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The game industry is riddled with tales of pure genius- moments where someone would come up with a concept so brilliant and original that it could turn the industry on its head. However, all too often such ideas are lost in the abyss of unimaginative, monotonous clatter of the background scene, or just never realised to begin with.
For every Mario 64 there is a Virtual Boy. The first, a revolutionary mark setting game that spelt out what 3D gaming should be about, was a huge success that, even today, is the most perfect example of 3D platform gaming. The latter is an example of a quite brilliant idea- a device that would actually allow you to view games in 3D- that was never realised because of the lack of sufficient technology of the time. The device may have been laughable, but the concept certainly wasn’t.
And this is not the only example of such idea. However, not all of these have died such a sudden death- some are making a come back.
Sega’s Nomad- a handheld console that could play Mega Drive games, but failed on it massive size and power consumption- has now been reborn in the form of the PSone. Finally, Sega’s dreams of playing console games on a portable machine have been realised- they just needed the technology to catch up first!
Internet gaming- an idea first tried with the underwhelmingly unsuccessful N64 DD add-on- has now begun to take off as people become interested enough in the net to start taking interest. The DD was just too far ahead of its time.
The set-top-box idea that fell flat on its face with the 3DO and M2 consoles has made a spectacular come back- with the PS2 and Xbox playing DVDs, CDs, and having Internet capabilities.
So, what does this all mean? Will all good ideas receive the credit they deserve in time? Well I doubt it. However, if one thing is certain then it’s that gaming ideas will never take off until the market is ready- the saying “favour fortunes the bold” doesn’t work in the game industry. Perhaps this is a testimony to the intelligence of gamers- never buying a product until its been fully developed?
Well, whatever the answer, I’ll be happy to see the return of the Virtual Boy with true 3D, full colour, totally immersive gaming.
Sonic
For every Mario 64 there is a Virtual Boy. The first, a revolutionary mark setting game that spelt out what 3D gaming should be about, was a huge success that, even today, is the most perfect example of 3D platform gaming. The latter is an example of a quite brilliant idea- a device that would actually allow you to view games in 3D- that was never realised because of the lack of sufficient technology of the time. The device may have been laughable, but the concept certainly wasn’t.
And this is not the only example of such idea. However, not all of these have died such a sudden death- some are making a come back.
Sega’s Nomad- a handheld console that could play Mega Drive games, but failed on it massive size and power consumption- has now been reborn in the form of the PSone. Finally, Sega’s dreams of playing console games on a portable machine have been realised- they just needed the technology to catch up first!
Internet gaming- an idea first tried with the underwhelmingly unsuccessful N64 DD add-on- has now begun to take off as people become interested enough in the net to start taking interest. The DD was just too far ahead of its time.
The set-top-box idea that fell flat on its face with the 3DO and M2 consoles has made a spectacular come back- with the PS2 and Xbox playing DVDs, CDs, and having Internet capabilities.
So, what does this all mean? Will all good ideas receive the credit they deserve in time? Well I doubt it. However, if one thing is certain then it’s that gaming ideas will never take off until the market is ready- the saying “favour fortunes the bold” doesn’t work in the game industry. Perhaps this is a testimony to the intelligence of gamers- never buying a product until its been fully developed?
Well, whatever the answer, I’ll be happy to see the return of the Virtual Boy with true 3D, full colour, totally immersive gaming.
Sonic
I don't think games will ever get the recognition they deserve as long as crap like that new football game promoting hooliganism is around creating bad press
Sibs, that was the point! The Virtual Boy could have been great. The idea was that you'd have a fully portable, easy to use, full colour, totally 3D system. Instead they couldn't budget for full colour screens, the technology didn't exist to have it totally portable, you had to reajust the laser.... basically the technology didn't exist.
However, perhaps in a few years we will have the technology to make it work, and the idea could resurface?
Sonic
PS: Expect lots of prime topics from me... I have lots of time on my hands now!
However, perhaps in a few years we will have the technology to make it work, and the idea could resurface?
Sonic
PS: Expect lots of prime topics from me... I have lots of time on my hands now!
Back with a vengeance eh Sonic? 2 posts in one day!
Anyway, pretty good topic, although not all 'great ideas' are so great in retrospect. The Virtual Boy 'could' have been good, but Nintendo should have realised the technology simply wasn't there to make it work. The 64DD, not so clear cut, it should have been a good addition, but just didn't get the kind of support it needed to take off.
