Handhelds

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Handhelds
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In the beginning

• MB Games Microvision (1979)
• LCD (temperamental)
• 13 Games
• 1 x 9V Battery (2 some version)

• Epoch Game Pocket Computer (1984)
• LCD ( graphics akin to Atari 2600)
• 5 Games
• 4 x AA Batteries
• Only released in Japan

Nintendos Game and Watch (1980)
Nintendos Game and Watch (1980)(reminds me of
something)
Entex Adventure Vision (1982)
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Lift Off!

• Sega Game Gear (1990)
• Colour and Back-lit LCD Screen
• 6 x AA Batteries (Not Good!)
• TV Tuner
• Sonic the Hedgehog!

• Atari Lynx I (1989)
• Colour and Back-lit LCD Screen
• 6 x AA Batteries (4 Hours)
• Network Support
• Ambidextrous Design

• Nintendo Game Boy (1989)
• LCD (Dot Matrix)
• 4 x AA Batteries (Long life)
• Tetris!

• PC Engine GT (1990)
• AKA NEC TurboExpress
• Most powerful handheld
• But at 150m - 200!!!

• Atari Lynx 2 (1991)
• Some Improvements
• Still a brick though!

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New Challengers and New Versions

• Bandai Wonderswan (1999) and Wonderswan
  Color(2000)
• Gunpei Yokoi!
• 1 x AA Batteries (Long Life)
• Nothing wrong with the thing! Competition just
  too strong.

Nintendos Game Boy Pocket (1996), Game Boy Light
(1998) and Nintendos Game Boy Color still
dominated.

• SNK Neo Geo Pocket and Neo Geo Pocket
  Color(1998, 1999)
• Good design
• 2 x AA Batteries (Long Life)
• Nothing wrong with the thing!

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And after that...
Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2001) and the Game Boy
Advance SP (2003) was the Game Boys evolution
into 32-bit. The SP model was front-lit while
newer models are back-lit.
Gameparks GP32 (2001, Left) was 32-bit, open
source (emulators were a selling point) and could
play DivX movies and MP3s but was not front-lit
until 2003s model. Nokias N-Gage (2003, centre
and right) attempted to seize on the mobile phone
craze and mix a games console with a mobile
phone.
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The Latest (as of 2005)

• Nintendo DS (Dual Screen)
• Wi-Fi
• Rechargeable Battery
• Touch Screen, Microphone
• Mario Kart!

• Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable)
• Plays movies (UMD), music, games, images.
• Wireless
• That screen!

• Tigers Gizmondo
• GPRS
• GPS
• Camera, play music, send emails/ SMS etc.

• Nintendos Game Boy Micro
• Damn small!
• Interchangeable covers.

• Gamepark Holdings GP2X
• Linux OS
• Emulators galore!
• Multimedia Player

• Tapwave Zodiac
• Games Console meets PDA (Palm OS)
• Discontinued.

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Worth a mention
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Summary - Key Issues

• Battery Life
• Gameplay (different from home consoles)
• Size/ Design/ Ergonomics/ Portability
• Game/ Software Support
• Price
• Longevity
• Use of extras

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Questions?
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Next Lecture
Arena Design Mario Michaelides Next Week at 10am