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GAMEPORT
JA/EN
Original Game Boy handheld

Game Boy

ゲームボーイ

No. 00721 Apr 1989

Game Boy

Manufacturer
Nintendo
Type
Handheld game console · 8-BIT
Note
Model DMG-01

03

Overview

Overview

A handheld game console released by Nintendo in 1989. It used a four-shade monochrome STN LCD and ROM cartridges. It was developed by Nintendo R&D1 under Gunpei Yokoi and Satoru Okada.

04

Industrial Design

Industrial design

A grey vertical body with an asymmetrical lower section, shaped so the unit can be supported on the left while the D-pad is operated.

Game Boy rear view with the battery cover removed
Game Boy, rear with battery cover open
A Game Boy Game Pak cartridge
Game Boy Game Pak (cartridge)

05

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications

Model number
DMG-01
CPU
Sharp SM83 (LR35902) approx. 4.19 MHz
Memory
RAM 8 KB / VRAM 8 KB
Display
STN LCD, 160×144, 4 shades (monochrome)
Bits (period term)
8-bit
Generation (Wikipedia)
4th generation

Values are from the sources below. Where sources differ, see the notes under Sources.

06

Controller

Controller

Built-in controls consist of a four-way D-pad on the left and A and B buttons on the right, with Start and Select buttons below.

07

Media Format

Media format

  • ROM cartridge (Game Pak)

  • ROM cartridge

    A software medium housing ROM chips on a circuit board inside a plastic shell. The Famicom used this format from its 1983 launch; Nintendo's Western packaging called them 'Game Paks'.

08

Launch & Context

Launch & historical context

Release (Japan)
21 Apr 1989[2]
Release (North America)
31 Jul 1989[1]
Release (Europe)
28 Sep 1990[1]
Launch price (Japan)
¥12,500(Including 3% consumption tax)[2]
Launch price (North America)
$89.99[1]
Units
118.69 million(sold, as reported · worldwide · Life-to-date in Nintendo IR data through FY3/2025)[3]

Released in Japan on 21 April 1989. In North America and Europe it was bundled with Tetris.

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Notable Games

Notable games

10

Gallery

Gallery

  • Original Game Boy handheld

    Game Boy (DMG-01)

  • Game Boy rear view with the battery cover removed

    Game Boy, rear with battery cover open

  • A Game Boy Game Pak cartridge

    Game Boy Game Pak (cartridge)

11

Timeline

Timeline

  1. 1987.10.30PC EngineNEC
  2. 1988.10.29Mega DriveSEGA
  3. 1988.12.04PC Engine CD-ROM² SystemNEC
  4. 1989.04.21Game BoyNintendo
  5. 1990.04.26Neo Geo AESSNK
  6. 1990.10.06Game GearSEGA
  7. 1990.11.21Super FamicomNintendo

12

Related Consoles

Related consoles

About Nintendo →

13

Sources

Sources

  1. [1]
    Game Boy

    Wikipedia (English)

    ReferenceAccessed 2026-09-26
  2. [2]
    ゲームボーイ

    Wikipedia (日本語)

    ReferenceAccessed 2026-09-26
  3. [3]
    Consolidated Sales Transition by Region (historical data)

    Nintendo Co., Ltd.

    ManufacturerAccessed 2026-09-26
  4. [4]
    任天堂の歴史

    任天堂

    ManufacturerAccessed 2026-09-26
Notes on conflicting sources

Model number: EN Wikipedia 'DMG-01', JA Wikipedia 'DMG-001'. CPU naming: EN 'Sharp SM83', JA 'Sharp LR35902' (SoC). Screen size: EN 2.5-inch, JA 2.45-inch (omitted from display field). Units: Nintendo IR 'Game Boy' line (118.69 million, Japan 32.47 million) — EN Wikipedia states this figure combines Game Boy and Game Boy Color. JA price note (tax-inclusive, 3%) from JA Wikipedia.

14

Image Credits

Image credits

  • Game Boy (DMG-01)

    Original Game Boy handheld

    PhotoEvan-Amos (background removed by a Commons contributor)

    Wikimedia Commons·Public domain

  • Game Boy, rear with battery cover open

    Game Boy rear view with the battery cover removed

    PhotoEvan-Amos

    Wikimedia Commons·Public domain

  • Game Boy Game Pak (cartridge)

    A Game Boy Game Pak cartridge

    PhotoEvan-Amos

    Wikimedia Commons·Public domain