Could a Virtual Boy like product, with full color work now?

[Anthony1]

If somebody where to come out with a product that was very similar to the virtual boy, except with the benefit of full color, could a product like that work in today's gaming market?

The reason that I mention this, is because I recently acquried a Virtual Boy, and after playing with it for a little bit, the thing really had some very interesting potential, but I think the main thing that killed it was the fact that it only had the one color.

I mean, if the thing could display 512 colors simulatenously, like a SNES or TG-16, then I think it could have been wildly successul.

Of course they would have had to figure out a way to stop people from having big time migraines after playing for 20 minutes or more. I guess that was probably the real reason for it's failure, besides just the one color. It's like Nintendo was selling the "Virtual Migraine Machine".

But if there was a way to have one of these products and not have the headache and migraine side effects, and if you could have lots of color for it, with modern 2005 technology in it, then why wouldn't it be successful in todays market?

It just seems kinda strange to me that the idea of a VR headset has been totally and completely abandoned. It's like Full Motion Video games. That idea has been completely and totally abandoned, and I think that is shortsighted as well. I think if they made a modern up to date FMV game with 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound and DVD quality video, with much more interaction, it could be a huge hit too. Oops, I'm getting off topic here. We are supposed to be talking about whether or not a Virtual Boy like product with color would work in todays Gaming Market.

sorry to get sidetracked like that.

Anyways, what do you think?

[anagrama]

Short answer: No.

[Daft Punk]

Short answer: No.

I agree, The main reason the VB didnt last is the way you had to play it . The games where great IMHO but they just were not worth the strain caused by using the unit.

[LocalH]

I think it could, if it were done right. None of this heavy "have to play it on a table" bullshit. Full color LCD display, one per eye, can be made light enough to wear like a slightly heavy pair of glasses. Eliminate the problems associated with the original VB, and one could be successful (especially with today's modern gamer being fully comfortable with two analog sticks).

Nintendo will never do this, though. I will be well surprised if Nintendo ever comes out with such a device. If anything, someone else will release such a device, and Nintendo will kick themselves in the ass for not revisiting the concept.

[yuppicide]

If it didn't cause eye strain I would be interested in it.

[chadtower]

The reason for the VB's display was the stereoscopic display... it's not a limited color LCD like people seem to think. Those displays are still expensive, though it could be made multicolor now at least.

The VB, as it was made, could not be done with LCD.

[unbroken]

If it didn't cause eye strain I would be interested in it.

[Jorpho]

I think if they made a modern up to date FMV game . . . with much more interaction

This is an oxymoron.

[AlexKidd]

I don't think it would do too well because people would associate it with the virtual boy which was a failure. However it would probably be cool and I would buy one.

[Anthony1]

I think if they made a modern up to date FMV game . . . with much more interaction

This is an oxymoron.


You know what? There are lots of different levels of interaction. A game doesn't have to be 100 percent interactive to be enjoyable. I mean look at a game like Myst. Although I personally could never get into a game like that, it was one of the best selling games of all time. Look at a game like Killer 7. It's supposed to be kindof a point n click type game.

Anyways, I totally understand that FMV games didn't have much interaction at all, but that doesn't mean that they can't be somewhat fun. Personally, I think Sewer Shark is a damn good game. I know that it has very limited interactivity, but I happen to enjoy it nonetheless.

[mr_nihilism]

My gut instinct tells me it would be a failure.

[9c1lt1]

What ever happened to all virtual reality? It's not in the news anymore, or I'm just missing it.

[chadtower]

Reality sucks too much for people to want to be a part of it.

[WanganRunner]

I think that it might work as an add-on to an existing console. You'd put a certain, VBN (Virtual Boy Next, my fictional name) disc into your Gamecube, and then the headgear would plug in like a controller (or wirelessly, a la wavebird). It'd be full color and 3D. That way, each player could have one, you could sit down and do it, and you'd each see the others in a multiplayer environment, say, Mario Kart or an FPS.

If they could sell something like that for $100 and have a fair amount of software come out for it, i'd buy it.

EDIT: That way, it doesn't need any processing hardware, it's just the display device, so they could sell it cheaper. The GCN/Revolution/whatever packs the power. If it was wireless it'd really pwn.

[poopnes]

Not to thread jack, but am I the only one that could play the VB for hours on end and have no headaches or anything? The only problem I would have is that everything would have a strange tint for a few minutes after playing for a while.

[CRV]

Not to thread jack, but am I the only one that could play the VB for hours on end and have no headaches or anything? The only problem I would have is that everything would have a strange tint for a few minutes after playing for a while.

I never got headaches, but I don't think I ever had my head stuck in it long enough to get one.

[swlovinist]

This idea would not sell, only to those who collect and embrace the Virtual Boy :D


I like the idea, but let's face it...only hardcore gamers would even care, let alone buy something that was so so tragically horrific.

[Kid Ice]

I think it would need some kind of external display, or at least link-up ability. Ever get into a V-Boy game and have someone walk up behind you and ask what you're playing?

[vintagegamecrazy]

If it were reinvented and well done, it would be worth a look in my eyes.

[Ed Oscuro]

No, but I could see VR glasses gaining popularity as a peripheral...

