For or Against the Virtual Boy?

[CoteRangers]

I'm getting a Virtual Boy tomorrow at the flea market. But I did heard some people liking it, and others disliking it.

So just out of complete curiosity, do you love or hate the Virtual Boy?

[Tanooki]

For what it is I care for it, and it never gave me eye tumors or splitting headaches either, dizziness or vertigo. The only and only reason I no longer own one, it got boring. You can only do so much with 14 US release titles before it gets stale and the Japanese stuff due to collectors are wretchedly pricy.

[o.pwuaioc]

The Virtual Boy does absolutely nothing for me except give me headaches and neck cramps. However, without it, we wouldn't have had this gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAtrkMGNp0o

[Aussie2B]

I know many gamers would think I'm crazy for it, but I actually really love the Virtual Boy. Even though it was gimped from Yokoi's original vision (because it would've been way too expensive), I think the technology is still really impressive, and the game library easily has one of the best crap to quality ratios of any system I've encountered. I guess that's what happens when you're dealing with a very small library with most of the games being first party, just like with the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Almost every Virtual Boy game is at least pretty good, if not great. I think Virtual Boy Wario Land is still the best Wario game ever made, just to name one. While there are some gamers who do have headache/eyestrain issues with it, I think most problems people have with it can be alleviated by simply following Nintendo's suggestions and setting it up properly. I always make sure to have it at a comfortable angle, adjust the screen properly, and take breaks, and I've never had any problems myself.

The biggest problem for the Virtual Boy is that it's a popular butt of jokes on the internet, so more often than not, when people make comments about it having no good games and "making your eyes bleed", they haven't ever even touched a Virtual Boy or barely tried one out. While it begins as joking, people actually start taking that stuff as truth, so a lot of gamers legitimately believe that all of its games suck and that it causes headaches to every single person who plays it.

[wiggyx]

"Ick" sums up my feelings about it.

[treismac]

I was given a Virtual Boy a while back and I can play it for about 15 minutes before I become a bit too disorientated to continue. Also, let me give another nod to the deservedly lauded Wario Land, which is the best game I've played for the system.

[Atarileaf]

Never played one but I don't think I'm missing out. If I was given one or found one really cheap I'd pick it up to try out but I wouldn't go out of my way for one.

[LimitedEditionMuseum]

I know many gamers would think I'm crazy for it, but I actually really love the Virtual Boy. Even though it was gimped from Yokoi's original vision (because it would've been way too expensive), I think the technology is still really impressive, and the game library easily has one of the best crap to quality ratios of any system I've encountered. I guess that's what happens when you're dealing with a very small library with most of the games being first party, just like with the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Almost every Virtual Boy game is at least pretty good, if not great. I think Virtual Boy Wario Land is still the best Wario game ever made, just to name one. While there are some gamers who do have headache/eyestrain issues with it, I think most problems people have with it can be alleviated by simply following Nintendo's suggestions and setting it up properly. I always make sure to have it at a comfortable angle, adjust the screen properly, and take breaks, and I've never had any problems myself.

The biggest problem for the Virtual Boy is that it's a popular butt of jokes on the internet, so more often than not, when people make comments about it having no good games and "making your eyes bleed", they haven't ever even touched a Virtual Boy or barely tried one out. While it begins as joking, people actually start taking that stuff as truth, so a lot of gamers legitimately believe that all of its games suck and that it causes headaches to every single person who plays it.
I honestly don't believe all the " headache" tales. It's just the "correct" thing to say just like "I never liked MC Hammer' or " I never liked Vanilla Ice". It's just the thing to say.

[joshnickerson]

It's not exactly my favorite Nintendo console, but I'm glad I own one, even though I only play it about once a year.

Also, be sure that it works, since the Virtual Boy is a rather fragile system and unlike most other Nintendo consoles, prone to failure. I'd bring six AA batteries with you to test it out.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

For or against Virtual Boy? Do I have to take such an extreme position? :)

I own a Virtual Boy and have all the US releases. I play it ever so often. I never have any eye problems, but do take the recommended breaks.

I like it because it's WAY different than any other game machine out there. Yes, with people on the Internet making fun of it, bashing it becomes the "cool thing to do," in much the same way bashing ET for the 2600 has become a badge of honor.

It's an okay system, with a few games worth playing for a short period of time. Most of the time though, the system is going to be sitting on the shelf.

I second the motion to test it out before you buy.

[Greg2600]

Against. My friend had one in high school, and I played it for 10 minutes and my eyes were hurting. I just don't like the all red coloring, makes it difficult to see and play. What's sad is it took Nintendo another 5 years to release a handheld system with comparable graphics. But I've had more than enough experience with the Virtual Boy to be satisfied I'm not a fan.

[wiggyx]

I honestly don't believe all the " headache" tales. It's just the "correct" thing to say just like "I never liked MC Hammer' or " I never liked Vanilla Ice". It's just the thing to say.

I never liked Vanilla Ice or MC Hammer. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone likes or liked shitty pop music.

Just because you're embarrassed to admit it doesn't mean the rest of us wore giant parachute pants in the early 90's :P

[retroman]

I have had mine since it came out, and I am happy with it..Has a few really good games for it.

[JSoup]

Always found the Virtual Boy to be fun. Never owned one, plan to someday.

