The Wonderswan, created by Bandai, was a significant, though often overlooked, handheld gaming console that left a mark on the gaming industry in Japan during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Launched in 1999, the Wonderswan was the brainchild of Gunpei Yokoi, the famed creator of Nintendo’s Game Boy and the Virtual Boy. Bandai, a company well-known for its involvement in the toy and anime industries, saw an opportunity to compete in the handheld gaming market dominated by Nintendo.
Although the Wonderswan wasn’t as globally successful as the Game Boy or Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP), it had a unique place in the industry, particularly for its influence in Japan and for the innovations it brought to handheld gaming. This article will explore the history of the Wonderswan, its features, games, challenges, and its legacy within the gaming industry.
1. Background of the Wonderswan
By the late 1990s, Nintendo had a stranglehold on the handheld gaming market with its Game Boy line, which had enjoyed immense success globally. Other companies, such as Sega with the Game Gear and Atari with the Lynx, had attempted to compete but ultimately failed to make a substantial dent in Nintendo’s dominance. In this context, Bandai sought to enter the market with a more cost-effective and innovative alternative, the Wonderswan.
The Wonderswan was designed by Gunpei Yokoi, who had previously worked on the Game Boy at Nintendo before leaving the company after the failure of the Virtual Boy. Yokoi’s philosophy of creating hardware that was "lateral thinking with seasoned technology" meant that he aimed to use existing technology in innovative ways, which would allow the Wonderswan to be both affordable and feature-rich.
2. Launch and Features of the Wonderswan
The Wonderswan was officially released in Japan in 1999. One of its most appealing aspects was its price—significantly lower than that of the Game Boy Color, its primary competitor. The Wonderswan was priced at approximately ¥4,800 (around $40 USD at the time), making it one of the most affordable handheld consoles on the market. This low price point was one of the key factors that helped the Wonderswan gain a foothold in Japan.
The original Wonderswan featured a black-and-white screen, which was seen as somewhat outdated compared to the Game Boy Color. However, Bandai compensated for this by ensuring that the console was incredibly energy-efficient. The Wonderswan could run for up to 40 hours on a single AA battery, a significant advantage over its competitors.
Another unique feature of the Wonderswan was its dual-orientation design. The console could be held both horizontally and vertically, depending on the game being played. This allowed developers to create a wider variety of game designs, including vertical shooters and puzzle games that benefited from the vertical layout. The console also had a D-pad on both sides, making it versatile and allowing for different control schemes based on how the console was held.
In 2000, Bandai released the Wonderswan Color, an upgraded version of the original system with a color screen. This was followed by the SwanCrystal in 2002, which featured an improved screen with better clarity and a wider color palette.
3. Game Library and Partnerships
One of the key factors that determined the success of any gaming console was its software library, and the Wonderswan was no exception. Bandai capitalized on its established relationships with anime and manga franchises to bring recognizable titles to the Wonderswan, including games based on Gundam, Digimon, and One Piece. These titles helped the console appeal to the Japanese youth who were already fans of these franchises.
One of the Wonderswan’s most notable partnerships was with Square (now Square Enix), which released ports of its hugely popular Final Fantasy series on the system. Final Fantasy I, Final Fantasy II, and Final Fantasy IV were all released on the Wonderswan, and these games were significant drivers of hardware sales. The inclusion of the Final Fantasy franchise gave the Wonderswan a level of prestige that helped it compete against Nintendo’s Game Boy.
The system also boasted a variety of niche titles, particularly in the puzzle, strategy, and role-playing game (RPG) genres, which resonated well with the Japanese audience. However, despite the diversity of its game library, the Wonderswan never saw a significant release outside of Japan, limiting its global impact.
4. Challenges and Decline
While the Wonderswan enjoyed moderate success in Japan, it faced several significant challenges that prevented it from becoming a true competitor to the Game Boy on a global scale. One of the primary issues was timing. By the time the Wonderswan Color was released in 2000, Nintendo had already launched the Game Boy Advance, which was far more powerful and offered a vastly superior gaming experience. The Game Boy Advance featured 32-bit graphics, backward compatibility with the Game Boy library, and strong third-party developer support, which the Wonderswan could not match.
Another challenge was the lack of international support. Bandai chose to focus almost exclusively on the Japanese market, which limited the console’s growth potential. Without a global release, the Wonderswan could not capitalize on the broader handheld gaming audience that Nintendo’s Game Boy series enjoyed.
Additionally, Bandai struggled to secure third-party developer support outside of Japan. While the console had strong ties to anime and manga franchises, it lacked the backing of major Western developers, who were already committed to the Game Boy and, later, the Game Boy Advance.
Despite these challenges, the Wonderswan still managed to sell approximately 3.5 million units in Japan, a respectable figure for a system that was competing against Nintendo’s handheld juggernaut.
5. The End of the Wonderswan and Bandai’s Transition
By 2003, Bandai officially discontinued the Wonderswan. The SwanCrystal, the final iteration of the console, marked the end of Bandai’s efforts in the handheld gaming market. The decision to discontinue the Wonderswan was driven by the overwhelming success of the Game Boy Advance, which had effectively dominated the handheld gaming space by that time.
While the Wonderswan did not achieve the same level of success as the Game Boy, it played an important role in the evolution of handheld gaming. The console introduced several innovative features, such as its dual-orientation design and its focus on long battery life, that influenced future handheld consoles.
After the Wonderswan, Bandai shifted its focus away from hardware and instead concentrated on software development and its core business of toys and entertainment. Bandai would later merge with Namco in 2005 to form Bandai Namco Holdings, one of the largest and most successful entertainment companies in Japan.
6. The Legacy of the Wonderswan
Though the Wonderswan was never as commercially successful as the Game Boy, its influence can still be felt in the gaming industry. For one, it demonstrated that there was a market for affordable, energy-efficient handheld consoles with unique features. The dual-orientation design, in particular, was a forward-thinking concept that provided developers with new possibilities for game design.
The console’s emphasis on long battery life also became a key selling point for future handheld systems, as players increasingly valued portability and longevity in their devices. The Final Fantasy games on the Wonderswan are still remembered fondly by fans and are considered some of the best versions of the original titles.
Furthermore, the Wonderswan contributed to the growth of the handheld gaming market in Japan during a crucial time in the industry’s development. By providing an alternative to the Game Boy, it encouraged innovation and competition, which ultimately benefited gamers.
7. Conclusion
The Wonderswan may not have been a global success, but its impact on the gaming industry, particularly in Japan, is undeniable. It offered a unique gaming experience with its innovative design, impressive battery life, and strong library of anime-based titles and classic RPGs. Despite facing tough competition from Nintendo, the Wonderswan carved out a niche for itself and remains a beloved part of Japan’s gaming history.
The legacy of the Wonderswan lives on through its influence on handheld gaming design and its role in providing Japanese gamers with an affordable alternative to the Game Boy. While it may not have achieved the long-lasting success of its competitors, the Wonderswan represents a pivotal moment in the history of handheld gaming, showcasing the potential for innovation and creativity in a highly competitive industry.