Nintendo’s Game Boy, Defining A Generation For 25 Years

Where It All Began

Nostalgia would be putting the feelings this image evokes lightly. For many gamers, the original Game Boy is where the video game career, hobby, or lifestyle began.

Gunpei Yokoi, together with a Nintendo Research Team, decided to go where Mattel, Milton Bradley, and many others had failed previously. 

The original Game Boy released in Japan for approximately $97, and sold all 300,000 models in stock in just two short weeks.  

The Next In Line

Seven years after the beginning of the Game Boy takeover, Nintendo decided to release the Game Boy Pocket, a lighter, smaller version of the original Game Boy.

This model was all about convenience, using less batteries than its predecessor and featuring a smaller Game Link Port. 

Nintendo Throws The World A Curve ball

Taking the world's population by storm, the Game Boy Color found its way into the hands of almost every child. 

Doing exactly what it advertises, displaying everyone's favorite games in color, the Game Boy Color still retained backwards compatibility, allowing the gaming population to continue playing his/her black and white versions. 

A Continuing Advancement

With the adaption to a horizontal play style, Nintendo released the Game Boy Advance around the same time as the honored Super Nintendo (SNES). 

As a result, many game that were launched for the SNES were also adapted to play on the Game Boy Advance.

This would have been a great idea had they incorporated a back lit display. Bad Nintendo, bad. 

Advancing The Advance

After receiving multiple complaints about key features of the original Game Boy Advance, Nintendo decided to give the people what they wanted. 

With the incorporation of a front-lit display, and rechargeable batteries, the Game Boy Advance SP picked up where the original lacked. 

The Last Of Its Kind

Many won't recognize this console, as sales weren't exactly up to par with the previous models.

Without backwards compatibility many gamers didn't bother to pick the Game Boy Micro up, not to mention the outdated aesthetics.

The End Of An Era

To further hinder the sale of the Game Boy Micro, the Nintendo DS marks the official death of the Game Boy franchise. 

With WiFi capabilities, a sleeker design, and a brand new way to game, the Nintendo DS officially rendered the Game Boy series obsolete.

Ending an era of over 200 million handheld consoles, the Game Boy was officially discontinued in 2008.The memories, however, will forever be treasured in the hearts of many.