The Gameboy is arguably one of the most recognizable pieces of tech in recent history. Throughout the Gameboy’s lifespan, there have been many models. The Gameboy has undergone a total of ten significant revisions. Even experienced gamers might have missed some lesser-known models, such as the Gameboy Light. But what is the best Gameboy model?
The best Gameboy model is the Gameboy Advance AGB 01. Out of the 118.69 consoles Nintendo Gameboy sold, 81.58 million consoles were the Gameboy Advance. Its popularity is due its form being easy to hold and much more.
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In this article, we will be diving into the Gameboy’s incredibly rich history and going through all of the major revisions of the Gameboy. We’ll talk about the features of these models and many fun facts. Additionally, we will also be giving a quick buyer’s guide for those who wish to buy these consoles, and we’ll tell you where you can snag all those rare Gameboy variants.
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8 Main Gameboy Models
1. Classic Gameboy DMG 01
The first model released in the Gameboy family was the Game Boy, which was also commonly referred to as the Gameboy DMG and the Gameboy Classic.
It was created by Gunpei Yokoi and Nintendo Research & Development 1, who were known for designing the Game & Watch Series and several NES games. This system was released in 1989 and kickstarted Nintendo’s dominance in the portable game console market.
The concept of the Gameboy was to bring popular NES titles such as Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda on the go. In a way, the Gameboy was meant to be a portable NES.
Additionally, the Gameboy was meant to be a follow-up to Nintendo’s highly popular Game & Watch series, which gained massive popularity. The Game & Watch Series proved a market for portable game consoles, which other companies such as Sega and Atari noticed. In a way, the Gameboy was also Nintendo’s answer to their competitors.
The main differences between the Gameboy and the Game & Watch Series were that the Gameboy featured interchangeable cartridges and more advanced graphics.
Despite being referred to as a powerhouse by Nintendo’s promotion material, the Gameboy was far from a robust system. Its graphics were not as good as competitors’, and it didn’t even have a backlit or front-lit screen.
It seemed as if the Gameboy was already dead before it even came to market. However, the Gameboy easily outsold its competitors. During its entire life cycle, it managed to sell 118 million. Competing consoles such as the Sega Gamegear and the NEC TurboExpress could not even come close and only sold about 10 million consoles.
The reason why Nintendo dominated the market was because of their games. Titles that were massively successful such as Tetris, Super Mario, and The Legend of Zelda, were games that competing companies could never answer to.
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Gunpei Yokoi’s design philosophy ultimately led to the Gameboy’s success; rather than trying to innovate and outdo the rest of the competition in terms of technical power, he used older hardware that was better understood to create the best possible console at a lower production cost. Gunpei Yokoi’s design philosophy can be seen to this day with products such as the Nintendo Switch.
The Gameboy became a legendary console and set the stage for future portable consoles to come. The Nintendo Gameboy was in production from 1989 to 2003. It was succeeded by the Gameboy Pocket, which was released in 1996.
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2. Gameboy DMG 01 Play It Loud
Unlike today’s game consoles, there were no clear rules regarding how consoles should be sold. There were no definite time frames for a lifespan of a specific product. Everything was pretty much up in the air.
For the original Gameboy, Nintendo did not update the console for at least seven years. However, Nintendo did give the Gameboy DMG a fresh coat of paint by introducing the Gameboy DMG 01 Play It Loud Series in 1995.
The Play It Loud Series is the same as the original Gameboy DMG. The only difference is that there are now more color options. The Gameboy Play It Loud Series was released in Deep Black, Gorgeous Green, Radiant Red, Vibrant Yellow, High Tech Transparent, Traditional White, and Cool Blue.
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The Play It Loud Series also marked Nintendo’s foray into creating limited edition Gameboy consoles. The most notable limited editions in the Play It Loud Series include the Manchester United Red Gameboy DMG.
Despite only being recolors, the Play It Loud Series is a significant addition to the Gameboy Family. They proved that consumers were very interested in different colored consoles. Since then, every future Gameboy model has been released in different colors.
3. Gameboy Pocket
The first proper revision to the Gameboy DMG was the Gameboy Pocket, launched in 1996. The Gameboy Pocket was significantly smaller and lighter than the original Gameboy and featured better ergonomics.
The Gameboy Pocket had full compatibility with DMG titles. The graphics of the games and the internals of the Gameboy Pocket were also pretty much the same.
However, the most significant improvement that the Gameboy Pocket brought to the table was its new and improved screen. Unlike the original Gameboy, the Gameboy Pocket features a true black and white screen that eliminates a lot of the original DMG’s ghosting issues. Additionally, the Gameboy Pocket now only required two triple-A batteries instead of four double-A batteries.
In many ways, the Gameboy Pocket is very similar to a lot of modern-day Nintendo systems, such as the Nintendo DS Lite, New Nintendo 2DS XL, and Nintendo Switch Lite.
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4. Gameboy Light
One of the lesser-known models in the Gameboy Family is the Gameboy Light. This model was released in 1998 as a Japan-exclusive model, and its design is mainly based on the Gameboy Pocket but has one key difference.
The Gameboy Light features a backlit display. It isn’t as bright as the backlit screen of newer models or modern-day smartphones. However, it was a massive improvement over having no backlight or front light at all. Also, the Gameboy Light had a significantly larger battery bump and only required two double-A batteries instead of two triple-A batteries.
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Despite the massive improvements on the Gameboy Light, it never reached global success. In fact, with the absence of the Internet, the Gameboy Light mainly became unknown to western audiences.
Additionally, the Gameboy Light was immediately succeeded by the new Gameboy Color. This meant that the Gameboy Light was already outdated within a year of its original release. This also meant that interest in this model would be significantly lower than the newer Gameboy Color.
Also Read: 7 Japan-Exclusive Consoles You Couldn’t Get Overseas
While the Nintendo Gameboy Light was still a success in Japan, Nintendo did not implement the technology of the Gameboy Light. In fact, there would be no backlit Nintendo handheld until much later.
Due to its exclusivity in the Japanese market, the Gameboy Light fetches high prices. Limited Edition Gameboy Light consoles such as the Astro Boy Edition and the Osamu Tezuka Model are known for being incredibly expensive.
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5. Gameboy Color
The Gameboy Color was the first true successor to the original Gameboy. It was released in 1998 and featured lots of improvements over its predecessors.
The Gameboy Color features a fully colored screen with updated graphics. It was compatible with all original DMG games but also had exclusive titles that were not compatible with older Gameboy models. Some of the most notable ones were Pokemon Crystal and Pokemon Pinball.
In terms of its graphics, the Gameboy Color almost quadrupled the performance of the Gameboy DMG and the Gameboy Pocket. It has also ditched the contrast wheel since it was not needed on a fully colored screen.
The Gameboy Color was also backward compatible with Gameboy DMG Games. What’s different here is that you can select up to 12 color palettes for the original Gameboy games. This meant that you could now experience older games in full color.
There were also new additions and experimental features to the Gameboy Color. One of these was the Infrared Wireless Link Port that developers seldom used. It was also featured in the Gameboy Advance Series but was later dropped in the Gameboy Micro.
Also, just like its predecessors, the Gameboy Color came in different colors. The available launch colors included Grape, Teal, Kiwi, Berry. Dandelion, and Atomic Purple. All of these colors were featured on the Gameboy Color Logo.
Additionally, there were lots of Limited Edition versions of the Gameboy Color. Some of the most notable ones were the Pokemon Center Versions and the Hello Kitty Pink Gameboy Color.
The Gameboy Color was a massive hit for Nintendo and sold many Gameboy Color units. Today, the Gameboy Color is one of the cheaper models that you can get in the second-hand market. However, Limited Edition consoles in the Gameboy Color series have nicely held their value.
6. Gameboy Advance AGB 01
After three years in the market, Nintendo finally thought of adding another model to the Gameboy family. However, the model they were going to release was going to be completely different from the previous models in the Gameboy family.
In 2001, Nintendo released the long-awaited successor to the Gameboy Color, the Gameboy Advance. This model featured significantly better hardware than the previous Gameboy models and had a landscape form factor similar to the modern Nintendo Switch.
The pitch of the Gameboy Advance was to bring the SNES experience on the go. This was completely unheard of since no other portable game console was this advanced at the time.
The Gameboy Advance became a massive hit and provided some of the best Gameboy games. Popular titles such as Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Megaman Zero, Golden Sun, Metroid Zero Mission, Castlevania Aria of Sorrow, and many more were released exclusively for the Gameboy Advance.
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The only flaw that the Gameboy Advance had was that it didn’t have a front-lit or a backlit display. This was starting to become a huge problem since customers were now demanding some sort of lighting for their console. Cellphones, laptops, and other gadgets at the time already had backlit screens, so consumers were starting to ask for more. This prompted the redesigns of the Gameboy Advance.
Fans consider the Gameboy Advance AGB 01 as the best model in the Advance series in terms of form factor. It is easier to hold than the redesign models and is more fun to play with.
Enthusiasts are known for modding the Gameboy Advance AGB 01 to either have a front-lit or backlit screen. Several front-light kits were released back in the day. But more recently, modders have either used original AGS 101 screens or aftermarket IPS screens.
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7. Gameboy Advance SP
In 2003, Nintendo finally gave the fans what they wanted. They redesigned the Gameboy Advance and released it as the Gameboy Advance SP. Compared to the previous model, the Gameboy Advance SP had a clamshell design similar to the Nintendo DS that succeeded the Gameboy Advance and had an illuminated screen.
The Gameboy Advance SP came in two models, which we will be discussing below:
AGS 001
The Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP AGS 001 was the successor to the original Gameboy Advance AGB 01 and was released in 2003. This model is the one that is commonly found in today’s second-hand market and has a front-lit screen.
The AGS 001 model is less desired these days due to its front-lit screen. The AGS 001’s front-lit screen was significantly dimmer and had more washed-out colors than backlit screens. It still provided a great gaming experience but looks pretty outdated by today’s standards.
Nevertheless, the Gameboy Advance SP AGS 001 still did well in the market. It was later succeeded by the Nintendo DS that came out in 2004.
AGS 101
Not many are aware that the Gameboy Advance SP had two variations. The second variation is now commonly known as the AGS 101 model. The most significant difference from the original model was that it had a backlit screen that was brighter and more vibrant than the AGS 001 model.
This model was released around 2005-2006. Many do not know of the existence of this model because most gamers have already moved on to the more powerful Nintendo DS at the time. Nevertheless, the Gameboy SP AGS 101 was still a great addition to the Gameboy family.
Given its better display, the AGS 101 model fetches higher prices and has become a collector’s item. The AGS 101 is easily identifiable because its colors are exclusive to the 101 model. The AGs 101 models only came in Graphite Black, Pearl Pink, and Pearl Blue.
The AGS 101 model also had lots of limited edition variants. The most famous is arguably the Gameboy Advance SP AGS 101 Pikachu Edition.
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8. Gameboy Micro
The final revision of the Gameboy Advance and the last Gameboy model to be released in the Gameboy family was the Gameboy Micro. This model reimagines the original Gameboy Advance AGB 01 into a smaller, more pocketable device. It also updates the screen into a backlit display. It was first unveiled in E3 2005 and was released later that year.
However, the Gameboy Micro was not received well by fans. Aside from the fact that the Nintendo DS was already out, the Gameboy Micro was not appealing at the time. Its screen was too small, and its form factor was not as comfortable as the original Gameboy Advance and Advance SP.
But the biggest issue with the Gameboy Micro is its lack of backward compatibility with older Gameboy games. This was despite the fact that it utilized the same cartridge slot as any other Gameboy.
The Gameboy Micro was not a bad console. In fact, its backlit screen was considered the best out of all the backlit Gameboy consoles. Due to its smaller screen, the pixels were denser, creating a sharper image. It was also the only Gameboy model that had fine brightness adjustment.
But despite all the great additions in the Gameboy Micro, it just had too many compromises and arguably came too late in the Gameboy Advance’s life cycle. The Gameboy Micro was discontinued in 2009.
Given how poorly the Gameboy Micro was received during its lifetime, one might think it is the least sought out console. However, this isn’t the case. The Gameboy Micro is one of the most expensive and sought-after consoles in the Gameboy Family.
And while these consoles aren’t rare, they are considerably harder to find, given how many units were sold. Additionally, the Gameboy Micro had many limited editions, including the Famicom Gameboy Micro.
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Which Gameboy Models are the Easiest to Find?
The most accessible model to find is the Gameboy Advance AGB 01 and the Gameboy Color. These models were incredibly famous and sold a lot of units. These models are also not as old as the original Gameboy or the Gameboy Pocket.
It is worth noting that the Gameboy Advance and the Gameboy Advance SP AGS 001 are very easy to find these days. However, the AGS 101 variant of the Gameboy Advance SP is significantly harder to find and usually commands higher prices.
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Which Gameboy Models are the Hardest to Find?
The models that are harder to find are the Gameboy Light, Gameboy Micro, and the Gameboy Advance SP AGS 101. These three aren’t limited edition consoles but had fewer units produced and sold than the other Gameboy models.
As we have mentioned earlier, the Gameboy Light was a Japan-exclusive item with a relatively short lifespan. You can find these in Japanese stores and websites but will surely have difficulty finding them on Western shores.
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As for the Gameboy Micro and AGS 101 models, they are harder to find since they did not sell as well as the original AGB 01 and AGS 001 models. And as we have mentioned earlier, these consoles were sold alongside the newer Nintendo DS. Consumers were generally no longer interested in the older Gameboy models.
However, the AGS 101 model is getting harder to find because they were previously used for the AGB 01 backlit mod. Retro Gameboy modders were used to harvest the screen of the AGs 101 and put it into the original AGB 01 model. This practice went on for a few years before aftermarket screens became available.
Unfortunately, this has made fully functional AGS 101 models harder to find. There are still plenty out there, but their value has significantly increased.
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Which Gameboy Models are Still Expensive?
As expected, the Gameboy Light, Gameboy Micro, and Gameboy Advance SP AGS 101 are also the most expensive models. However, the Gameboy Light is still arguably the most costly Gameboy model out of these three.
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The Gameboy Light is also the hardest console to repair. If their screens are damaged, then their value significantly goes down.
There are currently no aftermarket screens available for the Gameboy Light. This means that the excellent condition models circulating in the market will be costly.
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Are There Bootleg Versions?
When shopping for Gameboy models, you should be careful since there are also vintage bootleg models. The most notable bootleg Gameboy consoles can usually be found in the Gameboy Advance SP family.
There have been many variants of the Gameboy Advance SP clone throughout the years. However, here are the common indications that the console is fake.
The first indication of a bootleg console is the model number. As we have discussed earlier, the AGS 001 variant of the Gameboy SP was the one that was front-lit. Therefore, if you see a backlit model with the model designation of AGS 001, it is most likely a bootleg console.
Also, if a Gameboy SP has built-in games, then that console is most certainly fake. None of the Nintendo Gameboy models have built-in games. Also, most of these models are likely to be incompatible with original Gameboy Advance or Gameboy DMG cartridges.
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Lastly, most bootleg Gameboy Advance SP consoles have poor performance. You will notice that the Nintendo Gameboy Advance startup screen is slower. Performance in most titles, especially more complex titles, is also likely to be poor.
There are also modern bootleg copies of the Gameboy Advance SP. However, these are usually marketed as clones and lack all Nintendo and Gameboy branding.
Where to Buy Rare Gameboy Models
If you are looking for rare Gameboy consoles, then the best place is, without a doubt, Yahoo Auctions in Japan. This website is usually exclusive to the Japanese market. However, with the help of ZenMarket, you can shop with ease. Check out our blog to learn more about how to use ZenMarket for Yahoo Auctions.
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Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHICH
