Wait, Is It Gameboy Or Game Boy? – Gaming’s Berenstain Bears

The first Nintendo handheld console and its various follow-ups are some of the most iconic devices in gaming, but there seems to be considerable confusion about what the Game Boy – or “Gameboy,” or “GameBoy” – is actually called. Poorly designed logos, other game console names, and mere convenience are likely contributors to widespread misspellings of Game Boy as one word, leading to a Berenstain Bears-like “Mandela Effect.”

In 2015, the internet was flooded by claims that people incorrectly remembered The Berenstain Bears, a children’s book series, being spelled “Berenstein,” with an “e” instead of an “a.” It was an example of the Mandela Effect, a sort of collective false memory, and it resulted in much conspiracy theorizing and tongue-in-cheek claims of alternate universes. “Gameboy” hasn’t yet seen such a realization, but it seems to be a similarly common misconception.

The system’s name is actually Game Boy (two words), but fans around the internet consistently call it “Gameboy,” “GameBoy,” or even “gameboy.” On the Game Boy subreddit, r/Gameboy, posters sharing memories or mods often spell it as one word; of the top five posts of all time, for instance, three spell it “Gameboy” (and the other two don’t mention it by name). Prominent YouTube channels, like The Completionist and popular console modder and repairer The Retro Future, have spelled it “Gameboy” or “GameBoy.” These cases could, of course, be attributed to purposeful search engine optimization, since Google Trends data suggests users search for “gameboy” more than “game boy.”

Perhaps people simply use “Gameboy” more than “Game Boy” because it’s easier to type. But other factors have likely obfuscated the Nintendo Game Boy’s real name.

Why Nintendo Fans Might Think The Game Boy Is Called “Gameboy”

From a typographical standpoint, the Game Boy logo was never very clear about the name being two separate words. Yes, there’s obviously a space between the two upon close inspection, but the all-caps, italicized styling makes the words seem to blend together. This fact isn’t helped by the names of other popular game consoles, which do combine two words into one. The PlayStation, released before every Game Boy model except the original DMG, may have confused the Game Boy-familiar public with its camel case title. Nintendo seems to have given in to Game Boy’s one-word spelling, too. The GameCube, released just after the Game Boy Advance, followed PlayStation’s intercapped style, which didn’t help clear up confusion about Nintendo’s previous “Game __” console.

Of course, the distinction between “Game Boy” and “Gameboy” is a small one, and it’s ultimately a harmless mistake that, unlike “Berenstain” versus “Berenstein,” doesn’t even change pronunciation. Still, it’s a fascinatingly widespread misbelief, especially for a piece of gaming history as well-loved as the Nintendo Game Boy.

About The Author

Camden Jones
(430 Articles Published)

Camden Jones is one of Screen Rant’s gaming features editors. He loves video games, but he’s even more interested in the people who make and play them.

Visit Camden’s website to see his full portfolio, including features, podcasts, and videos. You can also follow Camden on Twitter for updates on his latest work and thoughts on Destiny fashion, K-pop, and environmentalism, or you can email him at [email protected].

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