Nintendo Game Boy (Classic)

Summary

The Nintendo Game Boy launched the successful Game Boy range in 1989. Today it is also called Game Boy Classic (model DMG-01) to distinguish it from later versions such as the Game Boy Color, Pocket and Light. Interchangeable cartridges let players choose different games, replacing the fixed built-in games of the Game & Watch series. The Game Boy had a restrained design and lacked an illuminated screen like that of the Atari Lynx. Its main advantage was its comparatively long battery life: four batteries could provide up to 35 hours of play. Popular games included Tetris, Super Mario Land and Pokémon.

In 1995, Nintendo added colour to the Game Boy’s casing for the first time with the Game Boy Special Edition. Including the Game Boy Color, Pocket and Light, Nintendo sold over 118 million Game Boys. Production of the original model ended only in 2003.