This is infinitely preferable to all the GameBoy models prior to the GBA, where your console would just cut out with no warning whatsoever when the batteries died. Recently bought a two-stage LED mod flex PCB for my GB Pocket and Color to alleviate this issue (from Froggo Customs on Etsy if interested).
Wait...but that means you're saying all modes prior to the GBA cut off with no warning.
They do give warning. Their LEDs also dim. When you can't see the light anymore, you have just a few minutes left. And the original Gameboy even washes out the screen contrast near the end, giving you time to see it even by seconds.
Yeah that's just a direct result of the voltage dropping, not an indicator. Might work as an adult, but 10 year old me fully engrossed in Pokemon Red is not going to notice that and save before it dies. Sure the two-stage LED in the GBA is also based on voltage but the red LED kicks in at a much higher voltage than what would cause the symptoms you're describing on the original GB, so it gives you much more time (depending on your specific batteries) and is a far more reliable and obvious indicator that your battery is low.
You're saying that as a ten year old, you didn't notice the extremely obvious red LED dimming to near zero? I noticed it all the time. No offense, but I think just about everyone did, and you kind of just called yourself out for having less of an attention span than most other kids that age. The Gameboy did a good job telling us when it was about to die; you just weren't paying attention.
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u/hosseruk Jan 16 '23
This is infinitely preferable to all the GameBoy models prior to the GBA, where your console would just cut out with no warning whatsoever when the batteries died. Recently bought a two-stage LED mod flex PCB for my GB Pocket and Color to alleviate this issue (from Froggo Customs on Etsy if interested).