Retroseum - RH100057 Bandai

RH100057

Bandai
WonderSwan

Year

Part No

1998

SW-001

Country Of Origin:

Revision

Japan

Pearl White

Hardware Type

Serial No

Games Console - Handheld Gaming

2800105579

Description:
The WonderSwan is a hand-held LCD games console released in Japan, similar to and a competitor to the Nintendo Gameboy. Unlike the Gameboy though it has 2 sets of buttons which allow games to be played in both landscape and portrait. The console was designed by Japanese Engineer Gunpei Yokoi who was also responsible creating the original Game Boy system at Nintendo. Sadly Yokoi tragically died in a car accident before the release of the WonderSwan.

Upon it's initial release the WonderSwan was available in nine casing colors: Pearl White, Skeleton Green, Silver Metallic, Skeleton Red, Blue Metallic, Skeleton Blue, Skeleton Black, Camouﬂage, and Gold. Other limited edition colours were released later, such as Frozen Mint, Sherbet Melon and Soda Blue.

Specification:
» Processor: 3.072 MHz NEC V20
» Memory: 512KB (Shared between system and video RAM)
» Display: 2.49" Monochrome LCD
» Graphics: 224 x 144 pixels, 8 greyscales, 28 sprites
» Audio: 4 PCM channels, each of which can play 32-sample, 4-bit sounds at selectable volume and pitch levels
» Power: 1x AA battery (40h Battery Life)
» Dimensions: 120mm x 74mm x 27mm
» Weight: 93g console only, ~121g with battery & game cartridge

In an attempt to compete with Nintendo's Gameboy products, Bandai released two further improved models, the WonderSwan Color with a colour FSTN LCD, and the Swan Crystal with TFT LCD display. Despite much lower prices, sales were comparatively poor and all models of WonderSwan ceased production in 2003.

No models of the WonderSwan were officially released outside Japan, however many units were exported to both Europe and North America, albeit with the majority of games in Japanese.