Game Boy: Difference between revisions

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|type=Handheld
|type=Handheld
|colors={{colorswatch|E0E0E0|White}}{{colorswatch|000000|Black}}
|colors={{colorswatch|E0E0E0|White}}{{colorswatch|000000|Black}}{{colorswatch|bf271b|Red}}{{colorswatch|ca9722|Yellow}}
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The first Game Boy was released in 1989. It was large and gray, with a monochrome dot matrix screen and monaural sound. It was playable for an average of 35 hours with four AA batteries. Many peripherals were released for it through its time, the more popular ones being the [[Game Boy Printer]] and [[Game Boy Camera]]. The Game Boy was also later released with five different colors.
The first Game Boy was released in 1989. It was large and gray, with a monochrome dot matrix screen and monaural sound. It was playable for an average of 35 hours with four AA batteries. Many peripherals were released for it through its time, the more popular ones being the [[Game Boy Printer]] and [[Game Boy Camera]]. The Game Boy was also later released with five different colors.


===Game Boy Pocket===
====Game Boy Pocket====
{{main|Game Boy Pocket}}
{{main|Game Boy Pocket}}
The Game Boy Pocket was released in 1996 as a replacement for the original Game Boy. The Game Boy Pocket had a smaller frame, a larger screen, and a higher resolution display. Despite its screen improvements, the Game Boy Pocket display was still in monochrome and the sound remained the same as it was in the original Game Boy. Another somewhat minor improvement was that the system took two AAA batteries instead of four AA, effectively helping to lighten its weight.
The Game Boy Pocket was released in 1996 as a replacement for the original Game Boy. The Game Boy Pocket had a smaller frame, a larger screen, and a higher resolution display. Despite its screen improvements, the Game Boy Pocket display was still in monochrome and the sound remained the same as it was in the original Game Boy. Another somewhat minor improvement was that the system took two AAA batteries instead of four AA, effectively helping to lighten its weight.


The Game Boy Pocket's [[link cable]] port is smaller than the original Game Boy's, requiring either an adapter or a special two-headed link cable to communicate. The Game Boy Pocket's link cable port would be later used on the Game Boy Light and Game Boy Color, and the link cable port on the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advanced SP is backward compatible with it when playing a Game Boy or Game Boy Color game.
The Game Boy Pocket's [[Game Link Cable]] port is smaller than the original Game Boy's, requiring either an adapter or a special two-headed Game Link Cable to communicate. The Game Boy Pocket's Game Link Cable port would be later used on the Game Boy Light and Game Boy Color, and the Game Link Cable port on the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advanced SP is backward compatible with it when playing a Game Boy or Game Boy Color game.


===Game Boy Light===  
====Game Boy Light====
{{main|Game Boy Light}}
{{main|Game Boy Light}}
The Game Boy Light was a system released exclusively in Japan in 1997. It was similar to the Game Boy Pocket, but with the addition of an indigo back-lit screen. The Game Boy Light uses two AA batteries, which provide approximately 20 hours of gameplay with the light off and 12 hours with the light on. It was the only back-lit [[Nintendo]] handheld console until the release of the [[Nintendo DS]] in 2004 (the [[Game Boy Advance SP]] utilizes a frontlight in its original model, not a backlight). The Game Boy Light was available in two standard colors: gold and silver. A yellow [[Pokémon Center (store)|Pokémon Center Tokyo]] special edition was also released.
The Game Boy Light was a system released exclusively in Japan in 1997. It was similar to the Game Boy Pocket, but with the addition of an indigo back-lit screen. The Game Boy Light uses two AA batteries, which provide approximately 20 hours of gameplay with the light off and 12 hours with the light on. It was the only back-lit [[Nintendo]] handheld console until the release of the [[Nintendo DS]] in 2004 (the [[Game Boy Advance SP]] utilizes a frontlight in its original model, not a backlight). The Game Boy Light was available in two standard colors: gold and silver. A yellow [[Pokémon Center (store)|Pokémon Center Tokyo]] special edition was also released.
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This Game Boy features a trapezoidal design, and higher resolution, 32-bit graphics. The Game Boy Advance is backwards-compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color. Also features GameCube connectivity.
This Game Boy features a trapezoidal design, and higher resolution, 32-bit graphics. The Game Boy Advance is backwards-compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color. Also features GameCube connectivity.


===Game Boy Advance SP===
====Game Boy Advance SP====
{{main|Game Boy Advance SP}}
{{main|Game Boy Advance SP}}
It features a clamshell design and boasts the ability to be played in the dark without an external light source using its frontlight. It also has a lithium rechargeable battery as opposed to previous models' AA battery requirement.
It features a clamshell design and boasts the ability to be played in the dark without an external light source using its frontlight. It also has a lithium rechargeable battery as opposed to previous models' AA battery requirement.


===Game Boy micro===
====Game Boy micro====
{{main|Game Boy micro}}
{{main|Game Boy micro}}
A second redesign of the Game Boy Advance which has been criticized due to its lack of backwards compatibility with [[Game Boy Color]] games; and the fact that it was released after the [[Nintendo DS]], but lacks many of its features.
A second redesign of the Game Boy Advance which has been criticized due to its lack of backwards compatibility with [[Game Boy Color]] games; and the fact that it was released after the [[Nintendo DS]], but lacks many of its features.
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
[[File:Game Boy Gulf War.png|thumb|The Game Boy damaged in the Gulf War]]
[[File:Game Boy Gulf War.png|thumb|The Game Boy damaged in the Gulf War running {{wp|Tetris (Game Boy)|Tetris}}]]
* At the [[Pokémon Center (store)#USA|Nintendo World]] store, there is a Game Boy on display that survived an explosion in the {{wp|Gulf War}}. While the screen had to be replaced, the internal circuitry was still operational without any modification. It has a {{wp|Tetris}} game pak inserted in it, and it displays the title screen of the game.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBeTXPaewMo YouTube video]</ref>
* At the [[Pokémon Center (store)#USA|Nintendo World]] store, there is a Game Boy on display that survived an explosion in the {{wp|Gulf War}}. While the screen had to be replaced, the internal circuitry was still operational without any modification. It has a {{wp|Tetris (Game Boy)|Tetris}} game pak inserted in it, and it displays the title screen of the game.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBeTXPaewMo YouTube video]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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*[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/hardware/index.html Nintendo] (Japanese)
*[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/hardware/index.html Nintendo] (Japanese)


