Nintendo Handheld History Lesson

"The Nintendo DS will change the future of hand-held gaming.." with a statement as bold as that you know that Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata, is taking his company's new DS device seriously. But what has been the driving force behind Nintendo's dominance in the handheld market?

In order to mark the impending European release of the Nintendo DS, (UK date is March 11 with a RRP of GBP 99) MegaGames invites you on a short stroll down handheld memory lane, as we explore the roots and timeline behind the Nintendo portable gaming device.

1980
The Nintendo Game & Watch series takes off and becomes the most successful of the LCD games

1980s
Throughout the 1980's the handheld market continued to grow and build on the initial success of the Game & Watch series. Game after game continued to launch to astounding success. Games including Donkey Kong JR and Donkey Kong 3 were particular favourites

1989
The 'birth' of Game Boy and a revolution in the gaming market. The Game Boy was the only hand held video games system that had success around the world and is still the reason Nintendo is the leader in the hand held market

1996
Game Boy Pocket launched. With Silver casing the Pocket Game Boy was 30 per cent smaller than the original Game Boy, with a bigger screen, and improved LCD technology giving a sharper picture

1998
Game Boy Color launched with a colour LCD screen across Europe and Japan Game Boy Camera and Game Boy Printer launched. Enabled the Game Boy to act as a mini digital camera, with built in software to modify the pictures and a mini-movies maker

1999
The Pokémon Franchise launches in Europe with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. The franchise becomes a worldwide success and the largest video game franchise ever. By the end of 2004, over 130 million Pokémon games had been sold worldwide.

2000
Nintendo ships its 100 millionth Game Boy system worldwide

2001
Launch of the Game Boy Advance in Europe which sold 500,000 units in the first week
European Game Boy Advance launch colours are announced as Purple, Clear Blue, White and Clear Red
European launch of the Game Boy Color Pokémon Special Edition Pak

2002
Game Boy Advance Black console launched on 12th April in Europe to celebrate the simultaneous release of the Nintendo classic, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Platinum Game Boy Advance hit the shelves in Europe
Total number of Game Boy, including Game Boy Advance, games sold worldwide to date is over 700 million

2003
Game Boy Advance SP launched in Europe
400,000 Game Boy Advance SP shipped to Europe in first weekend
2 million Game Boy Advance SP sold in Europe in 6 months from launch

2004
Nintendo launched the Game Boy Advance SP Tribal Edition
Nintendo launched the Game Boy Advance SP Classic NES Edition
Nintendo launched the Pink Game Boy Advance SP
The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adaptor, a first for Game Boy Advance, allowing wireless game play
Nintendo launched the Nintendo DS in North America and sold more than 500,000 units in the first week
Nintendo launches the Nintendo DS in Japan and sales exceed half a million in just four days
By the end of 2004, over 50 million Game Boys have been sold across Europe, meaning that almost 14 million individuals own a Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP globally.