A 3D Game for a 3D World

The Virtual Boy is Nintendo's biggest and most noticeable flop. Even though Nintendo has flopped in many other projects, The Virtual Boy is the one project that everyone remembers.

With the Nintendo 3Ds coming out this year, we talk to its predecessor about the trials and tribulations it endured in its short life span and after life.

1. It was stated that you were capable of displaying true 3d graphics. Was that true?

Yes, it was stated that... it IS technically 3D (stay in the game 3D), but maybe not the 3D most people would want (pop out and fly above your head 3D)

2. Your initial price was $180. why not $150?

Nintendo believed I'd sell well, so they must have thought they might as well try to profit more as well

3. You came in a flimsy box and packaged with a stand and a controller, why was there no AC adapter?

The original Gameboy came with no AC Adapter either, you know!

4. Instead of using Red LED pixels, why didn't you use LCD screens?

Using Red LED's was cheaper

5. You never got to use the EXT port, do you think that would have helped your sales?

The original Gameboy (despite being green/black) succeeded and most of that was because of two-player ability, so perhaps yes

6. Your maker, Gunpei Yokoi, never approved for the release of your present form. Why do you think Nintendo made the desicion to release you like this?

Yokoi wanted to work on me longer, but Hiroshi Yamauchi (Nintendo of Japan's president at the time) wanted him to just sell me how I was, due to the Nintendo 64 releasing soon, so they could focus on the N64 more

7. Do you think this was a sign that they were going to release Gunpei from Nintendo?

Yokoi already was planning retirement before I was even created, however he was put in a window seat because of me

8. You were not allowed around kids under 7, was this due to you giving people a headache and maybe giving kids eye problems?

People under 7 were advised not play me due to their eyes still developing (even though some have played Virtual Boys and been under 7), but to avoid being sued Nintendo put a warning on my box

9. Nintendo gave up on you in 1996, not even a year of being released. Do you think they ever believed in you?

Yamauchi, in 1994, thought Nintendo would sell 3 million Virtual Boy units, and they even planed a "re-launch" in 1996 with new games like "Bound High!" but unfortunately that did not happen

10. You have been listed as one of the worst inventions of all time. What do you have to say about that?

Thats kinda mean... the Xbox 360 (mostly the non-slim ones) is known for its common RRoD (Red Ring of Death) problem, yet is still selling and is a popular console (maybe because its in color, I don't know)

11. There were only 14 games released here in America, do you think they were any good?

Mario's Tennis has been claimed as the best Tennis or Mario Tennis game by some and Virtual Boy Wario Land is the one game that even those who don't like me seem to enjoy, so yeah there is good games on me (despite what the haters think)

12. The Nintendo 3Ds is coming out soon. Do you have any advice you would like to give your successor?

Well, my successor is already doing well because even those who don't like 3D can turn it off by a switch now, so... keep up the good work?

13. Is there anything you would like to add or let the readers out there know?

There is actually a place where people like me, some people even try to collect Virtual Boy stuff, make homebrew, and other related enthusiasm: Planet Virtual Boy (yay! people do care!)

You can follow The Nintendo Virtual Boy on Twitter. Support the greatest Nintendo Cult System!

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