Nintendo's Vitrual Boy...What does everyone think?

[vgcollector666]

I was just wondering what everyone thinks about the virtual boy. I used to have one and it was one of my favorite systems I had. The only thing is that after a while your eyes start to mess up. Who here has one and what do you think of them?...also how many games were made for it, it was like 14 or something right?

[JB]

Personally, it's a good system. Provided you ahve a table at the right height to use it comfortably.

 

Adjust the brightness, contrast, and alignment, and it's no worse than any other 3D imaging device. Ever have a Viewmaster as a kid? Same concept.

[vgcollector666]

Yeah but the thing that really screws you up is the colors..or lack thereof. theres black and theres red, and thats it, play it long enough and u get bloodshot eyes and thats not too fun lol.

[Vic George 2K3]

Should have been named anything other than "Virtual Boy", given its lack of applications and appropriate gaming technology that can truly define the gaming experience as "virtual".

 

Had it been packaged with Nintendo 64 technology and color screens at the time within those stereoscoped goggles, it would have been worth the name.

[jesusc]

worth the name maybe, but nobody would have been able to afford it.

I 've owned a few of them over the years.

I found it most comfortable to play it while laying down in bed with it resting against my face.

Warioland was the big draw for me, though I enjoyed Galactic Pinball, Mario Clash, Vertical Force, and Jack Bro's as well.

[Rhindle The Red]

And yeah, jesusc is right

 

It was too expensive at the time with the technology it *had*. I'd hate to think how expensive it would have been even to put it in color.

 

I own the complete US library and a few of the Japan exclusives. I love Mario's Tennis, Virtual Boy Wario Land, Mario Clash and Space Squash. I also quite like Panic Bomber and V-Tetris.

 

The VB died mainly because of cost. It was too darned expensive for what it did. I, for one, never got a headache, no matter how long a gaming session I played. And the 3D technology was used to great effect in some of the games. It could have had a nice library if the hardware weren't so costly.

[Bill Brasky]

terrible design, ridiculously overpriced and outdated technology, weak library. A system only a Nintendo fanboy could love.

[JB]

Yeah but the thing that really screws you up is the colors..or lack thereof. theres black and theres red, and thats it, play it long enough and u get bloodshot eyes and thats not too fun lol.

887430[/snapback]

I never had a problem with the monochrome display.

 

 

 

Should have been named anything other than "Virtual Boy", given its lack of applications and appropriate gaming technology that can truly define the gaming experience as "virtual".

 

Had it been packaged with Nintendo 64 technology and color screens at the time within those stereoscoped goggles, it would have been worth the name.

887507[/snapback]

As I understand things, there wasn't a suitably high-res color display available at the time(and a rather limited selection of monochrome ones).

 

 

And the N64 would've been a bit much, given they were trying to make it a portable(why, I have no idea).

 

Obviously, they SHOULD have just made it require an AC socket, put the brains in a deck, and maid the headset JUST the displays(might would've been light enough for a head-strap at that point).

But if I recall, they didn't want to compete with their conventional deck(and hte PlayStation), so they pitched it as a portable.

[NE146]

A system only a Nintendo fanboy could love.

 

Or.. a videogame collector

 

Personally I haven't had any problems with it. I'm just glad I got it for a deep discount (about 20 bucks?) at a K-Mart years ago.

[Famicoman]

I have one. I believe there are 13 games, couting Japan's. I basically just got it to complete my NTSC Nintendo Collection. Its a pretty good conversation piece.

[vgcollector666]

13? I thought that there were 14 US and then a bunch of Jap. versions. but what do i know

[Famicoman]

Let me check again. That figure was from memory. I have a Tips and Tricks somewhere with the info.

[Famicoman]

Ah, 33 worldwide.

[vgcollector666]

I'll bet that the complete collection is worth a lot does anyone have all of them ?

[shep]

I'll bet that the complete collection is worth a lot  does anyone have all of them ?

887745[/snapback]

 

I used to have all but two titles, but my mother sold them all as I was still under their control at that age...but now I have one again its one of my favorites consoles. Im a huge VB fan! http://virtual-boy.org is a great resource for the unreleased games...Mario Kart would have been a hit!

[ZylonBane]

The VB died mainly because of cost.

If the VB didn't suck, the price would not have been a significant impediment to its success.

 

I'm more inclined to think that the blood-red shimmering monochrome display, neckstrain-inducing design, health risks from extended play (remember the auto-pause timer?), non-portability, non-networkability, and lack of games killed it.

 

I picked one up at Wal-Mart when they were clearing them out for $30. It's an interesting failure at best.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I played one, so I didn't have to pay for it, and it was awhile after it came out. I thought it was pretty cool at that time, and it WAS fun. But the price (when it came out) is what damned it, I think.

[JB]

I think what really killed it was

 

A. The demo units. Who's bright ide was it tu use Red Alarm to show off the system? The game's a half-finished abomination. That and people refused to adjust the system, so they came away disoriented and blamed the system because they can't read instructions.

 

B. Advertising. The system's big feature was it was 3D. We have no 3D media. The ads painted the picture of a red GameBoy on a bipod. Hardly impressive.

[AlexKIDD]

I don't own one but I remember playing them back when they were still being sold. It was a pretty cool system. A friend of mine had it and we used to play wario land and galactic pinball. I also prefer to play one while lying down. I'd pick one up someday if it was cheap but I wouldn't say it's worth the $70+ it usually goes for on ebay.

[JB]

I don't own one but I remember playing them back when they were still being sold. It was a pretty cool system. A friend of mine had it and we used to play wario land and galactic pinball. I also prefer to play one while lying down. I'd pick one up someday if it was cheap but I wouldn't say it's worth the $70+ it usually goes for on ebay.

887839[/snapback]

Yah. I got mine for 30.

...

Then got another one later, because mine got dropped and knocked out of alignment.

 

 

To Nintendo's credit, when I called the support line to see about getting it re-aligned, the guy on the other end flat-out said it would cost more than getting a new system from my local store. Didn't just quote me a price, or try and confuse the issue.

 

I asked what it would cost to get it re-aligned, and he said it was more than a new system was.

[Rezrov]

I'll bet that the complete collection is worth a lot  does anyone have all of them ?

887745[/snapback]

 

Here's a shot of all 33:

 

 

- Shawn

[Rhindle The Red]

I'm more inclined to think that the blood-red shimmering monochrome display,

When actually playing it, I tend not to notice the red color. It's easier on the eyes than white would have been and your eye accepts it pretty easily.

 

neckstrain-inducing design,

Never had that problem. Of course, I always set it up correctly.

 

health risks from extended play (remember the auto-pause timer?),

That was just Nintendo's overly-cautious reaction to potential complaints. Remember, they had to endure the hassles of the epileptic seizure syndrome that led to the warnings that *still* appear. Eyestrain was never a significant problem, especially (like with the neck strain) if you set the system up correctly.

 

non-portability,

It's perfectly portable. It's just not "hand-held".

 

non-networkability,

Linked games were planned and a link cable was designed, but the systems quick death meant no games came out. The rumor is that Space Squash still has the link code in it, but I don't know of anyone who has successfully built a cable that would work with it.

 

and lack of games killed it.

It had plenty of games for a launch for that day. (Comparable to the GBA or DS.) The thing is, it didn't live long enough for the rest to come out. Like with the DS right now, if the VB had succeeded, developers would have played more to its strengths and it could have shown its potential more.

 

It was not to be.

[Rhindle The Red]

Here's a shot of all 33:

What's that one on the end in the small box?

[uosipa llamxew]

I think I've only played two games on the system, but I thought it was a lot of fun. Then again, I'm a sucker for gimmicky games or games that use custom controllers. Some day I hope to get my grubby hands on a system and a few games.

[JB]

health risks from extended play (remember the auto-pause timer?),

That was just Nintendo's overly-cautious reaction to potential complaints. Remember, they had to endure the hassles of the epileptic seizure syndrome that led to the warnings that *still* appear. Eyestrain was never a significant problem, especially (like with the neck strain) if you set the system up correctly.

And they wound up getting sued over the epilepsy anyways. Now the games have nag screens and warnings on the boxes in addition to the warnings in the manuals.