Game Boy Printer
The Game Boy Printer (Japanese: ポケットプリンタ Pocket Printer) is a thermal printer accessory compatible with the Game Boy line (except for Game Boy micro) released on February 21, 1998 in Japan[1] and on June 1, 1998 in the United States[2] and June 4, 1998 for Europe and Oceania[3], alongside the Game Boy Camera. It connects to the Game Boy using a Game Link Cable, with a Universal Game Link Cable being included in the package.[4]
A Japan-only special Pikachu Yellow Game Boy Printer was released alongside Pokémon Yellow on September 12, 1998.[5][6]
Game Boy Printer features are disabled in the Virtual Console releases of compatible games. While the option still appears on menus, it is non-functional.
Specifications
- Resolution: 160×144 px (same as Game Boy)
- Power supply: 6 AA batteries
- Print: thermal sticker paper rolls, 100-180 pictures per roll
- Print size: 27×23 mm, including frame
Source: Nintendo of Europe
Printable features in Pokémon games
Core series
Players of Pokémon Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal are able to print the following:
- Pokédex stickers
- Diplomas
- Pokémon Storage System Boxes
- Party Pokémon
- Pikachu's Beach hi-scoreY
- MailGSC
- Alph Ruins StampsGSC
The quality of prints is managed in the options. The games use three messages during the process: CHECKING LINK → TRANSMITTING → PRINTING.
Both the feature and its settings were removed in the Korean versions of Gold and Silver as the Game Boy Printer was not released in South Korea.
The background music played while printing is the same in all four games; it consists of the bass line to the music used for the Pikachu's Beach minigame, albeit slowed down and with an altered intro. It was later rearranged and used as the theme of the Pokéwalker screens in the main menu of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Pokédex stickers
Players may print physical copies of the Pokédex entries of individual Pokémon by using the PRNT option in the Pokédex. These prints are referred to as Pokédex stickers (Japanese: ずかんシール) in the Generation II games.
In Western versions, the dimensions of Pokédex stickers (160×192 px) exceed those of the Game Boy's screen resolution (160×144 px) because the print combines the two pages of the Pokédex entry. The stickers in the Japanese versions are not printed out with different dimensions because the Pokédex entries only use a single page. In the Japanese Generation II games, the printed font differs from the font used in-game.
A print of Mew's Yellow Pokédex entry
A print of Mew's Japanese Yellow Pokédex entry
A print of Mew's Crystal Pokédex entry
A print of Mew's Japanese Crystal Pokédex entry
Diploma
The diploma can also be printed as proof by the graphic artist at the Game Freak Development Room on the third floor of Celadon Condominiums. Printed diplomas have the dimensions 160×288 px.
A print of the Yellow diploma
A print of the Japanese Yellow diploma
A print of the Crystal diploma
A print of the Japanese Crystal diploma
Pokémon Storage System
The list of Pokémon in a given Box of the Pokémon Storage System can also be printed. Prints of Boxes display the full Box, including empty slots. Nicknames and levels are also listed alongside the Pokémon's species name. Like the Pokémon Storage System itself, the Western versions show a maximum of 20 entries for Pokémon, while the Japanese versions show 30 entries.
The dimensions of printed Boxes are 160×576 px in all versions.
A printed Box from Yellow
A printed Box from Japanese Yellow
A printed Box from Generation II
A printed Box from Japanese Generation II
Party Pokémon
In Pokémon Yellow, the chairman of the Pokémon Fan Club in Vermilion City can take a photo of one of the player's Pokémon in the Pokémon List and print it out. In the Generation II games, the Photo Studio in Cianwood City instead takes this role.
The dimensions in the Western Generation II games are 160×272 px.
A printed party Pokémon from Yellow
A printed party Pokémon from Japanese Yellow
A printed party Pokémon from Generation II
A printed party Pokémon from Japanese Generation II
Pikachu's Beach Hi-Score
In Pokémon Yellow, players are able to print out their Pikachu's Beach hi-score by interacting with the printer in the Summer Beach House.
A printed hi-score from Yellow
A printed hi-score from Japanese Yellow
In the Generation II games, players may print out the Mail their Pokémon holds at any time. To do so, one simply has to press START and SELECT while viewing it.
Printed mail from Generation II
Printed mail from Japanese Generation II
Alph Ruins Stamps
In the Generation II games, players may generate so-called Alph Ruins Stamps (Japanese: アルフのいせききねんスタンプ Ruins of Alph Souvenir Stamps) of individual Unown using the PRINT function of the printer at the Ruins of Alph Research Center. The printer may only be used after the player has unlocked every entry of the new Pokédex's Unown Mode. Additionally, the Research Center's printer allows players to print empty stamps by choosing the VACANT option in the interface, which appears between Unown-Z and Unown-A.
Printed stamps have the dimensions 160×48 px.
An Alph Ruins Stamp of Unown-A
An empty stamp
Spin-off games
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Pinball
Players may print out their high score tables in Pokémon Pinball.
A print of the Red high score table
A print of the Blue high score table
Trading Card Game series
Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR! offer three different printing features to players. Players may print out copies of a single card, a list depicting one of their custom deck configurations, and/or a list of every card they own in the game.
A deck configuration print from Pokémon Trading Card Game
A print of Charmander from Pokémon Trading Card Game
A print of a player's card collection in Pokémon Trading Card Game
A deck configuration print from Pokémon Card GB2
A print of Charmander from Pokémon Card GB2
A print of a player's card collection in Pokémon Card GB2
Game Boy Camera
The Game Boy Camera contains data for players to print out Pokémon stickers in addition to their photos. This is likely a nod to the fact that Game Freak programmed the Game Boy Camera software.
Printer errors
If there is an issue with the printer, the games return four types of errors and instruct the player to check the Game Boy Printer Manual. The following descriptions for each error are taken and adapted from the online support article provided by Nintendo of Europe.[7]
- Printer Error 1: The Game Boy Printer's batteries are empty.
- Printer Error 2: The Universal Game Link Cable is not connected or is connected incorrectly.
- Printer Error 3: The printer's paper needs to be changed.
- Printer Error 4: The ambient temperature is inadequate (too high or too low). The printer must be used in a place with controlled temperature.
External links
References
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This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
