It has long been a desire of mine to translate into English a lot of the Japanese articles that have been written in magazines, etc. concerning games for the Virtual Boy that ended up never getting commercially released, since this is about the only access that we have to such games, unless their prototype cartridges happen to surface in the future and fall into the hands of one or ones who desire to dump the ROMs and release the games online for all to play. It looks like I will now have time in my life to work on such, and I hope to release all of my English translations on this thread. Now, it is important for the reader to understand that I myself do not know or speak Japanese, so I rely on the use of translation software programs such as Google Translate, SDL Free Translation, and BabelFish, as well as online Japanese-to-English dictionaries, such as Denshi Jisho – Online Japanese Dictionary. I do strongly believe that these programs allow me to create rather accurate English translations of Japanese text; nevertheless, there may still be errors on account of my lack of understanding of the Japanese language. As for the titles of certain Japanese games that never got released, I don’t know if there is any way to know what the “official” English titles would have been if they had ever gotten released in English. Nevertheless, I shall try my best to come up with what would have most likely been the English titles for these games, if they had gotten localized in North America. With that being said, the first article that I’ve translated into English appeared in the 367th issue of Famitsu Magazine, dated December 29, 1995, on page 243, and it was a write up for the unreleased game, whose title I have translated into English as “Doraemon and Nobita’s Heart-Pounding Ghostland.”
Translations for Doraemon and Nobita’s Heart-Pounding Ghostland:
バーチャルボーイ
VIRTUAL BOY
ドラえもん のび太のドキドキ！おばけランド
Doraemon and Nobita’s Heart-Pounding Ghostland
アクション
Action
カートリッジ
Cartridge
エポック社
Epoch Company
’96年発売予定
Expected Release: 1996
5500円
5,500 Yen
8メガ
8 Megabits
バーチャルボーイの機能を活かした立体的な遊園地で、ドラえもんやのび太たちが大活躍。ジェットコースターやバンジージャンプなどを使った、個性的なステージを走り回ろう。隠されたひみつ道具を捜しだして、おばけにさらわれた仲間たちを救出するのだ。
Doraemon, Nobita, and friends bustle about in a three-dimensional amusement park that takes full advantage of the Virtual Boy’s capabilities. Rush around unique stages, with roller coasters, bungee jumping, and more! Search for hidden, secret tools to rescue your buddies who have been kidnapped by ghosts!
夜の遊園地はおばけランド
The Amusement Park at Night is a Ghostland!
使用できるキャラは5人。それぞれ特徴的な攻撃ができるので、ステージごとに変えるといいぞ。
There are five different characters to choose from. Each one has its own characteristic attack, so it’s good to change characters for each stage.
ジェットコースターに乗って、おばけたちを退治しよう。
Ride a roller coaster and try to get rid of the ghosts!
©藤子・小学館・テレビ朝日
© Fujiko, Shogakukan Inc., TV Asahi Corp.
※画面は開発中のものです。
*The game’s screens are currently under development.
Note: I could not make out the Japanese characters in the very low right corner of the back of the poster. Thus, I would need a better scan of this, if I am ever to make a translation for this section.
FRONT OF POSTER:
バーチャルブロック
VIRTUAL BLOCK
超立体ゲームの登場!!
An Ultra-Stereoscopic Game is Here!
1995年12月発売予定
Expected Release: December of 1995
予定価格5,300円(税別)
Estimated Price: 5,300 Yen (Tax Not Included)
バーチャルボーイTM は任天堂の商標です。
VIRTUAL BOY TM IS A TRADEMARK OF NINTENDO.
©1995 BOTTOM UP
– – – – – – – – – –
BACK OF POSTER:
バーチャルブロック
VIRTUAL BLOCK
2匹のプレイヤーを生かすも殺すも君次第だ!
YOU DECIDE IF THE 2 PLAYERS LIVE OR DIE
1.プレイ画面は、3層から5層の立体感ある画面で構成される!
1. The play screen is composed of a stereoscopic screen with 3 to 5 tiers.
←奥
←The Back
←中間
←The Middle
←手前
←The Front
左図の画面は、手前・中間・奥の3層構造で構成されている。
The screen at left is made up of a 3-tiered structure with a front, middle, and back.
2. パチンコ・ピンボール等の多彩な仕掛のあるステージが続々登場!
