The Video Game Wars Part 3: Hand-Held Games

The main subjects will be covering the 3 main consoles that were involved in this version of the Video Game Wars with Nintendo, Sega, and Sony. If there isn't anything else on other hand-held systems, it is not because they didn't count or are inferior; it is mainly to do with the main competitors at the time.

Nintendo decided to branch into a portable device so that way kids could take the games anywhere they want. The 1^st system they created in that area would be the original Game Boy. It had a greenish screen and required batteries. It was a new concept and had done rather well. Some minor changes were made when later came a Game Boy Pocket, which was just a smaller version but the screen was now more of a black and white look. Some of the franchises like Mario had games like Super Mario Land, also Links Awakening were introduced as well. Even a well-known fighting game like Mortal Kombat was inserted albeit different from the other versions on the console games.

For Sega to counter and prior to Nintendo going for the Game Boy Color, they had a color screen and was called the Sega Game Gear. Like the Game Boy, it required batteries and could be taken anywhere. Sonic had been apart and also had other games involved. A Ninja Gaiden game was made for the Game Gear. While it was a very good system, the biggest flaw had something to do with the life span of the batteries. Like the Game Boy before, there was an adaptor you could plug it into the wall and can play as long as you desire.

The Game Boy went through a minor upgrade to go up to the Game Boy Color. It had the power to play regular Game Boy games back to when 1^st released. It had re-released some of the games like Link's Awakening, which had a secret dungeon as well making it seem different than the original and also a game called Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, a remake of the original Mario Bros. game for Nintendo with the Super Mario Bros.: Lost Levels game dubbed Super Mario Bros. for Super Players.

Nintendo had not been challenged but yet introduced a new hand-held system called the Game Boy Advance. It had reverse compatibility with Game Boy games and Game Boy color as well. The cartridges were smaller than the previous systems. It made it easier for them to get lost. The system was pretty good and was known as the home of the major Megaman franchise dubbed Megaman Battle Network Series. There was a series that was called NES Classics remaking some NES games like the 1^st 2 Zelda games, Castlevania for starters as if they came out for the NES back in the early 90s. It's a pretty good system and really efficient and no complaints about it.

Sony however wanted to prove they could do the same as Nintendo and become rather successful with the PSP. I've actually used a PSP a few times and it is actually a decent system. If you're into watching some DVDs, it's actually pretty good for that. The games however aren't too bad. The only one I've had a chance to play was the remake called Megaman Maverick Hunters, which is more or less a remake of the 1^st Megaman X game for SNES. The PSP also had the power if connected through a WiFi connection to browse the Internet and do searches on whatever you desire. For that, I would say it's a plus considering how the net is used.

Nintendo while trying to prove to be #1 in the gaming department in the Hand-Held Wars would reveal the latest system the Nintendo DS. It had a touch screen, which is different than any of the other systems. There were 2 screens, one opening the case and one with the buttons as well. The cartridges are actually smaller than the GBA games. This system could also play games back to the Game Boy Advance but to my knowledge can't play Game Boy games. The last update was a smaller system called the DS Lite. I haven't used that so I would assume it has improved the DS to some degree.

As of present, there hasn't been a new hand-held system made by either Sony or Nintendo. Microsoft has yet to get into the picture. I could imagine their hand-held being somewhat similar to a gaming laptop. Since Microsoft is well known in the computer world, my assumption would be something like that. Sony probably is currently trying to think on how to top the PSP and go for the next system. Nintendo I assume will probably just try to figure out how to continue to be innovative and try to continue to reign on top of the gaming world in the hand-held division. I do doubt that the Hand-Held Wars are over as Nintendo and Sony currently try to out-do each other in different styles.