Photo: Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
The Game Boy is Nintendo's 8-bit handheld console, released in 1989 and designed by a team led by Gunpei Yokoi.
Key facts
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Release | Japan and North America 1989, Europe 1990 |
| Generation | 4th (8-bit handheld) |
| CPU | Sharp LR35902 (Z80-like), ~4.19 MHz |
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| Units sold (approx.) | ~118.7 million (Game Boy and Game Boy Color combined) |
About the Game Boy
Despite its monochrome screen, the Game Boy's battery life, low price and library won out over color competitors such as the Atari Lynx and Sega Game Gear. Tetris was bundled with it in North America and Europe, and Pokémon later became a worldwide phenomenon on the platform.
Notable games
- Tetris
- Pokémon Red and Green/Blue
- Super Mario Land
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
- Kirby's Dream Land