List of Virtual Boy games
The Virtual Boy was the first video game console marketed as having virtual reality graphics. It was created and developed by Gunpei Yokoi—the creator of the original Game Boy and the Metroid video game franchise.[1] The Virtual Boy was released by Nintendo on July 21, 1995 in Japan and on August 14, 1995 in North America with the launch titles Mario's Tennis, Red Alarm, Teleroboxer, and Galactic Pinball.[2] The last official title to be released for the Virtual Boy was 3D Tetris, released on March 12, 1996 .[3] In total, 22 Virtual Boy games were released; only 14 made it to North America.[4] Several additional titles were announced to be released for the Virtual Boy as well, but they were canceled after Nintendo discontinued the system.[5] The top games released for the Virtual Boy, according to Nintendo Power, included Virtual Boy Wario Land, Galactic Pinball, Mario's Tennis, Nester's Funky Bowling, and Red Alarm.[6]
The Virtual Boy was an attempt to simulate virtual reality. The user looks into an eyepiece on the front of the console, where a projector displays red and black monochromatic images into the user's eyes[7]—a technique similar to that used in IMAX movies.[8] The Virtual Boy was considered a hardware flop, selling 770,000 units before being discontinued a year after its release. Reasons for the flop include the implementation of a red-and-black monochromatic display as opposed to a full color display, the inability to conveniently and comfortably play the device, a retail price of US$179.95 (by comparison, the Game Boy had an introductory retail price of $109.95),[1] and the public's anticipation of fifth generation video game consoles, which included the Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, and the PlayStation.[9] Yokoi left Nintendo soon after the Virtual Boy's failure, but despite rumors to the contrary,[10] he was not asked to leave the company. He completed work on the Game Boy Pocket and left of his own volition.[11]
The following list contains all games released on the Virtual Boy, including all games released either in Japan or in North America only. The Virtual Boy was released in North America and in Japan but it was never released in the PAL markets.[12] Both the English and Japanese titles, as well as both the North American and Japanese release dates, are given when applicable.
Released games
English title | Japanese title (English / Kana / Romaji) |
Genre | Developer | Publisher | Regions released/Release date | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North America (NA) | Japan (JP) | |||||||
3D Tetris[13] | Polygo Block ポリゴブロック Porigo Buroku[14] |
Puzzle | T&E Soft | Nintendo | ✔ | March 22, 1996 | Unreleased | |
Bomberman: Panic Bomber[13] | Tobidase! Panibomb とびだせ!ぱにボン Tobidase! Panibon[15] |
Puzzle | Hudson Soft | Nintendo | ✔ | December 1995 | ✔ | July 21, 1995 |
Galactic Pinball[13] | Galactic Pinball ギャラクティックピンボール Gyarakutikku Pinbōru[16] |
Pinball | Intelligent Systems | Nintendo | ✔ | August 14, 1995 | ✔ | July 21, 1995 |
Golf[13] | T&E Virtual Golf T&Eバーチャルゴルフ[17] |
Sports | T&E Soft | Nintendo (NA) T&E Soft (JP) |
✔ | November 1995 | ✔ | August 11, 1995 |
— | Insmouse no Yakata インスマウスの館[18] "Insane Mouse Mansion" |
First-person shooter | Be Top | I'Max | Unreleased | ✔ | October 13, 1995 | |
Jack Bros.[13] | Jack Brothers no Meiro de Hīhō! ジャック・ブラザースの迷路でヒーホー! Jakku Burazāzu no Meiro de Hīhō[19] |
Action | Atlus | Atlus | ✔ | October 1995 | ✔ | September 29, 1995 |
Mario Clash[13] | Mario Clash マリオクラッシュ Mario Kurasshu[20] |
Platformer, action | Nintendo R&D1 | Nintendo | ✔ | October 1995 | ✔ | September 28, 1995 |
Mario's Tennis[13] | Mario's Tennis マリオズテニス Mariozu Tenisu[21] |
Sports | Nintendo R&D1 | Nintendo | ✔ | August 14, 1995 | ✔ | July 21, 1995 |
Nester's Funky Bowling[13] | — | Sports | Saffire Corporation | Nintendo | ✔ | February 26, 1996 | Unreleased | |
Red Alarm[13] | Red Alarm レッドアラーム Reddo Arāmu[22] |
Shooting | T&E Soft | Nintendo | ✔ | August 14, 1995 | ✔ | July 21, 1995 |
— | SD Gundam Dimension War SDガンダムディメンションウォー SD Gandam Dimenshon Uō[23] |
Turn-based strategy | Locomotive Corporation | Bandai | Unreleased | ✔ | December 22, 1995 | |
— | Space Invaders Virtual Collection スペースインベーダーバーチャルコレクション Supēsu Inbēdā Bācharu Korekushon[24] |
Shooting | Taito | Unreleased | ✔ | December 1, 1995 | ||
— | Space Squash スペーススカッシュ Supēsu Sukasshu[25] |
Sports | Tomcat System | Coconuts Japan | Unreleased | ✔ | September 29, 1995 | |
Teleroboxer[13] | Teleroboxer テレロ ボクサー Tererobokusā[26] |
Fighting | Nintendo R&D1 | Nintendo | ✔ | August 14, 1995 | ✔ | July 21, 1995 |
— | V-Tetris V-テトリス V-Tetorisu[27] |
Puzzle | Bullet-Proof Software | Bullet-Proof Software | Unreleased | ✔ | August 25, 1995 | |
Vertical Force[13] | Vertical Force[28] | Shoot 'em up | Hudson Soft | Nintendo | ✔ | December 1995 | ✔ | August 12, 1995 |
— | Virtual Bowling バーチャルボウリング Bācharu Bouringu[29] |
Sports | Athena | Athena | Unreleased | ✔ | December 22, 1995 | |
Virtual Boy Wario Land[13] | Virtual Boy Wario Land: Awazon no Hihō バーチャルボーイワリオ・ランドアワゾンの秘宝 Bācharu Bōi Wario Rando Awazon no Hihō[30] |
Platforming | Nintendo R&D1 | Nintendo | ✔ | November 27, 1995 | ✔ | December 1, 1995 |
