Game Boy line

The line is a line of battery-powered handheld game consoles sold by Nintendo. It is one of the world's best-selling game system line, with the orignal Game Boy sold 70 million units, while the Game Boy Color sold 50 million units, and the Game Boy Advance had managed to sold 75 million units as of 2006.

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.

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 a NES-themed color scheme for the Game Boy Advance SP.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata had this to say on the rumored 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 ^*

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 killer game that pushed the Game Boy into the upper reaches of success was Tetris. Tetris 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, and clear cases.

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

Released in 1997, and only available in Japan (Nintendo decided that U.S. consumers wanted "color, not light"), the Game Boy 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 widely available and sells in Akihabara nowadays for around about three thousand yen (approximately $25-26 US Dollars) for the normal model and slightly more for the limited editions.

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, 9 screen. It was technically likened to the SNES and showed its power with successful ports of Super Mario Advance 2 and Super Mario Advance 3. It has also been accompanied alongside new titles such as Mario Kart Super Circuit and 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 features 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. 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. Contrary to very popular belief, SP does not stand for Special Project, but simply Special. ^* It is possible that it once officially stood for Special Project. 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 less than an inch deep 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 current 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). ^* 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.

Pokemon mini

The Pokemon mini was the smallest Cartridge-based handheld console since the ill-fated Microvision by Milton-Bradley. It is heavily dedicated to Pokémon and has the thinnest target audience in the history of Nintendo handheld market.

Accessories

Game Boy Camera & Printer

The Game Boy Camera and Printer are accessories for the Game Boy handheld gaming console and were released in 1998. The camera can take basic black & white, often grainy, digital images using the 4-color palette of the Game Boy system. The printer utilized heat-sensitive paper to "burn" any saved images, making a hard copy. Both items were marketed by Nintendo as light-hearted entertainment devices, in all three major video game regions of the world: Japan, North America, and Europe. The N64 magazine (published by Future) dedicated a monthly section to the device. The Game Boy Printer was subsequently used in a few Game Boy Color games, such as Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Link's Awakening DX, Pokémon Gold and Silver, and Donkey Kong Country.

It was never Nintendo's intention to transform the GB system into a PDA; any such claims are untrue. However, a commercial advertising the products showed a young kid using the devices, with an adult using a laptop looking over in astonishment. The commercial indicates that Nintendo was at least referencing and/or parodying adult-geared portable systems.

There are also several mini-games along with the camera. A picture of the user's head is inserted into several mini-games.

Ball is a juggling game, in which the player moves his or her hand around to catch and throw balls in the style of the Game and Watch game of the same name, only with Mr. Game and Watch's head replaced with the player's.
DJ, probably the most popular game on the Game Boy Camera, the player can mix and create his or her own music. The player's head is the DJ.
Space Fever II is an homage/sequel to an early Nintendo arcade game. In the game, the player controls a spaceship which fires missiles at other ships. The player's head becomes the boss of every third level.
Run! Run! Run! is the bonus game, which is obtained by reaching a score of 2,000 or more in Space Fever II. The player's head becomes attached to a cartoon body, and he or she races against a mole and a bird for the finish line.

Recently, the EyeToy accessory for the PlayStation 2 has vastly expanded upon the idea of using the image of the player in the game and as part of the game. Nintendo reportedly had plans to release a successor to the Game Boy Camera called the Gameeye for the Game Boy Advance, which took color photos and featured connectivity with the Nintendo GameCube, but the Gameeye never saw release.

Pocket Camera (Japan Only)

This version of the Game Boy Camera was only released in Japan and had Pokemon themes.

Super Game Boy

The Super Game Boy is a plug-in cartridge for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System that allows Game Boy games to be played on a television screen. It was released in 1994. The black-and-white games can be colorized by mapping colors to each of the four shades of gray. There were also special "Super Game Boy" label games that contained custom palettes and borders and would only show up when played on a Super Game Boy. A 1998 follow-up, the Super Game Boy 2 (primarily released in Japan, though some sold through QVC's shopping channel in the U.S.), included more boarders, diffrent music for the credits and a link port for multiplayer support.

Transfer Pak

Released in 1999, the Transfer Pak was a device that fit onto the Nintendo 64 controller. However, unlike the Super Game Boy, it was typically only used for the transfer of Game Boy Color data to their N64 equivalents. However, Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2 allowed players to play Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow (on both Stadiums) and Gold, Silver, and later Crystal (Only on Stadium 2) on the television screen similarly to the Super Game Boy. Also, players can transfer their characters from both Mario Golf & Mario Tennis for GBC to their N64 versions and play them in 3-D, earning more exp. points. Then they could transfer the exp. back to the GBC versions to upgrade their character in an instant. The Perfect Dark games could connect in a similar fashion for upgrades and unlockables in both versions. Perfect Dark was also planned to use the Game Boy Camera peripheral, but that idea was scrapped.

