Tag: VR - Page 2
Video Sakurai Declined Offer To Work On Oculus VR Games Because Of The Small Audience
Not enough users for his liking
When you read or hear the name Masahiro Sakurai, you're likely to think of the Super Smash Bros. series or the famous pink puffball, Kirby. Either way, this legendary video game director and designer has commonly been associated with multiple Nintendo projects over the duration of his career. There was one point,...
News Nintendo Participating In Virtual Reality "VRM Consortium" As An Observer
Japanese companies establishing a joint enterprise
A total of 13 Japanese companies are joining forces to establish a joint enterprise known as the "VRM Consortium" in February 2019. The aim is to develop an international virtual reality business that has a special focus on 3D avatars. Another objective of the enterprise is to advocate the file...
News Nintendo "Looking At" VR Technology, But It "Has To Be Fun" Before Being Implemented
"There are new experiences we want to bring to life"
Despite numerous occasions where the company has said otherwise, Nintendo is actively "looking at" and "experimenting" with VR technology for its gaming endeavours. The news comes from Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé, who appeared at Seattle's Geekwire Summit yesterday to...
Feature The Nintendo Switch Games That Could Work In VR
VR-y excited
The Nintendo Switch is about to get an unofficial VR headset that will allow users to at least pretend that they're immersed in another world - in reality, it will simply be like having the Switch's screen really close to your face. While we won't know exactly how good/bad this headset will be until we get a crack at it, the whole...
News Nintendo Switch Is About To Get Its First VR-Style Headset, But There's A Catch
"Compatible with all current games"
The very idea of Nintendo Switch having a VR headset - and VR games to use with it, of course - has been a rather hot topic for debate over the console's relatively short time on the market; many have expressed a desire to see it happen despite several issues that immediately spring to mind, and some have even...
News Bandai Namco And HTC Are Bringing Mario Kart VR To The United States
Racing in virtual reality
Following a successful launch in Japan and the UK, the Mario Kart Arcade GP VR experience is now on its way to the United States. Bandai Namco and HTC will bring the immersive Mario Kart game to the new "VR Zone Portal" in Washington, D.C. Mario Kart VR allows four players to hop into specially designed karts and race...
News Oculus VR Chief Technology Officer Identifies Nintendo Switch As Market Competitor
VR wants to be the best
Although VR has been around for quite some time now, it's still in the early stages of development. It also continues the search for its own space within the technology market. During his keynote speech at the Oculus Connect 5 event, chief technology officer John Carmack said the company's new VR device would have to compete...
News The Man Behind SNES Star Fox Talks About The Nintendo VR Console That Never Was
"VR gaming could have happened 20 years ago"
No images of the Super Visor exist online, but we'd like to imagine it would have looked like this Argonaut Software founder Jez San has been speaking about a hardware project he worked on with Nintendo that could have given the games industry affordable and effective home VR decades before the Oculus...
Video Here's What It's Like To Play Mario Kart In VR
Reality bites
Mario Kart VR has been a thing in Japan for a while now, but the concept has only recently made its way to the UK, with Namco Bandai setting up a unit at Hollywood Bowl inside the O2 in London this month. Simon Davidian paid a visit
Rumour A Hidden VR Settings Menu Appears To Have Been Found On Switch
Is it on the way?
The topic of virtual reality on Switch seems to reappear in conversation every few months or so, with new rumours or speculation giving slight hope to the idea actually coming to fruition. While there are several reasons why a Switch VR setup doesn't seem entirely plausible - with the weight of the system being one - this new find...
News Nintendo’s Virtual Boy Gets A Revival Thanks To Emulator For Oculus Rift VR Headset
The wonders of today
The Virtual Boy has been predominantly inaccessible to the majority of Nintendo fans since its original release. It was hardware arguably ahead of its time, but also technology that was unable to compete with modern standards of the era. The Nintendo 64 was after all released a year later in 1996 and blew the console industry...
News Mario Kart VR Will Launch In The UK This Summer
A different way to play
Following a successful launch at Bandai Namco's VR ZONE arcade in Shinjuku, Tokyo, the Mario Kart Arcade GP VR experience is headed to the UK this summer. This is a multiplayer VR offering that allows four players at a time to hop into specially designed ‘Mario Karts’, before racing through the iconic Mushroom...
Random Nintendo Switch Is Getting Its Own VR-Style Headset, Kinda
Headset offers a 120 inch 'virtual' display, apparently
While VR continues to bubble under elsewhere in the industry, Nintendo has remained indifferent to the technology; when your first 'Virtual' product ends up being a massive dud, we guess you become a little more cautious about asking your customers to strap lumps of plastic to their heads...