Whether or not the result of innovation is good or bad, innovation itself is always a good thing.
And with that highly philosophical thought, I will leave you.
Anyway, pretty good topic, although not all 'great ideas' are so great in retrospect. The Virtual Boy 'could' have been good, but Nintendo should have realised the technology simply wasn't there to make it work. The 64DD, not so clear cut, it should have been a good addition, but just didn't get the kind of support it needed to take off.
Whether or not the result of innovation is good or bad, innovation itself is always a good thing.
And with that highly philosophical thought, I will leave you.
Nice post Sonic.
The 64 DD really was far too advanced for it's time, and both Nintendo and the developers weren't sure what to do with it. Maybe some kind of device like it will be made for the GC and maybe Ninty and all their developers will try and make it worth buying, and worth releasing in our country, which the DD also failed to do.
Good post! ;-)
The 64 DD really was far too advanced for it's time, and both Nintendo and the developers weren't sure what to do with it. Maybe some kind of device like it will be made for the GC and maybe Ninty and all their developers will try and make it worth buying, and worth releasing in our country, which the DD also failed to do.
Good post! ;-)
The game industry is riddled with tales of pure genius- moments where someone would come up with a concept so brilliant and original that it could turn the industry on its head. However, all too often such ideas are lost in the abyss of unimaginative, monotonous clatter of the background scene, or just never realised to begin with.
For every Mario 64 there is a Virtual Boy. The first, a revolutionary mark setting game that spelt out what 3D gaming should be about, was a huge success that, even today, is the most perfect example of 3D platform gaming. The latter is an example of a quite brilliant idea- a device that would actually allow you to view games in 3D- that was never realised because of the lack of sufficient technology of the time. The device may have been laughable, but the concept certainly wasn’t.
And this is not the only example of such idea. However, not all of these have died such a sudden death- some are making a come back.
Sega’s Nomad- a handheld console that could play Mega Drive games, but failed on it massive size and power consumption- has now been reborn in the form of the PSone. Finally, Sega’s dreams of playing console games on a portable machine have been realised- they just needed the technology to catch up first!
Internet gaming- an idea first tried with the underwhelmingly unsuccessful N64 DD add-on- has now begun to take off as people become interested enough in the net to start taking interest. The DD was just too far ahead of its time.
The set-top-box idea that fell flat on its face with the 3DO and M2 consoles has made a spectacular come back- with the PS2 and Xbox playing DVDs, CDs, and having Internet capabilities.
So, what does this all mean? Will all good ideas receive the credit they deserve in time? Well I doubt it. However, if one thing is certain then it’s that gaming ideas will never take off until the market is ready- the saying “favour fortunes the bold” doesn’t work in the game industry. Perhaps this is a testimony to the intelligence of gamers- never buying a product until its been fully developed?
Well, whatever the answer, I’ll be happy to see the return of the Virtual Boy with true 3D, full colour, totally immersive gaming.
Sonic
For every Mario 64 there is a Virtual Boy. The first, a revolutionary mark setting game that spelt out what 3D gaming should be about, was a huge success that, even today, is the most perfect example of 3D platform gaming. The latter is an example of a quite brilliant idea- a device that would actually allow you to view games in 3D- that was never realised because of the lack of sufficient technology of the time. The device may have been laughable, but the concept certainly wasn’t.
And this is not the only example of such idea. However, not all of these have died such a sudden death- some are making a come back.
Sega’s Nomad- a handheld console that could play Mega Drive games, but failed on it massive size and power consumption- has now been reborn in the form of the PSone. Finally, Sega’s dreams of playing console games on a portable machine have been realised- they just needed the technology to catch up first!
Internet gaming- an idea first tried with the underwhelmingly unsuccessful N64 DD add-on- has now begun to take off as people become interested enough in the net to start taking interest. The DD was just too far ahead of its time.
The set-top-box idea that fell flat on its face with the 3DO and M2 consoles has made a spectacular come back- with the PS2 and Xbox playing DVDs, CDs, and having Internet capabilities.
So, what does this all mean? Will all good ideas receive the credit they deserve in time? Well I doubt it. However, if one thing is certain then it’s that gaming ideas will never take off until the market is ready- the saying “favour fortunes the bold” doesn’t work in the game industry. Perhaps this is a testimony to the intelligence of gamers- never buying a product until its been fully developed?
Well, whatever the answer, I’ll be happy to see the return of the Virtual Boy with true 3D, full colour, totally immersive gaming.
Sonic