The Handheld Club: An architecture analysis of portable video game consoles from 1989 to 2004 (Architecture of Consoles: A practical analysis) Hardcover – February 4, 2026

Looking at the evolution of video game consoles is fascinating. While conventional PCs tend to evolve 'incrementally', new generations of consoles introduce completely new ways of working. The writings you see here are part of a series aimed at uncovering the rationale behind the latest trends in technology. They will also demonstrate why each system can't be summarised by its 'bits', megahertz, amount of RAM and whatnot.This volume includes the hardware and software analysis of the Game Boy (1989), Game Boy Color (1998), Game Boy Advance (2001), Nintendo DS (2004), and Playstation Portable (2005)—a peculiar set I have dubbed 'The Handheld Club'.About this editionThis edition originates from the articles initially published on my personal website, it's been re-styled to take advantage of the capabilities of the book format.While similar in content, this edition is free from the digital limitations of the web, such as storage and bandwidth constraints. As a result, diagrams and photography are imported from raw files at full resolution, enabling to publish the best quality that the printer allows. Additionally, extra chapters are provided to assist in the navigation of this book and to acknowledge those who helped build its content. Read more