News Nintendo Reiterates That It's Not Interested In Virtual Reality Or 4K Support
"Is it a good idea to invest in a technology before consumers do?"
In an lengthy interview with the French publication Les Numériques, Nintendo France MD Philippe Lavoué has stated that the company remains ambivalent towards Virtual Reality and 4K resolution support. Both of these technologies are being exploited by Nintendo's rivals; Sony has...
News References To Virtual Reality Discovered In Switch's Code
Virtual Boy 2?
Whatever your opinion on the current state of Virtual Reality, the technology is certainly gaining a lot of attention of late, with efforts by Sony, Samsung, HTC and Oculus all capturing the attention of the media and general public. It's probably too early to say if VR is going to cause the revolution it has long promised in the...
Video Gaze In Wonder At The VR Mario Kart You'll Probably Never Get To Play
Unless you live in Japan, that is
A short time ago we reported on the news that Bandai Namco’s new VR Zone in Shinjuku, Tokyo would play host to a special Virtual Reality version of Mario Kart Arcade, the company's long-running racing series which is developed in conjunction with Nintendo. We only caught a glimpse of the game previously, but...
News Virtual Reality Mario Kart Looks As Much Fun As It Sounds
You'll have to travel to Japan to play it, though
Mario Kart is taking a step into the world of immersive VR thanks to Bandai Namco’s spanking new VR Zone in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is among several VR "experiences" confirmed this week for the new venue. VR Zone is a "virtual reality arcade" powered by HTC's Vive...
Video How Well Does Virtual Reality Work On The Nintendo Switch?
Virtual Boy Ver. 2
Ever since the Switch was unveiled fans of the Big N have wondered if one day we might see a Virtual Reality headset released for the diminutively sized handheld / home console hybrid. We've explored many of the questions surrounding how VR might work on the Nintendo Switch, but still we could imagine Nintendo giving it a go one...
Gallery These Nintendo Switch VR Mock-Ups Are Rather Eye-Catching
The work of Industrial Designer Antoine Beynel
Though Nintendo is adamant that the Nintendo Switch is capable of supporting Virtual Reality (VR) content, it seems that the feature could be a little while off as the company considers its options for implementing the technology. Although a VR accessory featured in a rather detailed patent for the...
News Kimishima Outlines Nintendo's Continued Attention on VR and Portable System Ideas
Thinking of "different ways to continue the portable gaming business"
One of the ongoing topics among eager Nintendo gamers relates to Nintendo's hardware plans beyond Nintendo Switch, particularly in terms of whether the upcoming system is going to ultimately take over from both the Wii U and 3DS. Its hybrid nature naturally raises the question of...
Editorial The Idea of VR on Nintendo Switch is Interesting, But Big Questions Remain
Virtual Insanity?
In early 2016 I wrote an article about why Nintendo and VR weren't a good fit for 2016, heady days when there was a chance of the Switch - at that point still the 'NX' - being a Holiday 2016 release (in our dreams). I concluded by saying that "Virtual Reality isn't well established, efficient or affordable technology, at least not...
News Nintendo Switch and VR/AR developer Talks Up the 'Evolution' The System Will Bring
Oddly, uses our April Fools' mock-up for 'Virtual U'
Stephen E. Dinehart IV is a game maker and creator that - prior to the formal reveal of the Nintendo Switch - outlined his involvement in developing for the system; he's now shared an interesting article titled 'Evolution - Nintendo & VR', in which he outlines a history of Nintendo innovation...
Rumour Nintendo Switch VR May Have High-Profile Support from Capcom
Resident Evil 7 / Biohazard possibly heading the list
Just recently YouTube user OBE1Plays has shared another 'leak' on his YouTube channel; though it should be taken with a healthy dose of salt, it's nice for a little bit of debate. This time the report is that Capcom is trying to make Resident Evil 7 work with the proposed VR implementation on the...
News Nintendo Switch Patent Provides Insights Into VR Accessory and Console Touchscreen
VeRy interesting
Over the past two years patents have been explored in detail as fans seek clues about Nintendo's upcoming hardware, but now there are some documents that are directly relevant to the Nintendo Switch; they provide some interesting insights, too. Filed on 10th June and made available to the public today, application number 15/178984...
News Majora's Mask Fan Project Returns With VR Teaser
"It's so hard to work in projects without any budget"
Way back in mid-2014, when The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D was just wishful thinking, a fan project caught the web's attention; this was in the form of a new trailer after an initial tease in 2012. It managed to avoid Nintendo's Takedown Team (we imagine those staff have special t-shirts...
