The Nintendo Game Link Cable (Japanese: ゲームボーイ専用通信ケーブル, romanized: Gēmubōi sen'yō tsūshin kēburu, lit. 'Game Boy dedicated communication cable') is an accessory for the Game Boy line of handheld video game systems, allowing players to connect Game Boys of all types for multiplayer gaming. Depending on the games, a Game Link Cable can be used to link two games of the same title, like Tetris, or two compatible games like Pokémon Red and Blue. Games can be linked for head-to-head competition, cooperative play, trading items, unlocking hidden features, etc.
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Unity is usually a good thing. Usually. There’s synergy between the PSP and the PS3, between the DS and Wii (though not that much outside of Pokemon Battle Revolution), between the XBox 360 and the possibly fifteen Zunes left out in the wild. But here’s where it blossomed: A hunk of wire that connected your GBA or GBASP to a controller port on your Cube. Because of the volatile memory capacity of the GBA, it was possible to use this functionality to download games and applications to the device, and by the end of the sixth console generation a total of fifty-eight games would eventually make use of this connectivity. Animal Crossing just elevated it to a whole new level, with an entire island that could be visited on the Cube, and then maintained on the GBA. This concept of a personal screen proved appealing, as certain games like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles used it as a way for players to manage their own inventories and menus in the context of a multiplayer console RPG, a concept that hadn’t been breached since... well, since Secret of Mana back on the Super NES. Pac-Man Vs., a four-player interpretation of the arcade classic (featuring vocal work by Charles Martinet, the same guy who’s done Mario’s voice since the mid-90’s), allows the Pac-Man player to play a familiar maze on the GBA’s screen, while the 3 human-controlled ghosts on the actual television hunt him down. And, of course, what mention of this link cable would be complete without the TINGLE TUNER. That’s right, take control of everyone’s favorite awkward fey-ish creature and CARPETBOMB HYRULE. WITH LOVE. Of course, the data connection works two ways. The Able Sisters in Animal Crossing are willing to issue you a design application, downloadable to the GBA, that lets you take your ability to make patterns to wherever your muse may be hiding, and then upload those back into your game. Similarly, the Pokemon titles of its generation used the link cable extensively, culminating in Pokemon Box, a monster-management tool for the 3rd generation games. This title was offered only through the real-life Pokemon Center in New York City and through the website of same; used copies currently sell for upwards of $120. (And don’t I wish I had one.) There’s kind of a high barrier to entry - you need the cable, two systems, and appropriate software - but the concept proved successful, so much so that Nintendo’s building an entire system around it.
First generation
The first generation Game Link Cable (model DMG-04) was released alongside the original Game Boy and has "large" connectors on both ends. It can only be used to link two original Game Boy consoles to play Game Link-compatible games, usually denoted by a "Game Link" logo (often read as "Game Boy Video Link") on the packaging and cartridge.
A select few Game Boy games, such as F-1 Race, supported multiplayer modes for up to four players, although this requires the use of up to three additional Game Link cables and the Game Boy Four Player Adapter (model DMG-07).
After the release of the Game Boy Pocket, Nintendo started using a smaller Game Link connector (See "Second generation" below) and released an adaptor called the Game Link Cable Adaptor (model MGB-004) which could be used in conjunction with the original Game Link cable (model DMG-04) to allow an original Game Boy to connect to a Game Boy Pocket/Color.
Second generation
The second generation started with the release of the Game Boy Pocket which used a much smaller Game Link connector than those used on the original Game Boy. Although the pin assignment and basic port shape remained the same, its much smaller size necessitated the release of new Game Link Cables.
The second generation Game Link Cables came in a few varieties, but each serves the same purpose. The first was called the Game Boy Pocket Game Link Cable (model MGB-008), and was designed to be used with the Game Boy Pocket. The MGB-008 was the only Game Link cable to be white in color, and may have only been released in Japan.[citation needed] The MGB-008 features the smaller second generation connectors on both ends, allowing two Game Boy Pockets to link.
The next cable in this generation is called the Universal Game Link Cable (model MGB-010). It features the smaller second generation connector on one end, and the cable splits into both a second generation and first generation connector at the other end (although only one connector at this end can be used at any given time). This link cable was included with the Game Boy Printer in the US and Europe but does not appear to have been available to buy separately.
After the Game Boy Pocket came the Game Boy Light (a backlit Game Boy Pocket only released in Japan), and the Game Boy Color, all share the same link cable port design, and Game Boy Color games and original Game Boy games can both use a second generation cable. Therefore, the Game Boy Color is compatible with the MGB-008 and MGB-010. Despite this, the Game Boy Color did receive its own designated link cable, the Game Boy Color Game Link Cable (model CGB-003), however it was functionally identical to the MGB-008.
