Nintendo gameplay Game Boy Ultimate Collection

The game boy is a single-use portable video game console released in Japan on April 21, 1989 and in the United States on August 15, 1991. Although it was initially designed as a competitor to home consoles and personal computers, from the end of The 1990s primarily served as a gaming platform for children and other casual gamers.

In 1998, Nintendo sold about 250,000 units in North America alone. By 2003, that number had dropped to 16 million in the United States alone. And in 2006, the last year with sales data available from VGChartz, worldwide sales had fallen below two million units.

Notably, only 17 games were released for the Game Boy itself between its original release in 1989 and 1999; this includes Tetris and its numerous adaptations over that period, as well as Antique Roadshow, an unreleased puzzle game made by Niantic Project Inc. that was released in 2008 for iOS devices under a new title called Antique Road Trip.

In addition to being one of the least commercially successful Nintendo consoles, along with its successor Virtual Boy, the lack of support that Nintendo gave to the device has made many players view it with contempt even today; others have been inspired enough by it to create more successful hardware successors (such as Sega's Game Gear).

¿Qué es la Nintendo Game Boy?

The Game Boy (model number GB) is a portable electronic game console released by Nintendo in 1989 as a successor to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was created as an easy-to-use alternative to the NES, which was not designed to be portable.

The Game Boy primarily competes with handheld game consoles and smartphones, such as Apple's iOS devices, Google's Android devices, Microsoft's Windows devices, and Blackberry OS devices. Nintendo's goals with the Game Boy were to create a console that was easier to use by children and casual gamers than the NES, as well as to take advantage of the advances in portable game design that had been made since the launch of the NES. in 1983.

To that end, it was smaller and had less frustrating controls than the NES. It was also the first console to use a color (albeit monochrome) screen. It was also the first console to use a shoulder button for navigation.

History of Nintendo's GameBoy line

The Game Boy is Nintendo's second entry into the portable console market. As with the NES, Nintendo introduced its new Game Boy console at a press conference on January 16, 1989, although it went on sale in Japan a year later.

In North America, the Game Boy went on sale for the first time on April 21, 1989 in the Toys "R" Us store chain, with April being National Handheld Gaming Day. In the United Kingdom, it was launched by Toshiba-based retailer Woolworths as a mid-priced alternative to the more expensive NES.

In Australia, it was launched by researcher Clive Sinclair on September 16, 1989. Nintendo used the same design for the Game Boy as for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Like its predecessor, the Game Boy is designed for ease of use, with a four-way controller and the ability to pair it with the NES for compatibility.

The console also includes a sound reduction function to avoid the high-pitched beeps that used to appear on older televisions. The Game Boy also takes advantage of new technology and design elements that were being developed in other areas of home electronics.

For example, the screen is designed to be viewed in sunlight, unlike the more vibrant but hard-to-view screens of the NES and Atari 2600. Power is provided by a rechargeable lithium polymer battery, which provides to the console between two and six hours of gameplay.

¿Por qué tuvo tanto éxito la consola portátil Nintendo Game Boy?

The success of the Game Boy can be attributed to its graphics and sound. The Game Boy was the first portable console to offer true color graphics, thanks to an investment in custom CMOS chips from Philips. Additionally, it offered more elaborate color palettes and greater contrast than any previous portable system.

These features allowed for more detailed reproduction of real environments as well as smoother animation compared to other systems of the time. The Game Boy also had a more ergonomic design than competing systems, making it more comfortable to use for long periods of time while still being lightweight.

The Game Boy was also one of the first portable consoles to have sound capabilities, with support for sound playback and microphone input through an external device such as a Team Electronics Speak & Spell or Apple IIe speaker adapter. This feature made it possible for games to incorporate voice recognition technology, allowing them to respond to spoken words.

¿Cuáles son los accesorios para la Nintendo Game Boy?

