Game Boy Color: Difference between revisions

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(Not all Game Boy Color games are on the Virtual Console service.)
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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 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.
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 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 that of the original Game Boy. 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 the typical monochrome display.
The Game Boy Color has identical controls to that of the original Game Boy. 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]]''.
A device known as the [[Game Boy Horror]], modeled after the Game Boy Color, appears in ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]''.

Revision as of 20:52, January 17, 2020

It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information.

"GBC" redirects here. For the Game Boy Camera, see Game Boy Camera.

Template:System-Infobox Template:Quote2

The logo for Game Boy Color

The Game Boy Color is the successor to the Game Boy, Nintendo's third handheld system, 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 handheld to feature 8-bit graphics.

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 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 that of the original Game Boy. These are A Button, B Button, Start Button, and Select Button buttons and the +Control 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 +Control Pad and A Button, B Button, 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 Color games are currently available through the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console service.

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 NES)[1][2]
  • Minimum/Maximum cartridge size: 256 kb - 64 mb[3]
  • 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.

Example Cartridge Usual Color Game Boy mode Super Game Boy mode Game Boy Color mode
Original Game Boy Cartridge Donkey Kong (Game Boy) Gray Check mark.svg Varies from game to game X mark.svg
Game Boy Color Cartridge (Black) Game & Watch Gallery 3 Black Check mark.svg Varies from game to game Check mark.svg
Game Boy Color Cartridge (Clear) Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Clear X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg

Accessories

threads/17764 This section is a stub. You can help the Super Mario Wiki by expanding it.

All official accessories compatible with the Game Boy are compatible with the Game Boy Color.

Game Link Cable

GBC Link Cable

The same link cable that Game Boy and its variations use can be used on Game Boy Color.

Game Boy Printer

GameBoyPrinter.jpg

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 Toy Box mode viewing albums.

Mobile Adapter GB

Only available in Japan, the Mobile Adapter GB allowed certain games to connect to some Japanese mobile phones. The only strictly 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 Mario franchise. This peripheral was referred to as the Mobile Game Boy Adapter in a translated Iwata Asks interview.

  • A version compatible with a Panasonic mobile phone

    A version compatible with a Panasonic mobile phone

  • A version compatible with a Kyocera mobile phone

    A version compatible with a Kyocera mobile phone

IR Communication

SMBDX IR Mode.png

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 Mystery Gift worked in the 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.

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.

+Control Pad up +Control Pad down +Control Pad left +Control Pad right
No input Boot screen Brown
Brown 		Boot screen Pale Yellow
Pale Yellow[4]/Pastel Mix[5] 		Boot screen Blue
Blue 		Boot screen Green
Green
A Button Boot screen Red
Red 		Boot screen Orange
Orange 		Boot screen Dark Blue
Dark Blue 		Boot screen Dark Green
Dark Green
B Button Boot screen Dark Brown
Dark Brown 		Boot screen Yellow
Yellow 		Boot screen Gray
Original Gray 		Boot screen Reverse
Reverse

Template:More images

SML B&W Title Screen.png
On Game Boy
The Super Mario Land title screen in one of the system color palettes for Game Boy Color.
On Game Boy Color and later handhelds
Bonus game
On Game Boy
bonus room
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.

System gallery

  • Boot screen

    Boot screen

Standard Colors

  • Berry

    Berry

  • Grape

    Grape

  • Kiwi

    Kiwi

  • Dandelion

    Dandelion

  • Teal

    Teal

  • Clear (Japan Only)

    Clear (Japan Only)

Special Editions

  • Mario themed Atomic Purple Game Boy Color, only available in Japan

    Mario themed Atomic Purple Game Boy Color, only available in Japan

  • Mario themed Clear Game Boy Color, only available in Japan

    Mario themed Clear Game Boy Color, only available in Japan

Game gallery

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 many English-speaking countries (e.g. Canada, Great Britain, and Australia), the correct spelling for color is colour. Despite this, the name of the console was never changed outside of America to reflect this difference.
  • The Chronicle in Super Smash Bros. Brawl does not treat the Game Boy Color as separate from the original Game Boy.
  • This is one of the systems to appear on the Nintendo Gateway System.

References

Game Boy Color coverage on other NIWA wikis:
  1. ^ http://nesdev.com/NESTechFAQ.htm#chrgfx
  2. ^ http://www.consoledatabase.com/consoleinfo/nintendogameboycolor/
  3. ^ http://www.chrisantonellis.com/files/gameboy/gb-programming-manual.pdf
  4. ^ GBC Manual
  5. ^ GBA Manual
The English Wikipedia logo, for use on the Wikipedia template. Wikipedia has an article on Game Boy Color.

Template:Consoles

[Edit]
Game Boy Color games
Super Mario franchise Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (1999) • Mario Golf (1999) • Mario Tennis (2000) • Mobile Golf (2001) • Mario Family (2001)
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong (2000) • Donkey Kong Country (2000)
Wario franchise Wario Land II* (1998) • Wario Land 3 (2000)
Other Game & Watch Gallery 2* (1998) • The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX* (1998) • Game & Watch Gallery 3* (1999)
* Backwards compatible with the Game Boy
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