| Once arcade-style video games were developed for home use, it was only a matter of time before developers and manufacturers found a way to make these games portable. Sure enough, in 1989, Nintendo released the first GameBoy. In the 15 years since its original release, the GameBoy has gone through many iterations, with most of these able to play all the previous GameBoy games that had been released. In those 15 years, the GameBoy became the highest-selling game system to date. Nintendo still leads the charge, releasing not one but two new handheld devices in recent years. The first of these, the GameBoy Advance, represents the latest version of the traditional GameBoy. The GBA features better performance, a color screen, and better controls. But, essentially, it's the same GameBoy, only better. Nintendo has released different versions of the GBA, including the GameBoy Advance SP and the GameBoy Mini. Nintendo has also released another handheld device, one it claims is not meant to supplant the GameBoy but to stand alongside it. This is the Nintendo DS. The DS features many innovative design features, including a dual screen display. One of the screens is a touch screen, to be used with a stylus (similar to a Palm Pilot or other similar device). Sony has finally entered the handheld arena with the PlayStation Portable, or PSP. The marketplace has seen many would-be usurpers to Nintendo's dominance of the handheld arena, so Sony wisely created a device that is very different from either the GBA or the DS. The biggest difference--and the most tantalizing feature--is that the PSP can play movies via a UMD disc. Movie studios both in Hollywood and around the world have already released hundreds of movies in UMD format, with dozens more already announced. In fact, many print and billboard ads for upcoming DVD releases also advertise the UMD release as well, showing how well the format is taking off.
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