Game Boy
Video Game console is a portable created by Nintendo in 1989.
History
It is Gunpei Yokoi, celebrates it employed Nintendo, which created this console with the power comparable with that of the BORN (Famicom with the Japan) but with a monochromic screen, this in order to be able to sell the console at low prices. The incredible success of this console holds in two plays however left with almost ten years variation. The first is legendary the Tetris , creates by Soviet Alexey Pajitnov who, sold with the console, knew his first hours of glory there. Second is Pocket Monster , more known under the name of Pokémon , which in 1996 is a so phenomenal success that it starts again the sales of Game Boy, at the same time propelling the small portable of Nintendo in the first place of the most sold consoles history, with its 118 million sold specimens. In spite of a very average graphic quality, Game Boy knew to be essential thanks to many assets:- small size (it holds in a pocket);
- reduced price;
- great autonomy;
- a catalog of plays as rich as varied.
From its exit in 1989, Game Boy knew several successors, of which the Game Boy Color in 1998 and the Game Boy Advance in 2001. Built on the same principles of power and simplicity, these two consoles ensure compatibility with the plays of Game Boy original.
Consoles of recovery were in particular recycled to manufacture electrocardiograph S bound for Madagascar in the fight against the Paludisme: the cartridge of play with this new functionality generates manufacturing costs of only 30 euros. It is also used by certain people to make electronic music.
Game Boy is the portable console most sold with the world with more 118 million sold specimens (GBP, GBL and GBC included).
Various versions
Game Boy
- principal Processor: Zilog Z80 given rhythm to 4.194304 MHz
- main Memory (RAM): 8 KB
- Screen: Graphic LCD
- Capacities: 160x144 in 4 nuances of gray, up to 40 sprites simultaneously (8x8 or 8x16)
- Video Memory: 8 KB
- sound Capacities: 4 stereo ways
- Mass memory: cartridges of sets of 256 KB to 4 Mo
- Connectors: port series for setting in network of the consoles (up to four)
Game Boy Pocket
In 1995, whereas Nintendo and Gunpei Yokoi essuient the failure of the Virtual Boy, one learns that a relookée version of Game Boy is in preparation. Indeed, the firm not only has just known one of its larger failures but also sees falling its sales of Game Boy. But Nintendo, believing much in its Virtual Servant boy, had not prepared the succession of its small console. While waiting to find an idea, Nintendo launches Game Boy Pocket the July 21st 1996 to the Japan (a few months later in occident). This console differs very little from Game Boy if it is not its size which was reduced of 30%, the screen was very slightly increased by losing its greenish aspect and its endurance passed to 10 a.m. for 2 piles (against 4 for original GB).
Game Boy Light
Few people know this model. Sold the April 14th 1998, it brings to the GBP what was more the lacking to him: a good legibility. With a retro-lighting of good invoice, it was thus possible to play in the black. This version was quickly eclipsed by the Game Boy Color. Not that it was a failure but Nintendo itself wanted to thwart the plans of an increasingly aggressive competition.
Game Boy Color
See also: Game Boy Color
Exit in November 1998, the console Game Boy Color (usually referred by GBC) proposes a color screen for a form slightly larger than the Game Boy Pocket. It doubles the rate of the processor and its quantity of memory to reach the 8 MHz with 32 KB. An interesting point of this console lies in its capacity at reading the old cartridges of play Game Boy by selecting the colors to be used. It is an important function of this console, since it made it possible to revive marketing by preserving an existing range of plays, and thus to propose appreciably more plays than its direct competitors. Technologically, this console was compared with the BORN from the Années 1980.
Game Boy Advance
See also: Game Boy Advance
In June 2001, Nintendo leaves an update its portable console. Game Boy Advance, commonly called GBA, has a processor ARM 32 given rhythm bit with 16.8 MHz, coupled with a Z80 processor making it possible to support the cartridges of play of the first Game Boy. It is technically a console equivalent to the Super Nintendo, taking again same architecture in particular making it possible to carry traditional plays like Super Mario Bros. 2 by including improvements, at the sides of new titles like Mario Kart: Super Circuit , F-Zero: Maximum Velocity and Kuru Kuru Kururin .
Game Boy Advance SP
See also: Game Boy Advance SP
Version SP of Game Boy Advance, impetus in March 2003, proposes small overall dimensions with in particular the possibility of folding up it into two, a retro lighting and a refillable battery, all the remainder remaining identical. Mid-September 2005, Nintendo leaves a new version the console Game Boy Advance SP providing a new improved enlightened retro screen. It is the Game Boy last to allow retro compatibility with the cartridges of plays of Game Boy and Game Boy Color.
Game Boy Micro
See also: Game Boy Micro
The Game Boy Micro console is a new version of the Game Boy Advance. It left in September 2005 in North America and with the Japan, and on November 4th 2005 in Europe. With the difference of the Game Boy Advance, this portable console is not compatible with the Game Boy plays and Game Boy Color. Game Boy Micro has a weight of 80 grams and a 10 cm length size on 5 cm broad and less than 2 cm thickness. Its frontage is removable and personnalisable. Its principal quality lies in its screen which, in spite of a reduced size, was the subject of all the attentions and reveals a smoothness and a luminosity without precedent on a portable console. The console also exploits the aspect Retrogaming with its frontage Famicom very appreciated with the Japan.
Nintendo DS: exception
See also: Nintendo DS
Although often regarded as a Game Boy, it does not form officially part of the series and is not one following Gameboy Advance, but constitutes the third pillar of the Nintendo game consoles with Gameboy and the consoles of living room. It accepts nevertheless the cartridges of play coming from the Gameboy Advance in a second site cartouche envisaged for this purpose. The plays Gameboy or Gameboy Color are not compatible.
Nintendo DS Lite
See also: Nintendo DS Lite
To also note that the DS Lite had left somewhat after Nintendo DS. This console has a squarer form, does not include a dragonne, contains a different stylet and a charger noncompatible with the basic DS. It has also 4 levels of lighting, contrary to the normal DS which has only 2 of them. Smaller the DS lite can hold more easily in a pocket and is very design.
Accessories
- Camera Game Boy :
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Game Boy Printer :
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Cable Link :
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Light max :
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Radio Boy" Range; ":
It should be noted that there also exists of many strange accessories (for the majority never left out of the Japan) such as a sonar, a organisor, a tuner TV and even a sewing machine ordered via the console.
400.000.000: It is the number of Game Boy plays sold in 2000 (GBA, etc are also excluded)
Figures
100.000.000: It is the number of Game Boy sold in 2000 (are excluded the GBA, GBA SP and micro GB)
Indetermination of the kind
Officially, according to the creators, the term of Game Boy should be male. However, the everyday usage mainly puts the name of the consoles at the female one. Wikipédia privileging the everyday usage, the female one will be preserved in this article and at the time of evocations of this console.
See too
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