There are a variety of accessories available for the Game Boy, including a backlight, a pair of headphones, a link cable, extra batteries, and a rechargeable battery pack. Some Game Boy accessories also work with the Game Boy Pocket. There are also several brands of officially licensed accessories for the Game Boy.

Game Boy Game Link Cable

If you have a Game Boy, you can connect the Game Boy Game Link cable to your Game Boy so your friends who also have a Game Boy can connect to your game and play with you. You and a friend can play together with two Game Boy Pocket/Game Boy Color cartridges or one original Game Boy and one Game Boy Pocket (each cartridge must be compatible with this accessory). You can connect two Game Boy Pocket/Game Boy Color or one original Game Boy and one Game Boy Pocket using the Game Boy Universal Game Link cable.

Game Boy Camera

With the Game Boy Camera, you can transform your Game Boy into a digital camera and become a photography expert. This accessory, which plugs into the slot on your gaming controller, lets you take black and white photos with the push of a button. You can copy, cut, sew and even create Nintendo characters, as well as print the photos with your Game Boy printer using the included tools. Your imagination is the limit!

Game Boy Printer

You don't need a darkroom or photo studio to develop your Game Boy Camera photos. Just connect the Game Boy printer to your Game Boy and print your favorite photos. Many Game Boy games can also send character photos and score lists to the printer. You can then peel off the paper to create amazing stickers.

Paper for Game Boy Printer

You can use a roll of white Game Boy printer paper, a roll of yellow paper, and a roll of blue paper, all of which are adhesive, to stick the prints on the wall, refrigerator, or Nintendo consoles. Each roll includes 180 images, so you have enough paper for 540 prints

super game boy

You can view classic Game Boy cartridges on a big screen using the Super Game Boy. You don't need a Game Boy machine to use this accessory, just plug in the cartridge and go. Black and white games are rejuvenated into four, twelve and up to 256 colorful and lush shapes with this accessory - games as colorful and extravagant as your imagination allows! You can connect your Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance cart to another Game Boy with Super Game Boy 2. Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance are not compatible.

¿Cuáles son los mejores juegos para la Nintendo Game Boy?

  • The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening: Released in 1993, it is the second game in The Legend of Zelda series. Link must navigate the tropical island of Koholint, defeating enemies and progressing through the game to rescue the exiled princess, Zelda. This game was the first to introduce a new item that would later appear in many other games: the boomerang.
  • Pokemon Red and blue : Released in 1996, it was the first Pokemon game for the Game Boy. It features two monsters, each of which can evolve into a different, more powerful form. The game is a classic example of using the Pokemon series to create a game that can be played over and over again. Additionally, the Game Boy was an ideal platform for Pokemon, as the game's popularity was enough to boost sales of the limited game.
  • Super Mario Land: Released in 1985, this game is known as the “King of all platform games.” It is often considered the best game ever, and the reason it is included on many lists of the best games ever is the variety of ways it can be played.
  • The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past: Released in 1991, it is the third game in The Legend of Zelda series. Link's task is to rescue Zelda from the mysterious sorcerer Agahnim. The game stands out for the difficulty of some of the puzzles and for the lack of availability of the final boss for many years due to the cartridge being defective.
  • Super Mario World : Released in 1991, it is the second installment in the Super Mario series. The game was the first to feature multiple levels, with the primary and secondary levels made up of several sublevels each, as well as a flight system that allows Mario and Luigi to reach otherwise impenetrable areas. The game stands out for its innovative use of the Game Boy's color screen.
  • Kirby's Dream Land: Released in 1992, this game is a spinoff of the platform game series starring the eponymous character. It includes the ability to inhale enemies and use them to attack them, as well as a move where Kirby can swallow enemies to gain additional health.
  • Super Mario Land 2: Released in 1989, this game is the first in the Mario series to have a Game Boy title. It is a side-scrolling platform game in which Mario must collect the seven pieces of the Heart of Chaos to drive out the invading Bowser. The game was the first in the series to have an extra feature that was later used in many other games: the ability to collect items from enemy characters that appear in each stage.
  • Tetris: Released in 1989, it is a puzzle game in which players must match three or more blocks of the same color.
  • The Legend of Zelda The Adventure of Link: Released in 1998, it is the fourth game in The Legend of Zelda series. In this game, Link must travel to the Temple of Time to save Zelda from the evil Ganondorf. The game stands out for having a higher level of difficulty than other games in the series, and for being the first game in the series to use polygonal graphics.