Video This Is What The Next Generation Of Pokémon GO Could Look Like
Thanks to Microsoft's HoloLens headset
Pokémon GO's use of location-based tech and Augmented Reality has led many to dub it "anti-VR" in that it pulls us out of an immersive world and forces us to move around the real world, interacting with others and potentially forging social relationships face-to-face. However, it's easy to guess at how...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Sets Criteria to Turn Nintendo's Virtual Reality Research Into a Product
Affordability and comfort of play are priorities
As expected Nintendo has hosted its annual general meeting for shareholders, consisting of a presentation that largely reflects the (previously released) annual financial results for the last year and then a Q & A session. Nintendo typically avoids major announcements in this meeting as it's not...
News Splatoon VR Hack Involves A GamePad On Your Back And A Customised Water Pistol
Just like being there
Ever wonder what Splatoon would play like if it used VR? Well ponder no more, as Japanese researchers have created their own version using custom parts, a little imagination and a cheap plastic water gun. The setup uses a Sony HMZ-T1 head-mounted display for immersion, while the aforementioned water gun has been modded for...
E3 2016 Reggie Says VR "Needs to be Mainstream" For Nintendo To Get Involved
Should "represent strong value to the consumer"
Nintendo of America's President and Chief Operating Officer Reggie Fils-Aime has been speaking to Bloomberg about the possibility of Nintendo jumping on the VR bandwagon along with competitors such as Sony who will be going to market with their PlayStation VR headset later this year. Somewhat...
Talking Point Considering the Possibility of the Nintendo NX Having Virtual Reality Features
Damien and Tom mull over the realities of the situation
Well, here we go again. Reports (which may or may not be accurate) are claiming that manufacturing of the NX was pushed back to early 2017 to make improvements to the 'console and handheld' integration and to factor in Virtual Reality features. It all seems feasible, if still far from certain...
News Nintendo NX Production Reportedly Pushed Back To 2017 To Incorporate Virtual Reality
Order volume reduced from 20 million to 10 million
Nintendo has reportedly delayed mass production of its NX console in order to factor in Virtual Reality functions and improve the system's unique "console and handheld" integrated gaming experience, according to DigiTimes. Sources close to the production chain have stated that the console combines...
Video Learn About the True Age of Virtual Reality Technology
It's been around longer than you think
Virtual Reality - VR - is generating a lot of headlines right now. PS VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are all offering rather different options and targeting their own demographics, and a lot of talk around VR video games is down to how successful they'll be and whether the likes of Nintendo should be jumping on...
News Carnegie Mellon Professor Thinks Nintendo Is Working On A Fully-Mobile Virtual Reality Headset
"Imagine if you strapped a DS to your face"
Virtual Reality is set to go big this year, with challengers like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR all entering a market which is predicted to be worth hundreds of millions over the next few years. Despite tentatively dipping a toe into this sector two decades ago with the ill-fated Virtual...
News The Virtual Boy's Design Was Influenced By The Fact That Ladies Like Wearing Make-Up
According to creator Gunpei Yokoi
Virtual Reality may be back in favour these days, but back in the mid-'90s the initial burst of interest in the technology was starting to wane, and for many players the straw that broke the camel's back was the much-hyped Nintendo Virtual Boy. Released in 1995 to almost complete consumer apathy, the console lacked...
Soapbox If Nintendo Took On Virtual Reality, Would It Be A Disaster Or Gaming's Holy Grail?
Virtual insanity?
Virtual reality - or, as the cool kids these days like to call it, VR - famously died a long, slow death many years ago only to resurrected in recent years thanks to devices such as the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR. It's perhaps a little too early to brand it a full-scale comeback; the support of the mainstream player will be...
News Nintendo Is "Looking At" Virtual Reality, But Don't Expect Details Any Time Soon
Virtual Boy 2, anyone?
Nintendo has been famously dismissive of Virtual Reality lately, with NoA boss Reggie Fils-Aimé even going as far as to say that the tech "just isn't fun" right now. However, with Sony pushing its own VR option and Oculus Rift winning over developers, the VR sector could become a massive part of the games industry. Some are...
Editorial Nintendo and Virtual Reality Aren't a Good Fit in 2016
Tom Whitehead suggests we talk again in a few years
Virtual Reality. VR. Oculus and so on. It's one of the biggest topics in the tech world and, particularly, in the dedicated gaming scene. Or perhaps that should be the enthusiast scene. I've read headlines saying 2016 is the year of Virtual Reality, make or break time. Is it really its final...
