Website Temporary Closed

Hello everyone. We are moving to a new, bigger premises so website ordering will be closed for the next month while we move everything to our new building, reorganise and do a full stock take. We will not be taking any orders or able to reply to any messages during this time. We will be open again at the start of December. Many thanks. Console Passion

Nintendo Gameboy

The Nintendo Gameboy was released in by Nintendo Japan in early 1989. It was the latest brainchild from Gunpei Yokoi, the genius behind Nintendo Game & Watch games. Gunpei also had several game writing credits to his CV at the time, the most notable was co-writing Donkey Kong, and the Nintendo CEO at the time was confident Gunpei would repeat his previous successes with the Gameboy.

The game came packaged with a simple, yet addictive puzzle game called Tetris. Consisting of different shaped bricks falling down the screen, the bricks had to be manipulated and moved by the player to create rows along the bottom of the game area. Once a row was completed it would disappear, freeing up space for more bricks to fall into.

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The now 'infamous' game was designed by by Alexey Pajitnov and written by Alexy & Dmitry Pavlovsky, two Russian Computer Science Engineers. Although the game is one of the most successful selling games of all time, both authors would have seen very little of the money from the Gameboy release as they lived in the Communist Soviet Union at the time, and any royalties would have gone straight to the Government (or allegedly the KGB).

The Gameboy was an instant hit, largely due to the Tetris game, but also because Nintendo promised ports of their best selling Donkey Kong, Zelda & Metroid games onto the new system. As with the Nintendo NES, Nintendo had no shortage of software developers waiting to make games for the new console. In its first year more than 100,000 consoles were sold in Japan alone, and it has gone on to be the biggest selling console of all time, racking up an amazing 168 million units worldwide.

However, these 168 million were not all the original incarnation of the Gameboy. Over the years, the console has experienced several transformations. Firstly to the Gameboy Pocket was released in 1996. This was essentially the same as the original Gameboy and had the same hardware inside, but it was smaller, sleeker and with a slightly clearer screen.

Next came the Gameboy Colour in 1998. This was the same layout, size and shape as the previous two Gameboys', but sported a colour screen, and a palette of 32,000 colours to choose from. Original Gameboy games were compatible with the Gameboy Colour, some even featuring enhancements, but Gameboy Colour games were not compatible with the original Gameboy.

2001 saw the release of the Gameboy Advance, a completely redesigned console with much more power & better graphics & sound. The most recent Gameboy Advance SP features (finally) a back-lit screen amongst its improvements.

Indeed, it was the lack of several features such as back lighting and colour that lead Sega to believe its handheld console, the Game Gear, would become more popular than the Gameboy. While the Game Gear was technically superior, had a more ergonomically pleasing shape and a larger colour screen, it lacked the game catalogue that the Gameboy had accumulated. That and the fact that its battery life was 1/5 of the Nintendo Gameboy saw its sad demise in 1997.

Several other consoles also attempted to Steal the Gameboys' crown as king of handhelds, but all fell short. The Neo Geo Pocket, Atari Lynx, Bandai Wonderswan and GP32 consoles have all failed to outsell the Gameboy. However, Sony have recently announced the imminent release of the PSP, which is almost as powerful as the PS2. Could this be the handheld to finally topple the Gameboy? Only time will tell.

As with any console, there are a number of add-ons you can buy. Not only did the Gameboy have link cables, magnifiers, back lighters, in car packs etc, but if you felt the need you could buy mini cameras, and tiny printers for your machine! Aside from the obvious with Tetris, notable games for me are Donkey Kong Land, Super Mario Land games, Zelda & the Pokemon games.

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Kirbys Block Ball

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:15
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It's a breakaway bash in this wild new Kirby game of Black Ball! By destroying the blocks on the screen, you clear stages and obtain powers that help in your final confrontation with King Dedede. Paddles on all four sides of the screen make this an intense four way action contest. Your quick reactions and your careful use of Kirby's powers will determine your ultimate fate!

