From: savoia@sw.stratus.com (Rick Savoia)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video,alt.games.lynx
Subject: Re: Next generation handhelds
Date: 3 Jan 93 17:46:57 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: watts.sqa.stratus.com

In article <1993Jan1.075155.27799@tc.cornell.edu>, orb@alchemy.tn.cornell.edu (Randolph Turner) writes:
> 
> 
>    I've been following this thread and others relating to the Handheld scene
> and there's a few things that need to be said.
> 
>   First of all, I own a Sega Game Gear and have nothing but good things to
> say about it, so I may be a bit biased (but hopefully that will not detract
> from the points I am about to make).
> 
> 
>   1. The Gameboy is trash.  Let it die.

The Gameboy may not be the best technology going these days
but it does have it's points:

	1.  The Game libraries are more extensive than other
	    handhelds and alot more inexpensive.  
	2.  Most games I've played have taken me a very long time
	    to finish.  If I get a game and can finish it in a few
	    days, it wasn't worth the money I payed for it. (Granted
	    I prefer RPG's which do take a long time to play).
	3.  While it does need light to be played (easily remedied 
	    by a $10 unit to put on the Gameboy), it is still by 
	    far one of the easiest games to see.  I've played the
	    Game Gear in stores and IMHO, it is trash.  The colors
	    are always washed out, I can never what's going on 
	    around the central character, and no matter how I hold it
	    it never gets better.
	4.  The size and battery life of the Gameboy is much better than
	    that of the other units.  One person I talked to had a Lynx
	    and told me that he could only get about 2 hours of solid 
	    playing time before his batteries were too weak to play anymore.
	    On the same flight from Boston to Florida, he could only play
	    his Lynx for 45 minutes while I played with my Gameboy for
	    3 solid hours (2 months later, I'm still using the same 
	    batteries).  Also, the Lynx was HUGE (not exactly my 
	    definition of handheld.  The Gamegear is at least about 
	    the same size as a Gameboy.  Regardless, my Gameboy fits
	    into any of my coat pockets for play anywhere.
> 
>   2. Unless you want to pay twice as much for your handheld (see Turbo
>      Express), you will be saddled with a non-active-matrix LCD Screen which
>      will need to be viewed at a proper angle or you get washout.

	See number 3.
> 
>    3. [Stuff about LCD's deleted]

I'm not sure of the point you are trying to make here.  In one sentence
you are saying that LCD's can't handle what is needed for them to do
and in another you say that LCD screens are sufficient.

> 
> didn't seem to be selling as well.  Maybe a pattern developing?

Probably not.  I must admit that I don't see as many Lynxes
around (Electronics Boutique is the only place around here)
but I don't see to see alot of GameGear stuff either.  Personally,
as much as I like the Gameboy, I can't see it being around
more than a couple of more years either.  The console markets
are getting all the attention these days so unless Nintendo
manages to come out with something new in the handheld 
area, I think they'll eventually just maintain the Gameboy
division until the next handheld upswing and then bring out 
something new.

> Randy

Rick
-- 
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Rick Savoia                     | "I'm just very selective
savoia@watts.sqa.stratus.com    | about the reality 
Rick_Savoia@vos.stratus.com     | I accept" - Calvin
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