0.0 Introduction

This document was written to aid in the development of hardware and software for use with the Nintendo GameBoy^TM. It provides a guide to the known hardware information pertaining to the hand held GameBoy^TM console. Also included is an 8-bit parallel port example project using an Intel^TM 82C55 in an add in GB-cartridge. Complete constructional details including PCB layout plans are provided.

0.1 The Game Boy - only a rusty game console ?

Years ago I received a Nintendo GameBoy^TM as a birthday present and had a lot of fun playing games with it. As the years passed I grew up and forgot about the little console as it gathered dust on a shelf. One day in `97 it caught my eye and seeing it from an engineering viewpoint I realized that it had more potential beyond playing games due to a wealth of attributes and features including the following.

I realized that this combination of features could form an ideal basis for many applications which would however require additional hardware and the relevant software. I searched the Internet and found further information which reinforced my own feelings and prompted me to try and instigate a project based on the GameBoy^TM as part of my university course. My own enthusiasm was shared by several fellow students and so the GameBoy^TM Group was formed.