Wikipedia

Game Boy Printer

Game Boy Printer
ManufacturerNintendo
Product familyGame Boy line
TypeVideo game accessory, thermal printer
GenerationFourth generation
Release date
Introductory price¥5,800[2]
US$59.95[3]

The Game Boy Printer, known as the Pocket Printer[a] in Japan, is a thermal printer accessory released by Nintendo. It allows users to print special images from over 100 compatible Game Boy and Game Boy Color games onto thermal paper, which can then be applied as stickers. The accessory was designed primarily for use with the Game Boy Camera, which it released alongside in 1998.

Overview

[edit]
The Japanese version, known as the Pocket Printer

The Game Boy Printer was originally designed by Hirokazu Tanaka for use with the Game Boy Camera.[4] It connects to the Game Boy through the system's EXT port, similar to the Game Link Cable. As different Game Boy models feature differently-sized ports, the printer is packaged with a "Universal Game Link Cable" that features multiple connector types.[5] The device is compatible with all Game Boy models except the Game Boy Micro, which uses a different port type and cannot play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.[6]

The printer requires six AA batteries for power.[6] It uses a proprietary 38mm wide thermal paper with adhesive backing, though printed images are only 22mm in width.[2] The printer is only capable of printing monochrome images; to compensate, Nintendo sold paper rolls in multiple colors.[1] New paper rolls were sold at a price of ¥500 in Japan and US$9.95 in the United States, and could print an estimated 100 images each.[2][3] Once printed, the adhesive backing allowed the images to be applied as stickers.[7]

In Japan, a Pokémon-themed version of the printer was released in September 1998 alongside Pokémon Yellow.[8]

Games with Game Boy Printer support

[edit]
Internal components of the Game Boy Printer

The Game Boy Printer was primarily intended to act as a companion to the Game Boy Camera, allowing players to print their photographs.[7] However, multiple other games released between 1998 and 2001 featured support for the Game Boy Printer, allowing players to print their high scores or special unlockable images.[7] The first game to be designed with printer compatibility was Pokémon Yellow, which allowed players to print out any Pokémon's Pokédex entry;[9] this feature would be carried forward to later Pokémon series entries on the system.[6]

The following is a list of 110 games that support the Game Boy Printer, only 35 of which were released outside of Japan.

Some games intended to feature Game Boy Printer support, such as Pokemon Picross and Hello Kitty Pocket Camera, were never released.[49][50] During development of Pokémon Snap (1999), Satoru Iwata experimented with transferring photos to the Game Boy Camera using the Transfer Pak so that they could be printed using the Game Boy Printer; however, the development team found the printer's output quality to be insufficient, and the feature was abandoned in favor of printing stickers through specialized stations at specific retailers.[51]

Legacy

[edit]

Due to the discontinuation of its proprietary printer paper and the impermanence of thermal printing, the Game Boy Printer does not see significant use in the modern day.[1][52] As a result, hobbyists have developed alternate homebrew methods to transfer printer images from the Game Boy to more modern devices.[53]

Some homebrew games developed since the system's discontinuation have featured Game Boy Printer support.[54] The instax mini Link, a printer released by Fujifilm in 2021 which allows images to be printed from a Nintendo Switch, has also drawn comparisons to the Game Boy Printer by the gaming press.[55][56]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Japanese: ポケットプリンタ, Hepburn: Poketto Purinta

