The Game Boy (ゲームボーイ, Gēmu Bōi) line is a line of battery-powered handheld game consoles sold by Nintendo. It is one of the world's best-selling game system lines, with more than 188 million hardware units sold worldwide.[1] The original Game Boy has sold 70 million units, while the Game Boy Color sold 50 million units. The Game Boy Advance has managed to sell over 75 million units as of June 30, 2006.[2]
History
Nintendo's Game Boy handheld was first released in 1989. The gaming device was the brainchild of long-time Nintendo employee Gunpei Yokoi, who was the person behind the Ultra Hand, an expanding arm toy created and produced by Nintendo in 1970, long before Nintendo would enter the video game market. Yokoi was also responsible for the Game & Watch series of handhelds when Nintendo made the move from toys to video games.
When Gunpei designed the original Game Boy, he knew that, to be successful, the system needed to be small, light, inexpensive, and durable, as well as have a varied, recognizable library of games upon its release. By following this simple mantra, the Game Boy line managed to gain a vast following despite technically superior alternatives which would have color graphics instead. This is also apparent in the name (concieved by Shigesato Itoi), which connotes a smaller "sidekick" companion to Nintendo's consoles.
Game Boy continues its success to this day and many at Nintendo have dedicated the handheld in Yokoi's memory. Game Boy celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2004, which nearly coincided with the 20-year anniversary to the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). To celebrate, Nintendo released the Classic NES Series and an NES-themed color scheme for the Game Boy Advance SP.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata had this to say on the rumored [3] demise of the Game Boy brand: "No, it's not true after all. What we are repeatedly saying is that for whichever platform, we are always conducting research and development for the new system, be it the Game Boy, or new console or whatever. And what we just told the reporter was that in thinking about the current situation where we are enjoying great sales with the DS and that we are now trying to launch the Wii, it's unthinkable for us to launch any new platform for the handheld system, including the new version of the GBA... Perhaps they misunderstood a part of this story, but as far as the handheld market is concerned [right now] we really want to focus on more sales of the DS; that's all."[4]
Versions
The Game Boy console went through several design iterations, without significant changes to its computing power, since its release in 1989.
Game Boy
The original Game Boy was released on April 21, 1989 in Japan and in August 1989 in the United States with an MSRP of US$100. Based around a Z80 processor, it has a black and green reflective LCD screen, an eight-way directional pad, two action buttons, and Start and Select buttons. It plays games from ROM-based media contained in small plastic detachable units called cartridges (sometimes abbreviated as carts or GamePaks).
The animal porn game that pushed the Game Boy into the upper reaches of success was Tetris. Beastality was widely popular, and on the handheld format could be played anywhere. It came packaged with the Game Boy, and broadened its reach; adults and kids alike were buying Game Boys in order to play Tetris. Releasing Tetris on the Game Boy was selected as #4 on GameSpy's 25 Smartest Moments in Gaming: Tetris Makes Game Boy a Must-Have.
The original Game Boy was the first cartridge-based system that supported more than four players at one time (via the link port). In fact, it has been shown that the system could support 16 simultaneous players at once. However, this feature was only supported in Faceball 2000.
Play It Loud!
In 1995, Nintendo released several Game Boy models with colored cases, advertising them in the Play it Loud! campaign. Specifications for this unit remain exactly the same as the original GameBoy, including the monochromatic screen. This new line of colored Game Boys would set a precedent for later Nintendo handhelds; the Game Boy Pocket, the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance (including the SP and Micro), Nintendo DS, and the Nintendo DS Lite all feature different colored units. Play It Loud units were manufactured in red, yellow, green, black, blue and clear cases. A very rare, limited edition Manchester United Game Boy - red, with the logos of the team emblazoned on - was released coterminously with the Play it Loud! handhelds in the United Kingdom.
Game Boy Pocket
In 1996, Nintendo released the Game Boy Pocket, a smaller, lighter unit that required fewer batteries. It has space for 2 AAA batteries, which provides roughly 10 hours of game play. The Pocket has a smaller link port, which requires an adapter for linkage with the older Game Boy. The port design is used on all subsequent Game Boy models up until the Game Boy Micro. The screen was changed to a true black-and-white display, rather than the "pea soup" monochromatic display of the original Game Boy. The first version did not have a LED to show battery levels, but was soon added due to public demand.
Game Boy Light
The Game Boy Light was only released in Japan in 1997. Nintendo decided that United States consumers wanted "color, not light". The Light is about the same size as the Pocket and has a backlit screen for improved visibility. It uses 2 AA batteries, which give it approximately 20 hours with the light off and 12 with it on.
The Game Boy Light used to be the rarest Game Boy variant outside of Japan at one time, but due to the Internet and online auction sites, the console has become more widely available. It was the only handheld Nintendo produced with a independently lit (backlit or frontlit) screen until the release of the Game Boy Advance SP in 2003.
