Gunpei Yokoi invented the Nintendo Game Boy in 1989 using incredibly outdated and cheap monochrome LCD technology on purpose, adopting a philosophy he called lateral thinking with withered technology.

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Gunpei Yokoi invented the Nintendo Game Boy in 1989 using incredibly outdated and cheap monochrome LCD technology on purpose, adopting a philosophy he called lateral thinking with withered technology. While competitors like Sega and Atari were releasing technically superior, full-color handhelds that drained six AA batteries in under two hours, Yokoi knew that gamers cared more about actually finishing a level than seeing Mario in thirty-two vibrant shades of pixelated red. His ugly, gray, brick-like device was practically indestructible, cheap to manufacture, and could survive a literal bombing during the Gulf War, making it the Nokia 3310 of the gaming world. It completely obliterated the technologically advanced competition in sales, serving as a harsh reminder to modern tech companies that stuffing a device with expensive gimmicks means absolutely nothing if the battery dies before you finish your commute