atari2600land's Blog - Why didn't the Game Gear win the handheld wa

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I was thinking yesterday about Game Boy games. I thought "These games would be better if they had color." The Game Gear has color. And it had games hardcore gamer kids would like. So that left me wondering. Why didn't Game Gear beat the Game Boy? It can't be because of Tetris. Tetris is just one game. Sega had Sonic. To counter, Nintendo had Mario. But the first Mario Land game was barfy and had little resemblance to Mario. The second Mario game was better, but again, no color. While all the time, Sega's Sonic games were good, and in color. And is it really because of the battery time? I guess it might be, but that could be solved by plugging your Game Gear into an outlet. But, while I guess you'd have to be inside, it would beat having to lug around a Genesis if, say, you wanted to go to the beach and while in the hotel room play video games. I'm trying to think why I had a Game Boy instead of a Game Gear. It can't be the name, both Nintendo and Sega had fine, reputable meanings as "video game companies" at that point. Is it truly because Sega's Game Gear needed to be recapped? I have had a Game Gear for a few years and it still plays great *knock on wood*. Another thing you have to wonder is why did Nintendo wait until 1998 to make a Game Boy Color? Was it because the Game Boy was doing fine? I didn't get my Game Boy until 1994 or so. Or at least I don't remember one before then. Which places me at about 11 years old. I guess it's just one of those mysteries of the universe no one can explain, unless I'm missing something.

http://atariage.com/forums/blog/168/entry-13865-why-didnt-the-game-gear-win-the-handheld-wars/