Nintendo Enters the VR Ring

University of Cincinnati Design Communication Project

Adam Lewandowicz
Jul 10, 2017 · 3 min read

What if Nintendo joined the VR market…again?

In 1995 Nintendo became one of the first video game companies to enter the VR market with the original Virtual Boy. The console is infamous for being one of Nintendo’s worst designs. The screen can only display shades of red, and users complained about sore necks and headaches from gameplay. Only one year after launch, the console went out of production. Despite the awful sales, the console has a soft spot in many old-school gamer’s hearts, and in a way, the Virtual Boy was ahead of it’s time.

Original Virtual Boy and screenshot from 1995

The new Virtual Boy 2 is Nintendo’s second attempt at entering the VR market.

Full HTC Vive setup

As VR systems continue to improve, they become more and more involved. The best VR systems require a powerful computer, a VR headset, 2 controllers, room sensors, and a a whole lot of open space.

The idea of the Virtual Boy 2 is to condense VR into the smallest, simplest package possible.

VB2 folding mechanism

The Virtual Boy 2 is the Game Boy of VR. The whole VR system is small enough to fit in a messenger bag or backpack and can be played while sitting on the train. The console is meant to be played in shorter sessions, in places where the user wouldn’t want to be too immersed in the gameplay. Because of this, users hold the system up to their eyes instead of strapping it to their head. When their done playing, users can quickly close and stow the system. The folding mechanism keeps the eye lenses safe from scratches, and streamlines the shape for storage.

This is a school project for University of Cincinnati and is in no way affiliated with Nintendo.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade