Editing Game Boy Color

{{rewrite-expand|add more information on accessories and their relevance to ''Super Mario''}}
{{About|the handheld gaming system|the gamebook series that originally used the name "Game Boy Color"|[[Game Boy Advance (book series)]]}}
{{redirect|GBC|the accessory for the Game Boy systems|[[Game Boy Camera]]}}
{{system infobox
|image=[[File:GBC Atomic Purple.png|200px]]
|generation=Fifth
|release={{flag list|Japan|October 21, 1998|USA|November 18, 1998|Europe|November 23, 1998|Australia|November 27, 1998|South Korea|December 20, 2000<ref>{{cite|author=신상민|date=January 4, 2001|url=https://www.gamemeca.com/view.php?gid=5892|title=정식유통판 게임보이 컬러, 호응누린다|publisher=GameMeca|language=Korean|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622153738/https://www.gamemeca.com/view.php?gid=5892|accessdate=June 9, 2024}}</ref>}}
|discontinued={{flag list|Japan|September 25, 2003|USA|2003}}
|predecessor=[[Game Boy]]<br>[[Virtual Boy]]
|successor=[[Game Boy Advance]]
}}
{{quote|Get into it.|The Game Boy Color slogan}}
[[File:GBC Logo.png|150px|left]]
The '''{{wp|Game Boy Color}}''' (also abbreviated as '''GBC''') is the fourth model to the [[Game Boy]] and, in some ways, the handheld counterpart of the [[Nintendo 64]]. It is similar to its predecessors, the most notable differences being that it is lighter, it is capable of displaying multiple colors, and the processing power is twice as fast. It is the final 8-bit handheld console. Although it is popularly described as a successor to the Game Boy due to its hardware advancements and the existence of Game Boy Color games that are incompatible with a standard Game Boy, [[Nintendo]] internally categorized it as a hardware revision. This disparity is reflected in the company's public representation of the system, such as in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', where the Chronicle lists Game Boy and Game Boy Color games under one section.

Some games made for the original Game Boy display more colors if played on a Game Boy Color. Other games were made exclusively for the Game Boy Color. The older versions could not play these, but the [[Game Boy Advance]], the {{wp|Game Boy Advance SP}}, and the [[Game Boy Player]] could. It also had the shortest lifetime of a Nintendo handheld, as it was discontinued in 2003, and the last game was released later the same year.

The Game Boy Color has identical controls to those of the original Game Boy and the NES controller. These are {{Button|gbc|A}}, {{Button|gbc|B}}, {{Button|gbc|start}}, and {{Button|gbc|select}} buttons and the {{Button|gbc|Pad}}. There are no compatibility issues with games made for the original Game Boy being run on a Game Boy Color. All games, accessories that are programmed for a particular game (such as a Game Link Cable), and non-standard features (such as the camera protruding out of a [[Game Boy Camera]] cartridge) will work on a Game Boy Color. Playing games that did not have any color can now be played in color using a color palette by using a combination of {{Button|gbc|Pad}} and {{Button|gbc|a}}, {{Button|gbc|b}}, or no additional button being pressed to select presets, similar to the [[Super Game Boy]] how someone can change the colors into the typical monochrome display.

A device known as the [[Game Boy Horror]], modeled after the Game Boy Color, appears in ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]''.

Some Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were once available through the [[Nintendo 3DS]] [[Virtual Console#Nintendo 3DS|Virtual Console]] service until the Nintendo 3DS eShop's closure on March 27, 2023.

==Hardware specifications==
*CPU: Zilog Z80 (customized)
*CPU Speed: 8 Mhz
*RAM: 16 kB
*Resolution: 160x144 pixels (Same as [[Game Boy]])
*Colors: 32,768 (15-bit RGB)
*Maximum number of colors on screen: 56
*Maximum sprite size: 8x16 or 16x8 pixels
*Maximum number of sprites on screen: 40 sprites, 10 per scanline (Same as [[Game Boy]])
*Maximum number of colors on sprite: 4 (Same as [[Family Computer]] and [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]])<ref>http://nesdev.com/NESTechFAQ.htm#chrgfx</ref><ref>http://www.consoledatabase.com/consoleinfo/nintendogameboycolor/</ref>
*Minimum/Maximum cartridge size: 256 kb - 64 mb<ref>http://www.chrisantonellis.com/files/gameboy/gb-programming-manual.pdf</ref>
*Sound: 4 channels

===Compatibility modes===
All older cartridges are compatible with the Game Boy Color but not always the other way around. Here is a chart to explain.
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Example cartridge
!Usual color
![[Game Boy]] mode
![[Super Game Boy]] mode
!Game Boy Color mode
|-
!Original Game Boy cartridge
|[[File:Donkey Kong Game Boy Cartridge.jpg|180px|link=Donkey Kong (Game Boy)]]
|Gray
|style="background-color:#C1F2C1"|[[File:Check mark.svg|30px|center]]
|Varies from game to game
|style="background-color:#FFDBE2"|[[File:X mark.svg|30px|center]]
|-
!Game Boy Color cartridge (black)
|[[File:G&WG3 Cart.jpg|180px|link=Game & Watch Gallery 3]]
|Black
|style="background-color:#C1F2C1"|[[File:Check mark.svg|30px|center]]
|Varies from game to game
|style="background-color:#C1F2C1"|[[File:Check mark.svg|30px|center]]
|-
!Game Boy Color cartridge (clear)
|[[File:SMBDX Cart.jpg|180px|link=Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]
|Clear
|style="background-color:#FFDBE2"|[[File:X mark.svg|30px|center]]
|style="background-color:#FFDBE2"|[[File:X mark.svg|30px|center]]
|style="background-color:#C1F2C1"|[[File:Check mark.svg|30px|center]]
|}

==Accessories==
All [[Official Nintendo Seal|official]] accessories compatible with the [[Game Boy]] are compatible with the Game Boy Color.

===Game Link Cable===
[[File:GBC Link Cable.png|thumb]]
The same link cable the Game Boy and its variations use can be used on Game Boy Color.
{{br}}

===Game Boy Printer===
[[File:GameBoyPrinter.jpg|thumb]]
The Game Boy Printer that was used to print pictures from the player's Game Boy. This accessory gained some extended support when the Game Boy Color was released, such as being used in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]'' in [[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe#Toy Box|Toy Box]] image albums and in Records tables, in ''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' for the [[DK Sticker Pack]]s, and as an accessory for [[Game Boy Camera]].
{{br}}

===Mobile Adapter GB===
Only available in Japan, the '''[[bulbapedia:Mobile Game Boy Adapter|Mobile Adapter GB]]''' allowed certain games to connect to some Japanese mobile phones. The only strictly ''Super Mario'' games to utilize it were ''[[Mobile Golf]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''; however, the operation software that came with it (''[[Mobile Trainer]]'') features references to the ''Super Mario'' franchise. This peripheral was referred to as the '''Mobile Game Boy Adapter''' [https://archive.is/o56o4 in a translated Iwata Asks interview]. The device was released exclusively to Japan on January 27, 2001 and was not a commercial success. 

A part of the service was the '''Mobile System GB''', which allowed players to log on to the internet to access a network for wireless play across the nation via Nintendo servers. Using this server, ''Mobile Golf'' could be played online wirelessly, a precursor to the [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] and [[Nintendo Network]]. Just as the device was not successful, the Mobile System GB was not successful and closed down on December 14, 2002. 

{{NIWA|title=Mobile Adapter GB|NWiki=Mobile Game Boy Adapter|Bulbapedia=Mobile Game Boy Adapter}}
<gallery>
GBC Mobile Adapter GB Panasonic.png|A version compatible with a {{wp|Panasonic}} mobile phone
GBC Mobile Adapter GB Kyocera.png|A version compatible with a {{wp|Kyocera}} mobile phone
</gallery>

==IR communication==
[[File:SMBDX IR Mode.png|thumb|left]]
There is an infrared LED, indicated by the black rectangle on top of the unit, that a Game Boy Color can use. This was the primary method in which [[Bulbapedia:Mystery Gift|Mystery Gift]] worked in the [[Bulbapedia:Generation II|Generation II ''Pokémon'']] games, but ''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]'' can make use of this feature by sending high scores and other data to other copies. This feature is exclusive to the Game Boy Color and is not present in later Game Boy devices.
{{br}}

