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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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Yoshi Panel de Pon

Box: 
yes
£12.00
Manual: 
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£12.00

This is a Japanese import but it will work on any Nintendo Gameboy Console.

Galaga and Galaxian

Box: 
yes
£14.00
Manual: 
yes
£14.00

This is a Japanese import but it will work on any Nintendo Gameboy Console

Nintendo Gameboy Pocket Console Pink Loose

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no
£25.00
Manual: 
no
£25.00

The original second release of the Nintendo Gameboy. The worlds most successful console is here in pink. The Gameboy pocket is smaller and more compact but still plays all the games the original Gameboy plays. This console is unboxed and has been tested and works fine.

Alien 3

Box: 
yes
£18.00
Manual: 
yes
£18.00

The ALIENS are fast, spit acid and are right behind you! The motion tracker is your only warning. No time to think, no time to catch your breath... RUN! Can't see very far ahead in these air ducts. Hard to breathe. Face-huggers can be anywhere. You have the firepower... blast the ALIENS with your machine gun, flame thrower and grenade launcher. You know what you have to do... rescue the trapped prisoners and end this nightmare! Just keep telling yourself, "This isn't really happening. It's only a game!!!"

Gremlins 2

Box: 
yes
£16.00
Manual: 
yes
£16.00

Gizmo is trapped inside Clamp Centre by the evil Gremlins. Your mission? Help him battle his way to the control center and rid the city forever of the Gremlin menace! It's not going to be easy. You'll have to use cunning and wits to survive with only the weapons you find inside Clamp Centre... matches, a flashlight, tomatoes, and a homemade bow and arrow. But, if you're lucky, the door to Mr. Wing's Magic Shop may mystically appear... and let you buy some very special - and powerful - items to help you.

Metroid 2 - Return of Samus

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yes
£80.00
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yes
£80.00

A Sinister Planet Threatens the Galaxy! Space Hunter Samus Aran returns to battle a planet crawling with evil creatures bent on universal domination in this bigger than ever sequel to the NES

Nintendo Gameboy Printer Boxed

Box: 
yes
£20.00
Manual: 
yes
£20.00

The Game Boy Printer is compatible with the Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance systems and is designed to be used in conjunction with the Game Boy Camera. It also prints images from compatible late-generation Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Runs on six AA batteries (not included). This item is boxed and has been tested.

Nintendo Gameboy Pocket Clear Blue Console Loose

Facebook
Box: 
no
£35.00
Manual: 
no
£35.00

The second release of the original Nintendo Gameboy. The worlds most successful console is here. The Gameboy pocket is smaller and more compact but still plays all the games the original Gameboy plays. This is the particularly unusual transparent blue version. This console is unboxed and has been tested and works fine.

Superman

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£18.00
Manual: 
yes
£18.00

The sinister Lex Luthor is at it again! With his powerful weapon, the LEXOSKEL-5000, he'll stop at nothing to destroy the Man of Steel and take control of Metropolis. But now, you as Superman must come to the rescue in a battle against evil spanning land, air and sea. Take on the mysterious Shadow Walkers, battle the menacing extra terrestrial, The Preserver, escape heavy artillery fire and defeat the LEXOSKEL-5000 before Lex Luthor's plan condemns Metropolis forever!

Baseball

Facebook
Box: 
yes
£16.00
Manual: 
yes
£16.00

Strategy, skill and determination. It takes all three to win at Baseball! Choose a starting pitcher from your bullpen (Mario is an old favorite). Hurl fastballs past the batter. If he connects, your outfield backs up to snag a fly. A sturdy infield backs you up on grounders and pop-ups. Three outs later and your team is up. Take a strike to feel out the pitcher. Then drive a long one. It's a home run!

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