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+#REDIRECT [[Handheld game console]]
-{{Refimprove|date=November 2007}}
-{{Video games}}
+{{R with history}}
-A '''handheld video game''' is a [[video game]] designed for a handheld device. In the past, this primarily meant [[handheld game console]]s such as [[Nintendo]]'s [[Game Boy line|Game Boy]] line. In more recent history, [[mobile game]]s have become popular in [[calculator programming|calculator]]s, [[personal digital assistant]]s (PDA), [[mobile phone]]s, [[digital audio player]]s (e.g., MP3), and other similar portable gadgets.
-In the past decade, handheld video games currently have become a major sector of the video game market. In 2004 sales of portable software titles exceeded [[United States dollar|$]]1 billion in the [[United States]] for the first time, an 11% increase from the prior year.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. 2004 Video Game Annual Report| url=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20120222022304/https://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_050119.html |accessdate=2005-09-26}}</ref>
-For dedicated handheld games that do not have interchangeable cartridges, disks, etc., or are not reprogrammable, see [[handheld electronic game]]s. For games on mobile phones, see [[mobile game]]s.
-== History ==
-Handheld video games grew out of [[handheld electronic game]]s that were popular from the 1970s through the mid-1990s. The key factors in contributing to the advance of handheld video games were the increase in processing power, technological advances in [[liquid crystal display]]s (LCDs), and the reduction of power requirements. Handheld video games grew immensely in popularity, thanks to the [[Game Boy]] released in 1989. ''[[Tetris]]'' was considered the [[killer application]] for the console, and popularized the action puzzle genre.
-== Popular genres ==
-Due to the portable nature of the platform, the game genres that are popular on [[video game console]]s are not necessarily the same genres that are popular on handhelds. This is partly due to a constant game of technological catchup for handhelds; they are usually about 1-2 generations behind in graphic abilities than [[alternating current]] (AC) powered games. Further, there is a demand to keep the device small, so there are much fewer controls on handhelds than on other systems; this results in games that cannot be as complex. Typically due to the limited time that most users have when on the go, the average play duration is much shorter. Hence games that are quick to play, such as sidescrolling [[platform game]]s and action puzzle games are very popular. It is important to note that there is [[solid state disk|solid-state storage]] for handheld titles, whether it be in the form of a memory card, or [[EEPROM]]. On the whole, even with the ability to save games, consumers prefer less time-consuming titles. More complex game types, such as adventure or first person shooters, are less popular.
-<!-- Commented out: [[File:GB Tetris.png|right|thumb|200px|''Tetris'' on the Nintendo [[Game Boy]].]] -->
-=== Puzzle ===
-* ''[[Tetris]]'' ([[Nintendo]] [[Game Boy]] 1989, cellphone, [[Nintendo DS]])
-* ''[[Columns (video game)|Columns]]'' ([[Sega Game Gear]])
-* ''[[Lumines]]'' ([[PlayStation Portable]] 2005)
-* ''[[Bejeweled]]'' (cellphone)
-* ''[[Meteos]]'' (Nintendo DS)
-=== Platform ===
-* ''[[Super Mario Land]]'' series (Game Boy)
-* ''[[Super Mario Advance]]'' series ([[Game Boy Advance]])
-=== RPG ===
-Due to the low technical demands of the turn based, menu driven [[role-playing video game]], they have often found homes on handheld systems, often based on a [[console RPG]]. Those games that have met with the most success have been collection-centered or [[anime]]-based RPGs such as:
-* ''[[Pokémon]]'' (Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS)
-* ''[[Megaman Battle Network]]''
-* ''[[Dragon Ball Z]]''
-* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh]]'' series
-The ''Pokémon'' series has met with so much success that Nintendo has released special editions of the Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DS Lite, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy. These bundles had the game systems in exclusive colors (such as [[Pikachu]] yellow) and were bundled with the popular game of the time. Nintendo has reported that over 15 million dollars in sales have been generated by the Pokémon franchise.
-=== Classic ===
-The simplicity of the video games of the 1980s has allowed many classic titles to be re-released in handheld form. For example, the [[Nintendo e-Reader]] for the [[Game Boy Advance]] allowed a small library of classic NES titles to be played on the handheld. e-Reader titles included [[Excitebike]] and [[Ice Climber]].
-Classic games have also been released for cellphones, such as the [[Intellivision]] game library and arcade classics including ''[[Galaga]]'', ''[[Afterburner]]'' and ''[[Pac-Man]]''. The Apple [[iPod]] features two games from the late 1970 and early 1980s: ''[[Breakout (video game)|Breakout]]'' and ''[[Parachute (iPod game)|Parachute]]''.
-Since the release of the [[GP32]]; homebrew and [[Video game console emulator|emulated]] gaming for games formerly only playable on living room consoles have magically transformed standard video games from the past into handheld ones. Later, the [[GBA Movie Player]] was released to allow [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES) games to be played on the [[Game Boy Advance]] (GBA) via [[PocketNES]] emulator. Subsequent to that, the [[GP2X]] has been released. Since many emulators and interpreters for classic video games have been written for GP2X, classic games have gone handheld; even old DOS games have gone handheld on the GP2X on GP2X's version of [[DOSBox]]. The [[PlayStation Portable]] (PSP) however, only supports homebrew and emulation to a minor extent. And that its market share in the homebrew community has been slashed after the release of GP2X.