2. Stages with diverse contrivances, like pachinko and pinball, appear one by one!
右図のような融合・分裂・伸び・縮み等の多彩な働きをするプレイヤーを使って、次から次へとブロックを壊していくのがこのゲームだ。パチンコステージあり、ピンボールステージあり、巨大なボスとの戦いあり。上記のような3層構造の隙間からでる敵を倒して、どんどん進め!先に待つ真の敵を倒すのは、きみだ!
In this game, you break blocks one after another by using the players that have a variety of abilities – like Fusion, Fission, Stretch, Shrink, etc. – such as are shown at right. There are pachinko stages, pinball stages, as well as giant-boss battles. Steadily advance to defeat the enemies that appear out of the openings of the 3-tiered structure as described above! Then, it’s up to you to defeat the real enemy that awaits you!
3.特徴ある巨大なボスが各ステージで持ち受ける!
3. Each stage features a certain giant boss, which you must take on!
岩の魔物の岩男は、岩を降らしたり、岩の壁を作ったりする。ぞの壁を一つづつ壊して打開する。この強敵岩男を倒すのは君だ!
The rock monster can rain down rocks or create walls of rocks. You must overcome this by breaking each wall one by one. It’s up to you to defeat this powerful enemy rock creature!
4.主役は2匹一組のプレイヤーから構成される!
4. The main character consists of a pair of 2 players!
一基本になる動き一
一Basic Moves一
●基本の状態
Basic State
●左右の移動
Move Left and Right
●高速移動
Move at High Speed
一プレイヤーの技一
一Player Abilities一
●融合
Fusion
2匹のプレイヤーがくっついて、1.5倍になる。
Sticks the 2 players together, making a single character that is 1.5 times larger than each player.
●伸び
Stretch
一度縮まって反動をつけ、一気に横に伸びる。
Instantly compresses and stretches a player horizontally for a short time.
●縮み
Shrink
玉の速度を落とす。
Makes the speed of the ball decrease.
●押し出し
Push
玉に貫通力を加える。
Adds penetration power to the ball.
●炎 <合体前>
Flame (Before Fusion)
自分の回りに炎を出す。
Creates fire around a player.
<合体後>
(After Fusion)
炎が4つに分裂して広がる。
Spreads fire that is split into 4 flames.
●稲妻
Lightning
電撃を?一??に出す。先端は龍の形をしている。
Shoots out an electrical attack to the left and right of the character. Each pointed end has the form of a dragon.
株式会社 ボトムアップ
BOTTOM UP Corp.
〒169 東京都新宿区高田馬場3-28-9 荒井ビル3F TEL.03-3371-9549
3-28-9, Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169, Japan
The following Japanese article for the unreleased Virtual Boy game, which is translated into English as “Virtual Jockey,” appeared in the 351st issue of Famitsu Magazine, dated September 8, 1995, on page 217. Although this game ended up never getting released for the Virtual Boy, Right Stuff did release “Jockey Zero” in Japan for the Playstation in November of 1996, and it looks like the Playstation version incorporates much of what would have been included in the Virtual Boy version. Thus, if you have a burning desire to know what Virtual Jockey would have been like on the Virtual Boy, get the Japanese version of Jockey Zero for the Playstation and picture it all in stereoscopic red and black!
バーチャルボーイ
VIRTUAL BOY
バーチャルジョッキー
Virtual Jockey
アクション
Action
バックアップ
カートリッジ
Battery-Backed
Up Cartridge
ライトスタッフ
Right Stuff Co., Ltd.
12月発売予定
Expected Release: December
価格未定
Price TBD
リアルな3D映像により、騎手の気分と興奮が味わえる競馬アクションゲーム。総勢20名以上からなる競馬サークル内のひとりの騎手として、ダービー制覇を目指すのだ。馬やコースの特性を熟知し、展開を読んでうまく騎乗していかないと、勝つことは難しいぞ。
A horse racing action game where you can get a taste of the jockey’s feeling and excitement by the realistic 3D images! Aim for derby supremacy as one of the jockeys within the horse racing circles, which consist of more than 20 people in total! Become familiar with the characteristics of your horse and the courses, for if you don’t ride your horse well and you’re not prepared for what unfolds before you, it’s difficult to win!
目標ダービー制覇!!
