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Why the Game & Watch series is great is that it is the first truly portable console in the history of video games. Game & Watch is compact and durable, with a built-in button battery that lasts a long time before you need to replace it. Nintendo used old LCD technology to create such compelling gaming experiences, most of which are still superior by today's standards.
Of course, the success of Game & Watch may have been a product of The Times, but at the time yokoi came up with an idea that still influences nintendo's hardware design philosophy -- the horizontal thinking of mature technology. In essence, the horizontal thinking of the mature technology is to use the very mature old technology on the brand new hardware. When developing Game & Watch, the LCD screen technology has already been quite mature and the cost is very low. Using the LCD screen on Game & Watch can reduce the cost and selling price to the greatest extent. While some inside nintendo wanted to equip Game & Watch with advanced technology, advanced technology also meant increased power consumption and costs. It was Mr Yokoi's firm opposition to this idea that was the key to Game & Watch's ultimate success.
The concept of thinking on the level of mature technology was once again applied by junping yokoi in the r&d process of Game Boy. One of the most important aspects of hardware design is the way you power this tiny piece of hardware. On Game & Watch, junhei yokokai chose button batteries commonly used in electronic watches and calculators. The small size can be easily loaded into the machine without increasing the weight and reducing the portability. Moreover, most importantly, it is affordable and has excellent battery life.
