Game Boy

Game Boy · 1989

Overview

Nintendo’s original grayscale Game Boy, launched in Japan on April 21, 1989 with a reflective LCD and interchangeable Game Boy cartridges.

Technical specifications

Manufacturer: Nintendo
Platform: Game Boy
Revision: Original
Storage: ROM Game Boy cartridges
Released: 1989-04-21
Discontinued: 2003-03-31
CPU: Sharp LR35902 (custom 8-bit @ ~4.19 MHz)
GPU: Integrated LCD controller (dot-matrix)
Memory: 8 KB RAM + 8 KB VRAM
Weight: Approx. 220 g

Collector note

Original DMG “brick” with reflective greenish LCD and 4×AA power. Link Cable multiplayer. Succeeded by Pocket/Color redesigns while sharing the cartridge library.

Facts

Japan launch: April 21, 1989; North America: July 31, 1989.
Custom Sharp 8-bit CPU (~4.19 MHz); 8 KB RAM + 8 KB VRAM.
Reflective monochrome LCD; ROM Game Boy cartridges.
Nintendo’s first cartridge handheld; competed with Game Gear / Lynx.
Production ended March 31, 2003.

Related consoles

Game Boy Pocket · Game BoyThinner Pocket revision
Game Boy Color · Game Boy ColorColor successor (GBC)
Game Boy Advance · Game Boy Advance32-bit successor (GBA)

Sources

Game Boy · Wikipedia

Collector Comments

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