===References===
==References==
<references/>
<references/>



Revision as of 16:53, 25 April 2016

Game Boy
ゲームボーイ Game Boy
Game Boy.png
The original Game Boy
Release dates
Japan: April 21, 1989
North America: July 31, 1989
Europe: September 28, 1990
Australia: 1997 (Game Boy Pocket)
South Korea: N/A
China: N/A
Hong Kong: N/A
Taiwan: N/A
Technical specs
Related information
Console generation: Fourth generation
Pokémon generations: I, II
Console type: Handheld
Colors:
White
Black
Red
Yellow
External links

The Game Boy (Japanese: ゲームボーイ Game Boy), Nintendo's flagship handheld console, was first released in 1989, and even today is the best selling handheld console of all time. Gunpei Yokoi is credited with playing a key role in its development and release. Like all handheld consoles until the Nintendo DSi, it is not region encoded.

Versions

Game Boy

The first Game Boy was released in 1989. It was large and gray, with a monochrome dot matrix screen and monaural sound. It was playable for an average of 35 hours with four AA batteries. Many peripherals were released for it through its time, the more popular ones being the Game Boy Printer and Game Boy Camera. The Game Boy was also later released with five different colors.

Game Boy Pocket

Main article: Game Boy Pocket

The Game Boy Pocket was released in 1996 as a replacement for the original Game Boy. The Game Boy Pocket had a smaller frame, a larger screen, and a higher resolution display. Despite its screen improvements, the Game Boy Pocket display was still in monochrome and the sound remained the same as it was in the original Game Boy. Another somewhat minor improvement was that the system took two AAA batteries instead of four AA, effectively helping to lighten its weight.

The Game Boy Pocket's Game Link Cable port is smaller than the original Game Boy's, requiring either an adapter or a special two-headed Game Link Cable to communicate. The Game Boy Pocket's Game Link Cable port would be later used on the Game Boy Light and Game Boy Color, and the Game Link Cable port on the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advanced SP is backward compatible with it when playing a Game Boy or Game Boy Color game.

Game Boy Light

Main article: Game Boy Light

The Game Boy Light was a system released exclusively in Japan in 1997. It was similar to the Game Boy Pocket, but with the addition of an indigo back-lit screen. The Game Boy Light uses two AA batteries, which provide approximately 20 hours of gameplay with the light off and 12 hours with the light on. It was the only back-lit Nintendo handheld console until the release of the Nintendo DS in 2004 (the Game Boy Advance SP utilizes a frontlight in its original model, not a backlight). The Game Boy Light was available in two standard colors: gold and silver. A yellow Pokémon Center Tokyo special edition was also released.

Game Boy Color

Main article: Game Boy Color

Similar to the Game Boy Pocket but with a color screen, and is backwards-compatible with the original Game Boy. It is slightly larger than the Game Boy Pocket in size, and does not have a contrast knob due to being in color.

Game Boy Advance

Main article: Game Boy Advance

This Game Boy features a trapezoidal design, and higher resolution, 32-bit graphics. The Game Boy Advance is backwards-compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color. Also features GameCube connectivity.

Game Boy Advance SP

Main article: Game Boy Advance SP

It features a clamshell design and boasts the ability to be played in the dark without an external light source using its frontlight. It also has a lithium rechargeable battery as opposed to previous models' AA battery requirement.

Game Boy micro

Main article: Game Boy micro

A second redesign of the Game Boy Advance which has been criticized due to its lack of backwards compatibility with Game Boy Color games; and the fact that it was released after the Nintendo DS, but lacks many of its features.

Pokémon games

The Pokémon game franchise is widely considered to be one of the driving forces behind Game Boy sales, especially in the late 1990s and early 21st century.

Title Genre Release
Pokémon Red and Green Main series RPG 1996
Pokémon Blue Main series RPG 1996
Pokémon Red and Blue Main series RPG 1998
Pokémon Yellow Main series RPG 1998


Game Boy Color Pokémon games

Although designed for the Game Boy Color, these Pokémon games can also be played on the Game Boy.

Title Genre Release
Pokémon Trading Card Game Card game 1998
Pokémon Pinball Pinball 1999
Pokémon Gold and Silver Main series RPG 1999


Trivia

The Game Boy damaged in the Gulf War running Tetris
  • At the Nintendo World store, there is a Game Boy on display that survived an explosion in the Gulf War. While the screen had to be replaced, the internal circuitry was still operational without any modification. It has a Tetris game pak inserted in it, and it displays the title screen of the game.[1]

See also

External links

References

Game systems with Pokémon games
Nintendo handheld consoles
GB (Pocket · GBL · SGB · SGB2) • GBCminiGBA (SP · GBm · GBP)
DS (Lite · DSi · DSi XL) • 3DS (XL · 2DS · New 3DS · New 3DS XL · New 2DS XL)
Switch (Lite · OLED)
Nintendo home consoles
SNES (BS-X · SGB · NP · SGB2) • N64 (DD) • GCN (GBP)
Wii (Family Edition · mini) • Wii U
Switch (OLED)
Sega consoles
PicoCoCoPadBeena