My wife found her old Game & Watch that she was given one Christmas a few weeks back and before I could take a photo of it we have managed to lose it again.

I suppose we could buy this one from eBay for a mere £845 or perhaps find a less stellar example and pick up one of these. We will, however, find hers again and put some batteries in it to relive those glory days when the Game & Watch devices were an amazing thing to show off to your school mates.

It isn’t sentimentality that makes me so fond of these devices, but more the gameplay and the frantic nature as you progress further through the levels. I like the use of static colour artefacts on the displays to offer a sense of depth in a time when it wasn’t really possible and the overall design of the hardware.

Trying to describe the experience is not easy, but I am fairly certain that it would still be a fun ride so many years later if I can manage to find it again.

What does AI have to say about this brilliant series of games?

The Game & Watch: Nintendo’s Handheld Pioneer

Before the Nintendo Game Boy revolutionized handheld gaming, there was the Game & Watch series, a groundbreaking line of portable gaming devices that laid the foundation for both handheld gaming consoles and the multi-billion-dollar mobile gaming industry. Released by Nintendo between 1980 and 1991, the Game & Watch series not only provided a new form of entertainment on the go but also introduced innovations that have shaped gaming technology ever since.

A Visionary Concept: The Origins of Game & Watch

The brainchild of Nintendo game designer Gunpei Yokoi, the idea for the Game & Watch came from a simple observation. Yokoi noticed a bored businessman fiddling with a pocket calculator on a train and saw potential for portable entertainment in a similar format. His vision was to create a device that combined a watch with simple gaming, hence the name “Game & Watch.”

The first device, released in 1980, was Ball, a simple yet addictive juggling game. The screen featured black-and-white LCD graphics, and the gameplay consisted of moving a pair of hands to keep balls in the air. Though rudimentary, it was a smash hit and set the stage for future devices.

Features and Design

Game & Watch devices were compact and designed to fit comfortably in a pocket, making them extremely portable. Each unit was dedicated to a single game, which was displayed on an LCD screen. The simplicity of the graphics did not detract from the engaging gameplay, and in many ways, it added to the charm of these devices.

In addition to the game, each unit also had a clock and an alarm function, making it a practical tool as well as an entertainment device. This dual functionality appealed to both gamers and those who were looking for something novel yet useful.

The D-pad (directional pad), one of the most important innovations in gaming history, was first introduced on the Game & Watch version of Donkey Kong in 1982. This control scheme would go on to become a standard feature in video game consoles and controllers, including the Game Boy and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Game & Watch Series: A Variety of Themes

Over the span of its production, Nintendo released 59 different Game & Watch models, each with a unique game. The series can be categorized into various “series,” including the Silver, Gold, Wide Screen, Multi Screen, New Wide Screen, Tabletop, Panorama Screen, and Super Color models. These models evolved both in terms of hardware and game complexity, as Nintendo experimented with new designs and gameplay ideas.

1. Silver Series (1980): These were the first Game & Watch models, including games like Ball and Flagman. The graphics were simple black-and-white LCDs, but the devices were highly durable and easy to use.
2. Gold and Wide Screen Series (1981–1982): These devices improved the visual design, offering a broader screen and more elaborate casing. Popular games like Parachute and Turtle Bridge came from these series.
3. Multi Screen Series (1982–1989): Perhaps the most iconic series, the Multi Screen models featured two screens that opened like a clamshell, prefiguring the design of the Nintendo DS decades later. The most famous game from this series is Donkey Kong, which also introduced the D-pad.
4. Panorama and Tabletop Series (1983–1984): Nintendo experimented with color LCD and LED displays. The Panorama series featured reflective, transparent screens that used external light sources for illumination, creating a colorful gaming experience without the need for a backlight. Tabletop versions had larger screens and were more akin to mini arcade machines.
5. Super Color Series (1984): These devices offered more complex and colorful graphics, further enhancing the visual appeal of Game & Watch games.

Popular Titles

While each Game & Watch device offered only one game, some titles became particularly beloved and have since gained legendary status:

• Donkey Kong (1982): The first handheld adaptation of the arcade hit, this game introduced the D-pad and was a major step forward in terms of game complexity. Players controlled Mario as he tried to rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong by climbing platforms and avoiding obstacles.
• Mario Bros. (1983): This Multi Screen game required players to control both Mario and Luigi as they worked in a factory, transferring crates between conveyor belts. It showcased the creative potential of the Multi Screen format.
• Zelda (1989): Based on the popular console series, this game featured dungeon exploration and combat on two screens, giving a taste of the deeper gameplay experiences that would later define handheld gaming.
• Octopus (1981) and Fire (1980): These games were simple but addictive, requiring quick reflexes and precise timing, two hallmarks of classic Game & Watch gameplay.

Impact on Gaming

The Game & Watch series was revolutionary in several ways. First, it proved that portable gaming was viable, paving the way for future handheld systems like the Nintendo Game Boy and, more recently, the Nintendo Switch. It also helped establish Nintendo’s reputation for creating highly engaging and innovative gaming experiences.

The introduction of the D-pad on the Donkey Kong Game & Watch model became a critical innovation, as it provided a simple and intuitive way to control games with directional inputs. This control scheme became a fundamental part of all future gaming controllers, influencing the design of everything from the NES controller to modern PlayStation and Xbox gamepads.

Game & Watch also established Nintendo’s dominance in the handheld market, long before competitors like Sega and Sony entered the fray. Its success allowed Nintendo to invest further in handheld development, leading to the creation of the Game Boy in 1989—a device that would take handheld gaming to new heights.

Legacy

Although production of the Game & Watch series ended in 1991, its legacy is deeply embedded in the history of gaming. In recent years, Nintendo has paid homage to the series through various means. The Game & Watch Collection was released for the Nintendo DS, and several titles were included as unlockables in the Super Smash Bros. series. In 2020, Nintendo celebrated the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. by releasing a new Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros., featuring the classic Mario game alongside a digital clock and updated hardware.

The Game & Watch series stands as a testament to the power of simple design and creative thinking. Its influence on portable gaming, hardware innovation, and Nintendo’s overall philosophy toward gaming can still be seen today, making it a foundational piece of video game history.

Categories: Articles, Gaming, Retro