Gunpei Yokoi's Withered Technology: Virtual Boy, Game & Watch, Wonderswan, etc. Let's laterally think!

[Kazin]

Especially considering the quality of most games, I'm in the same boat. Wario Land wasn't too bad at $50, but it usually goes for more than that, and most of the games just aren't worth it.

Apparently the Virtual Boy HyperFlash32 Flash Cart is $200, though, so it's not on the cheap end for those, either... Though that's a pittance compared to what it'd cost to get a complete Virtual Boy cart collection.

 

[Kazin]

Yeah, that thing is fantastic - and for a 3D printed case, it looks very nice, as well. I wish I had that kind of technical skill...!

 

[Sprite]

This is a fairly run-of-the-mill video from a fledgeling creator, but what I found interesting is that it’s a very young teenager opining over his nostalgia for playing Game & Watch games as a child… on 3DS. Ten years ago. There’s something very trippy about watching a retro review of a retro rerelease of a retro remake compilation series. It’s a testament to just how compelling these simplistic games are, and to the value of preservation to helping games find new audiences, even if it’s just one random YouTuber.

It’s also very depressing to me, because Game & Watch Gallery is long dead and I wish Nintendo cared enough about the line to keep it accessible.

 

[Phantoon]

a very young teenager opining over his nostalgia for playing Game & Watch games as a child… on 3DS.

oh god I'm so old

The consolised (?) VB is amazing, and I'm glad he didn't kill a working one to make it. There aren't many left

 

[Kirin]

I have to admit I was a liiiiittle disappointed that the VB mod doesn't actually take both eye outputs and combine them into a 3DS-style screen or something, but that aside the whole thing is super amazing and incredibly well put-together. Bravo.

 

[Phantoon]

Yeah, a lenticular screen would've been perfect, but one of the outputs was bust so that was off the table anyway

 

[Kazin]

Why wouldn't they include the Zelda Game & Watch game from 1989?!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1404840324925640706

Though... Vermin absolutely RULES, so that's nice, at least.

 

[MetManMas]

Nothing against the reskinned Vermin, but I am disappointed that Nintendo keeps putting reskins of their oldest Game & Watches into these new 8-bit ROM devices when the series represented have existing Game & Watch adaptations they could've used.

Hell, you could fill one device with just Mario's Game & Watch games if you wanted to.

 

[ThornGhost]

Prediction: Now that Nintendo has announced a second 35th Anniversary Game & Watch, establishing a trend, people that were sleeping on the first will suddenly decide they need to collect them and there will be a run on the first one.

 

[Kazin]

Nothing against the reskinned Vermin, but I am disappointed that Nintendo keeps putting reskins of their oldest Game & Watches into these new 8-bit ROM devices when the series represented have existing Game & Watch adaptations they could've used.

Hell, you could fill one device with just Mario's Game & Watch games if you wanted to.

Absolutely agreed. I get that maybe they don't want to deal with the Zelda 1989 G&W being dual screened, but Super Mario Bros G&W from the 80s would've worked perfectly on the SMB 2020 G&W.

Honestly I'm happy they've moved beyond Ball as the only G&W to rerelease. It's... fine, but it's hardly as good as what followed (Vermin being, maybe, one of the best, imo).

Prediction: Now that Nintendo has announced a second 35th Anniversary Game & Watch, establishing a trend, people that were sleeping on the first will suddenly decide they need to collect them and there will be a run on the first one.

What Game & Watches could they release next to make it a series, though? Donkey Kong, maybe, if they want to throw a bunch of the (mostly excellent) old school Donkey Kong G&W games on it? Following up Mario and Zelda with DK would be pretty underwhelming for anyone that's not weird like me, though... lol

 

[ThornGhost]

I think DK could have an audience. These are already niche devices, judging from the stacks I see sitting around in Target. The NES DK games plus DK'94 would be a solid package. Metroid seems like a possibility with Metroid 1, 2 and a reskinned OG G&W title. Metroid's 35th is later this year too.

 

[Kazin]

Now you've got me thinking of a Climber reskin where Samus has to escape Tourian...