==BIOS colors==
These colors will also work on a [[Game Boy Advance]], a Game Boy Advance SP and a [[Game Boy Player]] when a [[Game Boy]] game is inserted, but will not work on [[Virtual Console]] on [[Nintendo 3DS]], whereas in [[Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online]] only the hardware-coded palette for each game can be set as a color palette.
{| class="wikitable"
! 
! {{button|Padup}}
! {{button|Paddown}}
! {{button|Padleft}}
! {{button|Padright}}
|-
! No input
| [[File:GBC Brown Palette.png|160px]]<br>Brown
| [[File:GBC Pale Yellow Palette.png|160px]]<br>Pale Yellow<ref>[http://replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.5441 GBC Manual]</ref>/Pastel Mix<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/agsmanual_english.pdf GBA Manual]</ref>
| [[File:GBC Blue Palette.png|160px]]<br>Blue
| [[File:GBC Green Palette.png|160px]]<br>Green
|-
! {{button|gbc|a}}
| [[File:GBC Red Palette.png|160px]]<br>Red
| [[File:GBC Orange Palette.png|160px]]<br>Orange
| [[File:GBC Dark Blue Palette.png|160px]]<br>Dark Blue
| [[File:GBC Dark Green Palette.png|160px]]<br>Dark Green
|-
! {{button|gbc|b}}
| [[File:GBC Dark Brown Palette.png|160px]]<br>Dark Brown
| [[File:GBC Yellow Palette.png|160px]]<br>Yellow
| [[File:GBC Gray Palette.png|160px]]<br>Original Gray
| [[File:GBC Reverse Palette.png|160px]]<br>Reverse
|}
{{image|more=yes|Super Mario Land and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins are not the only games to have this functionality}}
{{multiple image
|align=left
|width=160
|direction=horizontal
|image1=SML B&W Title Screen.png
|caption1=On Game Boy
|image2=GBC SML Title Screen.png
|caption2=On Game Boy Color and later handhelds
|image3=SML2 Ladder Game.png
|caption3=On Game Boy
|image4=Supermarioland2the6goldencoins bonus room.png
|caption4=On Game Boy Color and later handhelds
}}
The Game Boy Color will display a unique hardware-coded palette of colors for some titles using an internal list of original Game Boy games. Two such instances are ''[[Super Mario Land]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]''. The palettes do however fall short of being a full colorization of the games, notably in the case of ''[[Dr. Mario (game)|Dr. Mario]]'' where the regular black and square-patterned black viruses look similar.{{br}}
<gallery widths=200 heights=175>
Dr. Mario GB Game Boy - Super Game Boy - Game Boy Color palette comparison.png|Comparison for the Game Boy version of ''[[Dr. Mario (game)|Dr. Mario]]''
Wario Land II Game Boy - Super Game Boy - Game Boy Color palette comparison.png|Comparison for the Game Boy and native Game Boy Color versions of ''[[Wario Land II]]''
Donkey Kong Game Boy - Super Game Boy - Game Boy Color palette comparison.png|Comparison for ''[[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Donkey Kong]]''
GB NSO SML2 app settings screen color comparison Mushroom Zone UD Shin Go.png|Official in-app comparison for ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]'' in [[Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online]]
</gallery>
{{br}}

==Gallery==
===System gallery===
<gallery>
GBC Boot Screen.gif|Boot screen
</gallery>

====Standard colors====
<gallery>
GBC Berry.png|Berry
GBC Grape.png|Grape
GBC Kiwi.png|Kiwi
GBC Dandelion.png|Dandelion
GBC Teal.png|Teal
GBC Clear.jpg|{{Conjectural|Clear}} (Japan only)
</gallery>

====Special editions====
<gallery>
GBC Mario Atomic Purple.jpg|Mario-themed Atomic Purple Game Boy Color (Japan only)
GBC Mario Clear.jpg|Mario-themed {{Conjectural|Clear}} Game Boy Color (Japan only)
</gallery>

===Game gallery===
<gallery>
Wario Land 2 GBC NA cover.jpg|''[[Wario Land II]]''
Game Watch Gallery 2 NA boxart.png|''[[Game & Watch Gallery 2]]''
SMB Deluxe cover art.png|''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]''
Gameandwatch3.jpg|''[[Game & Watch Gallery 3]]''
MarioGolfGBCBoxArtCover.jpg|''[[Mario Golf (Game Boy Color)|Mario Golf]]''
Dinky and Dixie Kong GBC cover art.jpg|''[[Donkey Kong Land III|Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong]]''
Warioland3.jpg|''[[Wario Land 3]]''
MarioTennisGBC.jpg|''[[Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)|Mario Tennis]]''
Donkey Kong Country GBC US box art.jpg|''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)|Donkey Kong Country]]''
MobileGolfBoxart.gif|''[[Mobile Golf]]''
Mario Family cover.png|''[[Mario Family]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jpn=ゲームボーイカラー
|JpnR=Gēmu Bōi Karā
|JpnM=Game Boy Color
|JpnC=<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/hardware/index.html|title=ハードウエアの紹介|publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd.|accessdate=January 22, 2025|language=ja}}</ref>
}}

==Trivia==
*The Game Boy Color, the [[Nintendo GameCube]], and the [[Wii U]] were all released on the same day of their respective years in the Americas.
*This is Nintendo of Australia's first portable console.
*Each letter from the word "COLOR" in the logo is displayed in one of the system's five launch colors.
*In {{wp|English in the Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth English}}, the correct spelling for "color" is "colour". Despite this, the name of the console was never changed outside of America to reflect this difference.

==References==
{{NIWA|Bulbapedia=1|HardDrop=1|NWiki=1|StarfyWiki=Terminology#G|StrategyWiki=Category:Game Boy Color|WarsWiki=1|WiKirby=1|ZeldaWiki=1}}
<references/>

{{GBC}}
{{Systems}}
[[de:Game Boy Color]]
[[it:Game Boy Color]]
[[Category:Systems]]