— | Virtual Fishing バーチャルフィッシング Bācharu Fisshingu[31] |
Sports | Pack-In-Video |
|
Unreleased | ✔ | October 6, 1995 | |
— | Virtual Lab/バーチャルLAB Bācharu LAB[32] |
Puzzle | Nacoty | J-Wing | Unreleased | ✔ | December 8, 1995 | |
Virtual League Baseball[13] | Virtual Pro Yakyū '95 バーチャルプロ野球'95 Bācharu Puro Yakyū '95[33] |
Sports | Kemco | Kemco | ✔ | September 11, 1995 | ✔ | August 11, 1995 |
Waterworld[13] | — | Action | Ocean of America | Ocean of America | ✔ | December 21, 1995 | Unreleased | |
Unreleased games
English title | Japanese title (English / Kana / Romaji) |
Genre | Developer |
---|---|---|---|
— | Bound High[34] | Puzzle | Japan Supply System |
— | Doraemon[34] | Platformer | Epoch |
Dragon Hopper | Jump Dragon | Action | Intelligent Systems |
— | Faceball; also known as MIDI Maze[34] | Shoot 'em up | Bullet-Proof Software |
Goldeneye 007[34] | — | Rail shooter | Nintendo |
— | Interceptor[34] | Shoot 'em up | Coconuts |
— | J League 3D Stage[34] | Sports | J-Wing |
— | Mahjong[34] | Puzzle | Vap |
Mario Adventure[34] | — | Platformer | Nintendo |
Mario Kart Virtual Cup[34] | — | Racing | Nintendo |
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers[34] | — | Action | Bandai |
— | Night Landing[34] | POW | |
— | Niko-Chan Battle[34] | Action | Bullet-Proof Software |
— | Out of Deathmount[34] | Shoot 'em up | J-Wing |
— | Protious Zone[34] | Coconuts | |
— | Puyo Puyo Tsu | Puzzle | Compile |
— | Shin Nihon Pro Wrestling[34] | Sports | Tomy |
— | Sundays Point[34] | Coconuts | |
VI Racer[34] | — | Racing | |
— | Virtual Battle Ball[34] | Hect | |
— | Virtual Block[34] | Puzzle | Bottom Up |
— | Virtual Bomberman | Action | Hudson Soft |
Virtual Boy StarFox[35] | — | Shooter | Nintendo |
— | Virtual Double[34] | Puzzle | Vap |
— | Virtual Gunmen[34] | Shoot 'em up | Victor Games |
Worms[34] | — | Puzzle | |
— | Zero Racers[34] | Racing | Nintendo |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Beuscher, Dave. "allgame ((( Nintendo Virtual Boy > Overview )))". Allgame. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ↑ "Virtual Boy release information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
- ↑ "3-D Tetris for VBOY". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ↑ Kolan, Patrick (2008-01-14). "IGN Retro: Virtual Boy's Best Games". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ↑ Boyer, Steven (2009). A Virtual Failure: Evaluating the Success of Nintendo's Virtual Boy. 64. Velvet Light Trap/ProQuest Research Library. pp. 23–33. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
- ↑ "Virtual Boy Top 5". Nintendo Power (82). March 1996. p. 8.
- ↑ "The Ugliest Products in Tech History". PC World. 2007-09-10. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
- ↑ Townsend, Emru. "The Ugliest Products in Tech History". PC World. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ↑ Kolan, Patrick (2008-01-14). "IGN Retro: Virtual Boy Revisited". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ↑ Snow, Blake (2007-05-04). "The 10 Worst-Selling Consoles of All Time". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
- ↑ Game Over: How Nintendo Zapped an American Industry, Captured Your Dollars, and Enslaved Your Children by David Sheff, 1993, Random House.
- ↑ "Remembering the Virtual Boy". gaminghistory101.com. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 13.9 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 "Virtual Boy Games" (PDF). Nintendo of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-12-02. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
- ↑ "3D Tetris Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Panic Bomber Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Galactic Pinball Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Golf Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Innsmouse No Yakata Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Jack Bros. Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Mario Clash Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Mario's Tennis Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Red Alarm Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "SD Gundam Dimension War Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Space Invaders Virtual Collection Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Space Squash Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Teleroboxer Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "V–Tetris Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Vertical Force Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Virtual Bowling Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Virtual Boy Wario Land Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Virtual Fishing Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Virtual Lab Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ "Virtual League Baseball Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.5 34.6 34.7 34.8 34.9 34.10 34.11 34.12 34.13 34.14 34.15 34.16 34.17 34.18 34.19 34.20 34.21 34.22 Big N Magazine. p.19. July–August 2000.
- ↑ "Virtual Boy StarFox release information for VirtualBoy". Unseen64. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
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