I Was DEAD WRONG about the Nintendo Game Boy

 

When the original Nintendo Game Boy launched in 1989,I’ll admit—I didn’t see what the big deal was. In fact, I made a whole YouTubevideo recently talking about just how wrong I was. You can watch the video byclicking HERE.

During the early 1990s, I preferred the Sega Game Gear. It had a larger, full-color, backlit screen, a more comfortable formfactor, and seemed like the obvious choice for anyone who wanted a handheldgaming experience. In comparison, the Game Boy felt underpowered, with its greenishmonochrome display and no backlight. I figured it was only a matter of timebefore it faded away and its games hit clearance bins.

But history, of course, had other plans.

What I failed to appreciate back then was the geniusof Nintendo’s approach: the Game Boy was affordable, durable, and, mostimportantly, fun. The battery life crushed the Game Gear’s, and the killerapp—Tetris—was an instant classic. It appealed to gamers of all ages andquickly made the Game Boy a cultural touchstone. Even as more powerfulcompetitors came and went, the Game Boy held its ground. It was hard to competewith Nintendo’s excellent marketing and their killer first-party titles.

It wasn’t until the late 1990s that I had a change ofheart. When the Super Game Boy was released, it gave me a fresh perspective—Ifinally saw those tiny cartridges on a big screen and in color, and itcompletely changed how I viewed the system. From that point on, I startedplaying and collecting for the console, discovering just how rich and variedthe Game Boy’s library truly was—The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Kirby’sDream Land, Donkey Kong, interesting ports of Mr. Do!, Dig Dug, and Miner 2049er,a Star Trek-themed side-scrolling shooter, and way too many others to mention.

Looking back, the Game Boy wasn’t a technologicalmarvel—it was a triumph of design, software, and smart business decisions. Itredefined portable gaming and left a legacy that still resonates today. Andyeah… I was way off. Until the Super Game Boy arrived…