The sound comes from Nintendo's Game Boy, the handheld console released in 1989. When the system is switched on, the Nintendo logo scrolls down and locks into place with this short electronic chime, a routine millions of players heard before starting games like Tetris and Pokemon. As retro gaming clips spread online, editors borrowed the boot noise as a universal sign for an old game starting. Its brevity and instant recognition keep it popular for intros, memes and nostalgia edits long after the original hardware faded from everyday use.