Since the dawn of home video game systems mankind has longed for portable gaming. Our earliest options were the lame single game toys with fixed backgrounds and four flashing graphics representing movement. Even the future king of handhelds made an attempt called the Nintendo Game & Watch, but these could never replace the console systems that tied us to our televisions at home. That was until August of 1989 when Nintendo changed our world forever with the Game Boy (GB).
Nintendo already established themselves as a quality name in the gaming community with the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) so when they announced their first cartridge based handheld system it took the industry by storm. For the first time gamers were truly free from the bonds that tied them to their living rooms. Although its graphics quality was still a bit limited when compared to consoles, the games were still just as fun. Even better you could take them on the move.
Design: The original design is the most identified in the Game Boy family. The screen takes up the top half with the lower section dedicated to the speakers and controls. These controls mimic the Nintendo Entertainment System with a directional pad, A-B Buttons and start and stop. Although not as easy on the hands as the Game Boy Advance (GBA), the GB classic has the second most comfy design. The unit is large and thick enough to grip as oppose to cradling, plus the controls are spaced out comfortably.
Size: The largest model in the Game Boy family, this unit measures approximately 5.8" high, 3.5" wide, 1.3" thick and weighs about 14 ounces.
Screen: By today’s standards the original screen is quite primitive, with a green & black reflective Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) of 160 x 144 pixels measuring 2.6” diagonally. However, at the time this was leaps and bounds beyond anything previously seen. The lack of color might have limited the visuals, but it freed up the memory allowing for more extensive games.
Headphone Jack / Battery: Unlike the GBA SP headphones connect to the original GB with a standard 1/8" jack. Although there is only a single mono speaker on the body of the GB, headphones allow players to hear the game in full stereo.
Accepts four AA disposable batteries that allow up to 35 hours of gameplay.
Games: The GB classic sports more original titles than any other handheld to date. Although the GBA does have more individual games which continue to grow, a large portion of these are simply ports from pre-existing systems. The titles for the GB for the most part were all original. Since it was the first of its kind and the later Game Boy models utilized more advance processors, the original GB can only play games made specifically for that system and is not forward compatible.
Price: Long out of production this system is only available used, selling for around $20 to $30.
Linking: The GB was the first cartridge based handheld system that allowed more than four players to connect simultaneously via a link port and cables. With the a compatible games up to 16 players can connect together simultaneously.
Colors: The GB was produced in the following colors:
- Grey
- Black
- Green
- Red
- Yellow
- Clear