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Since the Game Boy launched back in 1989, the world of handheld gaming has taken on a life of its own, and in many instances, become a more popular outlet for gamers than the traditional plug-and-play TV devices. It's always been assumed that the appeal of handheld gaming was the fact that as a portable device, people could get their gaming fix anywhere and any time, without having to lug a TV around in your backpack. But is that really the case? Is portability an essential part of the handheld experience, or is it simply an added bonus?
In order to answer this question, Digital Spy has looked at some of the features of handheld consoles, as well as quizzed gamers themselves about the appeal of the miniature machines, and exactly when and where they are used.
The Game Boy, which has sold over 100 million units since the late '80s, will forever be remembered for kick-starting the handheld trend that is still going strong today. OK, so the Game & Watch and other mini machines were around before, but it's the Game Boy that gets all the kudos and praise for making the handheld an essential part of a video game company's plans.
So what was the appeal of the Game Boy? GB owner Rich Edwards told DS that it was being able to play in any room at any time, without having to set anything up.
"Although I did take it on holiday a few times, it was being able to set up and play in any room that was the most important factor. I'd never owned a video game machine before, and have had few since, but the Game Boy was so simple and easy to use that it was just convenient to play.
"I don't recall having any issues with the battery life, but the screen could be quite difficult to view, even with the adjustable back light, but it was fine for journeys. I remember playing Tetris on a few flights and it certainly made the time pass a bit quicker."
So the Game Boy seems to get the thumbs up from the consumer for being simple to use and easy enough to whip out on most occasions, but what about its rival the Sega Game Gear?
Billed as the most powerful handheld of its time - thanks to a colour screen that could display Master System-style graphics - the Game Gear had the potential to rip its rivals to shreds with its good looks. However, it didn't. Perhaps it was its gargantuan size that put people off. Maybe it was because it didn't have a killer app such as Tetris. Or it could be that it ate batteries like Pac-Man ate dots.
"I remember taking it on a school trip to Paris when I was 14. Everybody wanted a go on it, which meant that by the time we'd arrived in Paris, I'd already gone through all of my batteries. I bought some cheap batteries for the journey back, but they were even worse.
"I did like my Game Gear, but mainly played it in my room, but I also had a Mega Drive and a SNES, so I'd end up playing those instead.
"I suppose I liked the idea of playing outdoors and on journeys, but the reality was that I didn't really have much of a chance."
The '90s saw Nintendo continue to update and upgrade the Game Boy, with sleeker models released, as well as the successful Game Boy Colour. A few other companies and machines came and went, such as the Neo Geo Pocket and the Wonderswan, which actually had fairly decent designs and one feels potentially bigger hits, if it wasn't for marketing or exporting decisions that ultimately cost them both.
It wasn't until 2001 though, with the introduction of the Game Boy Advance, that Nintendo would once again set the industry alight and prove how handheld gaming should be done. The Game Boy Advance arrived with more power, but that same Nintendo design. Another huge success, the GBA had the same simple-to-use appeal as the original Game Boy, but with a lot more power behind it, which meant more complex games - something that appealed to GBA owner Haydn Kilyan.
"I remember buying Super Mario World - Super Mario Advance 2 and just loving it. It's funny, because I could have easily afforded a second-hand SNES at the time, but so many good old games were coming out on the GBA, that I didn't need to bother. And it was just easier to play the GBA.
"For me it was all about the games themselves, I never particularly wanted to take mine anywhere with me. I did take it on most train journeys I went on, but most of the time I just went to sleep, or read a paper instead of playing anyway."
Haydn's view is not shared by fellow GBA owner Dave Sawle, who said that it was perfect for long journeys in the car.
"I was 15 when I got my GBA, and a few of my friends had them too, so we'd play them around each other's houses instead of talking to each other, which is quite funny thinking about it.
"It was good for long journeys though, the games and graphics were really good, and the rechargeable batteries lasted quite a while. I still play games on my mobile today, but only in short bursts. Things like poker and blackjack are quite good to play on the phone, but they don't beat the stuff you could get on the GBA."
Martin, who works at GAME, believes that the DS has a broader appeal, which is a big contributor to its popularity.
"I think [the DS] appeals to a wider audience than the PSP. The amount of kids who come in with their parents to buy games for it is amazing. The PSP tends to attract more teenage boys who probably have other consoles as well.
"In terms of being able to play on the move, I think both consoles can be, but I'm sure that the DS can be played in bigger groups than the PSP, and based on the original models, the DS was a little more nifty to cart around, and I remember it definitely had a better battery life."
Fellow GAME employee James claimed that the DS can stand on its own better than the PSP, which is too much like a watered-down PS2.
"The PSP is incredible to look at. I remember seeing games running on its screen and thinking, 'Wow'. The only trouble is, after playing the games, like Dynasty Warriors for example, you realise that you get a far better experience on an actual console like the PS2 or 360.
"The DS is different because you can't really play any of the games on anything else. There are lots of ports and things, but something like Professor Layton, which uses loads of different functions, just wouldn't be as good on a home console.
Gamestation staff member Laura revealed that she takes her DS everywhere, but wouldn't feel comfortable doing the same with a PSP.
"There's something about the PSP that puts me off taking it out. I would be worried that it would get nicked, even though it didn't cost that much more than my DS.
"It's a good console, and I'd recommend it to customers, but I just think that it's not as straightforward as the DS. You can play the DS everywhere, and for any amount of time, but some of the PSP games have got too much going on."
Whether or not portability is the main source of appeal to handheld gamers is debatable. However, based on the successful formulas of the past, it seems as though simplicity is the key ingredient of a good mini machine, which arguably goes hand-in-hand with the notion of being able to cart the console around with you and play in bite-size chunks.
If anything, as mobile devices such as the iPhone are starting to prove, it seems as though people will play games on the move more and more, but in small doses and in order to kill time. It's still fairly evident that many people don't actually play handheld gaming devices in transit, but the best ones certainly allow for it, and perhaps more importantly, have a number of unique and appealing games that make you want to shun the big screen TV in favour of being curled up in bed with the likes of Tetris.