 

[Phantoon]

Why wouldn't they include the Zelda Game & Watch game from 1989?!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1404840324925640706

Though... Vermin absolutely RULES, so that's nice, at least.

I needs it, precious

 

[ThornGhost]

Now you've got me thinking of a Climber reskin where Samus has to escape Tourian...

That's it, now you're thinking laterally vertically.

 

[Kazin]

I am interested in this new, terrible means of playing Link's Awakening.

There has to be a setting in the menu to change the aspect ratio. Come onnnnnn

 

[MetManMas]

There has to be a button you have to hold on loadup every single time to change the aspect ratio. Come onnnnnn

 

[Phantoon]

What Game & Watches could they release next to make it a series, though? Donkey Kong, maybe, if they want to throw a bunch of the (mostly excellent) old school Donkey Kong G&W games on it? Following up Mario and Zelda with DK would be pretty underwhelming for anyone that's not weird like me, though... lol

Metroid is 35 this year as is Kid Icarus. Kirby is 30 next year. Seeing as there's no limit as to what systems they include the sky's the limit really.

 

[MetManMas]

I don't see Nintendo putting any real effort into the Metroid anniversary beyond Dread this year, and aside from Smash appearances and a Switch Online showing Kid Icarus is back to doing nothing.

Kirby, though? I could definitely see HAL doing something for the big 3-0. Doubt it'll be a Game & Watch with two to three 8-bit games and Kirby Flagman, but maybe we'll see a new compilation on Switch?

 

[Kazin]

Heh, it's a shame Pinball is the only bad Game & Watch game, because it'd be cute to put Kirby in that given the various pinball games of his own haha

 

[ShakeWell]

This popped up in my YouTube subscriptions today:

 

[Kazin]

That's Pocket Power!

 

[Johnny Unusual]

When Stanley shows up "Game and Watch had a Gilligan game?"

And yes, I now about Gilligan for the NES.

 

[Phantoon]

I got my Virtual Boy out of storage, and surprising nobody my right lens has a dodgy connection, randomly dropping out or going really bright. I've seen various recommended fixes: oven (sounds like a terrible idea), soldering (better, but the ribbon cable looks shonky enough without removing more plastic) and finally the connectors made by the dude earlier in the thread (looks like really nasty soldering). Has anyone done any of these to recommend one? I'm UK based so not much chance of having somewhere to send them to.

 

[Kazin]

@Tegan I haven't seen anyone report this anywhere, but (and apologies for the absolutely horrible image quality, my phone sucks):

You can adjust the aspect ratio on Link's Awakening! Hooray!

 

[Phantoon]

Also the Triforce on the back glows

Best thing ever

 

[Kazin]

The sound effect when you push blocks in Link's Awakening is wrong. Minor complaint, I know, but something is up with that. Everything else sounds good in that game so far (haven't played Zelda 1 or 2 yet).

Don't sleep on Vermin, which is included in this new Zelda G&W - I think it's my favorite old school G&W game. Plays well in this version, too.

 

[ArugulaZ]

I just remembered that I own a Microvision, arguably the first cartridge-based handheld. Unfortunately, I also remembered that I didn't want to try to play it, because the dial needs to be fixed, it may not have a usable screen (they're susceptible to deterioration), and I only have one game... some casino crap. Maybe for the pack-in Blockbuster, I'd think about it.

 

[Sprite]

I’m sad that the new Game and Watches are apparently a huge pain to hack, because I’d love to turn one into a G&W Gallery machine.

 

[Ixo]

Found last night at one of the game shops here in town:

 

[Patrick]

I just remembered that I own a Microvision, arguably the first cartridge-based handheld. Unfortunately, I also remembered that I didn't want to try to play it, because the dial needs to be fixed, it may not have a usable screen (they're susceptible to deterioration), and I only have one game... some casino crap. Maybe for the pack-in Blockbuster, I'd think about it.

Oh wow, we had one of those. I think we got it from a garage sale & it barely worked. I completely forgot about it until just now.