AMID all the excitement generated by the Nintendo Game Cube in Japan last week it was easy to overlook another hardware launch.

Although the next generation Game Boy is effectively entering a market of one (in the West at least), it's probably not going too far to suggest the future of Nintendo rests on the success of the Game Boy Advance.

The old Game Boy is more than a decade old - positively prehistoric in the an industry where a 12-month lifespan is long lived.

Despite its age and crudity sales have never been higher. Fuelled by Pokemon fever, Game Boy profits have shored up Nintendo in the face of decaying sales of the N64.

Replacing such a popular handheld is always going to be gamble.

The Game Boy Advance was due to make its debut this year, just in time for Christmas, but Nintendo held back happy to milk the last few million units out of its older brother.

Thankfully, the new machine looks as though it has the power and - more importantly - software support to take the mantle of world's favourite hand-held.

The system will make use of a 32-bit RISC CPU developed by a UK-based microchip specialist, part of the giant ARM Corporation. This chip will be almost as powerful as the one used in the PlayStation although GB Advance will be less of a polygon monster than the venerable Sony unit.

Another new feature is full connectivity to the Internet through cellular phones, allowing for users to download game software, play multiplayer games, send e-mail, and chat. As with the existing GB, players will be able to slot in a digital camera for instant snaps.

According to Nintendo: "Adding communication features to a portable game system like Game Boy is expected to result in new kinds of network entertainment. In effect, Game Boy Advance will be a personal communications terminal as well as a next generation gaming system.

In a canny move already adopted by Sony, the new machine will enjoy backward compatibility with Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles ensuring a vast library of (albeit basic) titles from day one.

Power is provided by two AA batteries and Nintendo reckons they will be sufficient for 20 hours play despite the extra processing power. The screen is colour but not backlit so manufacturers of those daft GB light fittings can breath easy.

The Game Boy Advance is due for release in Japan in August, 2001 and Christmas, 2001 in the US and Europe. Nintendo's Dolphin console is being planned for a worldwide release in fall 2000.

Can't wait.