Nintendo Virtual Boy
The Nintendo Virtual Boy, released in 1995, was a video game console that used a twin eyeglass style projector to display the games in "true" 3-D (though monochromatic). The launch price was around $180. It was a flop in the marketplace, for several reasons:
- It was marketed as a portable system, but it was not as portable as consumers thought it should be
- The display was known to cause eye problems, especially for those under 7 years of age (it allegedly stunts eye development).
- Buyers did not feel that the games released for the system were particularly fun to play.
Every Virtual Boy game will pause automatically every 15-30 minutes to remind the player to take a break, to prevent undue eyestrain and possible headaches.
Hype surrounding the device before its release included public musings by Nintendo that the device might resemble a gun set vertical, projecting a 3D image in the air above it. The actual device was considered a disappointment compared to this description when it arrived.
Console hardware specifications
- Processor
- NEC V810 (P/N uPD70732)
- 32-bit RISC Processor @ 20 MHz (18 MIPS)
- 1 MB of DRAM and 512 KB of P-SRAM
- 1 KB Cache
- Display
- RTI SLA (P4)
- 384 x 224 Resolution
- 50.2 Hz Horizontal Scan Rate
- Power
- 6 AA Batteries (9 VDC) or AC Adapter (10 VDC)
- Sound
- Controller
- Serial Port
- Hardware Part Numbers
- VUE-001 Virtual Boy Unit
- VUE-003 Shaft
- VUE-005 Controller
- VUE-006 Game Pak
- VUE-007 Battery Pack
- VUE-011 AC Adapter
- VUE-012 Eye shade Holder
- Weight
- Dimensions
Cartridge specifications
- 8-16 Mbit ROM
- 0-8 KB Battery Backed RAM
- Toshiba TC538200AFT and TC5316200AFT SRAM Chips (16 Mbit)
- 60-pin connector
External links
- http://dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Console_Platforms/Nintendo/Virtual_Boy/
Referenced By
Gumpei Yokoi | Gunpei Yokoi | Hand held console | Handheld (gaming) | Handheld game console | Handheld game system | List of Japan-related topics L-Z | List of major flops | Nintendo | Yokoi Gumpei | Yokoi Gunpei
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