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"Portable Gaming - Simple but perfect."

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Sat 16/02/02 at 21:36
Regular
Posts: 787
When you talk about portable gaming, you usually mention the Game Boy systems, sometimes the Game Gear, and on rare occasions the Neo Geo. As you all know, the winner of the handheld console race in popularity is clearly the Game Boy selling more units than any other console.

So why was the Game Boy so popular?

The Game Gear and the Neo Geo Pocket Color were clearly more powerful, the Game Gear being backlit and a higher bittage, and the Neo Geo being very similar, with the addition of a 3D stick. So what was it that enabled the Game Boy to reign supreme against them?

Well, I can give you a clear answer to the Neo Geo. It was never popular in the first place, not enough publicity and very few games (although Sonic the Hedgehog had his own game). I remember an advert that was in the back of GamesMaster magazines for a few weeks with a picture of a Japanese kid and "I'm not boy" written in big letters in the middle of the page symbolising the Neo Geo has no relation the the Game Boy, but these adverts weren't enough to compete with the ever strong might of the Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color and their huge library of games.

So now we come to the Game Gear. That was a popular machine. I know more people who had or still have one compared to the amount I know with Neo Geos. That had many a Megadrive conversion on it, as well as it's own versions of games ranging from sports games, platformers, and even racers. So why did this full colour, 16-bit, back-lit, powerful handheld die out?

Mainly because Nintendo had a bigger threshold on the market. Nintendo had a large success in handheld gaming before the Game Boy with the Game & Watch series which featured games like Donkey Kong which starred Mario of course. As well as that, the Game Boy had been out for a few years anyway, since 1989, and had one major franchise which became one of the most popular games ever to go into the history books.

Now I know what you're thinking. Little fat creatures on the Game Boy that move all silly and make funny noises! Yep, Tetris with those Russian dancers!

Tetris was released the same year as the Game Boy, 1989, based on the original a Russian games fanatic called Alexey created. The original was ported to the home PC by Spectrum Holobyte, and was really popular, so it was of course released on Game Boy. It was so popular that overall, more than 30-million Game Boy packs with tetris have been sold worldwide!

This game has managed to enter every one of out gaming lives, and I doubt there's anyone in the western world who doesn't have a clue what tetris is. So the reason for it's popularity? It's simple and portable!

Infact, I've been asked by a few people if I'd be willing to sell my Game Boy Color and Tetris to them now I've got a Game Boy Advance. They keep saying that they've got a relative who used to play that game but doesn't have it anymore, but would like to be able to play it again.

But it's not the only simple game that was popular on the Game Boy. There have been many simple platformers like Kirby's Dreamland and Wario Land, mixed with the puzzle game Bomberman and Wario Blast. There have also been other simple games like Radar Mission, a form of battleships.

Even now, we have Tetris DX on the Game Boy color, and Chu Chu Rocket! on the Game Boy Advance which are all simple and fun to play.

So what links these games? They are simple! you could pick up our Game Boy, play a game for five minutes whilst the teacher is out of the classroom, or the boss is on his lunch break, and easily quit without having to wait ages for either a save point or a sequence to finish. Games on the Megadrive just couldn't compete with the simplicity of Tetris, plus it's other faults: low-battery life and bulkier, there was no way the Game Boy could fail.

Just to reiterate my point. How many more complex games seem to become so popular on Game Boy systems nowadays? You've got Zelda and Pokémon series' on the Game Boy Color. But that's about it on the Game Boy. Games like Super Street Fighter 2 and Super Mario Advance 2 may be a bit more complex for Game Boy original standards, but they are simple in there own ways and that's why they are so popular. But how many people actually like Jurassic Park 3: The DNA Factor on the Game Boy Advance? That was terrible! Or how many have played of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves on the original Game Boy? That was a brilliant game, considering it was released in the Game Boy's earliest years, but it was too long and you couldn't save.

So why is it that the Game Boy is so popular, beating any competition it has ever faced? It's simplicity is the reason.
Fri 03/05/13 at 11:58
Posts: 3
Hey, Im a 16 yr old that likes fishing and would like to join. Please can i be told the price to join or how to join this club, how old i have to be and where you would meet. i would very much like to attend one of your get togethers.
Sun 21/04/13 at 10:32
Regular
Posts: 14
This is what a week in Norway does for you Mr Chairman

https://www.facebook.com/#
Mon 14/05/12 at 21:05
Regular
Posts: 18
The Tuesday evening trips have started again aboard the Gemini, this is now an over - subscribed invitation only 'club' limited to 12 rod's.
Bragging rites are worth more than money, but the 'pound in the pot' still focuses the mind. Largest fish (over 5.lb to qualify)& most spieces is the tradition.
Bait fish count, and a missed sandeel/herring can be disasterous at the final count.Somebody, erroniously famous for tangling, once could not catch a mackerel, when they where not in short supply.
A Ling over 6lb was the winner this week, and there were plenty more getting close, inc Cod and Callig.Much bigger Callig can turn up anytime but they don't seem to like Tuesdays.
I think 8 spieces won this week from Mackerel, Herring, Launce, Cuckoo, Bollan, Callig, Cod, Ling, Dab(one only caught a mark of skill),Pouting and the dealbreaker for the fortunate winner, a lost/shortsighted Coalfish.
When the Gurnards and cartiliginious spieces turn up it does get interesting.
Was out on a private boat on Saturday, we struggled for batfish and then just for an easy life focused on catching flatfish. Much drifting and anchoring for a long afternoon resulted in 2 Dabs and 1 Plaice.
The skipper always has the best selection of worms and molluscs the Island can provide, and the first fish took a sliver of mackerel.
Caught a nice 5lb+ Cod on a Sidewinder on the way in.
Sat 16/02/02 at 21:56
Regular
Posts: 15,681
AfroJoe wrote:
> And well done with the one mention of Pokemon thing. :D