Especificaciones técnicas y desarrollos de la Nintendo Game Boy

  • The Game Boy's display was a 7-bit RGB monochrome display, which had a resolution of 160 by 144 pixels. The screen could be viewed from any angle, unlike the NES's 9-degree viewing angle.

  • The internal memory of the Game Boy is similar to that of other current video game consoles. Each game cartridge uses 4K of EPROM to store game data, and has some internal space to store debugging information.

  • The original Game Boy used a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that weighed less than 15 grams and provided the console between two and six hours of gameplay. The Game Boy Pocket, released in 1998, had a smaller battery that could provide two to three hours of gameplay.

  • The original Game Boy uses a standard NTSC-type analog video signal that can be easily viewed on standard VCRs. The Game Boy Pocket, on the other hand, uses a digital signal that can only be seen on digital televisions.

  • The original Game Boy includes an on-screen battery meter that shows how much battery the console has left. The Game Boy Pocket does not have an on-screen battery meter.

Los favoritos de los jugadores retro:
Los mejores juegos de Nintendo Game Boy

For many of us, the first real video game we played was a Game Boy. These were the days before we had consoles, or even computers. But still, the trusty handheld console is one of the most recognizable and easily accessible gaming devices ever released to the market. Many people still have fond memories of picking up a Game Boy to learn how to play, or playing with their children through it. And while modern gaming platforms are more sophisticated and feature-packed than they were in the '90s, a classic like the Game Boy is still an affordable way to keep up with previous generations.

There are tons of great games for the Game Boy, but here are some of our favorites:

  • Super Mario Land: Mario is undoubtedly one of the best-known characters of the Game Boy era. In fact, there are so many different Mario games that it's almost impossible to keep track. There is always something new to try; Whether you want to go on an adventure in Super Mario Land or search for coins in Super Mario Bros.
  • Bubble Bobble: Released in 1989, it is the first game in the Bubble Bobble series. It is a horizontally scrolling shooter where the player must shoot bubbles from a cannon at advancing enemies. The game stands out for its great use of animation, something unusual in games of the time.
  • Castlevania II Belmont's Revenge: Castlevania II is a side-scrolling video game that was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1986. It follows the story of Simon Belmont, an archaeologist who must stop Dracula from resurrecting his army and taking over the world. The main gameplay mechanic is Simon's whip, which allows him to attack enemies and solve puzzles. Castlevania II also includes several mini-games, such as a side-scrolling shooter and a Simon Says-style guessing game.

Although Castlevania II was well received upon release, it did not sell very well. This likely contributed to its sequel, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, being released just a year later. As a result, it is often overlooked by collectors, preferring the more popular Castlevania III to this lesser-known game in the series.

  • Donkey Kong (??????? Donk? Kongu?): In 1994, Nintendo produced a platform game for the Game Boy console called Donkey Kong. It consists of puzzle elements and is also a platform game. The game is based on the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong and his son Donkey Kong Jr. The game is known as Game Boy Donkey Kong (on the title screen) or Donkey Kong ?94 (pre-release promotional name) to highlight its distinction from the arcade game. Mario must rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong (which has been redesigned for this game) as in the original arcade game and the NES version. Donkey Kong Jr. also appears in some levels, helping his father block Mario's progress.
  • Final Fantasy Adventure (Mystic Quest): Known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (??????????????????? lit. The Legend of the Holy Sword: Final Fantasy Gaiden?) It is part of the Seiken series Densetsu and is the first game in the Final Fantasy franchise. Square released it in 1991 for the Game Boy. In the United States, it was rereleased by Sunsoft in April 1998. It is a sequel to the Final Fantasy video game series and the first game in the Seiken Densetsu series. It contains several statistical elements common to RPGs, including a gameplay system similar to that of the first Zelda game.

