
Nintendo's Game Boy range was massively successful all over the world — heck, even Kurt Cobain had one — but not every variant of the system made it out of Japan.
Just before the launch of the Game Boy Color, Nintendo produced a revised backlit version of the original monochrome system which was exclusive to its homeland, and this has gone on to become one of the most collectable versions of the console.
We've already covered the system in one of our Hardware Classics pieces, but we don't need an excuse to show off our limited edition Tezuka Osamu World Shop Game Boy Light, so here's a video as well. Now all we need is the Astro Boy version which Apple co-founder Steve Woziack has, and we can die happy.
Comments 23
Why did we not get the backlit version? Would've been so convenient...
That's awesome!
Makes one wonder why Nintendo ever dropped the backlight for the original GBA.
@burninmylight Probably cuz it kills battery life.
Though if that's the case they should have just with the chargeable batteries. But then again, how much would it if they did that?
Huh! I never even knew this existed. Brilliant! I still got my old original GB I occasionally get it out to give my m8s a laugh.
Back in the day, rechargable were rubbish, in fact many products claimed that for best operation, do not use rechargable batteries... Depending on when it was released ( I read an article on this site that claimed...) nintendo had already begun working on (or was soon to release) the Gameboy Color. Now why the GBC had no backlit screen is the real question?
It's my understanding that the Game Boy Light was always intended as only limited-edition units. The release date would have always been too close to that of the GBC to make it profitable in anything other than collector's editions and such.
The EL backlight would have been incompatible with the GBC, as it emitted a pale green light. At that time, CFL backlighting was not only too bulky, but required more power draw than a pair of AA's could provide, and white LED tech was not available yet.
@Platypus101 Regarding the lack of a light on the GBC, @justinr has answered that perfectly.
@justinr The Gold and Silver units had a pretty wide release, but yes, I don't think Nintendo will have made anywhere near as many units as it did with the GB Pocket and GBC.
An awesome collector's unit, I always wonder why we never got the Game Boy Light but I'm glad the unit is still region free so we could at least play our games in that blueish calculator style backlit screen.
i remember being friends with my lamp to play
Gameboy pocket is still my favorite gameboy ever. Having the backlight would have been an instant buy back then.
I have a game boy pocket still in the the box
Since this is Nintendo's homeland, it is also their testing ground for their products, and if it does well, it will be released in NA and in Europe. I'm guessing it didn't sell very well...which is ok since that backlit screen doesn't look very good. Wormlight for me, thanks.
@ZeroZX_Dev
With older tech, maybe. However, people have reported BETTER battery life after replacing the original GBA screen with the backlit one from the GBA SP AGS-101.
yay I seen this before....just further proof that Nintendo seems to hate the west We only got the GB Pocket when they got the Pocket AND Pocket with the backlight, and we would have to wait till GB Advance SP before we can see our screens
I shan't die happily until it is in my hands.
My brother modded a gameboy pocket to have a backlight. Works pretty well too.
was well aware of this back in the day and was always mad that i never got one.
Props for that really sweet Osamu Tezuka theme.
A few years ago I remember reading that "People wanted color and not a green light."
@mjc0961 You wish is our command. The next video we do will have the sound of crickets gently chirping in the background.
I used to own one I found it at a garage sale in Ohio. I have no clue how it got there, but I played a little bit of it. Then I made the stupid decision of trading it for a Gameboy Advance. Oh well, first world problems.
ah yes the good old days when you had to play your gbc games during the day or in a well lit room other wise you have to site next to some lamp or something xD
i remember taking mine once to a party didnt know anyone there it was so boring so i started playing then the sun was setting so i was frustrated i could see anything xD
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