Features

The Game Boy's main controls for playing games are located on the lower half of its front frame.The Game Boy has four operation buttons labeled "A", "B", "SELECT", and "START" as well as a directional pad. The functions of these buttons vary from game to game.[5]There is a volume control dial on the right side of the console and a similar knob to adjust the contrast on the left side.[6]A sliding on-off switch, as well as the slot for the Game Boy cartridges are located at the top of the Game Boy[7]Normally, users leave the cartridge in the system as recommended by Nintendo to prevent dust and dirt from entering the system.[8] The right side of the Game Boy, showing the volume control and the link cable port. A Red Game Boy with the Game Genie in it with the Tetris cartridge. The Game Boy also contains the following optional input/output connectors.On the left side of the system is an external power supply jack that allows users to use a rechargeable battery pack instead of batteries; the rechargeable battery pack, which included a power adapter, was sold separately.[9]Separate editions of the battery pack were made for 110V and 230V countries.The Game Boy requires 6V DC of at least 250mA.[10]Finally, a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack is located on the bottom side of the console which allows users to listen to the sounds from the system without anyone else listening to it.[11]On the right side is an external connector port that allows a user to connect to another Game Boy system via a link cable, provided both users are playing the same game.[12]The port can also be used to connect a Game Boy Printer.[citation needed]The link cable was originally designed for players to play head–to–head two–player games such as in Tetris. However, game developer Satoshi Tajiri would later use the link cable technology as a method of communication and networking in the popular Pokémon video game series including Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon Gold and Silver.[13]