lol thanks :) I tried not to mention it at all....
Sat 16/02/02 at 21:46
Regular
"sdomehtongng"
Posts: 23,695
And well done with the one mention of Pokemon thing. :D
Sat 16/02/02 at 21:45
Regular
"sdomehtongng"
Posts: 23,695
Why is the Game Boy so good?

Simplicity and addictiveness. Exactly.

Good post!
Sat 16/02/02 at 21:43
Regular
"poo poo for you!"
Posts: 2,161
Edgy wrote:
> Look, I made a topic all about the Game Boy, and only mentioned Pokémon
> once! :)

GASP is that possible *walks like a zombie*
Sat 16/02/02 at 21:41
Regular
Posts: 10,437
Well done Edgy, this buds for you Mr Only Mention Pokemon Once In A Gameboy Post. :-D
Sat 16/02/02 at 21:37
Regular
Posts: 15,681
Look, I made a topic all about the Game Boy, and only mentioned Pokémon once! :)
Sat 16/02/02 at 21:36
Regular
Posts: 15,681
When you talk about portable gaming, you usually mention the Game Boy systems, sometimes the Game Gear, and on rare occasions the Neo Geo. As you all know, the winner of the handheld console race in popularity is clearly the Game Boy selling more units than any other console.

So why was the Game Boy so popular?

The Game Gear and the Neo Geo Pocket Color were clearly more powerful, the Game Gear being backlit and a higher bittage, and the Neo Geo being very similar, with the addition of a 3D stick. So what was it that enabled the Game Boy to reign supreme against them?

Well, I can give you a clear answer to the Neo Geo. It was never popular in the first place, not enough publicity and very few games (although Sonic the Hedgehog had his own game). I remember an advert that was in the back of GamesMaster magazines for a few weeks with a picture of a Japanese kid and "I'm not boy" written in big letters in the middle of the page symbolising the Neo Geo has no relation the the Game Boy, but these adverts weren't enough to compete with the ever strong might of the Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color and their huge library of games.

So now we come to the Game Gear. That was a popular machine. I know more people who had or still have one compared to the amount I know with Neo Geos. That had many a Megadrive conversion on it, as well as it's own versions of games ranging from sports games, platformers, and even racers. So why did this full colour, 16-bit, back-lit, powerful handheld die out?

Mainly because Nintendo had a bigger threshold on the market. Nintendo had a large success in handheld gaming before the Game Boy with the Game & Watch series which featured games like Donkey Kong which starred Mario of course. As well as that, the Game Boy had been out for a few years anyway, since 1989, and had one major franchise which became one of the most popular games ever to go into the history books.

Now I know what you're thinking. Little fat creatures on the Game Boy that move all silly and make funny noises! Yep, Tetris with those Russian dancers!

Tetris was released the same year as the Game Boy, 1989, based on the original a Russian games fanatic called Alexey created. The original was ported to the home PC by Spectrum Holobyte, and was really popular, so it was of course released on Game Boy. It was so popular that overall, more than 30-million Game Boy packs with tetris have been sold worldwide!

This game has managed to enter every one of out gaming lives, and I doubt there's anyone in the western world who doesn't have a clue what tetris is. So the reason for it's popularity? It's simple and portable!

Infact, I've been asked by a few people if I'd be willing to sell my Game Boy Color and Tetris to them now I've got a Game Boy Advance. They keep saying that they've got a relative who used to play that game but doesn't have it anymore, but would like to be able to play it again.

But it's not the only simple game that was popular on the Game Boy. There have been many simple platformers like Kirby's Dreamland and Wario Land, mixed with the puzzle game Bomberman and Wario Blast. There have also been other simple games like Radar Mission, a form of battleships.

Even now, we have Tetris DX on the Game Boy color, and Chu Chu Rocket! on the Game Boy Advance which are all simple and fun to play.

So what links these games? They are simple! you could pick up our Game Boy, play a game for five minutes whilst the teacher is out of the classroom, or the boss is on his lunch break, and easily quit without having to wait ages for either a save point or a sequence to finish. Games on the Megadrive just couldn't compete with the simplicity of Tetris, plus it's other faults: low-battery life and bulkier, there was no way the Game Boy could fail.

Just to reiterate my point. How many more complex games seem to become so popular on Game Boy systems nowadays? You've got Zelda and Pokémon series' on the Game Boy Color. But that's about it on the Game Boy. Games like Super Street Fighter 2 and Super Mario Advance 2 may be a bit more complex for Game Boy original standards, but they are simple in there own ways and that's why they are so popular. But how many people actually like Jurassic Park 3: The DNA Factor on the Game Boy Advance? That was terrible! Or how many have played of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves on the original Game Boy? That was a brilliant game, considering it was released in the Game Boy's earliest years, but it was too long and you couldn't save.

So why is it that the Game Boy is so popular, beating any competition it has ever faced? It's simplicity is the reason.

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