I’ve read a few articles on why the Virtual Boy wasn’t a success, whether it was the headaches, the lack of color and games etc., but I’d really like to discuss what some legitimate solutions could have helped with the systems success.

Good question, I always thought that the reason why the Virtual Boy did’nt make it was that no one hardly read the instructions on how to set up the thing. To remedy this I would of had a packed in video that advertised on the outside Game Previews! After every third preview have a message that says something like this ” And remember if you do not set up the Virtual Boy properly it will result in not being able to see the 3d effect,eye strain and headaches. This is the proper way to set up a VB” and it shows you a illustration on how to use the IPD and the focus. I would do that after every 3 games previewed.

My guess is to have a better display that doesn’t give headaches. And the sound chip of the VB; it’s like they were already having 32 simultaneous background layers for the display, but they didn’t really make it sound like a SNES.

Or better yet, they should’ve let Reflection Tech. skip Nintendo after they skipped Sega, and probably go to different companies. If they didn’t like the concept then, they should’ve just rush out the N64 in an possible attempt to go after the already 64-bit Atari Jaguar console.

Morintari wrote:
Good question, I always thought that the reason why the Virtual Boy did’nt make it was that no one hardly read the instructions on how to set up the thing. To remedy this I would of had a packed in video that advertised on the outside Game Previews! After every third preview have a message that says something like this ” And remember if you do not set up the Virtual Boy properly it will result in not being able to see the 3d effect,eye strain and headaches. This is the proper way to set up a VB” and it shows you a illustration on how to use the IPD and the focus. I would do that after every 3 games previewed.

I definitely agree that the setup should’ve been much more clear, or even designed in a way that was easier to understand, more intuitive I guess. For me personally I think a more stand out set of launch titles would’ve help, the VB has good titles but it really needed a killer app, like a mainstream Mario title etc.

I understand they rushed it because the pre-N64 window was getting tight, but they should have given Yokoi the time needed to really polish it up. It could have ended up being a little less clunky, easier to use, and maybe easier on the eyes.

Having said that, it was plenty polished if it was adjusted properly. I agree there should have been lots more video footage of kids fiddling with the top, without explicitly saying “your eyes are going to hurt unless you do this.”

The games were actually pretty solid, but Tennis was sort of a weak pack-in. Something with an immersive first-person view would have been a slam dunk. Nintendo wouldn’t have packed in a shooter, but a shooter would have been great, especially with the triggers on the controller. Maybe a racing game, with full graphics and not wireframes, with a default first-person view, rear-view mirrors etc. That would have gotten people talking. Not that every VB game needs to be a VR game, but the pack-in should have been, IMO.

I think a shooter would’ve been pretty sweet for a pack in as well. Teleroboxer was also pretty fit for that as well, since it was first person and also took advantage of all aspects of the controller. Mario’s tennis could’ve worked if they gave it a little more depth, like they did with Mario tennis on N64.

Better marketing, better game lineup at launch, and a link cable from the start with a killer 2 player game.
I don’t think the display would have to be color, at the time their other battery powered system was puke green and darker puke green. The VB display is worlds better then the DMG.
The display never gives headaches if setup properly, so like Morintori said maybe more prominent ways to explain how to set it up properly (even a piece of paper with instructions on that cardboard piece that protected the visor so they had to see if before playing).
Maybe a large ad campaign to clear up the misconceptions about the system.

They could have done a lot, honestly.

For the VB to have been more successful, I would say it needed better marketing–the marketing in the US showed zero gameplay footage. I get that it’s difficult to show the 3D effect on a 2-dimensional, 15kHz consumer television, but they could have at least showed gameplay from one eyepiece, maybe with some fish-eye lensing for a popping effect and 1990s kitsch.

They should have also told people to go to their local Toys R Us, Electronics Boutique/EB Games, or wherever for an in-person demonstration.

As for the hardware, I personally would appreciate it if the IPD and focus adjustments were better. I can usually get the IPD in a good spot, but not the focus. The IPD adjustment is also way too stiff (probably for good reason), and the focus adjustment is way too loose; both of which make it difficult to fine-tune those adjustments for me.

It probably would have been nice if the console had a video output, even if it was only 2D and composite video.

I would have liked to see a link cable, since the hardware can support it, but the platform was canceled before any 2-player games hit the market, so there really wasn’t a reason to sell one.

On a related topic, for Nintendo to be more successful with a 3D/VR product, I think they should have moved forward with the Super Visor and set up VR stations in arcades and malls across their major markets. Sure, they’d require support staff, but Nintendo’s logo would have been featured prominently in high-foot-traffic areas.

I submit to you all that there was nothing that could have been done. VR and 3D technology in general is very gimmicky, and even when built well; it’s still got very low adoption. 3D TVs while amazing came and went with little fanfare. Nobody even talks about Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR or any of the other ones, they are gimmicky and only fill a very small group of peoples interest.

When Nintendo 3DS launched hardly anybody was interested, and it appeared as though it was going to fade out. It wasn’t until prices lowered and people realized they could play games without the 3D that it became everyone’s console.

Dreammary wrote:
I submit to you all that there was nothing that could have been done. VR and 3D technology in general is very gimmicky, and even when built well; it’s still got very low adoption. 3D TVs while amazing came and went with little fanfare. Nobody even talks about Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR or any of the other ones, they are gimmicky and only fill a very small group of peoples interest.

When Nintendo 3DS launched hardly anybody was interested, and it appeared as though it was going to fade out. It wasn’t until prices lowered and people realized they could play games without the 3D that it became everyone’s console.

So, to recap, people suck! 😉

TheForce81 wrote:
So, to recap, people suck! 😉

How so, exactly?

TheForce81 wrote:

Dreammary wrote:
I submit to you all that there was nothing that could have been done. VR and 3D technology in general is very gimmicky, and even when built well; it’s still got very low adoption. 3D TVs while amazing came and went with little fanfare. Nobody even talks about Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR or any of the other ones, they are gimmicky and only fill a very small group of peoples interest.

When Nintendo 3DS launched hardly anybody was interested, and it appeared as though it was going to fade out. It wasn’t until prices lowered and people realized they could play games without the 3D that it became everyone’s console.

So, to recap, people suck! 😉

Essentially yes and because of the general population not watching IMAX 3D, it’s now completely dead.
https://www.slashfilm.com/imax-3d-phasing-out/

The 3D craze has almost ended, but I personally was always thrilled to see movies in 3D.

3D movies were pretty great, the few times I have gotten to see them anyway 🙂

As someone who bought the Virtual Boy at launch, and the only one of my friends who was interested in it at the time, I can tell you a few things that would have helped.

1. It should have launched at $99.99. I know they lowered the price later, but then it was too late. If it came out at $99.99 it would have gotten a lot more hype.

2. It needed better games at launch. There wasn’t much to choose from and it didn’t have a killer app. If they had delayed it maybe by a few months and had Wario Land ready as a pack in, that surely would have helped.

3. Needed more coverage in gaming mags. Even Nintendo Power didn’t really have much on the VB. It only dedicated a measly few pages to the system after launch.

These points still may have not made the VB a success, but maybe on launch day I wouldn’t have been the only person at Software Etc. in the mall buying a system.