10/08/05
01. Nintendo Virtual Boy
Here it is, folks. Nintendo's one big failure amidst their many successes: the Virtual Boy. Released in late 1995, the Virtual Boy was born mainly out of Nintendo's desire to capitalize on the popularity of "virtual reality" at the time, and their need to put something new out on the market while the public waited impatiently for their next-generation console, the Nintendo 64. Gunpei Yokoi (the system's designer and designer of Nintendo's GameBoy) gave it a good shot, but the VBoy never really had a chance. The reasons it died are many: 1) It was marketed as a portable system. While this is technically true, it's totally impractical due to the system's weight and bulkiness. 2) The VBoy was rushed and many saw it as merely a stopgap before the N64 was released. 3) Much was made over the fact that the VBoy caused headaches, eye strain and possible eye problems. 4) The VBoy had poor game support and no flagship titles were planned for release. In total, only 22 games were released for the system in America and Japan combined. 5) The only two colors you'll ever see on the Virtual Boy's screen are RED and BLACK.
So why was I so happy when I found it at America's Thrift Store today for $1.98? Well, apart from the fact that it's simply a console that I didn't own, it possesses several qualities that make it more desirable than usual for me...
1. It's a failed, unpopular and relatively obscure console. As you may know by now, faithful reader, I dig this type of system. One of the most obvious explanations for this is that I grew up with and experienced the popular consoles first-hand; I never got a chance to experience most of the unpopular ones due to just that - their unpopularity. Basically, they're new to me.
2. It's totally unique. No other home system remotely compares to the Virtual Boy. Sure, it takes cartridges and plays games, but the similarities end there as far as what we're used to from a console or handheld. The same applies to the Vectrex: both systems technically failed, but both were (and are) totally unique in the gaming world. As a testament to their creators' willingness to take chances, both are also cult favorites to this day.
3. It looks cool. Even if it ends up sitting on a shelf for years, that shelf is gonna look about seven times as cool because of it. In addition, the fact that it has a bipod increases its ability to be attractively displayed.
4. It captures a unique moment in time. More specifically, it captures that period of a few years in the 90s when the idea of "virtual reality" was a new and intriguing concept that seemed to take hold of the public's imagination. Lawnmower Man was at the local cineplex, arcades featured a variety of virtual reality games, and every TV show was using "VR" as a plot device, from The Simpsons to Lois & Clark. The Virtual Boy is mid-90s zeitgeist in red and black plastic.
Besides all that, it was a bargain. Even without the eyeshade, cables or controller, $1.98 for a Virtual Boy with bipod is a steal in my book. The retro gaming store in Clearview Mall (New Orleans) would take this thing, add the cables and a joystick and sell it for 80 bucks. Fuck that.
02. Another NES
Pikachu and Tamagotchi weren't part of the haul today, but I needed something to spice up the picture since everyone knows what a Nintendo looks like. So why did I buy it if I already had one? Well, it never hurts to have a spare NES around the house, y'know. Also, it - like the Virtual Boy - was $1.98 at ATS. Could you pass this beautiful gray box up for $1.98?
Shut up!
Hey, how about a big round of applause for America's Thrift Store, huh? Located near Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge, this place is stuffed to the gills with awesome finds for good prices, and the stock is reloaded frequently. Much love to the ATS.
© 2005 seawall
