Game Boy

The Game Boy is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo, released in 1989. The Game Boy was the first successful handheld console, and was the predecessor of all other iterations of the Game Boy line.

The Game Boy was originally bundled with the puzzle game Tetris, since Nintendo thought that an addictive puzzle game would get consumers' attention, despite the crude monochrome graphics compared to technologically superior competitors of the time (Atari Lynx and, later, the Sega Game Gear).

History

The Game Boy 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 the existence of technically superior alternatives which featured color graphics.

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).

Variations

Several variations of the original Game Boy were produced:
*Super Game Boy (compatibility adaptor to accommodate TV viewing via Super NES)
*Game Boy Pocket (first pocket handheld)
*Game Boy Light (first backlit in the Game Boy line)

Technical information

CPU: Custom 8-bit Sharp Z80 at 4.194304 MHz (has a slightly different instruction set than a standard Z80, and integrated sound generation)RAM: 8 kByte internal S-RAM;Video RAM: 8 kByte internalROM: 256 kbit, 512 kbit, 1 Mbit, 2 Mbit and 4 Mbit and 8 Mbit cartridges;Sound: 4 channel stereo sound. The unit only has one speaker, but headphones provide stereo soundDisplay: Reflective LCD 160 × 144 pixels;Screen Size: 66 mm (2.6 in) diagonalColor Palette: 4 shades of "gray" (green to black);Communication: Up to 16 Game Boys can be linked together via serial portsPower: 6 V, 0.7 W (4 AA batteries provide ~35 hours);Dimensions: 90mm(W) × 148mm(H) × 32mm(D)/3.5 × 5.8 × 1.3 (inch)

See Also

*List of games for the Game Boy