Handhelds

Model:  Lynx I & II

Released:  Lynx I – 1989; Lynx II – 1992

Info: LYNX I -The Atari Lynx is a 16 bit handheld console released by the Atari Corporation in 1989, The Atari Lynx handheld holds the distinction of being the world’s first handheld system with a colour LCD. The system is also notable for its forward looking features, advanced graphics and ambidextrous layout. The Lynx competed with the Nintendo’s Gameboy, Sega’s Game Gear and NEC’s TurboExpress all of which were part of the fourth generation of gaming.

LYNX II – In 1991 Atari Corp introduced the Lynx II with a new marketing campaign, improved hardware, better battery life and a new sleeker look. The new system featured a rubber hand grips and a clearer backlit colour screen with a power save option which turned off the LCF panels backlighting. The Lynx II also was given a new jack slot for stereo sound which replaced the monaural headphone jack of the Lynx I.

Model: Gamate

Released:  1990

Info: As the Gamate never sold in numbers comparable to the Game boy and even the Watara Supervision, as result information on the console and its games remains scarce. With only 1 emulator which supports it (MESS) and also only 70 odd games made for it which are known to have been produced for the system.

Model: Game Gear

Released:  1990 (JAPAN), 1991 (NA/EU) and 1992 (AUS).

Info: The Game Gear is an 8-bit hand held system which was released by Sega in the early 90’s. The game gear primarily competed with Nintendo’s Game Boy, the Atari Lynx and also NEC’s TurboExpress. The Game Gear shares much of the hardware with the Sega Master System and is able to play its own titles as well as those of the Master System, the latter being made possible by the use of an adapter. Sega positioned the Game Gear as a technologically superior handheld to the Game Boy.

Model:  GameBoy (Original)

Released:  1989 (JAPAN & US), 1990 (EU)

Info: The Game Boy is an 8 bit hand held system developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan and was followed by North America and the EU. It is the first hand held of the Game Boy line hence the name Game Boy Original. It was designed and created by the same staff who are responsible for creating the Game & Watch series of handhelds.

Model: Gameboy Color

Released:  1998 (JAPAN, NA, EU, AUS)

Info: The Game Boy Color or GBC is a handheld system designed and manufactured by Nintendo. The GBC as suggested by its name features a color screen. It is thicker and taller than the Game Boy Light which is a redesigned Game Boy released in 1998. While mostly retaining the same hardware as the Game Boy Original, the Game Boy Color was released during the fifth generation of gaming and its primary competitors were SNK’s Neo Geo Pocket and the Bandai WonderSwan.

Model: Gameboy Advance

Released:  2001 (JAPAN, NA, PAL); 2004 (CN)

Info: The Game Boy Advance or GBA is a 32 bit handheld developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. Nintendo’s competitors in the handheld market were the Neo Geo Pocket Color, WonderSwan, GP32, Tapwave Zodiac and the Nokia N-Gage. Despite the competitors best efforts Nintendo maintained its majority market share with the Game Boy Advance.

Model: Gizmondo

Released:  2005

Info: The Gizmondo is a handheld system released by Tiger Telematics. The electronics design was undertaken by Plextek Limited and the industrial design by Rick Dickinson. From the beginning the project was managed by the founder and CEO Carl Freer. Originally called the Gametrac, the Gizmondo device was first published on their website in 2003 about begin developed. This came in response to Nokia’s N-Gage.

RVG Database for all Gizmondo goodies

Model: Neo Geo Pocket

Released:  1998 (JAPAN)

Info: The Neo Geo Pocket is a monochrome handheld video game console which was released by SNK. It was the companys first handheld system and is part of the Neo Geo family. It debuted in Japan but was never given a western released making it exclusive to Japan and smaller Asian markets such as Honk Kong. The Neo Geo Pocket is considered to be an unsuccessful console. Lower than expected sales resulted in its discontinuation in 1999.

Model: Supervision

Released:  1992

Info: The Watara Supervision (Known as the QuickShot Supervision in the UK) is a monochrome handheld system which originated in Asia and was introduced in 1992 at a cur-price of their competitors Nintendo’s Game Boy. It came with a game called Crystball which is a similar game concept to Breakout. One unique feature of the Supervision is that it could be linked to a television via a link cable. Games played in this way would display in four colours much like Nintendo’s Super game Boy add-on for the SNES.

Model: Virtual Boy

Released:  1995 (JAPAN & NA)

Info: The Virtual Boy or VR-32 is a 32 bit table top 3D game system developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was marketed as the first “portable” video game console capable of displaying true 3D graphics out of the box. On released it proved to be a commercial failure and was not released in other regions. Its lukewarm reception was unaffected by continued price drops. Nintendo had no choice but to discontinue the Virtual Boy the following year on 2nd March 1996.

Model: Wonderswan

Released:  WonderSwan 1999, WonderSwan Color 2000, SwanCrystal 2002 (All JAPAN)

Info: The WonderSwan is a handheld system realised by Bandai in Japan. It was developed by Gunpei Yokoi’s company Koto Laboratory and Bandai. Released in the fifth generation of video game consoles, the WonderSwan and its two later models were officially supported until be discontinued in 2003. During its lifespan, no variation of the WonderSwan was released outside of Japan.