THE GOAL: DERBY SUPREMACY!!
▼騎乗の依頼を秘書のさつきちゃんに確認してもらって、いざ競馬場へ!!
Have your personal secretary, Satsuki, confirm your request to ride; then it’s off to the racetrack!
▲プレーヤーの分身となる騎手は、なんと馬と会話することができるのだ。
The jockey, serving as the alter ego of the player, can have a conversation with the horse!
©RIGHT STUFF
※画面は開発中のものです。
*The game’s screens are currently under development.
Since I could actually make out what appears in these screenshots, I figured I would translate the text in them.
LEFT SCREENSHOT:
[Screen’s title in the top left corner]
騎乗依頼
REQUEST
TO RIDE
[Heading in the top middle of the screen]
12月
第4週
DECEMBER
WEEK 4
[What your personal secretary, Satsuki, is saying in her box]
私役目ね♡
It’s my duty!
[The label beneath Satsuki reads:]
騎乗依頼
Request to Ride
[The label beneath your jockey standing on the podium reads:]
成績
Results
[The label beneath your jockey’s horse reads:]
レース場へ
To the Racetrack
[What your horse is saying in its box]
めざせ一着!!
Go for first place!
RIGHT SCREENSHOT:
[Screen’s title in the top left corner]
レース場
RACETRACK
オレの背中に乗るだと? フン! 100年早いぜ出直してきな
So, you want to ride on my back? Hah! Don’t come back for another hundred years!
FRONT OF POSTER:
バーチャルボーイTM は任天堂の商標です
VIRTUAL BOY TM IS A TRADEMARK OF NINTENDO
スピードを恐れるな!
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE SPEED!
迫力に負けるな!
DON’T SUCCUMB TO THE INTENSITY!
バーチャルジョッキー
VIRTUAL JOCKEY
騎手やったらやめられないぜ!
YOU JUST CAN’T STOP A JOCKEY!
年未
発売予定
——–
価格未定
Release Date TBD
—————-
Price TBD
バーチャルボーイ専用ソフト/ホースレースゲーム(ジョッキーシミュレーション)
VIRTUAL BOY-EXCLUSIVE SOFTWARE / HORSE RACING GAME (JOCKEY SIMULATION)
ライトスタッフ
RIGHT STUFF
BACK OF POSTER:
強敵達をぶっちぎりめざすぜ日本ダービーチャンピオン!
STRIVE TO OUTRACE YOUR FORMIDABLE OPPONENTS AND BECOME THE JAPANESE DERBY CHAMPION!
オッス!
Howdy!
オイラこのゲームの主人公。
I’m the main character of this game.
つまり君せ!
In other words, I’m you!
オヤジの育てた馬を「日本ダービー」で優勝させるために騎手(ジョッキー) になったんだ。
I became a rider (jockey) to help the horse raised by my father win the cup at “The Japanese Derby.”
ちょっとインチキみたいだけどサ、オイラ馬と話せるんだよ。バッチリだろ?
Though it’s sort of cheating a little, I’m able to talk with the horse. Sounds perfect, right?
でも勝負の世界はさすがにアマくなかった…。
However, the contest world truly isn’t amateur….
強敵はウジャウジャいるし、おまけに「カイザー軍団」っていう悪いヤツらまでいて、仲間やライバルがひどい目にあってるんだ。
There are formidable opponents in throngs, and to make matters worse, there are the bad guys – that is, the “Kaiser Corps” – who are giving friends and rivals a very bad time.
カイザーだけはゼッタイに倒さなきゃ。
The Kaiser absolutely must be defeated!
そんなわけで君の力が必要なんだ。
That’s why I need your help.
ヨロシクたのむぜ!
Please, I’m relying on you!
“3D画像”で臨場感倍増! ど! 迫力のホースレースゲームだ!
IT’S AN INTENSE HORSE RACING GAME WITH 3D IMAGES THAT DOUBLE THE SENSE OF REALITY!
レース画面
練りに練ってる最中です(7月末現在)
乞う御期待
The racing screens are in the middle of being polished up (as of the end of July).
Please stay tuned.
ゲーム中、あなたのお世話をさせていただく安田さつきです。
I am Satsuki Yasuda, and I will take care of you during the game.
長一いおつきあいになりそうね。よろしく。
It’s likely to become a long-term acquaintance, so please treat me favorably.