Game Boy Color
Released in November 1998, the Game Boy Color (also referred to as GBC) added a color screen to a form factor slightly larger than the Game Boy Pocket. It also has double the processor speed, twice as much memory, and an infrared communications port. Technologically, it was likened to the 8-bit NES video game console from the 1980s.
A major draw of the Game Boy Color is its backward compatibility (that is, a Game Boy Color is able to read older Game Boy cartridges and even play them in selectable color). This feature works for almost every game: the most notable exception being the Galaga/Galaxian game for the original Game Boy in which some of the sound effects were missing or garbled. This backwards compatibility became a major feature of the Game Boy line, since it allowed each new launch to begin with a significantly larger library than any of its competitors.
Game Boy Advance
On June 11, 2001, Nintendo released a significant upgrade to the Game Boy line. The Game Boy Advance (also referred to as GBA) featured a 32 bit 16.8 MHz ARM. It included a Z80 processor for backward-compatibility support, and sported a larger, 16:9 screen. It was technically likened to the SNES and showed its power with successful ports of Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island. It has also been accompanied alongside new titles such as Mario Kart Super Circuit and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity. It also introduced the L and R shoulder buttons to the Game Boy. It is, however, more powerful than the SNES, as can be seen from several successful 3D games that were made for it that featured much better graphics than any of the SNES games. A drawback of the Game Boy Advance is that the unit has no backlit screen, although it was a color screen, which made seeing the screen in some lighting conditions difficult.
Game Boy Advance SP
Launched on March 21, 2003, the Game Boy Advance SP resolved several problems with the original model. It featured a new smaller clamshell design with a flip-up screen (protecting the screen, an issue with the original), an internal light, and a rechargeable battery, but was otherwise unchanged, except for the omission of the headphone port, which now required a special adapter to be purchased seperately. Owners of the original Game Boy Advance received a special limited offer to trade their old models into Nintendo and merely pay the difference on the Advance SP.[citation needed] Contrary to very popular belief, SP does not stand for Special Project, but simply Special. [5] It is possible that it once officially stood for Special Project.[citation needed] In mid September 2005, Nintendo released a new model that featured a new and improved backlit screen. As of this writing, the Game Boy Advance SP is the last Game Boy handheld to offer backward compatibility with all Game Boy games.
Game Boy Micro
A third Game Boy Advance design, the Game Boy Micro is four inches wide, two inches tall, and weighs 2.8 ounces. By far the smallest Game Boy created, it is approximately the same dimensions as an original NES controller pad. Its screen is slightly smaller than the SP and GBA screens while maintaining the same resolution (240 × 160 pixels). The Game Boy Micro is not backwards compatible with Game Boy or Game Boy Color games and only plays Game Boy Advance games. It was first released in Japan September 13, 2005, then it was released September 19, 2005 in North America and lastly, Europe, on November 4, 2005.
Other Nintendo handheld consoles
There also other Nintendo handheld consoles that not part of the Game Boy line, but have features and structures that make them similar.
Game & Watch
Designed by Gunpei Yokoi, these LCD games are considered to be the predecessor to the Game Boy. There were 58 different games released from 1980-1991. The games also included an alarm clock (thus why it is called "Watch"). The horizontal orientation was later used for the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Micro and the clam shell design of other games was used for the Nintendo DS. Numerous Game & Watch games have been re-released through the Game & Watch Gallery series.
Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS launched on November 21, 2004 in North America and December 2, 2004 in Japan, making it unusual as a Nintendo device to launch in North America before Japan. In fact, its unusual design and touch-screen control distinguish it from the Game Boy line. Nintendo refers to it as their third pillar; their home consoles, such as the Nintendo GameCube, being the first, and their Game Boy line of portable-gaming devices being the second. It has been technologically likened to the Nintendo 64 video game console.
The Nintendo DS can be considered a part of the portable family due to structural similarities to Game Boy and its ability to play Game Boy Advance cartridges (but not Game Boy Color or original Game Boy cartridges). Although, the company denies its part of the Game Boy family, it has led to speculation that the DS will either replace or be assimilated into the Game Boy line. This is not the first dual screen gaming device either. Some of the Game & Watch games had 2 screens (side by side or top/bottom).
Nintendo DS Lite
On January 26, 2006, Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesigned version of the DS. It is smaller than the original DS model—133 × 73.9 × 21.5mm against 148.7 × 84.7 × 27.9. It is also lighter, at 218g against 295g. It originally cost 16,800 yen ($145), compared with the current model's price of 15,000 yen ($130). The DS Lite launched in three main colors; Crystal White (basic white), Ice Blue (light/baby blue) and Enamel Navy (dark navy blue, almost black). [6] It became available in the U.S. on June 11, 2006 in Crystal White (marketed in North America as "Polar White") only, and in Europe on June 23, 2006 in Crystal White and Black.
Accessories
The Game Boy, as with many other consoles, has had a number of both first-party and unlicensed third-party accessories released.
