The Game Boy is a handheld video game console that is credited as the longest running video game system of all time. Developed by Gunpei Yokoi of Nintendo Japan, the Game Boy was released in the U.S. in 1991. Upon its release, it was bundled with the game "Tetris"? and from the moment it hit shelves, it's been a best seller. The Game Boy has evolved over the years both in technology and design, but continues to be the number one selling handheld video game system.

The very first Game Boy contained a mere 8-bit 4.19 MHz CPU with a 4-color display screen in grayscale and a resolution of 160x144 pixels. When the system proved an instant success, Nintendo wasted no time revamping the Game Boy, and the ten year span between the original release and the release of the Game Boy Advance delivered the Game Boy Pocket and the Game Boy Color. In 2001, the Game Boy had morphed into the Game Boy Advance, with a 32-bit 16.78MHz CPU, a color display and 240x160 pixels.

The Game Boy remained a top seller during this ten year run and was ready to make a leap into new areas. The Game Boy Advance received some design criticism, especially regarding the back lighting, and Nintendo addressed this common complaint with the release of the Game Boy Advance SP in 2003. The Game Boy Advance has been redesigned twice with the SP and the 2005 release of the Game Boy Micro. The flip screen of the Game Boy Advance SP was a big hit and the SP outsold even the Micro.

Even as the Game Boy evolved, Nintendo successfully addressed consumer needs by allowing each and every system to support previous game titles. Super Mario Land and Pokemon Red and Blue were the Game Boy's best selling game titles with sales of 14 million and 11 million respectively. Nintendo also manufactures the Nintendo DS, another handheld game system that supports previous Game Boy titles as well as DS titles. The Nintendo DS is a dual screen game system with touch button and stylus controls. Amongst its many abilities, the Nintendo DS can display 3-D graphics. Metroid Prime DS, Animal Crossing DS, and Nintendogs were among the first successful titles released exclusively for the Nintendo DS.