WonderSwan

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WonderSwan

Manufacturer	Bandai
Type	Handheld game console
Generation	Sixth generation era
First available	1999
CPU	NEC V30 MZ
Media	Cartridges

WonderSwan is a handheld game console released in Japan by Bandai in 1999. It was developed by the late Gunpei Yokoi's company Koto and Bandai. The WonderSwan was made to compete with the Neo-Geo Pocket Color and the market leader Nintendo's Game Boy Color (even though the developer for the WonderSwan, Gunpei Yokoi, developed the original Nintendo Game Boy).

The WonderSwan was later replaced by the WonderSwan Color. Although some WonderSwan Color games are compatible with the original WonderSwan, many are designed exclusively for the WonderSwan Color and show a message such as "This cartridge is for WonderSwan Color only" when run on the original WonderSwan.

The WonderSwan was available in ten case colors, playable both vertically and horizontally, and features a fairly large library of games. As it was a console designed essentially for the Japanese market, most of the games are in Japanese, with only a few featuring English text.

[edit] Technical specifications

CPU: 16-bit NEC V30 MZ processor at 3.072 MHz
Screen: FSTN reflective LCD
- Resolution: 224 x 144 pixels
- 2.49 inch diagonal
Display performance: Max. 512 characters per layer, max. 128 sprites (32 on one horizontal line), two screens (overlay possible), screen windows and sprite windows.
Graphics: 8-shade monochrome in the dot matrix section and six icons at the static section.
Audio:
- 4-channel digital stereo sound.
- Built-in mono speaker or optional headphones with stereo adapter.
Size: 74.3 mm x 121 mm x 24.3 mm
Weight: 93g (without battery) 110g (with battery)
Power: 1 AA battery or rechargeable pack, ~30-40 hours playtime
Connecting Ports: Link Port, Stereo Jack & cartridge port
Cartridge Capacity: ROM and/or RAM - maximum 128Mbit (like Beat Mania)
Features:

Can be played holding the unit vertically or horizontally.

Built-in EEPROM and 1Kbit RAM for backing up game data.

Several levels of energy-saving control.

[edit] See also

Early units
Handheld game consoles
See Microvision and Handheld electronic games
Nintendo handhelds
Game & Watch \| Game Boy (Pocket \| Light) \| Game Boy Color \| Game Boy Advance (SP \| Micro) \| Nintendo DS (Lite)
Bandai handhelds
WonderSwan \| WonderSwan Color \| SwanCrystal
GamePark/Holdings handhelds
GP32 \| GP2X \| XGP \| XGP Mini \| XGP Kids
SNK handhelds
Neo Geo Pocket \| Neo Geo Pocket Color
Sega handhelds
Game Gear \| Nomad \| Mega Jet
Sony handhelds
PocketStation \| PlayStation Portable
Other handhelds
Atari Lynx \| Gamate \| Watara Supervision \| Game.com \| Gizmondo \| N-Gage \| TurboExpress \| Pepper Pad \| GameKing \| iRiver G10
Comparison