Nintendo Virtual Boy

The Nintendo Virtual Boy, released in 1995, was a video game console that used a twin eyeglass style projector to display the games in "true" 3-D (though monchromatic). The launch price was around $180. It was a flop in the marketplace, for several reasons:

• It was marketed as a portable system, but it was not as portable as consumers thought it should be
• The display was known to cause eye problems, especially for those under 7 years of age (it allegedly stunts eye development).
• Buyers did not feel that the games released for the system were particularly fun to play.

Every Virtual Boy game will pause automatically every 15-30 minutes to remind the player to take a break, to prevent undue eyestrain and possible headaches.

Hype surrounding the device before its release included public musings by Nintendo that the device might resemble a gun set vertical, projecting a 3D image in the air above it. The actual device was considered a disappointment compared to this description when it arrived.

Console hardware specifications

• Processor
  • NEC V810 (P/N uPD70732)
  • 32-bit RISC Processor @ 20 MHz (18 MIPS)
  • 1 MB of DRAM and 512 KB of P-SRAM
  • 1 KB Cache
• Display
  • RTI SLA (P4)
  • 384 x 224 Resolution
  • 50.2 Hz Horizontal Scan Rate
• Power
  • 6 AA Batteries (9 VDC) or AC Adapter (10 VDC)
• Sound
  • 16-bit Stereo
• Controller
  • 6 buttons and 2 pads
• Serial Port
  • 8 pin cable
• Hardware Part Numbers
  • VUE-001 Virtual Boy Unit
  • VUE-003 Shaft
  • VUE-005 Controller
  • VUE-006 Game Pak
  • VUE-007 Battery Pack
  • VUE-011 AC Adapter
  • VUE-012 Eye shade Holder
• Weight
  • 760 grams
• Dimensions
  • 8.5"H x 10"W x 4.3"D

Cartridge specifications

• 8-16 Mbit ROM
• 0-8 KB Battery Backed RAM
• Toshiba TC538200AFT and TC5316200AFT SRAM Chips (16 Mbit)
• 60-pin connector