ストーリーの中ではカッコよくてモテモテのあなただけど、あくまでもレースがメインだってことわすれないでね。
Though in the story, you’re very popular and have a nice outfit, please don’t forget that the main focus is the race to the end.
さぁ、バーチャルボーイの本格派ゲームにチャレンジしましょ。
Come on; let’s challenge this authentically styled game for the Virtual Boy!
[Questionable text on the main character]
競走って
すんごくオモシれイんだぜ!
(Not sure of proper translation)
レース画面は馬に乗った自分の視点をポリゴンで表現。
The racing screen displays a perspective of you on horseback, made of polygons.
右目用と左目用の映像が組合わさってとてもリアルな立体感が味わえるゾ!
The left-eye and right-eye images combined together create a very realistic stereoscopic effect!
他にも、他の馬の位置がわかりやすいように上から見下ろした視点、ゴール前の迫力を楽しんでもらうための横視点、などたくさんの視点が選べるんだ!
Also, you can choose from several different perspectives, such as, among others, a horizontal perspective, in order to enjoy the intensity of the goal before you, or a perspective looking down from above, in order to make it easier to know the positions of the other horses.
馬がシヤベルなんておかしいかい?
It’s strange if a horse speaks, isn’t it?
でも、これってスゴイことなんだぞ。
Nevertheless, I do such an amazing thing!
レースで一番大切なのは、オレたち馬のことをよく知ること。
One of the most important things in racing is that we know the other horses well.
スタミナはどうか?
What are their staminas?
スピードは?
What about their speeds?
オレ達の性格や戦法を知ってこそ、レース展開を読んだり、他の馬との駆け引きが出来るようになるのさ。
Once we know each other’s personalities and our strategy, we can be prepared for what develops in a race, and strategizing using the other horses will be possible.
指さばきだけじゃないんだぜ。
It isn’t just about the handling of the fingers.
なぁに、オレたちの協力があればムズかしいことじゃないさ。
If we cooperate, things won’t get too difficult for us.
早く一人前になって、オヤジの夢をかなえてやれよ。
Swiftly get ahead of the others and make your father’s dream come true!
画面は開発中のもので、製品版とは異なることがあります。
The game’s screens are currently under development and may be different from the product versions.
RS 株式会社 ライトスタッフ
RS Corp.- RIGHT STUFF
〒140 東京都品川区西大井6-10-10 品川RSビル TEL.03-3772-5131
Shinagawa RS Building / 6-10-10, Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140, Japan TEL:03-3772-5131
ユーザーテレフォン:03-3772-5073(ライトスタッフの最新情報をお知らせしています)
User Telephone:03-3772-5073(For the latest information about Right Stuff)
Nice find, Ben! A lot of the artwork got reused. I wonder how the actual races would have looked on the Virtual Boy.
I have found the game on ebay, have a look at the artwork on the inside. Looks familar. 🙂
The following Japanese article for the unreleased Virtual Boy game, which is translated into English as “Proteus Zone,” appeared in the 363rd issue of Famitsu Magazine, dated December 1, 1995, on page 106. Although very little is known about this game, the fact that it was being developed by Coconuts Japan, the company that brought us the most excellent Virtual Boy game, Space Squash, is enough for one to surmise that Proteus Zone would have been a very good game.
●ココナッツジャパン エンターテイメント
●Coconuts Japan Entertainment
プロテウスゾーン
Proteus Zone
’96年3月予定
Expected Release: March of 1996
5800円
Price: 5,800 Yen
シューティング
Shooting
カートリッジ
Cartridge
暗黒の世界を舞台に、かつて体験したことのないような立体的なシューティングシーンが、つぎつぎと展開する。
A game set in a world of darkness, with stereoscopic shooting scenes, like none ever experienced before, which unfold one after another.
The following Japanese article for the unreleased Virtual Boy game, which is translated into English as “Virtual Pro Baseball ’96,” also appeared in the 363rd issue of Famitsu Magazine, dated December 1, 1995, on page 106.
●ケムコ
●Kemco
バーチャルプロ野球’96
Virtual Pro Baseball ’96
’96年3月発売
Expected Release: March of 1996
6500円
Price: 6,500 Yen
スポーツ
Sports
バックアップ
カートリッジ
Battery-Backed
Up Cartridge
好評だった前作に’95年プロ野球ペナント最新データと、対戦モードをプラス。より過激にパワーアップしたぞ。
This game adds the latest data of the 1995 professional baseball pennant season and a versus mode to its popular predecessor. This version is powered up to the extreme!