News Sega Almost Licensed The Technology That Went Into The Virtual Boy
"I think we were right in turning it down"
Former Sega of America boss Tom Kalinske was in charge of the company during its glory years, and it was under his leadership that it was able to challenge the might of Nintendo during the early '90s. Full of interesting stories and anecdotes, Kalinske's story has been told in Blake J. Harris' excellent...
News Nintendo NX Might Be The First Social VR Platform, Claims Analyst Firm Digi-Capital
Virtual insanity?
It's no secret that the Virtual Boy - which recently had it's 20 year anniversary - wasn't the greatest success for Nintendo. Launched in 1995 to almost complete consumer apathy in North America, it bypassed Europe entirely and was discontinued the following year. Could this negative experience in launching a VR product have put...
News The Current State Of Virtual Reality Just Isn't Fun, Says Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime
"It's not fun, and it's not social. It's just tech"
Nintendo prides itself on discovering new ways to play. This is the company that gave us touchscreen handhelds, motion controls and - lest we forget - the Virtual Boy. However, the company is noticeably absent in the arena of Virtual Reality. While its rivals Sony and Microsoft are both making...
News Masahiro Sakurai Discusses his Thoughts on Virtual Reality
"It is very enjoyable"
As you may or may not be aware, Masahiro Sakurai - the director of the Super Smash Bros. series - writes a regular column in the popular video game magazine, Famitsu. Over the past few months, Sakurai-san's articles have been all about Smash in the wake of the highly acclaimed game's launch. In the most recent issue, however,...
Weirdness Fan-Made Pokémon Virtual Reality Prototype Rears its Head
Gotta catch that one!
A fan of the Pokémon franchise has been working hard to create something that many of us dreamed of when we were children; a virtual reality Pokémon game. It's only a prototype thus far, but it give a flavour of what could potentially be, although likely won't be for the foreseeable future. In the video below you can see the...
Weirdness This Back To The Future-Style VR Hoverboard Game Uses The Wii Fit Balance Board
"The Wii Fit board is actually a really awesome device"
The Back to the Future series is packed with memorable moments, but one of the most iconic has to be the hoverboard sequence in the second movie. Inspired by the classic film, Australian developer Kieran Lord has created Hoverboards Inc, a title built in Unity that uses Oculus Rift and the Wii...
Weirdness The Cyberith Virtualizer Combines Wii Remote Controls, Oculus Rift and a Treadmill
Immersive, or strange?
Virtual Reality is a hot topic at the moment, with Oculus Rift and Sony's Morpheus at the forefront of bringing the concept forward. The mainstream appeal of these devices is yet to be seen, though both have a lot of investment behind them. There are various gadgets and devices trying to tap into the craze, including some...
News Nintendo Files Patent for "Eye Tracking" Device to Enable 3D Experiences on 2D Displays
Also proposes enhanced experiences through smell, temperature and light
Nintendo may have submitted some rather peculiar patent applications in the past, but the most recent may have some foundation in reality, indicating a potential move into Virtual Reality for the company. It proposes a wearable device — potentially glasses — that is detected...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Outlines His Work Routine and Highlights Splatoon Development Team
Also says Virtual Reality gives him "quite a bit of pause"
Shigeru Miyamoto's role at Nintendo has changed a great deal in recent years, with the legendary game designer now one of the most senior managers in the company and responsible for far more than developing a game or two a year. Rumours of retirement a couple of years ago transpired to be a...
Feature A Round-Up of the Best Nintendo-Related April Fools' Pranks
We pity the fools
So, it's 1st April. That makes manoeuvring the internet an act of danger at every click as we try to figure out what's real and what isn't. This year, to be frank, few pranks have genuinely fooled anyone, but will have hopefully raised a smile — or a scowl, in some cases.
Exclusive Nintendo Developing "Virtual U" VR Platform to Rival Sony's Morpheus and Oculus Rift
A sight of the future
Update: As the vast majority of you have figured out within seconds, this is our own little contribution to the April Fools' madness this year. We've summarised some others in this round-up feature. If you want to see the original hi-tech specs which we 'borrowed' for this article, meanwhile, head on over to
News Electronic Arts CEO Discusses The Company's Plans For Virtual Reality At SXSW
Virtual reality is becoming a solid reality
The trend of virtual reality gaming has been picking up speed ever since the Oculus Rift was demoed at E3 back in 2012. Although VR has been done in the past, it left gamers wanting a better experience. Though the Oculus Rift is not on the market yet, we've seen some pretty interesting demos of games like...