Game Boy Player

Released in June 2003 as the spiritual successor to the Super Game Boy, the Game Boy Player allows Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games to be played on the Nintendo GameCube. It also has a link port so players can use multiplayer and e-Reader functions. Essentially a GBA designed to output to a television, it uses the same colorization hardware and methods as that system.

Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter

The Wireless Adapter allows players to play wirelessly without a link cable. As of 2005, fewer than twenty games support this feature. The feature's greatest usefulness is most evident in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, where up to sixteen Wireless Adapter-connected players can convene in a "Union Room" of sorts.

e-Reader (Advance, Advance SP)

A peripheral released for the Game Boy Advance and SP in 2002 that unlocks special content for certain games. Content includes mini-games, different worlds, or full and complete NES games. The content is added or unlocked by purchasing e-Reader cards and swiping them in. The e-Reader is considered to be a general failure; although still selling in Japan, it was not released in Europe, and was discontinued in North America in early 2004.

Link Cable

This simple cable is used to link two or more systems together for two player action. Later on, games such as the Pokemon series used the link cable to transfer data between the two cartridges. Several different link cables were made as the Game Boys had different connectors.

Model 1 - for original Game Boy only.

Model 2 - for Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color, some had a matching unit that attatched to the plug allowing comatibility with the original Game Boy.

Model 3 - for Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP. Has a purple plug on one end, a brown plug on the other with a connector in the middle. The cables can "piggy back" on one another for four player action.

Model 4 - for Game Boy Micro

Four Score (Game Boy Advance)

This accessory which can only be used with the original Game Boy Advance, allows up to four players to play certain games. This connector requires three link cables for players 2 3 and 4 while player one is connected to the Four Score's cord.

Headphone Adaptor (Advance SP)

This tiny matching unit allows headphones to be used on the Game Boy Advance SP. The SP lacks a standard headphone jack and requires a special plug to play. This adaptor connects into the "input 2" port of the SP. The Nintendo brand adapter was only available by directly ordering it from Nintendo, though many third party companies offered their own version with their accessory packs.

Game Boy Advance SP Headphones (Advance SP)

These officially licensed headphones made by Majesco have the plug that connects to the SP's port.

Battery Pack (Original Game Boy)

This battery pack was released for the original Game Boy and was made to compliment the original Game Boy's design. It consists of a pack with hardwired cord, and a detachable plug for recharging or use as a power adaptor.

Battery Pack (Advance SP, Micro, Nintendo DS)

This battery pack was the only officially licensed battery ever made for Game Boy Advance SP. It is also on the Gameboy Micro model, the DS and the DS Lite.

Workboy (Game Boy)

This game came with a small keyboard (like the kind that Palm computers use) and can be used for word processing, data processing, etc. The keyboard's plug only works with the original Game Boy and is required for the game to work.

Play-Yan (Advance, Advance SP, Micro, Nintendo DS)

The Play-Yan is an adaptor which allows the Game Boy Advance SP and Nintendo DS to play MPEG-4 videos and MP3 music from SD memory cards. The adaptor bears a superficial resemblance to the AM3 player (which allows playback of pre-recorded movie files from read-only memory cards on a GBA); the memory card slots into the right hand side of the adaptor, which then plugs into the cartridge slot of the parent console. The adaptor has its own integrated headphone port, but uses the parent console's power supply, controls, and display.

It is estimated that it will offer over 15 hours of MP3 playback and 4 hours of MPEG-4 playback from a fully-charged GBA SP. The adaptor launched in Japan in February 2005 for approximately 5,000 yen ($47.47). Nintendo originally planned to release the adaptor in the U.S. by the end of 2005, but it appears their plans have changed, as Nintendo has not delivered an announcement of a U.S. release with specific dates as of June 2006.

Third Party Accessories

Game Genie (Game Boy)

This was the first cheat device for the Game Boy manufactured by Galoob. It is designed to nest snugly into the original Game Boy (though it will loosely fit into the Pocket and Color systems; it will fit into the Super Game Boy only if you saw off the plastic clip on the Genie's bottom.) The cartridge is inserted with the label facing inward. A compartment on the back holds the tiny code book containing codes for the system. Up to three lines of codes can be entered at a time. There is no backup, so codes have to be reentered upon each startup.

Game Shark (Game Boy, Pocket, Color)

This is a cheat device manufactured by Interact Accessories and is probably the most popular cheat device for the Game Boy system. Many more codes can be used at once. This device features a list of games with their codes and featured backup. This means that once a code is entered, it could be stored in the devices memory so that upon startup, the user can just select the code instead of having to reenter it. A switch on top of the unit allows the player to turn the device off and on if a code causes inteference during certain situations.

Model 1 - Gray: For cheat codes only

Model 2 - Black: Same as above, though the storage interface has some problems. Also has an option of cleaning the RAM of a game (i.e. erasing all of a game's data)

Model 3 - Clear: The best model for Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Codes can be uploaded to the Model 3 version from the website using a cable which connected to the parallel port of a computer to the Game Boy's link cable port. Another feature is the "Snapshot" feature which takes a data snapsot of a game. Players can then load the snapshot later on and continue where they left off. Only one snapshot can be stored at a time.

