I didn't get a handheld until the GBA SP came out. I had to go to a three week law enforcement course and there wasn't much to do after class other than go out to the bar next door. I figured getting the GBA would keep me out of the bar, which it did.
GLaD #4: This is not a rerun!
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 On 02/06/2014 at 06:42 AM by Coolsetzer See More From This User » |
Sorry about yesterday! I work nights, and was so tired that I didn't even make it to Starbucks. I slept all day as well. Anyway, today is two for Thursday. So here's another one!
In 1997, Nintendo created the handheld market. Someone in the company must have had a crystal ball, because the Game Boy instantly became wildly successful. It's not like they hadn't experimented with it before, as evidenced by the Game & Watch units. However, they were able to recreate 8 bit technology on an LCD screen, which was a technological feat in itself.
Of course, the unit would have been nothing without games. Half the reason why it was so popular was because of one game, the grand daddy of puzzle games: Tetris. Not only did it create an entirely new genre, but it was addicting as hell. I still remember the television ads of people getting Tetrisized. The game was actually the brain child of a Russian scientist for exercise. With the game included into the unit, it got people into video games who would have never tried them otherwise.
I was fortunate to own one after it had been out for a few years. There are actually plenty of GB versions of NES games, like Bionic Commando and Metal Gear. While not as intricate as their counterparts, it was a good chance to try out your favorites.
There have been many incarnations of the Game Boy since then. The Pocket, the Color, the Advance, the SP, Super Game Boy, and Micro. Not to mention the special editions of each unit. Each brought something new, but the original brick unit was what set the bar for what handheld gaming could be.
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