color games.[12]

References

  1. ^ DSCUBED (15 July 2006). "Interview with Mark Boyle". YouTube.
  2. ^ Ransom-Wiley, James (5 January 2006). "CES: Visteon's dockable entertainment featuring GBA". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015.
  3. ^ Krazit, Tom (4 January 2006). "CES: Nintendo puts Game Boy in autos with Visteon". Macworld.
  4. ^ Grant, Chris (27 April 2006). "Dockable DVD player with GBA drops in May". Engadget.
  5. ^ Snow, Blake (11 May 2006). "Impressions: Visteon GBA/DVD Player". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Visteon Running Contest to Promote Dockable Game Boy System". Gamers Game. Writers Write. 4 May 2006.
  7. ^ Hruschak, PJ (14 June 2008). "Visteon's dockable multimedia player, GBA system still kickin'". Gamertell. Gadgetell. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Visteon Headrest Entertainment System". Ubergizmo. 8 January 2008.
  9. ^ Spencer (7 January 2008). "The GBA lives inside car headrests". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018.
  10. ^ Hruschak, PJ (16 June 2008). "Gamertell Exclusive: Visteon looking into DS, Wii versions of Dockable Entertainment system". GamerTell. TechnologyTell. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Dockable Entertainment featuring Game Boy Advance Sheet" (PDF). Visteon.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2006.
  12. ^ My Life in Gaming (4 February 2017). "Visteon Dockable Entertainment Featuring Game Boy Advance". YouTube. 2:27.

External links

Game Boy Advance family
Home video game consoles
Handheld game consoles
Categories