Difference between revisions of "Game Boy"

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The '''Nintendo Game Boy''' <span style="font-weight: normal">(ゲームボーイ ''Gēmu Bōi''<sup>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets <span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?</span>]</sup>)</span>, is an 8-bit [[Handheld game console|handheld video game device]] developed and manufactured by [[Nintendo]]. It was released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America in July 1989, and in Europe on September 28, 1990. It is the first handheld console in the Game Boy line, and was created by Gunpei Yokoi and Nintendo Research & Development 1—the same staff who had designed the [[Game & Watch]] series as well as several popular games for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Entertainment System.]] Redesigned versions were released in 1996 and 1998, in the form of ''Game Boy Pocket'', and ''Game Boy Light'' (Japan only), respectively.
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{{Template:Infobox console
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|name = [[Image:Gameboy_logo.png|230px]]
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|Manufacturer = [[Nintendo]]
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|Generation = Fourth generation
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|Release date = April 21, 1989 (JP)<br/>
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July 31, 1989 (NA)<br/>
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September 28, 1990 (EU)
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|Media type = [[Game Boy cartridge]]
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|Predecessor = [[Game & Watch]]
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|Successor = [[Game Boy Color]]}}
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The '''Nintendo Game Boy''' (ゲームボーイ ''Gēmu Bōi'', is an 8-bit [[Handheld game console|handheld video game device]] developed and manufactured by [[Nintendo]]. It was released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America in July 1989, and in Europe on September 28, 1990. It is the first handheld console in the Game Boy line, and was created by Gunpei Yokoi and Nintendo Research & Development 1—the same staff who had designed the [[Game & Watch]] series as well as several popular games for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Entertainment System.]] Redesigned versions were released in 1996 and 1998, in the form of ''Game Boy Pocket'', and ''Game Boy Light'' (Japan only), respectively.
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==
  
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|Video || 8 kB internal RAM
 
|Video || 8 kB internal RAM
 
|-
 
|-
|Display ||  
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|Display ||
 
*Reflective STN LCD 160 × 144 pixles
 
*Reflective STN LCD 160 × 144 pixles
 
*Screen size: 66 mm (2.6 in) diagonal
 
*Screen size: 66 mm (2.6 in) diagonal
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*Frame Rate: Approx. 59.7 frames per second on a regular Game Boy, 61.1 on a Super Game Boy
 
*Frame Rate: Approx. 59.7 frames per second on a regular Game Boy, 61.1 on a Super Game Boy
 
*Vertical Blank Rate: Approx 1.1 ms
 
*Vertical Blank Rate: Approx 1.1 ms
 
 
|-
 
|-
|Audio ||  
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|Audio ||
  
 
2 square wave generators, 1 PCM 4-bit wave sample (64 4-bit samples played in 1x64 bank or 2x32 bank) channel, 1 noise generator, and one audio input from the cartridge. The unit only has one speaker, but headphones provide stereo sound.
 
2 square wave generators, 1 PCM 4-bit wave sample (64 4-bit samples played in 1x64 bank or 2x32 bank) channel, 1 noise generator, and one audio input from the cartridge. The unit only has one speaker, but headphones provide stereo sound.

Revision as of 13:04, 30 May 2013

Game Boy
Manufacturer Nintendo
Generation Fourth generation
Release date April 21, 1989 (JP)

July 31, 1989 (NA)
September 28, 1990 (EU)

Media type Game Boy cartridge
Predecessor Game & Watch
Successor Game Boy Color

The Nintendo Game Boy (ゲームボーイ Gēmu Bōi, is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America in July 1989, and in Europe on September 28, 1990. It is the first handheld console in the Game Boy line, and was created by Gunpei Yokoi and Nintendo Research & Development 1—the same staff who had designed the Game & Watch series as well as several popular games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Redesigned versions were released in 1996 and 1998, in the form of Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Light (Japan only), respectively.

Hardware

Technical Specifications
Processor Custom 8-bit Sharp LR35902 core at 4.19 MHz which is similar to an Intel 8080 in that none of the registers introduced in the Z80 are present. However, some of the Z80's instruction set enhancements over the stock 8080, particularly bit manipulation, are present. Still other instructions are unique to this particular flavor of Z80 CPU. The core also contains integrated sound generation.
Memory 8 kB internal S-RAM (can be extended up to 32 kB)
Video 8 kB internal RAM
Display
  • Reflective STN LCD 160 × 144 pixles
  • Screen size: 66 mm (2.6 in) diagonal
  • Color Palette: 2-bit (4 shades of "gray" {light to very dark olive green})
  • Frame Rate: Approx. 59.7 frames per second on a regular Game Boy, 61.1 on a Super Game Boy
  • Vertical Blank Rate: Approx 1.1 ms
Audio

2 square wave generators, 1 PCM 4-bit wave sample (64 4-bit samples played in 1x64 bank or 2x32 bank) channel, 1 noise generator, and one audio input from the cartridge. The unit only has one speaker, but headphones provide stereo sound.

Controller D-pad + 4 buttons
I/O ports 2 x Serial ports (or 4 with a DMG-07 4-player adapter)
Media ROM Cartridge (8MB maximum)
Weight -
Dimensions 90 mm (W) x 148 mm (H) x 32 mm (D) / 3.5" x 5.8" x 1.3"
Power 6 V, 0.7 W (4 AA batteries provide 15-30+ hours)

Add-ons