The Disney Virtual Star is a fifth generation video game console developed and released by Disney in 1995. The system used a monochromatic (red and black) visor that simulated a 3D view on its games. It is noteworthy for being one of the few financially failed products of Disney, as well as being the last product developed by Gunpei Yokoi.
The Virtual Star was released early to keep fans occupied during the long wait for the Disney SuperStar 64. It had an original retail price of about US$179.95 upon its release. Due to its failure in the Japanese and American video game markets, the Virtual Star was never released in Europe or Australia. The system was discontinued less than a year after its release, and third-party developers never produced any games for it. It shipped only 800,000 units and sold 770,000 of them during its lifetime, 140,000 of which were sold in the United States, while 630,000 were sold in Japan.
Rental company Blockbuster was also renting the systems out, they came in a hard case and could be rented for $9.99, along with games. These rental systems have become collector's items. A promotional giveaway with Blockbuster and ABC in Disney Adventures included a free Virtual Star, and trips to see the sets of ABC's most popular shows.
Technical information[]
The 3D images produced are only hues of red and black instead of full color graphics. The system ran off of six AA batteries using a Battery Pak. The battery life was not strong, only lasting about four total hours of gameplay. An AC Tap was sold separately, and used the SNES adaptor. Only 14 games were released in the United States, and 22 in Japan.
The 3D effects are a result of two 1x224 linear arrays, each one directed to an eye that are presented to the player through oscillating mirrors that cause the Virtual Boy to emit a murmur. The 3D effect can cause trauma in the ocular area (in fact, Nintendo urged parents not to let children under the age of seven to play the system since it had the potential to damage their eyes). Knowing this, Nintendo inserted an option within each Virtual Boy game released that pauses the game every fifteen or thirty minutes.
The Virtual Boy has an EXT. port most likely intended for a two-player mode. Games such as Mickey's VR Tennis support this mode, but the cable went unreleased since the system was discontinued so quickly.
Controller[]
The Virtual Boy's controller features two D-Pads on opposite ends implemented for the player to play along a Z axis. This is the only Nintendo controller that features two D-Pads. Aside the D-Pads, there are four buttons. On the left are the START and SELECT buttons. On the right are the A and B buttons. The controller has the power switch for the unit, and is also where either the Battery Pak or the AC Tap is attached.
Games[]
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Launch Titles[]
- Mickey's Virtual World
- Ariel's Undersea Adventure
- The Lion King: Pride Lands Safari
- Aladdin: The Cave of Wonders
- Toy Story: Andy's Room Rampage
- Mickey's VR Tennis
- Disney's Animated Storybook: Beauty and the Beast
- Winnie the Pooh's Honey Hunt
Gallery[]
