The Hyperlogos

Early handheld video games were simple, purpose-built games with names like "Football" and "Soccer". Usually based on grain-of-sand lamps or red LEDs and often not even using a microprocessor, these games were simplistic in the extreme and could usually only play one game. Over time, as integrated logic became cheaper, the games became more advanced with features such as matrix graphics and interchangeable game ROM cartridges. While the earliest days were dominated by names like Atari and Mattel, the industry was rapidly dominated by Nintendo, first with the Game & Watch units and later with the Game Boy series of handhelds. One of the finest examples is the pocket-sized, folding, recharging Game Boy Advance SP. Released in February of 2003, the system blew away everything remotely resembling competition.

Entering the code "JUSTIN BAILEY" into the NES title "Metroid" would strip the protagonist Samus down to her bikini during gameplay, which would normally only be achieved after fighting your way through numerous programatically-generated game worlds.