[A Black Falcon]

For! The VB has some pretty cool games and is interesting technology; the fact that it's a headset really helps enhance the immersion, versus systems like the 3DS. The VB has far too few games and sadly died right after launch, but still, many of the few games it has are good. I would highly recommend getting the ac adapter tap and adapter if you like the system much, though; its 5-7 hour battery life is short.

And yeah, the "VB gives you headaches/kills your eyes" thing is overblown. Yes, some people can't see its 3d, or get headaches, but most, including me, do not. If other forms of 3d don't affect you, the VB shouldn't either. And it does run at a good speed -- the VB's 50hz.

I would agree that the VB eventually becomes something you use rarely, either because of the cost of batteries if you don't have the ac adapter or because of how few games there are for it, but still, it's a pretty cool thing to have, it has some pretty good games, and I"m happy to have one, even if I only infrequently use it.

[c0ldb33r]

This should be a poll.

I'm for, I like the VB enough that I just got a mint one in a blockbuster case for safekeeping. I don't play it as much as I should though.

[Aussie2B]

Maybe I'm weird, but I actually find the 3D on the 3DS more bothersome than on the Virtual Boy. It kind of messes with my head on 3DS but no issues at all with the Virtual Boy.

[Jorpho]

The Virtual Boy does absolutely nothing for me except give me headaches and neck cramps. However, without it, we wouldn't have had this gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAtrkMGNp0oCount me in with those who sympathize for the unfortunate folks who have to work at all those trashed shops. :shameful:

[SpaceHarrier]

I played it for about 10-20 minutes, didn't leave a huge impression one way or the other. Played Wario, for the record. It's an interesting-looking piece of hardware, but file under 'meh' for me.

I miss my parachute pants.

[A.C. Sativa]

Maybe I'm weird, but I actually find the 3D on the 3DS more bothersome than on the Virtual Boy. It kind of messes with my head on 3DS but no issues at all with the Virtual Boy.

Agree on the 3DS, gives me a bad headache and even makes me a bit dizzy. As for the Virtual Boy? I'd call it the worst video game system ever made.

[NayusDante]

I paid $30 for mine new, never regretted it. Wish I had an AC for it.

Eyestrain was an issue, but most of the games were more arcade-y and were designed for short play sessions. Most of the games were actually pretty decent, and its library might have the best signal-to-noise ratio of any console library.

My favorite thing about it is, oddly, the audio. It's got a distinct sound that holds up well in an avant garde electropop sense.

[kedawa]

You don't have a SNES power adapter?

[NayusDante]

You need the right converter box to plug it in.

[wiggyx]

^^^ Yeah, that was a genius move on Nintendo's part :/

[LimitedEditionMuseum]

Agree on the 3DS, gives me a bad headache and even makes me a bit dizzy. As for the Virtual Boy? I'd call it the worst video game system ever made.

Then you must have not seen a lot of systems.

[Daria]

I honestly don't believe all the " headache" tales. It's just the "correct" thing to say just like "I never liked MC Hammer' or " I never liked Vanilla Ice". It's just the thing to say.

I don't have much experience with the virtual boy, BUT I can say that other 3D technology does give me intense headaches and nausea. I own a 3D tv that I can't watch and my 3Ds is firmly set to 2D. My particular problem is that I have amblyopia, which is just a fancy term for "lazy eye". My eyes don't like to function together, instead one eye will "see" and the other just shuts off. My glasses tend to correct the problem somewhat, so my eyes don't visibly wander (thank god!) but the 3D shutter forces my eyes to switch vision so rapidly that the strain literally hurts.

I may be an extreme case, but I could see other people having similar issues with the virtual boy. And you know, the whole unit is heavy and leaning into play it IS sort of awkward.

[thegamezmaster]

Seems like people either love it or hate it. I've got one with the ac adapter and both CIB and love it. Plus several games. Never had a problem with it, but don't play for long periods of time. I say to each their own.

[Atarileaf]

I never liked Vanilla Ice or MC Hammer. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone likes or liked shitty pop music.

Just because you're embarrassed to admit it doesn't mean the rest of us wore giant parachute pants in the early 90's :P

I will be so bold and publicly admit it - I did own and wear IN PUBLIC a pair of blue Hammer pants in the early 90's. Please be gentle as you, deservedly so, rake me over the hot coals of public internet forum persecution.

[wiggyx]

Well, if we're gonna do confessions, I had a hot pink fanny pack in the early 90's that I used to wear to amusement parks so I wouldn't lose my money and whatnot on rides. Thank gawd no pictures exist of me wearing it.

[Aussie2B]

Maybe I have a whole different mentality here, but I think Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer are awesome and I'd love to own a pair of parachute pants, haha. I love '90s kitsch. :P

[LimitedEditionMuseum]

I just bought one and I think ill try and get a complete collection for this and Vectrex since there are so few games.

[treismac]

I will be so bold and publicly admit it - I did own and wear IN PUBLIC a pair of blue Hammer pants in the early 90's. Please be gentle as you, deservedly so, rake me over the hot coals of public internet forum persecution.

Pictures?

I owned a pair of black parachute pants when I was kid. They were all kinds of dated awesomeness. I'd wear some now if I had a pair.

[Atarileaf]

Mercifully, no pictures exist and my then girlfriend (now wife) quickly talked me out of my pants, er, well wearing those pants ;)