History of Handheld Gaming
Handheld gaming devices have come a long way since the early days of simple LED games. Let's take a look at the evolution of portable gaming systems over the years.
First Generation (1976-1989)
The first handheld gaming device was the Mattel Auto Race released in 1976. It featured a simple LCD screen with cars that dodged obstacles. Other popular first generation handhelds included:
- Mattel Football (1977) - simple football game
- Game & Watch (1980) - Nintendo's first handhelds
- Game Boy (1989) - monochrome 4-bit portable by Nintendo
These early systems had very basic graphical capabilities and built-in games. Most could only display a few blob-like pixels on screen.
Second Generation (1990-2004)
More advanced color LCD screens allowed for better graphics and gameplay. The Game Boy was king during this era with classics like Tetris and Pokemon. Other notable handhelds included:
- Sega Game Gear (1990) - full color screen, killed by high battery usage
- Atari Lynx (1991) - first backlit color screen, but not very portable
- Game Boy Color (1998) - added color screen to Game Boy
- Neo Geo Pocket Color (1999) - impressive 16-bit color but small library
- Game Boy Advance (2001) - 32-bit processor and better graphics
- Nokia N-Gage (2003) - innovative mix of phone and handheld, but failed
Third Generation (2004-2011)
This era saw a move to more powerful 32-bit and 64-bit systems with 3D graphics capabilities, as well as the rise of smartphones and mobile gaming. Notable systems included:
- Nintendo DS (2004) - extremely successful dual screen system with touch controls
- PlayStation Portable (2004) - Sony's 32-bit system with excellent graphics
- iPhone (2007) - not a dedicated gaming handheld but enabled mobile gaming explosion
- iPod Touch (2007) - iOS gaming device without the phone
- Nintendo 3DS (2011) - glasses-free 3D display and analog stick
Fourth Generation (2011-Present)
Modern handhelds enable high-quality gaming experiences close to consoles. Smartphone gaming has also grown tremendously. Noteworthy current devices include:
- PlayStation Vita (2011) - powerful portable rival to Nintendo 3DS
- Nintendo Switch (2017) - hybrid console playable as handheld or connected to TV
- Smartphones - simple casual games to rich mobile experiences
The future of handheld gaming looks bright with virtual reality and streaming on the horizon. Portable play continues to be a huge part of the gaming landscape.
Notable Handheld Consoles Over the Years
Handheld game consoles have come a long way since the early LCD games of the 1970s and 80s. Let's look at some of the most important and influential portable gaming systems over the years.
Game Boy (1989)
The original Game Boy was Nintendo's first handheld console. It featured a blurry, green monochrome screen, simple 8-bit processor, and D-pad controls. But it was revolutionary for letting players enjoy console-like games on the go. The Game Boy's massive success was thanks to Tetris and the Pokémon craze. It sold over 100 million units during its lifetime.
Atari Lynx (1989)
The Atari Lynx tried to beat Nintendo at their own game by touting more advanced tech like a color LCD screen, backlighting, and the ability to link systems for multiplayer. But it was too large and ate batteries too quickly. It only sold around 3 million units.
Sega Game Gear (1990)
Sega's Game Gear was the Game Boy's biggest rival thanks to its crisp color screen and selection of popular arcade ports. But it was even larger and more battery hungry than the Lynx. Despite some strong games like Sonic the Hedgehog, only around 11 million Game Gears were sold.
Game Boy Color (1998)
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 1998 |
| Sales | Over 118 million units |
| Key Features |
|
The Game Boy Color was a refreshed version of the Game Boy, finally adding color graphics to Nintendo's handheld while still being backward compatible with older games. It helped breathe new life into the Game Boy brand.
Nintendo DS (2004)
The Nintendo DS was a revolution in handheld gaming thanks to its dual screens, one of which was a touchscreen. It introduced innovative gameplay concepts with its stylus, touch controls, and built-in microphone. The DS family of systems sold over 154 million units, second only to the Game Boy.
PlayStation Portable (2004)
Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) took portable gaming into more hardcore territory with a powerful 32-bit system, excellent widescreen LCD display, and components similar to the PlayStation 2. It offered a console experience in your pocket. Though only about 82 million PSP units were sold, it retains a loyal fanbase.
Nintendo 3DS (2011)
Nintendo brought glasses-free stereoscopic 3D to their next handheld console, aptly named the 3DS. It also featured improvements like an analog Circle Pad for better controls, motion sensors, and dual rear cameras for augmented reality gameplay. The 3DS sold over 75 million units.
Smartphones (2007 and Beyond)
When the iPhone launched in 2007, its multi-touch screen and powerful mobile browser enabled a new era of mobile gaming. Basic mobile games led to iOS game exclusives, AAA mobile ports, and hugely popular titles like Angry Birds and Candy Crush that introduced gaming to new demographics.
Other smartphone brands like Samsung also drove mobile gaming forward. Modern 5G smartphones allow console-quality experiences like Fortnite. Mobile gaming now makes up a huge portion of industry revenues.
Handheld consoles have seen amazing evolution from simple LCD games to advanced portable systems. We can expect even more impressive innovation in the future driven by virtual reality, 5G networks, and new display technology like foldable screens.
Game Boy Advance
The Game Boy Advance was Nintendo's third major handheld gaming system and the successor to the Game Boy Color. Released in 2001, it was a significant upgrade over previous Game Boys, introducing 16-bit graphics and better performance. Here's an overview of the GBA's history and key facts.