Arcade Classic 2

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:15
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Centipede: The forest is crawling with critter chaos! The forest is swarming with tormenting fleas, lethal scorpions and the dreaded Centipedes. Exterminate this insect battalion or they'll eat you for lunch! Millipede: The garden is infested with insect insanity. A poisonous mushroom garden has been invaded by an army of creepy crawlers. Zap menacing Millipedes, jumping spiders and nasty earwigs before they multiply into an insect epidemic.

Arcade Classic 1

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:15
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Asteroids: Navigate a speeding spacecraft through tumbling debris! Blast a gleaming rocket through descending rocks and crushing rubble! Asteroids is the ultimate celestial obstacle course for unnerving space travel. Missile Command: Annihilate menacing warheads and save civilisation! Defend famous cities from nuclear warheads raining down from the sky. Missile Command is the supreme test of pin-point precision, accurate aim and rapid response.

Mortal Kombat

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:14
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Prepare yourself. The #1 arcade hit is here: from Sub-Zero, Rayden and your favorite Kombat warriors to the gruelling endurance and intense mirror matches! Execute bone-shattering combos and ferocious finishing moves! Defeat the half human dragon Goro, and destroy the shape changing Shang Tsung to become the Supreme Mortal Kombat Warrior!

Super RC Pro AM

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:14
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Grab your Gameboy and pull up to the starting line. It's your car against up to three other speedsters in this thrilling racing competition. Face hazardous hairpin turns, skidding oil slicks and other dangerous obstacles. Race your way through dozens of treacherous track levels that will put your driving ability to the ultimate test.

Wizards and Warriors - Fortress of Fear

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:11
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The incredible saga of Wizards and Warriors continues. As Kuros you'll enter the dreaded Fortress of Fear in your pursuit of the Evil Wizard, Malkil. Hundreds of enemy encounters await you. Deadly bats and other flying beasts attack from above. Scorching fireballs and arrows speed toward you. And skin crawling spiders and undead skeletons appear from the darkness. Defeat them all! Only those with the blackest of hearts dwell among the 18 levels of challenging game play. But the rewards are great, riches beyond belief, keys to long lost treasure and magic spells and potions. And what better reward could you seek than a final encounter with the Evil Wizard Malkil himself? Beware, Kuros. Others have journeyed into the Fortress of Fear, but none have returned alive.

Paperboy

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:11
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One of the hottest arcade games of all time is more mobile than ever. Hop on your bike for a free wheeling ride up the avenues of not so typical suburbia. Avoid motorcycles, tricycles, traffic, runaway tires, gratings, curbs, mad dogs, skateboarders, breakdancers, crazed grannies and other hazards as you attempt to deliver to your customers. Finish your route each day and then go for bonus points on the Training Course. Break windows, knock over garbage cans, ride through flowerbeds all the action, excitement and challenge of the coin-op game is ready to roll!

Pinball Deluxe

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:11
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Pinball fans never had it so good. Two classic games brought together on the one cartridge providing hours of high speed thrills and loads of fun. Whether you are a hardened pinball fanatic or a newcomer, Pinball Deluxe is a true multi table simulator designed to give you the same buzz as the real thing. The seven combined tables of Pinball Dreams and Pinball Fantasies are beautifully crafted. Whichever table you select, the result is always the same, breathtaking.

Hunt For Red October

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 20:11
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Now you can play this thriller anywhere you go! All the spine tingling espionage action and suspense of the hit motion picture is captured in this Game Boy version. As the superpowers confront one another yet again with incredible new technology and dangerous weapons, you must take on the role of Captain Ramius and command the Soviet Typhoon submarine Red October. Your mission, defect to the United States.

World Cup

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:32
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National pride is at stake. With only seconds left the horn sounds and you've won it all! The coveted world cup trophy is yours! Pick your team and plan your game strategy. Choose from 13 teams from countries around the world, each with different strengths and skills. Gruelling field surfaces include ice, sand and grass. Use advanced super moves to put the ball in the back of the net. Defeat your opponents and you're on your way to the prestigious world cup final!

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