References

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  1. ^ a b c Randazzo, Kris (May–June 2021). "Peripheral Vision: Game Boy Printer". Nintendo Force. No. 52. p. 57.
  2. ^ a b c d "ポケットカメラ及びポケットプリンタの概要" [Overview of Pocket Cameras and Pocket Printers]. Nintendo (in Japanese). Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Nintendo: Game Boy Camera". Nintendo. Archived from the original on April 22, 1999. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  4. ^ "Square Enix Music Online :: Hirokazu Tanaka :: Biography". Square Enix Marketing. August 11, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  5. ^ "Game Boy / Pocket / Color". Nintendo of Europe SE. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "Peripheral Vision: Game Boy Printer". Retro Gamer. No. 165. March 2017. pp. 46–47. ISSN 1742-3155.
  7. ^ a b c Kitts, Martin (September 2000). Ball, Andrea (ed.). The Game Boy Companion. Future Publishing. p. 42.
  8. ^ "ポケットプリンタで「ずかん」や 「ボックス」をプリントしてみよう" [Print out "picture books" and "boxes" with a Pocket Printer]. The 64Dream (in Japanese). No. 26. Mainichi Communications. November 1998. p. 121.
  9. ^ Santabarbara, Sebastian (July 9, 2025). "This Gamer Is Taking On The Challenge Of Printing All 151 Pokémon From Pokémon Yellow". Retro Dodo. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  10. ^ Provo, Frank (May 17, 2006). "1942 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  11. ^ "Alice Without Chains". Nintendo Power. No. 136. Nintendo of America. September 2000. p. 116.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl Maeda, Hiroyuki (October 29, 2018). "Chapter 2: Game Boy Software All Catalogue". ゲームボーイパーフェクトカタログ [Game Boy Perfect Catalogue]. Perfect Catalogue (in Japanese). G-Walk [ja]. ISBN 978-4862978226.
  13. ^ Syrox Developments (1999). Asteroids (instruction manual). Activision. p. 26.
  14. ^ a b "If That's Your Bag...". Nintendo Power. No. 135. Nintendo of America. August 2000. p. 90.
  15. ^ 船津稔 (January 19, 2001). "クリーチャーズ、新感覚"宇宙救済ゲーム"「ちっちゃいエイリアン」". Game Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  16. ^ Game Studio (1999). Columns GB Tezuka Osamu Characters (instruction manual). Media Factory. p. 1.
  17. ^ "Disney's Dinosaur". IGN. May 25, 2000. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  18. ^ Schneider, Peer (July 14, 1999). "Tarzan". IGN. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  19. ^ Harris, Craig (22 November 2000). "Donkey Kong Country". IGN. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  20. ^ a b c Kurland, Daniel (May 22, 2022). "10 Game Boy Games That You Had No Idea Used The Game Boy Printer". CBR. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  21. ^ Tose (1998). Fairy Kitty no Kaiun Jiten: Yousei no Kuni no Uranai Shugyou (instruction manual). Imagineer. p. 1.
  22. ^ "Rescue Heroes: Fire Frenzy". IGN. December 2, 2000. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  23. ^ Humphries, Matthew (July 12, 2021). "Game Boy Camera Photos Can Finally Be Transferred to a Smartphone". PCMAG. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  24. ^ "Harvest Moon 2". IGN. November 29, 2000. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  25. ^ "Lords of the Jungle". IGN. July 17, 1999. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  26. ^ "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 116. February 1999. p. 80.
  27. ^ Harris, Craig (September 29, 2000). "Disney's The Little Mermaid II: Pinball Frenzy". IGN. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016.
  28. ^ Provo, Frank (May 11, 2001). "Little Nicky Review". GameSpot. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  29. ^ Conspiracy Entertainment (1999). Logical (instruction manual). Activision. p. 26.
  30. ^ Conspiracy Entertainment (1999). Magical Drop III (instruction manual). Sunsoft. p. 14.
  31. ^ "Mary-Kate and Ashley Pocket Planner". IGN. February 21, 2001. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  32. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA". Nintendo of Europe. October 24, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  33. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA". Nintendo Power. No. 142. Nintendo of America. March 2001. pp. 62–67.
  34. ^ MTO (2000). Nakayoshi Pet Series 1: Kawaii Hamster (instruction manual). MTO. p. 1.
  35. ^ "Mad Catz Camera Link Review". IGN. October 22, 1999. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  36. ^ Harris, Craig (5 September 2000). "Perfect Dark". IGN. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  37. ^ "ポケモンカードGB2 GR団参上！｜ポケットモンスターオフィシャルサイト". ポケットモンスターオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). December 2, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  38. ^ "Pokémon Crystal". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 147. Ziff Davis. October 2001. p. 160.
  39. ^ a b "What's Next?". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 124. Ziff Davis. November 1999. p. 200.
  40. ^ "Pokemon Trading Card Preview". GameSpot. August 15, 2001. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  41. ^ "And The Rest...". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 124. Ziff Davis. November 1999. p. 209.
  42. ^ "GB時代の「ポケモン図鑑」隠し要素が海外掲示板で話題。『ピカチュウ』版の図鑑完成時にもらえる賞状を、外部機器「ポケットプリンタ」で印刷した時のみ確認できる特別なもの。「知らなかった」「学位より価値がある」" [A hidden feature in the "Pokémon Encyclopedia" from the GB era has become a hot topic on overseas message boards. The certificate you receive when you complete the Pokédex in the "Pikachu" version is a special item that can only be seen when printed with an external device called the "Pocket Printer." "I didn't know this," "It's more valuable than a degree."]. Den-fami Nico Gamer (in Japanese). May 9, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  43. ^ Elo Interactive (2001). Puzzled (instruction manual). Conspiracy Entertainment. p. 16.
  44. ^ Cleveland, Adam (1999-08-25). "Quest for Camelot". IGN. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  45. ^ Harris, Craig (February 24, 2000). "Roadsters". IGN. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  46. ^ Davis, Cameron (January 28, 2000). "Super Mario DX Review". GameSpot. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  47. ^ "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2". Nintendo Power. No. 136. Nintendo of America. September 2000. p. 116.
  48. ^ "Card Hero". IGN. March 24, 2000. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  49. ^ Torres, Sheila (July 30, 2020). "Pokémon Picross: Inside The Cancelled Game Boy Color Spin-Off". TheGamer. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  50. ^ Walker, Ian (September 10, 2020). "New Nintendo Leak Includes Numerous Unreleased Game Boy Games". Kotaku. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  51. ^ "大爆笑HAL研ブラザーズ" [Big Laugh HAL Laboratory Bros.]. The 64Dream (in Japanese). No. 32. Mainichi Communications. May 1999. p. 85.
  52. ^ Chrysostomou, George (April 25, 2024). "The History and Evolution of Game Boy Accessories". Den of Geek. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  53. ^ Humphries, Matthew (July 12, 2021). "Game Boy Camera Photos Can Finally Be Transferred to a Smartphone". PCMAG. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  54. ^ Liston, Theo (April 19, 2024). "New Game Boy Title 'Song Of Morus' Is A Boss Rush Shoot 'Em Up With Game Boy Printer Functionality". Retro Dodo. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  55. ^ Lynn, Lottie (May 11, 2021). "The Game Boy Printer lives on in the instax mini Link Special Edition". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  56. ^ McFerran, Damien (April 22, 2021). "The Spirit Of The Game Boy Printer Lives On Thanks To Fujifilm And Your Nintendo Switch". Nintendo Life. Retrieved October 21, 2025.