The portable console of the 90s was undoubtedly the Gameboy from Nintendo. This console enjoyed commercial success, particularly with the arrival of the Pokémon game saga, which revitalized its sales. In addition, it is the console with the most accessories and peripherals of the story, and we will tell you the rarer and some even disturbing.
Many of us had childhoods that combined playing soccer or the like in the park with playing Pokémon Red and Blue on the Game Boy. In addition, we could compete against each other thanks to the Game Link cable, a Nintendo genius that the Pokémon games exploited very well.
What is very interesting about the Game Boy is that it had the capacity to integrate a large number of additional accessories. The most “common” was a printer, camera or flashlight for playing at night, due to lack of backlight. But there were others much more extravagant, some of which would be completely inaccurate today and one particularly worrying.
Glucoboy
This add-on was created for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, it was undoubtedly very interesting. This is a device for diabetic children that was used to monitor blood sugar levels. As you use it, different mini-games are unlocked.
You should know that this device did not last long on the market. It wasn’t a bad product, the problem was that Bayer bought the game, the patent and removed it from the market. No explanation has been given for this, but it could clearly have to do with the money they could lose on this game.
Pocket sonar
In Japan, fishing is more than just a leisure activity, it is more of an activity of worship and culture. Nintendo, for the original Game Boy, released the Pocket Sonar device to the Japanese market. It’s nothing more than a small sonar that sends pulses, allowing you to see what’s around you.
It was a device, as you might imagine, designed to help little ones fish. Its operation was simple: you threw the device into the water and you could see if there were fish nearby. Theoretically, this device facilitated the task of fishing, finding the most ideal place for this practice.
Sewing machine
Now let’s move on to a device that, if launched on the market today, would spark bitter controversy. The sewing machine is a special sewing machine connected to the Game Boy. It had a lot of different designs and options, designed for young people and adults who want to sew.
It is possible that this device was not developed today. Had it been created, it surely would have quickly been labeled sexist and perpetuated gender roles.
Work boy
The Game Boy is a console born from Game & Watch. The latter, in turn, was Gumpei Yokoi’s idea when he came home from work and saw a man in a suit playing with his digital calculator. Well, the WorkBoy turns the console into a sort of PDA, closing the loop of sorts.
This curious device has transformed the game console into an electronic diary. It had calendar, calculator, and even currency converter functions. The shame of this solution is that it was never officially launched on the market, it remained rather a prototype.
PédiSédate
Without a doubt, it is the most worrying complement to the Game Boy or any console that one can imagine. This device was developed to help children fall asleep more calmly. It was connected to the console and as the child played, the device released the sedative the child inhaled.
It should be noted that this disconcerting device was never put on sale, it was only a prototype. How many units were created for demonstration purposes and what happened to them is completely unknown.
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