Monster Brain/Brain Boy/Codebreaker (Game Boy, Pocket, Color)

This cheat device was released by Pelican Accessories and can use Game Shark codes, but in a more user friendly way.

Game Shark (Advance, Advance SP)

This Game Shark was made for Game Boy Advance games. It is not compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games as making it compatible would have made the unit expensive. Originally made by Interact Accessories, the rights were later obtained by Mad Catz. Codes can be uploaded to it from the website via a USB cable from a computer to the unit itself.

Action Replay (Advance, Advance SP)

When Datel started producing cheat devices for consoles, they made this for the Game Boy Advance. It essentially has all the basic properties of the Game Shark for Game Boy Advance.

Action Replay MAX (Advance, Advance SP, Nintendo DS)

Made by Datel, this is basically a Game Boy Advance Action Replay with extra features. It can be used as a cheat device for Game Boy Advance games. It also can be used to back up saved game data from Nintendo DS cards, or can put premade save files - or "powersaves" into the DS cards. Powersaves and codes can be downloaded from the Action Replay web site and uploaded to the device via a USB cable.

TV Tuner (Advance)

This peripheral made by Pelican Accessories attaches to the back of the Game Boy Advance. A game cartridge must be inserted into a slot in the back of the unit for the unit to start. It basically allows the player to watch TV on their Game Boy Advance. The sound comes from a speaker on the peripheral itself and not the system's speaker. The unit used either 4 AA batteries or the provided adapter. It will not fit in the SP or Micro as the tabs on the side of the part that connects the unit to the cartridge slot prevents insertion. Interact was planning on making a TV Tuner of their own called the "ChannelMaster" but it never came to be.

Advance Game Port

This was Datel's version of the Game Boy Player. The dongle which holds the game cart connects to memory card slot B and is booted up with the included boot disc. Some of these even have code generators for built in cheat devices. The advantage is that no removal of plates on the bottom or tools are needed to install it. It has some problems with the audio and video framerate. The audio and video are glitchy in graphically intense situations.

Barcode Boy(Original Game Boy, Japan Only)

The Barcode Boy is an add-on cartridge created by Namco in 1992 (then referred to as Namcot) similar to the e-Reader, except that it uses cards with barcodes instead of company-proprietary code. The barcodes on the cards are scanned to create characters with different stats; not only did it work with the provided cards, but it could use any barcode from purchased products. This enables the user to find an entirely unique character that could have any different combination of stats. The device connected into the cartridge slot of the Game Boy and a small cable connected to the Link Port. Compatible with the original Game Boy only.

Mega Memory Card (Game Boy, Pocket, Color)

Another accessory by Interact. This accesory resembles a Game Shark Model 3, but is neon green instead of clear. As with the model 3 Game Shark, it can take snapshots of games that can be used to continue a game from where you left off, however, this allows the player to save multiple snapshots. It also allowes them to back up the RAM on certain games that have battery back up so for games that have only one save slot, they can have multiple saves.

Worm Cam (Advance)

Made by Nyko, this camera adapter connects to the link cable port of the Game Boy Advance and transforms it into a half decent digital camera. Snapshots could be removed from the camera and downloaded to a PC with the included software and cables. Only works with Game Boy Advance. The plastic tab that holds the unit in the Advance's cartridge slot prevents insertion into the SP.

DigiCam SP (Advance SP)

The Game Boy Advance SP's version of the Worm Cam also by Nyko, designed to clip on securely to the back of the Game Boy Advance SP's screen.

Wireless Messenger (Advance, Advance SP)

Made by Majesco, this device when connected into the link port allows you to chat with others using the messenger. Its range was about half a mile.

Wireless Link (Advance, Advance SP)

This Majesco accessory eliminates the messes of tangled cords when linking up two or more Game Boy Advance systems. Basically a wireless link cable. Requires at least two units to work. Sold individually.

Cartridges

Each video game is contained in a small plastic cartridge (or "Game Pak" as they are officially refered 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 and Pokémon Yellow. 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):

Up: Brown
Up + A: Red
Up + B: Dark Brown

Down: Pastel Mix
Down + A: Orange
Down + B: Yellow

Left: Blue
Left + A: Dark Blue
Left + B: Gray

Right: Green
Right + A: Dark Green
Right + B: Reverse

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 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).
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 Tilt N' Tumble), Light Detection (Boktai 1 & 2), and force feedback features. (Drill Dozer)

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 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, Beck, etc.

External links

Official Site
About.com Guide to Game Boy - All things Game Boy: News, reviews, history, culture and development. Updated several times a week.
Portable Gaming World - English community news and posts for all handhelds
DMG Ice - The oldest non-emulation Game Boy site. Named for the original product number of the Game Boy (DMG) and the Ice Blue commerative color for the Game Boy Pocket and the 10th anniversary of the Game Boy's release in Japan.

Game Boy consoles | Game Boy | Video game console remakes (article section)

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