Oh man. When I was in the Navy, I had the game boy advance. Advance wars had this sick turn based mode, where you could get your moves in, and then stick it in your pocket and wait to hand it off. We'd have four players playing games that might take all day, sometimes days. Just make your moves, stick it in your pocket, and whenever you find your shipmate, pass it along.

[–] tkohldesac@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago

We did that at our lunch hour in high school. We had a super strategic friend that took the entire lunch hour. That pass-around mode was peak early 2000’s multiplayer.

[–] EncryptKeeper@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Sounds like hotseat. A remnant of the good old days.

[–] Eezyville@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago

The good ole days where you had to actually know real humans to pay multiplayer.

[–] kratoz29@lemm.ee 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

How did the battery last that much? AFAIK the GBA didn't have any sleep mechanics... Or was one pack of batteries able to hold 12-24 hrs running the game non stop?

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm trying to recall. I know we always had a solid supply of rechargeables underway. I also distinctly remember that there is a kind of blanked out hand off screen between players because of fog if war. I don't recall it having any kind of sleep function. But I know it could run for several hours no issue. I don't recall having to mind the batteries in particular.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[–] oddspinnaker@lemm.ee 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Some Game Boy Advance games actually had a software-based sleep mode!

You pressed L+R and Select.

On top of that, I was always really impressed by the GBA’s battery life but maybe I’m just old.

[–] kratoz29@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

On top of that, I was always really impressed by the GBA’s battery life but maybe I’m just old.

Same, I just don't remember ever bothering about the battery life (unless it turned red) but with that long gaming sessions it would be a concern for kid me probably.

[–] oddspinnaker@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I even remember buying a nice glacier blue rechargeable battery pack and never using it!

I wish I could buy everything in glacier blue now.