There is no doubt that the original Game Boy Classic (GB) and Pocket (GBP) were terrific systems, but after the GB’s nine year reign as the handheld king the public grew weary of two color portable gaming and cried out for more. Nintendo answered in 1998 with the Game Boy Color (GBC). This model displays up to 56 colors simultaneously from a palette of 32,000 plus it adds limited color to the classic systems games.
Upon first appearance the GBC was dismissed as merely a color version of the previous models, but those who made this assumption were sorely mistaken. The GBC uses a processor that is twice as powerful as the original GB with triple the memory allowing for bigger and better games. It also sported an infrared communication port that wirelessly transfers information between two systems, a precursor to the Wi-Fi feature on the Nintendo DS.
Design / Size: The GBC maintained the general configuration of the previous models. Its size is a bit more comfortable than the Pocket, but it isn't as easy to hold as the Classic. The controls remaied the same as the GBP consisting of a directional pad and A-B buttons spaced a bit too close together, making it harder on the thumbs and wrists.
Smaller than the original GB, but larger than the Pocket. This model measures 5.3” tall by 3” wide and 1” thick, weighing in at 4.9 ounces.
Screen: The GBC retained the reflective Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) of 160 x 144 pixels and the screen stuck to the same size of 2.6” diagonally. The addition of the color created a new dimension to the system as developers took full advantage with the opportunity to add more depth and overall visual excitement to the games. The better the rooms lighting the more vibrant the colors become.
Headphone Jack / Battery: As with most of the Game Boy models the GBC uses a standard 1/8" jack which is compatible with most headphones.
The GBC takes two AA batteries which delivers 30 hours of gameplay. That’s almost the same amount of gaming time as the Game Boy Classic with only half the number of batteries.
Games: The GBC is the first backwards compatible handheld gaming system, so not only does it play GBC games but the entire original classic Game Boy library as well. It can also add limited color to the classic games allowing you to pick the pallet. This backwards compatible feature was so popular that it remained a staple for all future Nintendo handheld systems with the exception of the Game Boy Micro.
Price: No longer in production this system is only available used, selling for around $25 to $30.
Linking: The GBC has the same connectivity as the previous models using the same port as the GBP and can even connect to the GB Classic model when playing an original GB classic game. It also allows 4 to 16 units to link simultaneously with compatible games.
Colors: The GB was produced in the following colors:
Grape
Teal
Kiwi
Berry
Dandelion
Atomic Purple
Clear Black
Clear Green (Japan only)
Midnight Blue
Ice Blue
Clear Orange (Japan only)
Clear Blue
And in the Limited / Special Edition Colors: