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The market of portable game systems enjoyed a boom around the late '80s and early '90s, and that's when some of the most famous systems were born. These were the first attempts at making arcade games portable. Graphic quality, sound, and game complexity were nothing compared to what could be achieved today, but they laid the building block for future gaming systems. Old portable video game consoles have become attractive collectibles and provide a sense of nostalgia for gaming fans. The systems below are among the first portable game systems introduced into the market:
This was the first portable game system, introduced by Nintendo in 1989. The Game Boy featured an 8-bit processor, greenish LCD screen, and cartridges for games. While the physical design didn't have a big wow factor, its games were its selling point. Some of the classic titles on the Game Boy were the original Tetris and Super Mario Land. In 1996 came the Game Boy Pocket, a sleeker, smaller variant, and the eventual 1998 Game Boy Color, which promised a lot better graphics and color.
It's widely known that Sega and Nintendo were the first fierce competitors in the gaming world, each trying to outdo the other. Sega's Game Gear was a direct assault on Game Boy to challenge Nintendo's monopoly. Launched in 1990, it was the first portable video game console with a color screen. It also had superior graphics and a massive library of Sega console games. Even though the Game Gear was much bigger and needed more batteries than Game Boy, its quality of gaming was unmatchable.
Atari Lynx was launched in 1990 as well, a bit before the Game Gear. It was the first portable system with a multiplexed LCD screen. Lynx had a more advanced graphic configuration than Game Boy and Game Gear. Nintendo aimed to achieve easy, fun, family gaming, while Atari's target audience was hardcore gamers interested in better graphics and complex game scenarios.
SNK was famous for its arcade games. Of all the portable gaming systems, it was Neo Geo Pocket Color that caught the eye of industry insiders. Released in 1999, it featured a color screen and games such as King of Fighters and Metal Slug. The console boasted a joystick-like control and a solid build - two features that were often lacking in portable consoles during that time.
The portable systems described above contributed greatly towards the design of future portable systems. Poor battery life, limited graphics, and small game size were some initial design issues that became the core aspects of next-generation portable gaming systems. Each system had its unique qualities regarding color, control, sound, and game cartridges though they were different in features and design. It paved the way for gaming systems combining portability with advanced features in the future:
Most of the portable systems were pretty bulky by today's standards. The Game Boy and Nintendo Game Boy Color were relatively simple with their rectangular structures featuring an unlit LCD screen and a simple gray case. The Sega Game Gear was a bit larger, more of a horizontal console with a color screen, and blue-black casing. The Lynx was large, awkward, and unlovely in design. Other systems included the Neo Geo Pocket Color are ergonomically designed portable systems, where their cases were shaped to fit the player's hand better.
For portable gaming consoles, achieving a right balance in control schemes is a must for a good gaming experience. For Game Boy systems, the control setups were pretty simple, with directional keys and A/B buttons to jump or run, respectively, which were enough for '80 and '90 era games. Game Gear and Lynx had variable dials on their systems, providing better control for the gamers. Neo Geo Pocket was the first portable console with a joystick-like control system that allowed smooth direction control.
Atari Lynx's screen multiplexing was the biggest achievement for its time, whereas the Game Boy systems had a simple green tint, pixelated screen. The Game Gear sports bright colors but with a dim screen that drains the batteries fast. The sound was mono in most systems, but the Game Gear with Game Street had volume that was loud and enhanced.
Every system had its ecosystem of games. The Game Boy used a simple cartridge that could be easily inserted and replaced, while Game Gear games were huge but older. Atari marketed its Lynx games as the best, while the Neo Geo Pocket Color was successful because of its arcade game classics.
The portable game system is a system that is preferred when one is on the go, in temporary situations, or in a situation that requires change. Portability is one key factor giving these systems an edge all the time. While the home video game console was the go-to system, these portable systems filled the gap in between, mainly occupied by handhelds.
Traveling was one key application area for all these earlier portable gaming systems. Irrespective of whether people were going on long holidays, commuting, or sitting in an airport, they could always pull out their handheld out of their pocket and start playing. It was especially true of the Game Boy, which was a massive success because of traveling. Part of the appeal was because it allowed children to occupy themselves for long hours whenever their parents were driving somewhere. Young people liked playing portable video games whenever they were on buses or trains on their way to school or work.
Waiting in line was another instance in which portable gaming systems came in handy. People would pull out their portable gaming system while waiting in line for the movie to start, for a concert, or at a theme park. The systems came with software that consisted of simple games requiring short periods in which one had to wait, such as Drill Mania and Tetris, to earn a score and feel time pass by.
Social settings were also ideal for playing portable video game consoles. Portable gaming systems like the Game Boy Color and Neo Geo Pocket Color came with link cable options that allowed several players to connect their systems for one game. That was a lot of fun at school or at parties while several kids got together to have a short thrill of double dragon on their portable systems.
Finally, these portable gaming systems were priceless during the early '90s when video games were getting more expensive at home. It was much more affordable and, at the same time, offered the same level of joy and excitement with all manner of arcade games.
Old portable game systems have distinctive specifications and requirements, which explains why they are cherished and easily maintained collectibles. This concern extends to understanding the system, cables for the system, and cartridges or game cards. It might be of interest to know that new rechargeable battery packs were available for portable systems, such as Sega's Game Gear or Atari's Lynx and portable battery packs for Game Boy Color.
At the core of every portable game system, there is a chip or microprocessor that controls how games operate. An 8-bit microprocessor powered the Game Boy and Game Boy Color systems, while a 16-bit chip powered the Sega Game Gear and Lynx systems. The Neo Geo Pocket Color is powered by a 32-bit ARM chip. Though the graphics and game complexity of these systems are much inferior to modern-day gaming systems, they provided maximum fun for the gamers of that era.
The display largely depended on the type of portable game system in question. Game Boy and Game Boy Color used an LCD screen with less color saturation, while Game Gear used a bright LCD screen. The Lynx boasted the first-ever LCD screen with multiplexing. Display was a big achievement of the Neo Geo Pocket Color, which was a decent-quality small LCD screen.
Using game cartridges in these old portable game systems was one major factor that distinguished them from the early game consoles. Games on the Game Boy systems were housed in rectangular cartridges that could easily be inserted into the game slots. Sega's Game Gear and Atari Lynx used bigger, sturdier cartridges. For the Neo Geo Pocket Color, miniaturized cartridges were used for its games, fitting its compact design.
The battery requirement was, however, high for all the above systems, with the Game Gear and Lynx consuming more batteries. Sony Game Boy systems were comparatively more battery-efficient, offering long play hours on AA batteries. Portable systems also supported external AC adapters for long-term usage.
In portable gaming systems, batteries were often a big headache and had no comparison with the current batteries. There were no rechargeable lithium-ion batteries during the '90s. Instead, Alkaline batteries were used, AA or C-sized. These were placed in portable systems like Game Boy, Game Gear, Lynx, and the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Game Boy used the least battery, while Game Gear was the biggest consumer of battery. It was better to remove the batteries from the console when not being used to prevent battery leakage and damage to the equipment.
Cartridge-based systems required constant maintenance to ensure they worked well. Dust and debris often collected in game slots and cartridges, causing failure. One effective way to clean them was to use a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol on the contacts of the cartridge to clean the contacts. Cleaning the system is advised often.
During the times of portable systems, the screens were much smaller and much more awkward and unfriendly to the external environment. To maintain better screens, one should cover the screens with thin film sheets and avoid scratches. Sometimes, a new screen would be needed after a while because of the poor visibility on it.
It is important to check the condition of old portable game systems after a definite and fixed period of time. It is advised to open the console and dust inside so as not to interfere with the heat dissipation.
A1: 1990s saw an impressive increase in portable systems like Game Boy. These systems offered the joy of video games on the go, which was a new attempt. Kids and teens preferred them during long car rides, waiting for the movie to begin, and killing time.
A2: An 8-bit processor powered the Game Boy, which used a greenish LCD screen. It featured a simple control scheme with game cartridges for different games, which made it quite functional for its era — long battery life and a compact design.
A3: The old portable game systems need proper cleaning, battery management, and protection.Screen cleaning with has to be done often, and cartridges are cared for by cleaning with soft, dust-free clothes. Protective cases and covers were used as the systems were cleaned, dusted, and maintained.
A4: Old portable game systems are highly valued by collectors and retro gaming fans. People use them to relive classic games or to get a little nostalgic. They are however more of a niche product now than back in the day.
A5: It was Lynx's portable system that had an impressive graphic display. It was the first system to have a lith multiplexing LCD screen. It laid the groundwork for future portable systems because it had better graphics and more advanced features.