Nintendo also released a small adaptor called the Universal Game Link Adapter (model DMG-14) which features a small second generation socket and a first generation plug. The adapter can be used in conjunction with either the MGB-008 or the CGB-003 and features a thin plastic harness allowing it to be clipped on to either cable. In the US and Europe, Nintendo released the CGB-003 and DMG-14 as a set called the Universal Game Link Cable Set. As the set includes both the CGB-003 cable which features the smaller second generation connectors at both ends, plus a removable DMG-14 first generation adapter, it allows the connection of either two Game Boy Pocket/Colors, or one original Game Boy and one Game Boy Pocket/Color.
The Super Game Boy 2 also shares the same smaller style link cable port and therefore uses the same cables and adapters.
Third generation
The third generation started with the release of the Game Boy Advance which was released alongside its own link cable called the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable (model AGB-005). It features yet another new type of link cable port which is used on the Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP and Game Boy Player.
A small hub is included in the middle of the cable, which allows a second Game Link cable to be branched off of the first, and in turn, a third game link cable can be branched off of the second. This provides connections for four consoles in total, meaning games can be played with up to four players. The order in which the cables are connected to one another determines which player is which; the first player always connects through the purple end of a game link cable, and all of the others through the grey ends, due to the design of the plugs and receptacles.[1]
The port design on the third generation is almost identical to the second generation link cable ports except that it adds an extra protrusion on the plug and a notch on the socket to prevent a Game Boy Advance Game Link cable from being inserted into older model Game Boy systems. The almost identical shape of the port allows the Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP and Game Boy Player to accept all the second generation Game Link Cables, but only for backward compatibility between Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. The second generation Game Link cable cannot be used to link Game Boy Advance games, but through an undocumented technique;[2] third generation Game Link Cables can still be used to link Game Boy or Game Boy Color games by using two cables, connecting the purple section of each cable into the other cable's hub, and using the grey ends to connect to each system.
The e-Reader also uses the third generation link cable port, but since it is incompatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, it is not backwards compatible with the second generation Game Link Cable.
Also compatible with Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, and Game Boy Player is the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter (model AGB-015).[3] The adapter allows up to five players to link for multiplayer gaming,[4] although it is capable of linking up to thirty-nine copies of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen in a virtual in-game lobby called the "Union Room".[5] Unlike the AGB-005, the wireless adapter is not compatible with all Game Boy Advance multiplayer games. Only certain games feature specific support for the AGB-015.
Fourth generation
The fourth and last generation Game Link Cable, called the Game Boy Micro Game Link Cable (model OXY-008), was designed specifically for use with the Game Boy Micro. The Game Boy Micro features an even smaller link cable port than the Game Boy Advance, so it too requires its own Game Link Cable. The link cable features a fourth generation connector on each end which allows two Game Boy Micros to link. Alternatively, the Game Boy Micro Game Link cable can be used in conjunction with the Game Boy Micro Converter Connector (model OXY-009) to link one Game Boy Micro and one Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP. Like the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable, the Game Boy Micro Game Link Cable features a link cable port in the middle, used to receive additional cables to connect up to four players at once.
Also compatible with the Game Boy Micro is the Game Boy Micro Wireless Adapter (model OXY-004). The OXY-004 is compatible with all the same games as the AGB-015 and can communicate with the AGB-015 wirelessly to link one or more Game Boy Micros and one or more Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP systems.[6]
Other Link Cables
A Game Link Cable was planned for the Virtual Boy (model VUE-004), though it never came to market.
The Nintendo GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable (model DOL-011) is a link cable that links the GameCube to the Game Boy Advance, the Game Boy Advance SP, the e-Reader, or even a second GameCube via the Game Boy Player. The Game Boy Micro is not compatible due to its different connector. The Wii, however, is compatible with the cable due to the Wii's backwards compatibility with GameCube games and controllers.
References
- ^ "| Nintendo – Customer Service | Game Boy Advance – AGB Link Cable Hookup Help". nintendo.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- ^ "GUIDE: Playing Multiplayer Game Boy/GB Color games on GBA | Nintendo Support Forums". Archived from the original on 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Nintendo Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter Customer Support". Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ M. Wiley (30 January 2004). "Nintendo Wireless Adapter". IGN. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
- ^ "Nintendo.com Games: Pokémon FireRed". Archived from the original on 23 October 2007.
- ^ "GameFAQs: Compatibility FAQ by ArsonWinter". Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
This page was last edited on 25 April 2024, at 11:42