Gameboy

Nintendo Co., ca. 2003

Plastic, LCD screen, lithium ion battery, electrical components, computer components

8.4 × 8.2 × 2.44 cm (closed)

Purchased from Walmart, 2005

Personal collection

This object is the Gameboy Advance SP, which is part of Nintendo Company’s handheld console line. It succeeded the Gameboy Advance in Nintendo’s line of consoles and introduced several new features. These new features caused this device to become very influential in the development of future handheld console. This was done by implementing a backlight for the LCD screen, allowing users to interact with the device regardless of how dark it was in the area. It also introduced the functionality of a rechargeable battery pack, removing the need to carry around disposable batteries. The final change that was introduced was the clamshell design of the device. This allowed the device to become more portable by folding together, as well as being a way to protect the screen from damages. These newly introduced features were so influential that they would be reprised in every future addition to this handheld console family.

Along with the technological impact of this device, it also contained a more emotional impact as well. This object is something that is meaningful to me that was from my childhood. Although this object is from my past, it speaks more to the present landscape of the world and society than it does the past. This object is a symbol that defined my generation when we were children. I spent countless hours on this device, and it was one of my main sources of entertainment while growing up.

As a child, this device would get me through long road trips we would take to visit family. I remember hiding this underneath my pillow while being put to bed, just so I could play on it a little bit longer. Even as I grew older, I would carry this around and play from time to time because of how much I enjoyed it. There is so much history represented in this small device, and I believe that many others my age have the same feeling about it as well. The influence that this device has on not only me, but the entire future of how handheld consoles are designed and developed is extremely important. This device holds so much merit, and its meaningful to my entire generation.

Noah Patrick