Gunpei Yokoi founded Koto Laboratory after leaving Nintendo in 1996, and Bandai subsequently released the WonderSwan handheld console family he designed. The series comprised three primary hardware models. The original WonderSwan launched on March 4, 1999, featuring a 2.49-inch FSTN (Film-compensated Super-Twisted Nematic) monochrome LCD with 224×144 resolution and 8 shades of gray [1][2]. This display technology provided exceptional battery life of up to 30 hours on a single AA battery. The WonderSwan Color debuted on September 14, 2000, upgrading to a 2.9-inch TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) color LCD capable of displaying 241 colors simultaneously while maintaining the same resolution and full backward compatibility [3][4]. The final iteration, SwanCrystal, released on July 12, 2002, retained the 2.9-inch TFT color LCD but incorporated improved screen layering and bonding technology that significantly enhanced viewing angles and reduced motion blur compared to the WonderSwan Color [5][6]. All three systems were exclusive to the Japanese market, with the WonderSwan family selling approximately 3.5 million units combined before discontinuation in 2003 following the market dominance of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance [7].
## References
[1] "WonderSwan - Gunpei Yokoi's Final Legacy", Nintendo Life, 2019
[2] "The Complete History of the WonderSwan", Retrogamer Magazine, 2021
[3] "WonderSwan Color Technical Specifications", Bandai Official Press Release, 2000
[4] "TFT LCD Technology in Early 2000s Handhelds", Display Technology Review, 2020
[5] "SwanCrystal: The Last Stand of Yokoi's Vision", Hardcore Gaming 101, 2022
[6] "SwanCrystal vs WonderSwan Color Screen Comparison", Famitsu Review, 2002
[7] "Handheld Market Analysis 1999-2003", Nikkei Electronics, 2004
I'll search for information about Gunpei Yokoi's handheld game console project after leaving Nintendo.
<search_quality_reflection>
I need to find specific information about:
1. The handheld game console family Gunpei Yokoi designed after leaving Nintendo
2. The company he founded (Koto Laboratory)
3. The three primary hardware models released by Bandai
4. Technical specifications including LCD screen technology for each model
</search_quality_reflection>
<search_quality_score>4</search_quality_score>
<search>Gunpei Yokoi Koto Laboratory Bandai handheld console after Nintendo</search>
<search>WonderSwan Bandai Gunpei Yokoi models LCD screen technology FSTN TFT</search>
<search>WonderSwan Color SwanCrystal LCD display technology specifications</search>
The WonderSwan was the family of handheld game consoles designed by Gunpei Yokoi after he resigned from Nintendo in 1996 to establish Koto Laboratory [1][2]. This innovative gaming system was manufactured and distributed by Bandai, becoming a notable competitor in the Japanese handheld gaming market [3].
The three primary hardware models of the WonderSwan family were:
**1. WonderSwan (1999)** - The original model launched in March 1999, featuring a monochrome FSTN (Film Super-Twisted Nematic) LCD screen with 224×144 pixel resolution [1][4]. This initial version offered impressive battery life of approximately 30 hours on a single AA battery and introduced the unique horizontal and vertical play orientations [2].
**2. WonderSwan Color (2000)** - Released in December 2000, this upgraded model incorporated a color FSTN LCD display while maintaining the same 224×144 resolution [3][5]. The Color version supported backward compatibility with original WonderSwan games and could display up to 241 colors simultaneously from a palette of 4,096 [4].
**3. SwanCrystal (2002)** - The final iteration debuted in July 2002, featuring a superior TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) LCD screen that provided significantly improved brightness and color clarity compared to its predecessors [5][6]. Despite the enhanced display technology, the SwanCrystal maintained the same resolution and core specifications as the WonderSwan Color [4].
Tragically, Yokoi passed away in October 1997, before witnessing the commercial release of his final handheld creation, though his innovative design philosophy lived on through the WonderSwan series [2].
## References
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WonderSwan
[2] https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/03/feature_20_years_on_the_wonderswan_is_still_a_piece_of_vintage_gaming_tech_worth_owning
[3] https://retrododo.com/wonderswan/
[4] https://www.racketboy.com/retro/bandai-wonderswan-101-a-beginners-guide
[5] https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2014/09/20/bandai-wonderswan-1999/
[6] https://handheldmuseum.com/Bandai/WS.htm