Gaming History You Should Know – The Game Boy Color Cellular Adapter August 25, 2019
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It’s no secret more advanced features regularly made their way into Nintendo hardware in its home country of Japan, be it rewritable floppy disk support for the NES or Satellite game streaming for the Super Nintendo. Today, on Gaming History You Should Know, we want to focus on one specific peripheral that BADLY needed to come to the US, cellular online multiplayer gaming. In the very early 2000s, prices for portable telephones and cellular services were becoming affordable to the mainstream and moved the devices from an expensive niche for rich businessmen to a tool that everyone NEEDED to stay in constant communication wherever they were.
That said, other than make calls, provide simple numerical calculations, and sending very limited text messaging, there wasn’t much you could do with a cell phone at that time. The best a basic cell phone could do was play the Snake game to amuse its owner for a brief time. In a world where the Game Boy had existed for a decade and Pokémon was already perched to become the biggest gaming phenomena of all time, while PC gamers could already play online multiplayer from their computers and laptops, these limitations were inexcusable.
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, Pokémon was the best portable game of all time. Every main game from that franchise made use of the best features of the Game Boy handheld, and Game Freak would continue to evolve their games to take the best advantage they could out of each new hardware generation. However, at its initial games’ launch in the early 90s, the game’s multiplayer features could only be done through local play, and it required one player to own a Link Cable. How much better would these games be if I could play them online? With online support in Pokémon I could not only play against anyone at any time, it would allow for game updates or even free goodies straight from Nintendo without ever having to step foot in a retail store!
Since the time of the Nintendo DS launch, we’ve have all of these features as a standard in every Pokémon game and that tradition continues to this day. But would it surprise you to know that these features were available in Pokémon games as far back as Pokémon Crystal for the Game Boy Color? You might not have known about it because truth be told, it was a feature that was only offered in Japan. Enter the Mobile Game Boy Adapter!
The Mobile GB Adapter was a Game Boy Color peripheral that allowed its user to connect their cellular phone to the Game Boy Color’s I’ve been waiting a long time for someone to produce a detailed breakdown of this peripheral so I could feature it on this website. Enter Retro Ali, who has a fantastic YouTube channel full of great retro Nintendo gaming videos. She did a fantastic look at this peripheral, what games supported it and how.
As far as I know, the Pokémon Crystal Celebi challenge that made use of this adapter was never brought to the US Game Boy Color version. That said, I heard it was ported to the Virtual Console version of Pokémon Crystal when it was finally re-released on the Nintendo 3DS. It’s still a shame the US never received this ability.
Pokémon Crystal is out now for the Game Boy Color and Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console.
Control is Getting a Poets of the Fall Song August 23, 2019
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Remedy has featured the music from the band Poets of the Fall since the incredible song “The Late Goodbye” for Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. In fact, one of the first videos I ever edited for online distribution was a music video for that very song that included footage from Max Payne 2. They would go on to perform as the Old Gods of Asgard in the game Alan Wake where their music would even make for a big plot point.
Sadly, we did not see Remedy and Poets of the Fall team up again for the Xbox One/PC game Quantum Break, but now it has been confirmed Remedy’s latest game, Control, will see a return to that tradition. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sam Lake.
The new album that features songs included in Control is called Ultraviolet and can be purchased right now through various music services including iTunes.
Control is coming August 27th, 2019 to PC, Xbox One and PS4.
Jirachi Added to Pokemon Go August 21, 2019
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The Mythical Pokemon Jirachi, which originally appeared as a Generation 3 Pokemon that could only be obtained through special means, has now been made available to Pokémon Go players through Special Field research. By completing various in-game quests, it’ll bring you closer to an encounter with the GEN3 mythical made famous in the animated Pokémon film, Jirachi Wish Maker.
This special line of research tasks has been done in the past to capture the Mythical Mew and Celebi. Here’s a look at the first set of quests you’ll need to complete.
If I may make one criticism about this quest line it is this. I’m fine with doing things like spinning PokéStops and capturing random Pokémon but seriously, by the time Niantic puts an end to demanding their players make new friends, it will probably require friending everyone on the planet with a smartphone.
Pokémon Go is out now for Android and iOS Smartphones and Tablets
Shenmue III – A Day in Shenmue Trailer August 21, 2019
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After a successful crowdfunding campaign and many years in development, the release of Shenmue III is upon us. One of the most important things most people remember from the previous games in the series is the interactivity of the game world around them, a feature that would go on to become the bedrock of open world games. This video, released during Gamescom 2019 shows us what a day in the game could look like. Minigames are back, people!
Shenmue III is coming November 2019 to the PC and PS4.
Gears POP! Gamescom 2019 Trailer August 20, 2019
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This cute little trailer was shown at Gamescom 2019 and promises to be the first of many digital shorts focused on the upcoming game Gears POP! Take a look!
Gears POP! is coming to Smartphones and Tablets August 22nd, 2019.
Control Launch Trailer August 20, 2019
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Its been a long time coming but we are nearly ready to start our fight against the Hiss. Remedy has just released the launch trailer for Control in anticipation of Gamescom 2019. If you’re on the fence about this game, take a look.
Control is coming August 27th, 2019 for the PC, Xbox One and PS4.
Pokemon Sword and Shield Gamescom 2019 Trailer August 20, 2019
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Gamescom 2019 is upon us and Nintendo UK has released a new trailer for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. This new trailer shows off some of the starting town. You will see what is offered in the new towns including the shops and some ways to get from town to town. Take a look and see for yourselves!
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are coming November 2019 exclusively to the Nintendo Switch.
Marvel’s Avengers Gamescom 2019 Prologue Gameplay August 20, 2019
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After its initial reveal at E3 2019, we have been waiting in anticipation for any new footage from Marvel’s Avengers. Today, I’m happy to reveal the first official gameplay footage from the game fresh from Gamescom 2019. This footage is from the game’s prologue mission and features gameplay from Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America and Black Widow. Oh and did I mention all of this footage is in glorious 4K? Enjoy!
Marvel’s Avengers is coming May 15th, 2020 to PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One
Gears 5 – Gamescom 2019 Story Trailer August 19, 2019
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We are days away from the release of Gears 5 for the Xbox and we finally have a closer look at the game’s story, starring the character of Kait. Turn up your system resolutions because this one is in glorious 4K!
Not enough Gears gaming? How about some Halo in your Gears? Microsoft has just revealed Noble Team’s character skins from Halo: Reach will be obtainable in Gears 5 if you happen to be a Game Pass Ultimate or Gears 5: Ultimate Edition owner! Take a look at them in action for yourselves!
Gears 5 is coming September 2019 to PC and Xbox One.
Control Ray-Tracing Gamescom 2019 Trailer August 19, 2019
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We’re less than a few days away from the pending release of Control. Control is a game developed by Remedy, the creators of Max Payne, Alan Wake, and Quantum Break, and like many of the games Remedy developed previously, will be pushing the PC’s capabilities to its utmost limit.
Here’s a look at the game from Nvidia’s Gamescom 2019 show. Everything you’re about to see is done on PC with native Ray-Tracing.
Maybe it’s time I finally considered buying a new top of the line GPU…
Control is coming to PC (through the Epic Games Store), Xbox One and PS4.
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