Technical Specifications
- 32-bit 16.8MHz ARM processor
- 256KB internal memory and 256KB VRAM
- 2.9" reflective color LCD screen
- Resolution of 240 x 160 pixels
- Support for 32,000 colors
- Advanced audio capabilities
The GBA represented a major technical leap over the 8-bit Game Boy and Game Boy Color. The screen size was increased by 33% and the resolution boosted significantly. The 32-bit CPU gave it console-quality power.
Backward Compatibility
Nintendo ensured the Game Boy Advance was backward compatible with the enormous Game Boy and Game Boy Color libraries. GBA cartridges stuck out to cover the previous Game Boys' cart slots. This backward compatibility gave the GBA a launch catalog of hundreds of classic games.
Game Library
In addition to the backward compatible Game Boy games, the GBA saw over 800 releases specifically designed for its hardware. Nintendo brought flagship franchises like Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Fire Emblem to GBA. Popular third-party games included Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Tactics Ogre, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and arcade collections from Capcom and SNK.
Models
There were several variations of the Game Boy Advance released:
- Game Boy Advance SP (2003) - Clamshell form factor with frontlight and rechargeable battery.
- Game Boy Micro (2005) - Tiny Game Boy Advance measuring just 2-inches wide.
- Game Boy Advance SP Mark II (2005) - Brighter backlit screen instead of frontlight.
The clamshell GBA SP was the most popular model, letting players finally play Game Boy games with a backlight.
Sales and Legacy
The Game Boy Advance family sold over 81 million units worldwide before being discontinued in 2010. It successfully carried on the Game Boy lineage while bringing portable gaming into the 16-bit era. The GBA's strong performance ensured Nintendo would remain atop the handheld market until smartphones took over casual mobile gaming.
PlayStation Portable
The PlayStation Portable, commonly abbreviated as PSP, was Sony's first handheld gaming console. Released in 2004, it competed with Nintendo's portable systems while delivering a powerful 32-bit portable media experience.
Technical Specifications
- CPU: 333 MHz MIPS R4000
- RAM: 32MB
- Graphics: 166 MHz GPU
- Screen: 4.3 inch LCD with 480 x 272 resolution
- Connectivity: WiFi, IR, and USB
- Media: UMD discs and Memory Sticks
For a handheld, the PSP was quite advanced technically. The hardware was similar to the PlayStation 2 console, able to push 3D graphics and games.
Industrial Design
Sony used cutting edge design for the PSP to make it sleek, portable, and user friendly:
- Slim shape with sliding screen cover
- Comfortable controls including joystick and d-pad
- Capacitive analog stick for precise input
- Robust buttons inspired by Sony electronics
- Memory Stick slot for storage expansion
The PSP's aesthetics and form factor made it very popular as a sleek, high-tech gaming system.
User Interface
The PSP's user interface allowed managing games and media through icons on a cross media bar:
- Settings for wifi, display, time, and language
- Photos viewer for JPEG images
- Music player for MP3 and AAC audio
- Video player for MPEG video playback
- Web browser to access the internet
This made the PSP a multifunction device and multimedia powerhouse.
Games Library
The PSP had a library of over 1,300 games. Sony focused on bringing popular PlayStation franchises like God of War, Gran Turismo, and Metal Gear Solid to the handheld. Third parties also brought titles like Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Need for Speed, and sports games.
PSP Models
Sony released several updated PSP models:
- PSP 2000 (2007) - Thinner and lighter with TV output support
- PSP 3000 (2008) - Better screen and built-in mic
- PSP Go (2009) - Sliding form factor without UMD drive
- PSP Street (2011) - Budget model focused on games
Sales and Legacy
Around 82 million PSP units were sold over its lifetime. The PSP established Sony as a major force in handheld gaming and pioneered the idea of console-quality portable play. Its success directly influenced the design of the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid portable console.
How Amazon Prime Benefits Handheld Game Buyers
For fans of handheld and portable gaming, Amazon Prime provides several useful benefits that can improve your buying experience and save you money.
Free Two-Day Shipping
One of the biggest perks of Amazon Prime is free two-day shipping on millions of items. This means that any handheld consoles, games, or accessories you order that are shipped and sold by Amazon will arrive quickly with no shipping fees.
You can get your new Nintendo Switch game on release day or have a replacement charging cable delivered before that long trip - all without paying extra for expedited shipping.
Discounts on Pre-Orders
Amazon Prime members get a 20% discount when pre-ordering select new releases of games, consoles, and accessories. This includes major pre-orders like new Pokémon titles or special edition Nintendo Switch bundles.
The discount makes buying new handheld games on day one more affordable. You also get any pre-orders delivered on release date at no extra cost.
Access to Exclusive Deals
Amazon Prime members get 30 minute early access to Lightning Deals. You can take advantage of deals on handheld items like limited-quantity special edition consoles or discounts on accessories.
There are also Prime-exclusive deals on gaming products throughout the year. You can save money on handheld games, accessories, and gear that normal Amazon shoppers won't have access to.
Amazon Prime Gaming
While not directly related to handheld gaming devices, a Prime membership gets you access to free PC games every month along with in-game content and loot via Amazon Prime Gaming.
It's an added entertainment bonus on top of the shipping and shopping benefits.
For handheld gaming fans, the fast free shipping and exclusive deals make Amazon Prime a very worthwhile investment.
