Game Boy Game Pak

Game Boy Game Pak is the brand name of the ROM cartridges used to store video game data for the Game Boy family of handheld video game consoles, part of Nintendo's line of Game Pak cartridges. Early Game Boy games were limited to 32 kilobytes (KB) of read-only memory (ROM) storage due to the system's 8-bit architecture. Nintendo later incorporated a memory bank controller into cartridges to allow for more storage by switching between ROM banks. This change allowed Game Paks to reach 8 megabytes (MB) of storage, allowing for more complex games.

In addition to ROM, cartridges could also include random-access memory (RAM) chips that could be used for increased performance or to save game progress. A battery in the cartridge would keep the RAM powered when the Game Boy was off. Later cartridges could also include real-time clock functionality that could keep track of time even when the device was off or a Rumble Pak to add vibration feedback to enhance gameplay.

Game Paks for the Game Boy Advance, which uses a 32-bit architecture, could accommodate up to 32 MB of game ROM. The Game Boy Advance was the last major handheld device to use cartridges as its primary storage format. Later systems, like the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, use game cards, which are similar to SD cards.

Original and Color


The Game Boy Game Pak cartridges store the game's code and data using ROM chips. However, the original Game Boy's 8-bit architecture limited the CPU's access to just 32 KB of ROM at a time, restricting early games to this size.

Nintendo overcame this limitation with a chip called the memory bank controller (MBC) placed within the cartridge. A similar solution had been by previously used on the Nintendo Entertainment System Game Pak. The MBC chip acts like a traffic controller, switching between multiple banks of 32 KB each. Using this technology, Nintendo was able to create cartridges that used up to 8 MB of ROM, vastly expanding game size and complexity.

Some Game Boy cartridges included random-access memory (RAM) to increase the device's performance and allow game progress to be saved. This memory typically came in the form of an 8 KB EEPROM chip, a 32 KB SRAM chip, or later, a 128 KB flash memory chip. SRAM chips required a battery to retain data when the Game Boy was powered off. These batteries had a limited lifespan and needed to be desoldered for replacement. The SRAM chips were later phased out in favor of the flash memory chips, which can store data without the need for a battery. Later revisions introduced even more functionality. Real-time clock capabilities kept track of time using a crystal oscillator. Rumble Pak cartridges added vibration feedback to enhance gameplay.

The standard cartridge measured 5.8 cm wide and 6.5 cm high. However, some games, such as the Game Boy Camera, boasted custom-designed, larger casings to accommodate special features. On the original Game Boy a plastic tab slid across into a notch at the top of the cartridge when the console was powered on. To save space, this locking mechanism was removed from all subsequent devices. The notch was not present on Game Boy Color Game Paks to prevent them from being used in the original Game Boy. If these Game Boy Color Game Paks were inserted into a Game Boy Pocket or Light, an error message would be shown on the screen.

Advance
The Game Boy Advance used a significantly shorter standard cartridge design at 3.5 cm high. The top of the cartridge was wider at 6 cm wide to prevent insertion into older Game Boy devices, but the bottom retained the same width of 5.8 cm.

The Game Boy Advance Game Pak could accommodate up to 32 MB of game ROM, although special Game Boy Advance Video cartridges could hold 64 MB of video on ROM.

Cartridges could also include RAM, however these were mostly used to save game progress and not to increase the device's performance. This memory typically came in the form of an 4 or 64 KB EEPROM chip, a 256 or 512 KB SRAM chip, or later, a 512 KB or 1 MB flash memory chip. SRAM chips required a battery to retain data when the Game Boy was powered off. These batteries had a limited lifespan and needed to be desoldered for replacement.

Game Boy Advance cartridges included notches on the cartridge's corners. When inserted into a Game Boy Advance, these notches avoid pressing a switch (called a shape detector) within the slot, allowing the device to boot into its native mode. When an older Game Boy cartridge was inserted, this switch would be pressed, triggering the device to boot into its backward compatibility mode.

The Nintendo DS retains backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance cartridges but not older Game Boy games. To accomplish this, the button was replaced with a solid piece of plastic, preventing older Game Boy cartridges from fully inserting.

Types
Excluding game-specific variations, there are four types of cartridges compatible with Game Boy systems:

Original Game Boy Game Pak


The original Game Boy Game Pak (also known as class A or grey cartridges) is compatible with all Game Boy systems, excluding Game Boy Micro. All original Game Boy games are of this type. The games on these cartridges are programmed in monochrome (using four shades of grey or green).

When these games are played on the Game Boy Color and subsequent systems, the device applies a limited color palette (typically dark green) using four to ten colors to enhance games originally intended to be presented in four shades of gray. Many games were programmed to call for a default color palette. However, for games without a default, users could choose from 12 different palettes using button combinations. A dedicated palette option replicates the original Game Boy's grayscale experience.

Additionally, a limited number of cartridges released between 1994 and 1998 feature enhancements compatible with the Super Game Boy.

Although most original Game Boy Game Paks were encased in grey plastic, some used special colors that match the game's theme, including notably, Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow and the Donkey Kong Land series, which utilized yellow cartridges.

Color-enhanced Game Boy Game Pak


The color-enhanced Game Boy Game Pak (also known as class B, dual mode, or black cartridges) improved the gameplay experience on the Game Boy Color and subsequent systems while maintaining compatibility with older monochrome devices.

These cartridges can use the full color capabilities of the Game Boy Color and subsequent systems, displaying up to 56 colors simultaneously out of a palette of 32,768 while use up to 56 colors out of a palette of 32,000 while remaining compatible with the original Game Boy where they were presented in four shades of gray. However, this compatibility comes at the expense of not being able to utilize the handheld's increased processing speed and memory.

Some color-enhanced games, like Wario Land II and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX were colorized re-releases of originally monochrome games, however, Nintendo insisted that developers include gameplay enhancements (beyond simply adding color) to differentiate the games from their monochrome counterparts. Some color-enhanced cartridges also boasted features later seen in clear cartridges, such as the Rumble Pak in Pokémon Pinball and infrared communications in Robopon Sun, Star, and Moon Versions.

Although most color-enhanced Game Boy Game Paks were encased in black plastic, some used special colors that matched the game's theme, including notably Pokémon Yellow and Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Game Boy Color Game Pak
The Game Boy Color Game Pak (also known as class C or clear cartridges) introduced unique features for players on the Game Boy Color and subsequent systems. They boast a wider color range (up to 56 colors) and benefit from the increased processing speed and memory introduced with the Game Boy Color. Because of this reliance on the newer hardware, these games are incompatible with the older monochrome Game Boy models.

Certain cartridges also had additional features to enhance gameplay, including rumble feedback, utilized in Perfect Dark, and tilt sensors, employed in Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble.

Most original Game Boy Game Paks were encased in translucent plastic, but similar to previous generations, some were released in special colors that match the game's theme, like Pokémon Crystal.

Game Boy Advance Game Pak
The Game Boy Advance Game Pak (also known as class D cartridges) is half the size of all earlier cartridges and is compatible with Game Boy Advance and later systems, including the Nintendo DS.

Some Advance cartridges have built-in features, including rumble features (Drill Dozer), tilt sensors (WarioWare: Twisted!, Yoshi's Universal Gravitation) and solar sensors (Boktai).

Although most Game Boy Advance Game Paks were encased in dark grey plastic, some used special colors that matched the game's theme, including notably Pokémon Emerald.