Foreshadowing The Nintendo DS

I purchased this Game & Watch title in a moment of irrational weakness during the summer of 1983, somewhere in Knightsbridge. It was my traveling companion across Europe and North America at a time when handhelds weren't commonplace -- there were no iPhones to keep adults amused, and kids didn't have Nintendo DSes.

In 1979, legendary Nintendo designer Gunpei Yokoi spotted a businessman idly playing with a digital calculator on a train. His observation spawned the idea of a tiny LCD-based game that could also double as a timepiece.

The first Game & Watch - Ball - was introduced in early 1980, and almost 60 different titles were produced by the time production ceased in 1991. In addition to the immensely popular single and dual screen handhelds, there were also various tabletop and widescreen titles. Over 43 million Game & Watch units were sold worldwide, and their success encouraged the release of the immensely successful Game Boy series, also spearheaded by Mr. Yokoi.

I put mine on eBay last night and it's still at $1 with no bids.This could be your chance to own a bargain-priced piece of gaming history (If you're interested in photography, I also listed mint Holga and Diana+ Lomo cameras).