Nintendo's little red console that could, the Virutal Boy, has received the interest of many talented programmers and engineers as of late. Following the announcement for brand new ribbon cables in the works, came the introduction of the MultiBoy32. The brain child of Kevin Mellott (VB link cable, Mario Tennis 2 player carts, a VB controller-to-PC adapter, and other inventions), this new Flash Kit is set to be released towards the end of summer, 2019. The price point is currently at $150, making it only $50 more than the single ROM solution FlashBoy. For more information and to get on the waiting list, check the source link below.

Flash space: 32 slots of 32Mbit RAM via a 1Gbit Flash.
RAM space: 256k x 16 SRAM space (8k x 16 per slot) using MRAM (no battery needed).
Full 16bit SRAM bus instead of the production 8bit width.
On board 32bit microcontroller (MCU) for programming slots.
USB input for interfacing and control.
Games loaded via SD card slot.
On screen game selection themed around my 8bit VB character Do-Do.
Arduino compatible MCU (custom firmware development if you're so inclined).

Source

GBAtemp's Official Virtual Boy Review!

 

[Idontknowwhattoputhere]

150$ no thanks

 

[Rabbid4240]

wtf is a flash kit

 

[x65943]

Wow, to think this old boy has a scene more alive than the wiiu

People love this retro console. I wish they were easier to come by at a reasonable price.

 

[Deleted member 388531]

wtf is a flash kit

Basically an R4.

 

[raxadian]

The Virtual boy didn't have many games to start with and nowadays you get better results using google Cardboard...

I honesty don't see the point, is not like it had any must play games. I mean the Sega CD had Sonic CD at least...

 

[Another World]

People love this retro console. I wish they were easier to come by at a reasonable price.

If you are truly interested, you should be able to get everything for under $150. Damaged units go for $10-50. The higher priced ones often have controllers and AC adapters. Controller go for around $25-40. The ribbon cables should be under $15 a set, when they are ready. Hyperkin sells the replacement stand, eyeshade, and mount for a combined $50 retail.

If you want it all at once and you want to know it's working, there are people on PlanetVB who are always willing to sell. You might want to try posting in their marketplace.

-another world

 

[Another World]

The Virtual boy didn't have many games to start with and nowadays you get better results using google Cardboard...

I honesty don't see the point, is not like it had any must play games. I mean the Sega CD had Sonic CD at least...

Including homebrew, translations, and prototype releases, you would be getting about 40 experiences out of this kit. Presently.

There is no way, what-so-ever, to recreate the VB experience with Google cardboard. It is just not the same! The point of this kit is for those who want to play homebrew, hacks, translations, etc, or for developers. Also... the only thing you remember about the Sega CD was Sonic CD? LOL.

-Another World

 

[Another World]

Speaking of the Sega CD, Snatcher for the Virtual Boy: https://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=6060

 

[raxadian]

There is no way, what-so-ever, to recreate the VB experience with Google cardboard. It is just not the same! The point of this kit is for those who want to play homebrew, hacks, translations, etc, or for developers. Also... the only thing you remember about the Sega CD was Sonic CD? LOL.

-Another World

The Virtual Boy was okay for it's time but nowadays we have better things even if some are expensive as hell.

Only reason to waste money on this and getting a Virtual Boy is nostalgia... for a console no one had.

 

[M7L7NK7]

Just emulate it on the switch and strap it to your face

 

[Another World]

The Virtual Boy was okay for it's time but nowadays we have better things even if some are expensive as hell.

Only reason to waste money on this and getting a Virtual Boy is nostalgia... for a console no one had.

No one had it for good reason. Nintendo improperly marketed what was essentially a prototype as the successor to the Game Boy. It wasn't. They also limited 1st party software access so there was virtually nothing for it.

The VB is unique. You should experience one. It doesn't compare to anything we have today.

-Another World

 

[Rabbid4240]

Basically an R4.

Oh ok

 

[Roamin64]

There's a virtual boy emulator that's built for VR. It's actually more comfortable on my Oculus then it was playing on the original console. This flashcart seems well designed though, the price seems a little steep.

https://github.com/braindx/vbjin-ovr

 

[xs4all]

Yes it's expensive, but for those retro collectors who have a VB like myself, this is interesting, I already have the Flashboy cart which only allows you to flash one game at a time which is a bummer.

Also for those who have been following the VB scene there is a Street Fighter 2 homebrew game for the VB, only a handful of carts was ever made and those who have them are trying to make some money by flogging these off for an insane amount of money!
The dev released a demo of this game for either use on a VB emulator or the Flashboy and its a pretty good port.
Now, there is word that someone have dumped the cart and have the rom but decide against sharing it, even if they did its only playable on an emulator, its a large rom and the current Flashboy flash size is too small so you will not be able flash and play it, but I assume this new flash cart/kit will be fine?
If this is the case, then the missing piece of the puzzle is getting the SF2 rom.

 

[raxadian]

No one had it for good reason. Nintendo improperly marketed what was essentially a prototype as the successor to the Game Boy. It wasn't. They also limited 1st party software access so there was virtually nothing for it.

The VB is unique. You should experience one. It doesn't compare to anything we have today.

-Another World

They even went as far as sell the games in boxes that made them look as Gameboy games. Heck back when the DS was released, some business were still stuck with some of those Virtual Boy games because customers apparently could read that the boxes didn't say Gameboy.

 

[K3Nv2]

Does it support 10k?

 

[codyjo]

But.... WHY?

 

[Deleted User]

Speaking of the Sega CD, Snatcher for the Virtual Boy: https://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=6060

Holy Jesus! The Sega CD version is still the way to go for me, but this honestly looks like a heap of fun to mess around with.

 

[MercilessDeth]

The Virtual boy didn't have many games to start with and nowadays you get better results using google Cardboard...

I honesty don't see the point, is not like it had any must play games. I mean the Sega CD had Sonic CD at least...

Well, there is the original incarnation of Mario Tennis. Mario Clash is not bad either, although there's not a whole lot to it.

Wario Land VB definitely fits the description of must-play though.