I read a great post on Digital Spy the other day, in their gaming section – the Top Ten handheld innovations (for gaming, obviously). Given our handheld game devices cousins are not that far removed from some of the current crop of Mobile devices, I thought I would pull a few of these out. To see the full list in all its glory, you need to visit the Digital Spy website here.
8. Backlit display – Atari Lynx (1989) – Playing without a backlit screen today is practically unthinkable, and has been an essential feature since the Game Boy Advance SP in 2003. But a full fourteen years earlier in 1989 came the Atari Lynx, the first backlit (and colour) handheld. It beat Sega’s Game Gear to the punch by three years, and allowed gaming in bright sunshine to become a reality. There was a simple reason why it wasn’t adopted for over a decade – energy consumption, using up six AA batteries in around four hours. The only realistic way to play was using an AC adapter, and that required staying indoors, defeating the purpose of a portable console entirely. It was a feature that drove up manufacturing costs dramatically, killing off the chance of being a practicable alternative to Nintendo’s offering. But to sit outside and laugh at your friends squinting at their Game Boys, even for a few hours, was totally worth it.
4. Mobile Phone Adapter – Game Boy Color (2001) – It’s hard to believe that in 2001 mobile phones were the size of houses and as rare as rocking horse do-do. That’s why we never got a taste of wireless online gaming back then; the Game Boy Color could connect to the internet via the Mobile Adapter and a mobile phone. As well as checking your email, you could play turn-based games online such as Mobile Golf and Pokemon Crystal. Nintendo encouraged Pokemon owners to use the service through online sweepstakes and bonuses for traded creatures. The limited use of mobile phones in the West (for children at least) ensured this device stayed in Japan, angering Pokemon fans who couldn’t get the elusive Celebi without it. Today, WiFi connections streamline internet access for handhelds, and without the worry of a hefty phone bill.
There are some really great selections that make up the rest of the Top Ten – check out Digital Spy’s website here.