Kids Are Given Game Boys, Feel Instant Sadness

Ah, Game Boys. Forget your 3DS and your iPad mini: there was a day when these handheld hunks of 8-bit glory owned the playground.

But as seen above in YouTube producers The Fine Brothers' latest "React" episode, kids today just don't get it.

The reactions are mixed at best.

"Did you really enjoy playing this?"

"I kind of feel sad for the people in the past."

To their credit, the kids are tech-savvy enough to recognize that the Game Boy enabled much of the innovation that followed.

At the end of the video, a boy named Dylan held up the device he and the other kids see as old and clunky. "The Game Boy started it all ... This is the grandfather of everything," he said. Thank you, Dylan.

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Before You Go

Sharing Is Hard

Flickr:Naíra Dias

"I learned my brother has got a pretty hefty right jab when you steal his."(Chris York, Social Media)

It Was All About The Accessories

The Game Boy was a basic machine - but that didn't mean you couldn't add stereo speakers, a light, a magnifying glass and extra buttons to it, for no very good reason at all.

Batteries Are Exepensive

Flickr:Bludgeoner86

The Game Boy had decent battery life - up to 30 hours on a set of four AAs. But that when you're playing 14 hours a day and earning £2 a week pocket money, at some point that equation leads to your doom.

The Game Boy Wasn't For Everyone

Flickr:lejoe

"My sister had been given one for her birthday - when it came round to mine, my parents rewrapped the box and I cried when I opened it because I really, really didn't want a GameBoy. I wanted tickets to the Horse of the Year show, which they'd actually hidden inside."Carla Buzasi, Editor-in-Chief

Kirby Knows All

Flickr:Antonio Tajuelo

"I learned from Kirby that you can put on weight simply by inhaling."(Andrea Mann, Comedy)

Not All The Games Were Great

This is Mortal Kombat for the Game Boy - one of the worst ports, and indeed worst games, of all time.

Some People Like Game Boys More Than You

Flickr:wisekris

Look at this collection. Just look at it.

Cartridges Rule

Flickr:digitpedia

You could step on them, fix them by blowing on them and toss them in a bag, and they wouldn't need endless downloadable updates just to get less functional over time.

Tetris Is Terrifying

"I learned if you play enough Tetris, you will start seeing falling blocks every time you close your eyes. AND IT'S TERRIFYING."(Andrea Mann, Comedy)

It's Not Just For Games

Flickr:Gellar

"I bought one each for my kids in 2000. The youngest has since converted his to make chiptune music (it’s what all the cool kids are doing apparently). Here’s one of his tracks."(Tristan Anthony, AOL)

Functionality Is Temporary, Design Is Forever

Flickr:I am, I can ¬ Encaja en CAMON

The Game Boy was an objectively beautiful device - and its design has withstood the test of time, popping up in everything from retro iPhone cases to Lego tributes.

Blowing On Stuff Fixes It - Until It Doesn't

Flickr:cote

"I learned that not all technology can be fixed by blowing on it."(Asa Bennett, Business)

It Had The Best Game Ever Made (Except Mario Kart)

The original Game Boy didn't have Mario Kart. But it did have Tennis - the most playable tennis game ever conceived with a total of two shots, four modes and unbelievably addictive gameplay.

Gaming Isn't An Art, It's A Skill

Flickr:Cubosh

"I learnt that I have very slow reaction skills."(Lucy Sherriff, Students)

It Had A Camera. But...

Flickr:aikijuanma

"You could take pictures with a Game Boy. You just didn't want to do that, though, because if you did the pictures would look like this."(Michael Rundle, Tech)

Basic Physics Is Important