Nintendo’s Game Boy is the first and least expensive of the lot, often selling for under $80, but it offers only a black and white screen. Atari’s Lynx costs twice as much, but offers color and better sound. NEC’s offering will cost more than $200, but will have faster action, better colors and a “backlit” screen–meaning you can play it in the dark.
Unlike earlier versions of pocket games, which could play but a single game, all of the new handhelds use interchangeable cartridges that contain games on paper-thin chips. (Last week Atari introduced nine new games for the Lynx, including Slime World.) Analysts are divided on whether parents will spring for the higher-priced handhelds, but predict that a Yuppie market may emerge. No more Wall Street Journal on the morning commute: now it’s the Mario Brothers. That’s progress.