It is the first Final Fantasy game to be distributed in Europe, although it is not part of the Final Fantasy franchise in that region. An adaptation, Mystic Quest, was released in 1991, which changed the plot and many aspects of the game. In 2003, a new adaptation, Sword of Mana, was created for the Game Boy Advance, which changed the plot and some minor aspects of the original version. In 2003 it was released for mobile phones in Japan, which increased the quality of its graphics and music. The third adaptation, Adventures of Mana, was released for iOS, Android, and PlayStation Vita on February 4, 2016.

  • Gargoyle's Quest Ghosts'n Goblins: known in Japan as Reddo Ar?m? Makaimura Gaiden (????????? ?????? translatable as "Red Arremer: The Side Story of the Village of Hell") is a side-scrolling video game, with some role-playing elements, from Capcom. It was released for Game Boy in May 1990 in Japan, in July of the same year in North America and in 1991 in Europe, as the original Ghosts?n Goblins video game. Red Arremer (Firebrand in the United States) had been introduced in the Ghosts?n Goblins games. Gargoyle's Quest II was released for the NES in 1992 and Demon's Crest for the SNES in 1994.
  • Kirby's Dream Land 2: Known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby 2 (??????2 Hoshi no K?b? Ts??, lit. Kirby of the Stars 2), is a video game developed by HAL Laboratory and distributed by Nintendo for the Game Boy. . It can also be played on the Super Game Boy, with slight alterations including a custom color scheme, a unique play border for the game, and some new sound effects. The game went on sale in Japan on March 20, 1995, and later in the United States on March 21, 1995, a day later. In Europe it also went on sale in 1995, taking longer to arrive than in other markets.
  • Mario Tennis: It's a tennis game for Game Boy. It is the second direct Mario Tennis game in the series and the first handheld game in the series. The game features a role-playing game-like story mode, in which the player controls Alex or Nina on a quest to become the best tennis player and beat the best player of all, Mario. It was re-released on the 3DS Virtual Console in Japan on June 26, 2013, in North America on December 26, 2013, and in Europe and Australia on January 2, 2014.
  • Mega Man V: Known as Rockman World 5 (?????????5 Rokkuman W?rudo Faibu?) in Japan, it is the latest game in the classic Game Boy saga. A conversion to Game Boy Color was planned for the fourth quarter of 1998, but the project was abandoned. Support for the Super Game Boy is included, making it a worthy addition to the Game Boy library.
  • Metroid II Return of Samus: The second video game in the Metroid saga developed and published by Nintendo for Game Boy and later for Nintendo 3DS is. It was released in 1991 in America and the following year in Japan and Europe. It is also the first game in the series to be released on a handheld console. The game follows Samus Aran, a bounty hunter tasked with eliminating the Metroid species from her home planet before the Space Pirates obtain them and use them as biological weapons.

Conclusion

The Game Boy is an 8-bit handheld console released in 1989 by Nintendo. Their games were designed for a monochrome screen with a resolution of 160 pixels by 144 pixels. The games were designed for this specific screen size, and not other resolutions. The Game Boy is one of the easiest ways to play classic video games on a modern device, and you can even download retro emulator software that reproduces the look of the console.

Originally designed as a competitor to home consoles and personal computers, the Game Boy's primary goal was to be a gaming device for children and younger gamers. The Game Boy had a few competitors in the market during its life. One of the most notable was the Atari Lynx handheld game console, which went on sale in 1991. However, the Lynx was discontinued in 1993 and was discontinued completely in 1996.

The Game Boy was also the only portable console that did not go on sale in South Korea until 2000. The reasons for this are unclear, although historians have suggested that the high cost of importing portable games into South Korea South led to the exclusion of the Game Boy line.

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