Virtual Boy on TV with Intelligent Systems Video Boy
10 days ago
- #Nintendo
- #Retro Gaming
- #Virtual Boy
- The Video Boy allows playing Nintendo Virtual Boy games on a TV or monitor, developed by Intelligent Systems.
- Features include a cartridge slot, link cable port, controller port, and a red power LED on the Virtual Boy inputs.
- The device is referred to as 'Video Adapter VUE' on the unit but 'VIDEO-BOY (VUE)' in instructions and on Intelligent Systems' site.
- Uses PAL AV multi-out at 50 FPS to match the Virtual Boy's output, avoiding conversion to NTSC.
- Includes a DB9 to 3xRCA cable for RGB OUT and a SCANNER port for development headset connectivity.
- Switch settings (SW1) control display outputs: switches 7 and 8 manage left (red) and right (green) displays, with both enabling anaglyph 3D.
- Switch 5 disables functionality when turned on; switches 1-4 may set an integer value.
- The unit labels indicate 'Project No. 12' and 'VUE TV MONITOR', with version 'Ver. C' and modifications noted.
- The monitor board converts the Virtual Boy's column-based image to PAL TV rows, buffering and rotating frames.
- Main board (MAI-VUE-X8) is an early or development version, featuring Xilinx FPGAs, NEC EPROM, and SRAMs for processing.
- Output is handled by MB40778 DACs and an S-RGB encoder, with connectors for RGB and AV multi-out.
- DIP switches 7 and 8 adjust display output modes, affecting composite and S-Video quality.
- Intelligent Systems promoted the Video Boy for demonstrations, debugging, and reducing developer eye strain.
- Additional uses include recording debugging sessions and facilitating team viewing during development.