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132

Virtual Boy: The bizarre rise and quick fall of Nintendo’s enigmatic red console (arstechnica.com)

submitted 6 months ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/retrogaming@lemmy.world

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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 29 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

I, for one, loved this thing. And the only reason I was ever able to own one was because of their downfall also coincidentally happening about the same time EB Toys was going out of business, so I was able to get the Virtual Boy and most of the games for under $50 due to the extreme discounts.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 14 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

That's literally how I got mine, though from Babbages when they were still a thing. I think I paid like $35 + tax for the unit (which came with Mario Tennis) and Wario Land.

Loved it, but I can see why it failed. Still, 3D Mario Tennis was amazing.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

AND warioland!!!

The virtual boy is Nintendos coolest console that deserved to fail. It had some good games in it's tiny library. It brought some cool concepts to the project. But the virtual console deserved to die.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 8 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Yeah, it was a cool concept, but the execution was terrible. For all its faults, the one I can't overlook is the fact that it required 6xAA batteries (that it would chew through in 2-3 hours). LIke, WTF? Its design literally required you to use it on a table/stationary location. They sold an AC adapter for it, but it was a separate purchase.

[–] Socsa@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 months ago

Yeah I remember a friend got one for Christmas and we all went over to play with it at a sleepover and it just sucked down all the batteries in the house.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If you had a super nintendo it was the same cord. Just like the game gear used the genesis cord.

But they never designed AC cords with the regular game boy. Which still makes me mad. NES or SNES power cord, and I'd have been happy as a kid....

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Was it? The one I remember clipped onto the back of the controller in place of the battery box. Or did it have a power port on the unit itself ?(it's been forever lol)

My OG Game Boy had a 6v DC input on the side. My off-brand rechargeable pack for it plugged in there instead of clipping into the battery compartment.

[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 2 points 6 months ago

There was an official Nintendo Battery Pack for the Gameboy that used that side input, too. It plugged in with the same 2-prong cord that my sister's mini boom box used.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

EB Toys??? We had KB Toys (or Kay Bee Toys), and we had Electronics Boutique. Which sold video games and small electronics.

But you had EB Toys???

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

KB! I meant KB! lol

They've been gone hella long I just conflated the two.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I loved KB Toys. Worked there for a short period.

[–] prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

My best friend had one and Mario tennis was my favorite thing ever.

I loved the virtual boy