Before the days of the PSP and the DS, only one name came to mind when it came to portable gaming - the Nintendo Game Boy. Since its launch in 1989, the Game Boy made its mark in the gaming industry, pioneering a new level in portable gameplay.

For its contributions and millions of satisfied users, the Museum of Play has now honored the handheld by including it in its National Toy Hall of Fame.

"No video-game platform did more to put gamers “on the go” than Nintendo Game Boy," says the Museum of Play announcement. "The secret to Game Boy’s success was not driven by advanced graphics or processing power, but rather by simple and efficient design, head-to-head connectivity, and scores of intriguing games."

The Game Boy will be joining the elite ranks of only 43 other legendary playthings including Lego, Monopoly, Play-Doh, even the cardboard box and the good ol' stick. The only other gaming system on that list is the Atari 2600.

Indeed, such was the success of the Game Boy that it even evolved with the technological advances of the day, giving rise to models such as Game Boy Color, and later, the Game Boy Advance, each with their own variations and accessories that made huge advances to portable gaming. But no matter how far it went, the original 1989 model still resounds as the pioneer, and hence, this honor is very well-deserved.

---

And now, Nintendo has just announced a new portable:

• Jumbo-size DSi LL also coming to US in 2010, compared with other models