[kainemaxwell]

Question is, is there much of a market anymore for something like that?

[AB Positive]

I think that it might work as an add-on to an existing console. You'd put a certain, VBN (Virtual Boy Next, my fictional name) disc into your Gamecube, and then the headgear would plug in like a controller (or wirelessly, a la wavebird). It'd be full color and 3D. That way, each player could have one, you could sit down and do it, and you'd each see the others in a multiplayer environment, say, Mario Kart or an FPS.

If they could sell something like that for $100 and have a fair amount of software come out for it, i'd buy it.

EDIT: That way, it doesn't need any processing hardware, it's just the display device, so they could sell it cheaper. The GCN/Revolution/whatever packs the power. If it was wireless it'd really pwn.

I like this idea... if it were possible, that would be great, although getting four of those suckers together might be hard at first, if the price was right you could make a killing. I could see people wanting this, and whichever system pulled it out first, would probably get a large kick in user base.

Not to pull it away from nintendo, but imagine the Halo geeks having this with Halo 3 on the 360? Bam, peripheral sold. Wouldn't have to think about it.

-AG

[Ed Oscuro]

I think if they made a modern up to date FMV game . . . with much more interaction
This is an oxymoron.
You know what? There are lots of different levels of interaction. A game doesn't have to be 100 percent interactive to be enjoyable. I mean look at a game like Myst. Although I personally could never get into a game like that, it was one of the best selling games of all time. Look at a game like Killer 7. It's supposed to be kindof a point n click type game.
I've gotta get on Anthony1's side here that there are some merits to FMV...well, one, really. FMV is limiting compared to fully rendered scenes, that's a given (a bit more on that later, though it's all obvious), but with FMV you can do perfectly stylized things. The downsides are of course that if you want to put any sort of belivable actors in it you'd have to have some shading/shadows, masks so you can change parts of the environment, neccessitating some modeling of the environment in 3D...but the benefits in terms of asthetics could still possibly make up for that...possibly.

I think we're past the point where having filmed actors is better than computer-generated actors for games, though. I feel FMV works best for gun games/arcade GI Joe-type and adventure (7th Guest) games, personally. There's racing, too, but I'd hate to play a realistic racer in FMV - too much mundanity that can be rendered better in a 3D engine there.

The only reason to do FMV at all anymore would be that it lets artists design things exactly as they want them to look.

[LocalH]

The reason for the VB's display was the stereoscopic display... it's not a limited color LCD like people seem to think. Those displays are still expensive, though it could be made multicolor now at least.

The VB, as it was made, could not be done with LCD.
Yes, I know that the VB's display is closer to a single-color DLP than anything. I was merely saying that, if the VB had a successor, that it should use twin backlit LCD displays.

Also, I don't think there's anything precluding the VB from using LCD, other than for price reasons. Basically, in the VB, you have a single column of pixels that is directed with a mirror to the correct position for each column. You'd have to gather this data, then output it on an LCD panel in the same fashion (basically an 'emulation' of the VB's DLP-type technology). It might not be practical for price reasons, but other than that, I can think of no reason why it couldn't be possible. There'd be a bit more blur due to the LCD, but on the games released for the VB, I don't think that would affect too much, especially if they were to use GBA-style interlacing.

[LocalH]

[Edit: crap, double post. Please delete.]

[legov8]

I doubt it.

[rbudrick]

I think most of the reason VB failed was
1. the head strain
2. no real portability
3. the monochrome display
4. no real 3rd party support

If these issues were addressed, and the system had full color, there's no real reason it couldn't be successful if marketed correctly.

Even if there was an add-on to the DS, it could be done with much less monetary loss.

-Rob

[boatofcar]

The technology for a full color display is still to expensive, partly due to the fact that Nintendo would probably have to use its own R&D department to develop said technology, since there are few other consumer electronics use such devices.

The question is similar to asking in 1984 if there would be a new Vectrex, with a color vector display.

[vincewy]

Nintendo's early exist of Virtual Boy, contrary to popular belief of no market support, may actually be liability issues. There were reports of many gamers getting headaches playing for just 15 min, it's believed that big N pulled the products ASAP to reduce possibility of legal actions from consumer. Quite unusaul for N, consider they always stay commited to a system no matter how the market embraces a console.

IN fact, many more games were already made and ready to publish.

[poopnes]

IN fact, many more games were already made and ready to publish.

Yes, yes we missed out on Zero Racer. I was heartbroken.

[Zap!]

The question is similar to asking in 1984 if there would be a new Vectrex, with a color vector display.

I'd still love to see that. :)

[Slimedog]

I never got headaches, just back strain from the akward leaning into the headset. Sega 3D never gave me headaches either and I played that for hours on end. I probably killed off those brain receptors long ago.

[Zilla]

I agree wiith what WanganRunner said. It could only work as an add on to an existing system and would have to be in color. Using it in place of split screen play would be awesome and if the price was kept failry low I think it would catch on. Now as to if this would ever happen?.....No F'ing Way. No one is going to make something that is so similar to the horrible failure the Virtual Boy was. I like the Virtual Boy but I was definately in the minority.