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Goodbye to Gameboy

July 17, 2007 in News comments 22

Gameboy has been a well known trademark of Nintendo for almost two decades. When the Nintendo DS was first shown, it was called a "third pillar". Now it seems like that the Nintendo DS might just be the flat out replacement for the Gameboy. They haven't completely said goodbye to Gameboy yet, but it looks like it will have to "retire" eventually.

It's the most dominant handheld of all time. The Game Boy has been practically synonymous with portable gaming, but Nintendo may actually have retired the name, according to marketing exec George Harrison. Also, WiiWare may be coming sooner than you think...

While Shigeru Miyamoto recently confirmed to Kotaku that Nintendo's internal development teams have shifted their focus away from the GBA so that they can concentrate on Wii and DS titles, Nintendo of America's George Harrison, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, has given GameDaily BIZ a pretty strong hint that Nintendo may be finished with the Game Boy product line.


The DS was once referred to as a "third pillar" by Nintendo, but the handheld has been so phenomenally successful for the company that there's little pressure to sustain the Game Boy name in future handhelds.

"It was a big risk for us to actually pass on it and call the new product the Nintendo DS, but it was part of Mr. Iwata's philosophy that if we're going to make a radical difference and try to reach a new audience, then we have to change the name... We had to make a break even though we had one of the greatest trademarks in the history of the industry."
Sakura via biz.gamedaily.com »
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  • 0
    Red_Phoenix Jul 17, 07
    Yeah that's how Nintendo does or any game maker at that, you might as well forget about the game boy when you have a DS, I mean it's only logical since the DS can play both games.
  • 0
    Sakura Jul 17, 07
    I don't really want the Gameboy to leave. I don't want to have to have every Nintendo game involve the touch screen. The touch screen is amazing, but sometimes it's nice not to use it (and some games don't make you use it, but you still have information on both screens). Ah well, it will be fine either way I guess. ^__^
  • 0
    Final Blade Jul 17, 07
    I still have all of my gameboys.
  • 1
    Storm Jul 17, 07
    Same here. My first Gameboy has Tetris in it still, heh. I prefer the name Gameboy to DS. At first I thought they'd make another Gameboy which is why I never bought a DS yet, but I sure was wrong. Why did they decide to go with a different name, anyways?

    Goodbye Gameboy
  • 0
    Insanity Prevails Jul 17, 07
    The name may have been a sort of tradition I suppose, but it's not exactly as if a name changes anything about the console.

    Plus I prefer the name Nintendo DS.
  • 0
    Kuhn Jul 17, 07
    Definately would suck if they got rid of the Gameboy. I've had every Gameboy except the Micro. I still have most of them to.
  • -1
    Revenger of Wastelan Jul 17, 07
    Well it was pretty predictable, im not surprised, and i actually dont really care, i just owned a GameBoy Color, lost it, and since then im using VisualBoy Advance so i guess this isnt much of a prob.
  • -1
    bbb7002004 Jul 18, 07
    Nintendo wanted the DS to appear comfortable for their extended audience. The name "Gameboy" suggests that the system is targeted mainly to young boys, hence why the DS is just DS, and not Gameboy DS.
    • 0
      Final Blade Jul 18, 07
      Gameboy basically made Nintendo great, We all grew up on Gameboys in some way. I know i did, one of the few reasons to buy pokemon i still have them. I hope this is a rumor, Gameboys isn't targeted to boys, thats a misconception. I mean do you really think Boys would get pink versions come on.
  • 1
    Subzer0 Jul 18, 07
    Good bye Gameboy. We'll miss you.
  • 0
    FRoGBuster Jul 18, 07
    SAYING GOODBYE TO GAMEBOY is part of their strategy to include all gamers. Because game boy doesn't address game girls. Where as DS = Diverse Sexes, including everyone.
  • 0
    black_wing79 Jul 18, 07
    Nevertheless, as someone who grew up on the Gameboy, i have to say that i will miss it dearly. I still have my old original gameboy that my mom bought for me almost 20 years ago..

    Although i only have three games left on it.. (F1, SuperMario and Shadow Warriors) , all of which kicked ass even though they were dot matrix black and white games.. Gameboy made Nintendo, ever more than NES or SuperNES.. so to hear it retiring is definitely sad no matter what comes in its place.
    • 0
      FRoGBuster Jul 18, 07
      Yeah, I agree with you there. I remember my original fat gameboy. Tetris was rockin and so was kirby and its pinball spinoff. I also have fond memories of tiny toons. Those games had high replay value. They just don't make games like that anymore
  • 0
    dcbake Jul 18, 07
    I still have mine but the Gameboy will be missed.
  • 0
    Kiffa Jul 18, 07
    I grew up on the Gameboy, moved to the Gameboy Colour than the GBA. If it does cease to continue, I will miss it greatly.
  • 0
    FRoGBuster Jul 18, 07
    they should at least release a final iteration of gameboy before calling it quits. Like Game Boy Ultimatum. Hah.. and release a Bourne game at launch.
    They can sell it for 20$ too, then it'll be the PSP and DS killer because no one can compete with that price point. With games selling at 99c each! like itunes songs. It could be a homebrew home. Sounds like heaven to me.
  • 0
    BANDITO ATTACK Jul 18, 07
    They could have easily called it the Gameboy DS and not retired the name.

    I'm surprised that they're still even making GBA games. The DS is obviously superior in many many ways...
  • 0
    Chimaira Jul 18, 07
    Gameboys are lame anyway.
  • 0
    Breeze Jul 18, 07
    Sad to see them go, but they are kinda crap now. Still, think of all the history that will be lost.
    I actually still have my early 1990s black and white gameboy - took four batteries!
  • 0
    Danielsard_85 Jul 18, 07
    I agree with Bandito Attack, either call it Gameboy DS or simply keep branding under the Gameboy name their future handhelds based on the technology of the DS
  • 0
    SSJ3 Trunks Jul 18, 07
    The only downfall to the Nintendo DS is the ability not to be able to play Game boy color games.
  • 0
    charizard47 Jul 20, 07
    I still have my electric purple Game Boy Color, it came with Pokemon Yellow... The Gameboys are what got me into gaming...

    And it's silly to think that just because it is called "Gameboy" means only boys will go for it... I know a lot of girls, myself included, who grew up on gameboys and still play them...

    I'm going to miss them when they retire D:

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