Nintendo – Virtual Boy

1995-1996

In the 1990s, there was a lot of excitement about virtual worlds. When Nintendo launched the world’s first 3D gaming console, it was expected to be an immediate success. Nintendo invested four years and a lot of money on development, and launched the product with a massive advertising campaign. Virtual Boy, however, was a big disappointment. Customers had expected a game console that could be worn on the head, not confined to a tabletop. And since everything was in the same red color, the games were not that spectacular. Both the design and technology were heavily criticized. And many users complained that the screen gave them headaches. Warning labels even stated that the 3D screen could harm younger children. The product was discontinued after less than a year. Nintendo has been quite open about this failure and the importance of risk- taking for innovation.

Additional info:
Wikipedia
Fastcompany – Unraveling The Enigma Of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy
Techspot – A look back at Nintendo Virtual Boy

Here is a commercial and an example of one of the games: