Virtual boy hardware should not be used?

Jun 10, 2014 • 00:19

Like the title says
Should the VB hardware stop being used?

The Vb hardware aka the system has a stand that breaks easy, the stand makes it hard to play the system, gets glitches on one of the eye pieces all the time, needs 6 batteries just to work unless you manage to buy the AC Adapter/TAP, needs the expensive flashboy just to play the roms…

Oculus rift, a virtual reality gaming machine that will be released commercially in 2015 but as of now you can buy the development kit system and the system has over 30 games
The system never has glitches, no stand, needs no batteries and above all you can play all the games including most homebrew for free without needing the expensive flashboy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19RJUQ8C0c <-In french but he shows you many VB games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE-0kocNNIw <-A video of someone playing a homebrew for the system just to show you that the Oculus rift can play VB homebrew games Anyone making VB homebrew games would only care if the game works on official hardware to make the game legit meaning official because after all a system game that only works on emulator but not on hardware is not in reality a game for that system So what do you think? Should people still make VB homebrew games like normal and make sure the game works on the VB hardware just to be legit/official but actually never releasing the game claiming it can work on hardware or making sure if it had 2 player ability it means 2 players on Ocilus rift and not 2 player on the VB system itself? Keep the hardware for legit purposes but scrapping the idea of VB 2 player link cables and other add ons to the system itself

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

12 Replies

Jun 10, 2014 • 01:19

Super Bros.

Honestly you can fix the screens with solder, and the AC tap isn’t that expensive. Virtual Boy is a great console that deserves an audience.

Jun 10, 2014 • 01:27

speedyink

Emulating something is never, ever, 100% the same as running the same software on legit hardware. Main things that come to mind:
1. Sound/graphic inaccuracies
2. Sound/frame skipping
3. Usually limited to a generic controller
4. There is always, always “something” missing

I have two systems (PSP and Xperia Play) that are wonderful for emulating classic games. Even though it’s way more convenient to load one of these up with games, I always prefer to bring a Gameboy with a stash of my favorite cartridges. Part of it is I hate sound skipping. Hate hate HATE it. I also hate inaccurate sound (has to be just as originally composed). Graphics glitches are annoying too, in fact, back when emulating was all I did, I just didn’t play games that had glitchy graphics, and I missed out on some amazing games (Mischief Makers is an awesome game when everything is actually visible). The big part though..is the nostalgia. Nothing feels, looks, or sounds like the original. A B&W gameboy game is meant to be displayed on that spinach green or refreshing gameboy pocket display, ghosting and all. Gameboy color games are meant to be played on that playfully colored GBC, complete with battery lump, and non backlit screen (hey, it’s an excuse to play outside on a nice sunny day). A NES game isn’t a NES game if you don’t have to first slide in the cartridge, then push it down, locking it into the depths of awesome. And the Virtual Boy..nothing can emulate the sound and slight vibration of the mirrors. Nothing can replace that perfectly crafted controller. Nothing will ever replace looking at the cover of a box, taking out the cartridge, and sliding into the red beast to escape to another world.

Ok I admit, I’m a purist. But to start making games not actually playable on the real hardware that inspired the games in the first place.. It just seems like leaving a piece of history behind. In that case, why not just code a game for the PC that’s styled like a VB game?

Jun 10, 2014 • 01:28

Guy Perfect

If you’re not making a game to run on the hardware, you may as well make something else, like a game with color. (-:

Jun 10, 2014 • 04:19

KJ4860

In the past decade, ive owned two used VBs that i parted with. Very recently, i acquired a brand new one, immediately opened it, and shoved a Flashboy loaded with Bound High in.

Does that make your blood boil? 😀

Jun 10, 2014 • 05:27

HorvatM

akumie wrote:
Like the title says
Should the VB hardware stop being used?

No, let’s enjoy it while it lasts.

The Vb hardware aka the system has a stand that breaks easy

Hasn’t happened to me yet.

the stand makes it hard to play the system

Not if you have a good chair and a table of the proper height.

gets glitches on one of the eye pieces all the time

Not since TheForce81 fixed it for me.

needs 6 batteries just to work unless you manage to buy the AC Adapter/TAP

I’ve owned a tap and adapter as long as I’ve owned the system.

needs the expensive flashboy just to play the roms

I have a FlashBoy, but yes, I wish cheaper alternatives would exist.

Oculus rift, a virtual reality gaming machine that will be released commercially in 2015 but as of now you can buy the development kit system and the system has over 30 games

And it’s owned by Facebook. It looked promising, but no thank you.

