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Video Game Guide
Handheld Games
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A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, games controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place. Unlike video game consoles, the controls, screen and speakers are all part of a single unit. All DragonBall handheld video games are divided up by their respective handheld device, along with some supplemental information. Game Boy
The original Game Boy was released in April 1989 in Japan and in August 1989 in the United States. This 8-bit battery-powered handheld device sported a black and green reflective LCD screen and was designed to be small, light, inexpensive, and durable. Not only did it have a huge library of games upon its release, it was the first cartridge-based system that supported more than four players at one time (via the link port). DragonBall Z eventually received releases on the Game Boy in the form of two games, both of which were only released within Japan.
 Game Boy
Game Boy Color
The original Game Boy's successor, the Game Boy Color was released in October 1998 in Japan, and in November 1998 in the United States. It featured a color screen and was slightly smaller than the original Game Boy. The Game Boy Color was backward compatible, a first for a handheld device, and maintained the large library of games from the original Game Boy. Backwards compatibility became a major feature of the Game Boy line, as each new launch began with a plethora of games. Unfortunately, only one DragonBall game was released on the Game Boy Color, but unlike those of the original Game Boy, it was additionally released in the United States.
 Game Boy Color
WonderSwan Color
The WonderSwan Color is a handheld device designed by Bandai to compete with the Game Boy Color. It was released in December 2000 in Japan, and was a moderate success. The original WonderSwan had only a black and white screen, but the WonderSwan Color featured a larger color LCD screen. In addition, the WonderSwan Color is compatible with the original WonderSwan library of games. Prior to WonderSwan's release, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly in the Japanese video game handheld market. After the release of the WonderSwan Color, Bandai took approximately 8% of the market share in Japan partly due to its low price. However, with the popularity of the Game Boy Advance, the WonderSwan Color and its successor, the Swan Crystal, quickly lost their competitive advantage.
 WonderSwan Color
Game Boy Advance
In March 2001, Nintendo released a significant upgrade to their Game Boy line, the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. This successor to the popular Game Boy Color would utilize new technical capabilities, like a new custom 32-bit processor, a larger 2.9" LCD screen, additional "L" and "R" buttons, and a serial port for connecting multiple units together. Following suit with its predecessors, the Game Boy Advance was backward compatible with most every game previously released for the Game Boy or the Game Boy Color. As usual, several DragonBall games were released for the Game Boy Advance. However, unlike the past, many of the DragonBall games were developed solely for the North American market. In fact, "The Legacy of Goku II" was the only North American developed Game Boy Advance game that was released in Japan.
 Game Boy Advance
Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS is a dual-screen handheld game console developed by Nintendo. The name "DS" is actually an acronym for "Dual Screen" or "Developers' System" by Nintendo developers. Unlike Nintendo's previous handheld releases, the DS is only backward compatible with Gameboy Advance games. Nintendo wanted to break the mold with the DS and incorporated some ground-breaking technology to handheld devices. This included stereo speakers, which up until this point had not appeared on any of Nintendo's handheld systems, a touch screen, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity/internet capability), and the ability to play games from any region (region free).
 Nintendo DS
PlayStation Portable
With the huge success of the PlayStation and PS2, Sony unveiled plans for a handheld device. The PlayStation Portable was released in Japan in December 2004, and in North America in March 2005, officially entitled the "PSP". Despite the name, it is not compatible with PlayStation games and only runs games developed specifically for the device. The PSP was designed primarily for gaming, despite its movie and music playback capabilities which include a variety of formats. In fact, Sony developed its own Universal Media Disc (UMD), allowing studios to release feature films specifically for the PSP. In addition, the PSP includes Wi-Fi support, allowing the PSP to connect to wireless networks for multiplayer gaming and the Internet. Thus far, DragonBall Z has seen four releases for the PSP, the first of which had its release date pushed back several times while in development.
 PlayStation Portable
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Information/Images by: Hujio
