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Nintendo Virtual Boy Appreciation Thread, brought to you by the color Red!

G

GulAtiCa

Member
virtualboyjapanbxs9y.jpg


While finally getting around to beating Wario Land for the Virtual Boy, I noticed we really don't have any kind of Virtual Boy thread to talk about the games and system around here.

Description
The Virtual Boy is a table-top video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was the first video game console that was supposed to be capable of displaying "true 3D graphics" out of the box, in a form of virtual reality. Whereas most video games use monocular cues to achieve the illusion of three dimensions on a two-dimensional screen, The Virtual Boy creates an illusion of depth through the effect known as parallax. In a manner similar to using a head-mounted display, the user looks into an eyepiece made of neoprene on the front of the machine, and then an eyeglass-style projector allows viewing of the monochromatic (in this case, red) image.

It was released on July 21, 1995 in Japan and August 14, 1995 in North America at a price of around US$180. It proved a commercial failure and it was not released in PAL markets. Its lukewarm reception was unaffected by continued price drops. Nintendo discontinued it the following year.
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Official List of Released Games
  • 3D Tetris (NA only)
  • Bomberman: Panic Bomber
  • Galactic Pinball
  • Golf
  • Jack Bros
  • Innsmouth no Yakata (Japan only)
  • Mario's Clash
  • Mario's Tennis
  • Nester's Funky Bowling (NA only)
  • Red Alarm
  • SD Gundam Dimension War (Japan only)
  • Space Invaders Virtual Collection (Japan only)
  • Space Squash (Japan only)
  • Teleroboxer
  • V-Tetris (Japan only)
  • Vertical Force
  • Virtual Bowling (Japan only)
  • Virtual Boy Wario Land
  • Virtual Fishing (Japan only)
  • Virtual Lab (Japan only)
  • Virtual League Baseball
  • Waterworld (NA only)

List of Unreleased/Cancelled Games
  • Bound High
  • Doraemon
  • Dragon Hopper
  • Faceball
  • Goldeneye 007
  • Interceptor
  • J League 3D Stage
  • Mario Adventure
  • Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
  • Night Landing
  • Niko-Chan Battle
  • Out of Deathmouth
  • Protious Zone
  • Shin Nihon Pro Wrestling
  • Sundays Point
  • Mario Kart Virtual Cup
  • VI Racer
  • Virtual Battle Ball
  • Virtual Block
  • Virtual Double
  • VirtualGunmen
  • Mahjong
  • Worms
  • Zero Racers
  • Virtual Boy: StarFox

Example Screens
wland6dnszn.jpg
vb_mariostennis_1i4sc1.jpg

mario_clashofsn9.gif
nlhl1_original9tsag.jpg


Eyepiece Screen Issues?
Check out this link if you experience issues with the display on one of your eyepieces (lines, random noise, blank) http://www.projectvb.com/displayfix.html


So what are some of you're memories of Nintendo's first 3D system? Do you have one today? What games do you have for it?

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I currently have the following games: Galactic Pinball, Golf, Mario's Tennis, Red Alarm, Teleroboxer, Vertical Force, Virtual League Baseball, Wario Land.
 
Shitty system, but for the most part, the games aren't half bad.

The problem is playing them on that Godawful system.
 
I rented one from blockbuster. It gave me headaches and neck cramps. Not sure how the system ever got passed the design stages.
 
The first and only system I ever rented at Blockbuster. That was a really fun weekend and I'm not joking. Still the only Nintendo system I never bought though sadly.
 
I wonder how good emulators are for this? I've been waiting for the longest time for Virtual Boy games to come to the 3DS so I can try Wario Land.
 
It's weird, ugly, but I love mine. It's one of those weird things I really like because it's unlike everything else.

I didn't know a Mario Kart was planned, are there any screens of this game?
 
I've never owned one myself, but I've always wanted to. A friend had one when they were new, which is how I discovered the pure joy that is VB Wario Land. Plus, there is just something aesthetically pleasing about the red on black.

It's a great system from a collection stand point as well, the library is small enough that you're not really looking into that huge of a financial investment.
 
I only played it once at blockbuster, but it would be neat to play it again. It'll always be an oddity and nice collection piece too.

How much do these go for now?
 
The concept itself was cool but the system design was atrocious in terms of practicality and ease of use.... that being said, I kind of liked how it looked. Warmed my heart when I got one in Animal Crossing: New Leaf lol
 
Bump for red glory! Despite how horribly everything played out, I had a ton of fun with Mario Tennis, Teleroboxer, Red Alarm and Galactic Pinball.

My machine still works but it's in rough shape. I've considered buying it again and its full library, but I really wish Nintendo would just go ahead and start putting out its games on 3DS Virtual Console.
 
Rented this from Blockbuster twice back in the day. Mario Tennis was fun, Teleroboxer and Red Alarm not so much. Still, I wish I would have bought a unit when they were dirt cheap.
 
I still have mine sitting at home with a copy of Wario and Mario Tennis. It was a neat idea, but the tech just wasn't there yet. It's a cool looking, interesting piece of history though.
 
Rented a unit from Blockbuster along with Red Alarm. I have no love for this thing, sorry.

I remember Kay Bee Toys trying to unload them for $50.
 
I remember buying 3 back when they were practically giving them away at EBgames. I gave them away as gifts to friends but never actually tried the hardware myself. I kinda regret that.

Would love to see these games appear on 3DS VC! Especially Wario Land.
 
Tried a demo unit in a dank and forlorn corner of a Sears once. It gave me a headache almost instantly. That was the first and last time I ever saw one outside of a vintage game shop glass display.
 
My biggest regret was throwing mine away. I moved to a new state and threw it away because it didn't fit in my car. It was mint and I bought it new in box for $25.
 
I rented one at its release and enjoyed it but never got one. Mario Tennis taught me the rules of tennis, just from playing. I never understood the game til I played that game! I also remember spending time playing Wario Land at K-Mart and enjoying it thoroughly. I wish I had bought one when they were being cleared out as I always wanted to play Mario Clash and beat Wario Land. I didn't really enjoy anything else.

Like with many things, I wish Nintendo would release VC versions of these but it probably won't happen.

Also, how was Mario Clash? Was there any depth to it besides going for score?
 
i got my mom to buy me a VB on day one with Red Alarm.. which must have rung in around $250... which is probably over $400 adjusted to inflation. i feel terrible about it since the price was dropped to $30 a year later

i think it had alot of potential. if devs had more time and effort to play around, it could've produced some experiences that would be impressive even by today's standards IMO

classics were Jack Bros and warioland. and there were a handful of others that were okay. Red Alarm could've been great if it wasn't so rushed
 
I remember playing this at a friend's house in '95, thought mario tennis was the coolest thing ever. Always contemplated on purchasing a used one at a really cheap price If I can find one.
 
I remember renting one from Blockbuster when I was a child. I remember thinking the gamepad was odd with 2 d-pads and 3D was neat. Didn't even play one again till my college roommate brought his to the dorm for a little bit. And finally now have my own when I bought it a few months back.

And it looks like my VB does indeed have a left eyesocket issue. I wonder if it's a power supply issue. I'm using a 3rd party SNES AC adapter. Maybe I should try the main one. Weird, cause when I first played it again today, I didn't have any issues. Now the left eyesocket is busted. If it is indeed busted, I'll have to see if I can buy another.
 
If Nintendo were to bring these games to the 3DS, would the 3D effect be accurate or comparable? I've never used a Virtual Boy.
 
Top contender for the worst system ever released just behind the game.com.

My eyes actually hurt when playing the thing. Still it was a good idea in concept a shame that the technology behind it was so poor.
 
GulAtiCa said:
Example Screens
wland6dnszn.jpg
vb_mariostennis_1i4sc1.jpg

mario_clashofsn9.gif
nlhl1_original9tsag.jpg


.
Click to expand...


These examples are the best games on the system. I'm only confident in saying that because there were so few games on VB, but these were my favorites. I also liked some take-turns multiplayer bowling game, and Vertical Force, although I only had the JP version (only version?) and was terrible at the latter. I have a good amount of VB games in my garage, I wonder if they are worth anything.

I was pretty young when I got this, which was sometime right after it was discontinued/announced to be discontinued, and I have a lot of fond childhood memories about the VB. My dad came home from work one day with Mario Clash, but the cartridge was hollow.. just a plastic shell with nothing inside. I was upset and he went back to the mall like an hour away that night to exchange it. I also remember trying to beat my dad's high score in Galactic Pinball.

Wario Land was my favorite game. Probably one of the first games I've ever beaten. It was great, and I would love to play it again sometime but my VB is in pretty bad shape.
 
I vaguely remember playing that Mario Tennis game and Red Alert on the machine. They were alright, but hardly worth sticking my face in the machine for. I never had a chance to play that Wario game, which looks like the best title on the system.
 
I'll never forget he day my Mom surprised me with a Virtual Boy. I don't think I ever even mentioned it. But then one day I come home from school and there it is on the Bed, with Tennis, Wario Land and Mario's Clash. I was like 'huh, why? I never even told you this existed.'

And she told me the local KB toys was closing down, and they had it on sale for like $12 or something and the games were like $5 a piece.

I think I ended up really enjoying Wario Land before I went blind, and I was occasionally engaged by a match in Tennis, but after that I got a few other VB games from KB, and they all sucked.
 
It had good shooters. Vertical force and red alarm. I liked the external speakers. My unit died on me. No longer turns on. My favourite games were Mario Tennis and Teleroboxer
 
still want one of these things one day, only recently got to finally play one (like new!) from a fellow gaffer's family member who had it with the tennis game...i can totally see the headaches over time but man was it cool, totally would've blown my mind in the day.

every time this system comes up, someone mentions Wario Land as one of the best games...which other titles stood out? can't image Jack Bros goes for cheap, either

Valjean Lafitte said:
What a wonderful start to our Virtual Boy Appreciation thread.
Click to expand...

hahaha...happens to all of em, man.

ps totally gonna link to this from the OP in Retro GAF!
 
vareon said:
I wonder if I can find this now. Really wanted to try it sometime.
Click to expand...

was just checking ebay out of curiosity, looks like you can find working units (sometimes bundled with games) for just under $100 if you bid, most buy it nows closer to 150. not as bad as say trying to collect boxed SNES titles these days, at least
 
This was my very first video game system. I had Mario's Tennis, VB Wario Land, and T&E Soft's Golf. I really enjoyed all of them, but what did I know. I still go back and play it from time to time (mainly tennis, I love that game). The soundtrack to Mario's Tennis is one of my favorites, though nostalgia plays a very large part in that.
 
I remember trying out the VB at my local Toys R Us when it first came out. I wanted one so bad but never got it. I still keep an eye out at flea markets or garage sales for one but no luck so far. They shouldn't be too expensive.

I want Nintendo to release a 3DS remake of Wario Land so bad, but they won't because it makes too much sense...
 
Galactic Pinball and Mario Tennis were amazing.

Didn't like anything else, including the Wario game. Just never clicked with me.
 
I have one with the box and mario clash,red alarm,virtual league baseball and teleroboxer. I pulled it out awhile back and the right side was all messed up and found a vidoe on youtube showing me how to fix it but havent gotten around to it.
 
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