©1995 KEMCO / (社)日本野球機構、プロ野球12球団公認ゲーム
©1995 KEMCO / Nippon Professional Baseball (Association). Certified game with 12 professional baseball teams.
The following Japanese article for the unreleased Virtual Boy game, which is translated into English as “Out of the Deathmount,” appeared in the 363rd issue of Famitsu Magazine, dated December 1, 1995, on page 107.
J・ウイング
J-Wing
OUT OF THE DEATHMOUNT
(仮題)
(Working Title)
’96年3月1日発売
Expected Release: March 1, 1996
6800円
Price: 6,800 Yen
シューティング
Shooting
カートリッジ
Cartridge
近末来を舞台にした3Dシューティングゲーム。奥行きのある空間で、2丁の銃を上手に操って敵を倒すのだ!
A 3D shooting game set in the near future. Use two guns at the same time to defeat enemies in spaces with depth!
The following Japanese article for the unreleased Virtual Boy game, which is translated into English as “J.League 3D Stadium,” also appeared in the 363rd issue of Famitsu Magazine, dated December 1, 1995, on page 107.
J・ウイング
J-Wing
Jリーグ3Dステージ(仮題)
J.League 3D Stadium (Working Title)
’96年3月20日発売
Expected Release: March 20, 1996
6900円
Price: 6,900 Yen
スポーツ
Sports
バックアップ
カートリッジ
Battery-Backed
Up Cartridge
バーチャルボーイ初のJリーグ公認ソフトなのだ。ボールが目前に迫ってくる3D視点、立体感がたまらない!?
It’s the first software certified by J.League for the Virtual Boy. The ball comes at you, right before your very eyes, in a 3D perspective with an irresistible stereoscopic effect!
©1996 J-WING ©J.LEAGUE
The following Japanese article for the unreleased Virtual Boy game, which is translated into English as “New Japan Pro Wrestling: Fierce Fighting Legends,” appeared in the 363rd issue of Famitsu Magazine, dated December 1, 1995, on page 109.
●トミー
● Tomy
新日本プロレスリング 激闘伝説
New Japan Pro Wrestling: Fierce Fighting Legends
12月発売
Expected Release: December
4980円
Price: 4,980 Yen
スポーツ
Sports
カートリッジ
Cartridge
新日本プロレスに所属するプロレスラーが、実名で登場するプロレスゲーム。臨場感あふれる闘いを満喫しよう。
A pro wrestling game, in which the real names of the pro wrestlers in New Japan Pro Wrestling appear. Enjoy fights overflowing with a sense of reality.
©NJPW
The following Japanese article for the unreleased Virtual Boy game, which is translated into English as “Virtual Gunman,” appeared in the 363rd issue of Famitsu Magazine, dated December 1, 1995, on page 113.
●ビクター エンタテインメント
● Victor Entertainment
バーチャルガンマン
Virtual Gunman
’96年3月発売
Expected Release: March of 1996
5800円
Price: 5,800 Yen
シューティング
Shooting
カートリッジ
Cartridge
近末来を舞台にしたガンシューティングゲーム。迫りくる敵をつぎつぎと爆破し全5ステージクリアーを目指せ。
A gun shooting game set in the near future. Blast away the enemies that approach one after another and strive to clear all 5 stages.
©1996 Victor Entertainment, Inc.
oh wow this is so cool!!!
Who knows, maybe one day we may end up seeing the game file/rom online that is uploaded by one of the developers or someone who was attached to one or several of the unreleased virtual boy games.
All of the magazine scans are AMAZING ben! Seriously, this is probably my favorite thread of this entire board right now lol.
I really hope some of the developers/coders/etc that were working on any of these unreleased virtual boy games will one day upload whatever game file/rom they have left of the unreleased virtual boy game online.
Then I’m sure there will be groups or teams of dedicated virtual boy fans that will take on one of the unreleased virtual boy games and try to actually make it a playable completed game!
If I could I would love to play that wrestling game on the virtual boy but who knows when any of these unreleased virtual boy games will find it’s way online.