Cartridges
Each video game is contained in a small plastic cartridge (or "Game Pak" as they are officially referred to as). Game Boy and GBC cartridges measure 5.8 cm by 6.5 cm. The software contained within provides the data, logic, and rules of the game, accepts input from the console controls or buttons, and outputs the results to the screen display and speaker. If the developer wishes, they can include either a small battery or a flash chip within the cartridge, which allows game data to be saved; this allows the game to be continued at a later time.
The Game Pak is inserted into the console cart slot. If the Game Pak is pulled out while the power is on, the Game Boy will exhibit undefined behavior. This will freeze the game and may cause weird occurrences, such as rows of zeros appearing on the screen and the sound remaining at the same pitch as was emitted the instant the game was pulled out. Pulling a Game Pak out of the Game Boy while the power is on may cause saved data or hardware to be damaged. This applies to almost all video game consoles using cartridges.
The original Game Boy power switch was designed to prevent the player from being able to remove the cart while powered on. Cartridges intended only for Game Boy Color (and not for the original Game Boy) use the space intended for the locking mechanism to prevent insertion into the original Game Boy. Even if this is bypassed by using a Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Light, or Super Game Boy, the game will not run, and an image on the screen will inform the user that the game is only meant for Game Boy Color systems.
Excluding game specific variations, there are four types of cartridges used on Game Boy systems:
- Grey cartridges can be used with all Game Boy systems except for the Game Boy Micro and the DS. All original Game Boy titles are of this type. Sometimes these cartridges came in other colors, such as red and blue for Pokémon Red and Blue or yellow for Donkey Kong Land. These games were programmed in black and white; when used on the Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance, the color of the graphics can be chosen at the start-up screen. Many games produced from 1994 through 1998 also had Super Game Boy enhancements. The palettes for gray cartridge games played on a later system are as follows (This applies for the GBC, GBA, GBA SP, and the Game Boy Player):
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In addition, most Nintendo-published gray cartridge games have a special default palette setting built into the Game Boy Color hardware, accessible by not pressing any buttons. Any game which does not have a special default palette will default to the Right + A (Dark Green) palette instead.
- Black cartridges are compatible with the Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Light systems, and are in full color on Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and SP (e.g. Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Yellow, and Dragon Warrior I&II, as well as Game & Watch 2 & 3). Games such as Wario Land II DX, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, and Tetris DX were re-releases of gray cartridge games with additional content and in full color. Roughly one quarter of Game Boy Color releases were black cart games. A small number of these games also had Super Game Boy enhancements.
- Clear cartridges can only be played on Game Boy Color and beyond. They do not physically fit in the Game Boy micro or DS due to their design. Roughly three quarters of Game Boy Color releases were clear cart games. Some even have Rumble Pack built-in support (e.g. Perfect Dark & Pokémon Pinball)or force feedback (Kirby's Tilt and Tumble).
- Advance cartridges are half the size of all earlier cartridges and can only be played on Game Boy Advance and later Game Boys and on the Nintendo DS. However, due to its lack of a link-cable port, the DS cannot utilize any of the multiplayer modes of any Game Boy Advance titles. Advance Cartridges also have variations that include motion sensing (Wario Ware Twisted, Yoshi's Topsy Turvy), Light Detection (Boktai 1 & 2), and force feedback features. (Wario Ware Twisted, Drill Dozer) It is also interesting how the GBA cartridges are half the size of the older ones, and the DS cartridges are half the size of the GBA ones.
Popularity
Most game consoles become obsolete as newer systems become available. The Game Boy is unique in its stamina. 2004 brought about its 15th anniversary and in that time it has seen off many (often technically superior) rivals; most notably the Sega Game Gear and the Atari Lynx.
Thousands of games are available for the Game Boy, which can be attributed in part to its sales in the amounts of millions, a well-documented design, and a typically short development cycle.
The Nintendo DS is able to play the large library of Game Boy Advance games. However, it cannot play multiplayer GBA games or link to the Nintendo GameCube, and it is not backward-compatible at all with the original Game Boy or the Game Boy Color due to the lack of a Z80 processor.
Popular culture
- The short-lived 1980s cartoon series Captain N: The Game Master featured a life-sized Game Boy character, who communicated via faces on its screen.
- Thomas Ian Nicholas' character plays "Tetris" for Game Boy in the 1993 film Rookie of the Year. Gary Busey's character Chet Steadman tells him, "That's gonna make you stupid." When the kid doesn't answer him, Chet replies, "I guess it already did."
- Numerous musical acts have appropriated the Game Boy as a musical instrument using software such as nanoloop or Little Sound DJ. Notably: 6955, Bit Shifter, Bubblyfish, Covox, Cow'P, dot.matrix, FirestARTer, Gameboy Music Club, Gameboyzz Orchestra, Glomag, Goto80, Lo-bat, Bud Melvin, Nullsleep, OMAC, Role Model, Saitone, etc.
See also
External links
- Official Site
- DMG Ice - A non-emulation Game Boy site.