The system never has glitches, no stand, needs no batteries and above all you can play all the games including most homebrew for free without needing the expensive flashboy

The developer kit 2 costs 350 USD, so for now it is still possible to get a VB and FlashBoy for less than that if you’re in the US.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19RJUQ8C0c <-In french but he shows you many VB games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE-0kocNNIw <-A video of someone playing a homebrew for the system just to show you that the Oculus rift can play VB homebrew games

So it can be used to play VB games. That’s great, but I already have a VB. 😛

Anyone making VB homebrew games would only care if the game works on official hardware to make the game legit meaning official because after all a system game that only works on emulator but not on hardware is not in reality a game for that system

VB emulators are now good enough that what works on them usually also works on hardware, and vice versa.

Should people still make VB homebrew games like normal and make sure the game works on the VB hardware

Yes, that would be welcome.

but actually never releasing the game claiming it can work on hardware or making sure if it had 2 player ability it means 2 players on Ocilus rift and not 2 player on the VB system itself?

As I said, if it works on emulators, chances are it will work on hardware. And if a game would support 2 players on an emulator, it could only do so with the emulator emulating the link port, meaning it would also support 2 players on 2 physical Virtual Boys. And ideally it shouldn’t be too difficult to add support for the VB<->PC cable to play over the Internet once it comes out.

Keep the hardware for legit purposes but scrapping the idea of VB 2 player link cables and other add ons to the system itself

If a VB<->PC cable comes out, I’ll buy it, but if you’re not going to, fine.

Jun 10, 2014 • 07:03

MineStorm

Should the VB hardware stop being used?

Talking rubbish.

You just turn up now and again to do some trolling.

Jun 10, 2014 • 14:53

modeltfordman

There is nothing better than playing on actual hardware.
I personally never had a virtual boy growing up and decided to pick one up and I love it. It was a working system and still is partially, and I would not trade it for anything. In fact it is being sent out for repair as I type (hurry back little guy).

Jun 10, 2014 • 16:31

akumie

We all have our opinions but for me if the 2P function only worked threw internet on some emulator like that online capability that some N64 emulator (whatever its called now) had then it would be more then enough

The point is that it must work on hardware to be considered a vb game but when you actually play the game in the dark the Oculus rift in my opinion is a much better option then playing it on the Vb system itself
Much more confterbale and no stand means easier to play on it

Yes the games might not work 100% on emulators but if you see the 2 videos I posted and the other 5+ ones found on youtube you would see at least when you see the VB games being played on the Oculus rift that it seems to have no lag what so ever

Also you can buy the hardware like the system and the games if your a collector or a game programer but for the rest of us I think Oculus rift is a much cheaper option since we get the system, all the games including the homebrew and if thats not enough the Oculus rift has over 30+ non-VB games atm

Jun 10, 2014 • 19:46

Lester Knight

until very recently, almost all retro homebrew (not counting disc systems) were designed for emulation. flash kits for multiple retro systems weren’t a real choice until the everdrive series made them affordable and reliable. homebrew will probably continue to be designed more often for emulation with the hopes that it will run on actual hardware. the direct-to-cart homebrew release trend is a relatively new one, and currently seems to focus on a select set of systems (atari, nes, snes, genesis).

nothing beats playing on actual hardware. the feeling of the controller, the sound chip, connecting to an old TV, etc, is an experience you can’t perfectly recreate with emulation. you can get really close, and for most that is enough. in regards to the virtual boy, i would welcome an opportunity to play its games and homebrew on the oculus rift. the vb has moving parts and moving parts won’t last forever. we have been doing great with it so far, but the chance to use it less often and still enjoy its experiences is an interesting one.

Jun 10, 2014 • 20:54

VBmills

The first virtual boy game I played was on an emulator and it just didn’t feel right. 3 weeks later I had hardware on my table top. I haven’t used a VB emu since then.
I’m always going to be a sucker for real hardware but its always good to get some sort of feel for what a system has to offer via emulation.
Anyway gone of topic, I’m for real hardware!

Jun 11, 2014 • 17:51

Rockman_X

I just love the feel of hardware.. Experiencing the real thing.. So, That’s hardware for me..

Jun 12, 2014 • 07:15

3DBoyColor

Upon testing out my second solder fixed Virtual Boy, I too am in the original hardware camp. Moreover, I find it silly how anyone would not want to play a real Virtual Boy. If they are not going to last forever, why not enjoy them then? Save Oculus RIft for when most VB systems don’t work anymore.

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Virtual boy hardware should not be used?