-=== Card games ===
-While not very popular on [[handheld game console]]s, card games such as ''[[Texas Hold 'Em]]'', ''[[Blackjack]]'', and ''[[Solitaire]]'' are extremely popular on cellphones and PDAs.
-=== Strategy games ===
-''[[Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'', a [[tactical role-playing game]] (RPG), and the ''[[Advance Wars]]'' series are examples of strategy games that have shown popularity for the genre on handhelds. Other games such as ''[[Luminous Arc]]'', ''[[Heroes of Mana]]'', and ''[[Age of Empires: The Age of Kings]]'' popularized strategy games for handhelds even further on the [[Nintendo DS]] thanks to its touch screen interface.
-== Features unique to handheld gaming ==
-=== Linking to other handhelds ===
-Most handheld systems can link to others of the same type via a cable that connects two or more handhelds, usually to a maximum of 4. This feature allows both multiplayer gaming and other uses such as item or data transfer between cartridges. The [[Atari Lynx]] supported connectivity for up to 17 units at once.
-The [[Game Boy Color]] introduced wireless multiplayer to handhelds with its [[infrared]] port. The [[N-Gage (device)|N-Gage]] introduced wireless connectivity via [[Bluetooth]], allowing multiplayer games between handhelds with no cable. Wireless gaming was also a feature in the [[Nintendo DS]] and PSP, using the [[Wi-Fi]] standard.
-=== Linking to home consoles ===
-Nintendo's [[Transfer Pak]] allows transfer of data from compatible Game Boy cartridges to their [[Nintendo 64]] counterparts: e.g. allowing Pokémon from the Game Boy game to be used in ''[[Pokémon Stadium]]'' for the N64. Similarly, the Game Boy Advance can be linked to the [[Nintendo GameCube]] with the [[Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance cable]], which allows the GBA to be used as an extra controller with a second screen. The [[Nintendo DS]] can wirelessly link with the [[Wii]] console. Likewise, the [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] can connect wirelessly to the [[PlayStation 3]] and to the PS2, but only with a cable.
-The Neo Geo Pocket Color can connect to the Dreamcast via cable to unlock secret characters in specific games.
-=== Multi-tasking ===
-On non-dedicated gaming platforms, such as Cellphones, it is important for the game running to not be the highest priority of the hardware/software system. On these devices, the operating system will interrupt the gaming session with something like an incoming call, a scheduling alert, a low-battery warning, etc.
-== Availability ==
-=== Gaming platforms ===
-As with traditional video game systems, there are [[dedicated console|dedicated]] and [[video game console|console]] systems. Dedicated handheld video games have a specific set of software are almost always bundled with the hardware unit. However, the release of the [[GP2X]] has blurred the difference between "dedicated" and "handheld" since high-capacity user-rewritable solid state [[memory card]]s (e.g. [[Secure Digital card|SD]] card) can store [[ROM image]]s to emulate on [[emulator]]s ported to the GP2X and that TV-out can be done with the GP2X.
-Two subsets of handheld game consoles exist: re-engineered portable versions of a set-top console that are compatible with extant cartridges, or new systems and platforms that are exclusively designed and use portable media types.
-The [[Sega Nomad]], the [[Psone|PSone]], and the [[Turbo Express]] are good examples of re-engineered portable systems, however the PSone is only semi-portable (i.e. cannot fit in your pocket). The [[Game Boy Advance]], the [[Sega Game Gear]], and [[Neo Geo Pocket]] are examples of entirely created platforms. However, the [[Game Boy Advance]] was built largely upon the Super Nintendo system architecture and that the [[Sega Game Gear]] is a retooled version of the [[Sega Master System]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}  The [[GP2X]] on the other hand, emulates popular consoles entirely through software and connects to the TV for unsurpassed versatility as a handheld/console.
-=== Multipurpose gaming platforms ===
-With the increasing convergence of electronic peripherals made possible by rapid technology advancements, handheld video games are now available on a wide variety of platforms, not just exclusive gaming ones. PDAs, although not a gaming platform, had many games, ports or exclusively designed, for the devices. All modern cellphones include and run gaming software, usually [[Java (programming language)|Java]] or [[Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless]] (BREW) based. [[Graphing calculator]] gaming is popular among college and high school students. The popular Apple [[iPod]] mp3 player includes several bundled games, allows users to download new games from the [[iTunes Store]], and clever enthusiasts have been modifying the software to allow for further gaming uses. Apple's [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]] along with the [[iOS SDK]], has created a much larger market for gaming on [[iOS]], the common operating system for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.  Game publisher and developer companies such as [[Tapulous]] and [[Ngmoco]] have created their themselves with the specific focus of gaming on the platform.  Some mp3 players that do not play games out of the box could be made to do so by installing [[Rockbox]] or other alternative firmware. Even some watches, such as the [[Timex Datalink]] can play games. The website ''It Plays Doom''<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070320131602/http://www.itplaysdoom.com/ It Plays Doom]</ref> (now no longer online; link goes to an archived page) was dedicated to listing all the portable devices then able to play the popular [[first person shooter]]; this ever-growing list includes PDAs, [[digital camera]]s, and cellphones.
-== See also ==
-* [[Comparison of handheld gaming consoles]]
-* [[Calculator gaming]]
-== References ==
-<references />
-[[Category:Handheld video games]]
-[[Category:Handheld game consoles]]
-[[Category:Mobile software]]
-[[Category:Video game platforms]]
-[[Category:Video game terminology]]