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Gameboy Survives War and Returns Home

Designer Musings
Industrial Design
Posted by DT
Apr 13, 2007
(9 comments)






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Check out these amazing pictures of a Nintendo Gameboy that survived a bombed barracks during the Gulf War. It still works and plays Tetris! Amazing, why can’t we build products like that anymore, products that can really last? When my mobile phone slips out of my pocket, hits the pavement cracking the screen and dies, I wonder whether do we sacrifice durability for more tasty thin form factors? More pictures after the jump.

Pictures by Plaid Ninja

Via: WMMNA and Joystiq




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Comments

Patricia
Apr 14, 07 – 5:59 am

I hope someday the thing of good quality return i bought a psp a month ago and my child was playing with it and fell and now is broken.

Design Translator
Apr 14, 07 – 8:33 am

Hi Patricia,

That is really one of the few unhappy points I have with products today. Furthermore many are design in such a way that even if its a portable product, it feels so fragile.

Please keep in touch.

Elaine
Apr 16, 07 – 5:40 am

That’s crazy. How the hell does it still work?

Design Translator
Apr 16, 07 – 6:46 am

Yep its unbelievable, I suppose it has to do with the pretty resistant shell.

ping
Apr 16, 07 – 3:54 pm

There is an interesting interview with Giles Slade, author of Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America on the longevity of consumer products.

According to the interview, Slades claims that “companies profit more when products have shorter lifespans - because they sell more products that way.” I have not read the book, and while his interview with Stay Free is peppered with anecdotal evidence, I hope the book’s claims are backed by more substantial studies.

My initial gut reaction is that issues go beyond just corner-cutting corporations. Is it in response to our “use-and-toss” society that businesses have lowered their quality standards, or, has the shortened lifespan of products precipitated disposable consumerism?

Argh. Too much thinking involved for a blog comment. I intend to pick up a copy from the local library when I have more time (one day). More to think and write then.

drew kora
Apr 18, 07 – 3:15 am

Nintendo’s latest portable, the DS, is pretty hardy, too. Since it closes like a book, the screens are naturally protected. I’ve dropped my a few times and it’s survived unscathed.

Design Translator
Apr 18, 07 – 8:08 am

Hi Ping,
Thanks for the link and the book title. Yes planned obsolescence is a problem the design community faces today. There are many factors many push or pull. Some include the fact consumers dont keep things for very long, dropping margins in companies, and changing tastes. You are right that the issues go far more that just these few points. Please keep in touch.

Hey Drew,
Yeh they are pretty solid! I’ve got both the DS and DS lite, unfortunatly my DS Lite took battle damage at the impact point cracking the outer cover. But the screens are still good!

huixin (queky)
Apr 20, 07 – 1:28 pm

WOW it unbelievable…..I think the past technology was much more better than todays! The game boy is still intact together. In the past product are produced by their quality but now…products get spoiled easily.

Design Translator
Apr 20, 07 – 2:15 pm

Hahahah, very true eh?


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