It’s no secret that console manufacturers sometimes fall short of expectations. While the idea may look great on paper, the execution just isn’t up to par with what fans are promised. From Sega, to Sony, to Microsoft, NEC, among others, no one is immune to this. However, one company that hadn’t really had a flop in the console market at this point was Nintendo. When they announced their newest device, Virtual Boy, fans were excited. They wanted to see how Nintendo could once again bring new features to gaming.
In a statement in their press release, Nintendo of America Chairman Howard Lincoln said “We are very confident of the market potential for Virtual Boy. Nintendo is extremely excited with the tremendous opportunity that this exclusive technology affords.”
The technology Lincoln was referring to was based on 32-bit RISC graphics. These graphics produce 3D effects through 2 LED mirror scanning displays. While this sounds great in theory, the device only produced a red color palette. This left gamers with motion sickness, eye strain, and dizziness, among other things. In short, Virtual Boy did not deliver on its promises; the technology just wasn’t ready.
Virtual Boy was on the market for less than one year, but It still left a firm mark on the industry. Loyal fans love it because it was a device that was ahead of its time, and was produced by Nintendo. For many fans, being produced by Nintendo is enough.
Source: Virtual-Boy.com
