List of Virtual Boy games

Nintendo's Virtual Boy console

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
  • JP 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. 1.0 1.1 Beuscher, Dave. "allgame ((( Nintendo Virtual Boy > Overview )))". Allgame. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  2. "Virtual Boy release information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
  3. "3-D Tetris for VBOY". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  4. Kolan, Patrick (2008-01-14). "IGN Retro: Virtual Boy's Best Games". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  5. 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.
  6. "Virtual Boy Top 5". Nintendo Power (82). March 1996. p. 8.
  7. "The Ugliest Products in Tech History". PC World. 2007-09-10. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  8. Townsend, Emru. "The Ugliest Products in Tech History". PC World. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  9. Kolan, Patrick (2008-01-14). "IGN Retro: Virtual Boy Revisited". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  10. 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.
  11. Game Over: How Nintendo Zapped an American Industry, Captured Your Dollars, and Enslaved Your Children by David Sheff, 1993, Random House.
  12. "Remembering the Virtual Boy". gaminghistory101.com. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  13. 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.
  14. "3D Tetris Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  15. "Panic Bomber Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  16. "Galactic Pinball Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  17. "Golf Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  18. "Innsmouse No Yakata Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  19. "Jack Bros. Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  20. "Mario Clash Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  21. "Mario's Tennis Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  22. "Red Alarm Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  23. "SD Gundam Dimension War Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  24. "Space Invaders Virtual Collection Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  25. "Space Squash Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  26. "Teleroboxer Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  27. "V–Tetris Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  28. "Vertical Force Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  29. "Virtual Bowling Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  30. "Virtual Boy Wario Land Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  31. "Virtual Fishing Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  32. "Virtual Lab Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  33. "Virtual League Baseball Release Information for VirtualBoy". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  34. 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.
  35. "Virtual Boy StarFox release information for VirtualBoy". Unseen64. Retrieved 2008-12-21.

External links