Silicon Valley

The Atari Jaguar and Sony PlayStation came out one after another, causing Nintendo to lose a lot of market share. This angered Nintendo President Yamauchi, and at this time, Yokoi Junpei developed a revolutionary game console - the virtual reality game console Virtual-Boy! !

Virtual-Boy originally realized the possibility of outdoor entertainment in the form of head-mounted glasses, but after actual inspection, it was found that the shaking of the head would cause the polarization of the liquid crystal, resulting in the disorder and dislocation of the image. Therefore, there is still room for improvement in technology, and Yokoi Junpei does not agree to launch the Virtual-Boy game console immediately. However, Yamauchi couldn't help it. Nintendo's territory is about to disappear. If you don't make a killing move at this time, when will you wait?

Yamauchi is banking on the virtual reality console to turn the tide in the summer, which is usually the peak season for Nintendo merchandise. Therefore, Yamauchi decided to launch Virtual-Boy (VB for short) immediately. Yokoi Junpei had no choice but to adjust the plan, and finally had to change the VB's original hood and glasses-style design to a compromise design with a tripod stand on the desktop. That is to say, to use the VB game console, not only must wear a hood, but also install a tripod to fix the machine, and finally operate it through a gamepad.

In fact, the VB game console project is not very optimistic about the whole Nintendo.

When Yokoi Junpei first proposed the VB plan, everyone was shocked, but almost everyone expressed strong opposition. However, Yamauchi was full of trust in Yokoi's past work performance, and this development project was finally approved. It's a pity that it was passed, but it was not taken seriously. For a huge Nintendo, only dozens of people in the first development department are busy day and night.

In addition, third-party software vendors do not agree with VB game consoles.

It can be said that VB is supported by Yokoi Junpei alone with a team of dozens of people.

...

...

On July 21, 1995, the VB virtual reality game console was officially released.

Yamauchi has high hopes for it, and it is expected that at least 500,000 game consoles will be sold on the first day of listing. But the result was broken. Only 31,000 consoles were sold that day, and a week later, only 70,000 were sold.

Nintendo is not a cat and dog company. It has dominated the game industry for more than ten years and has countless fans. On the day of the release of the new game console, there are at least one million units. But now a week has passed. But only 70,000 units were sold. This shows how unpopular this game console is! ! !

It didn't take long for authoritative ophthalmologists to publish research articles in major newspapers and magazines, pointing out that the virtual imaging technology used by VB game consoles would seriously damage the eyesight of young people!

The report spread quickly and had a major impact in Japan.

Small shops have panic-sold VB consoles and corresponding games at the lowest price of 30% off, and many participating manufacturers have also announced their cancellation of development plans!

VB game console becomes Nintendo's most failed work ever!

Yamauchi bowed and apologized to the partners and shareholder representatives at the subsequent shareholders meeting, citing this decision-making mistake as the greatest shame in his life!

certainly. As the leader of VB game consoles, Junping Yokoi. Naturally, it was scolded by more people, and almost unanimously in the Nintendo community, it slammed it, making it almost impossible to stand. And his most trusted disciple and subordinate Shigeru Miyamoto betrayed him and successfully took his position, replacing Yokoi Junpei as the first real power in the company!

Such a blow suddenly made Yokoi Junpei want to leave Nintendo.

However, it didn't take long for another thing to happen, which eventually caused Yokoi Junpei to be unable to continue to have a foothold in Nintendo!

On July 30, SQUARE Square Games suddenly defected. Announcing the Atari Corporation!

Yes, Henry's Atari company initiated the acquisition of it, and Square Games finally agreed!

Yokoi Junpei has always acted as the protector of SQUARE. Therefore, SQUARE's defection made everyone blame SQUARE for leaving the Nintendo camp on Yokoi Junpei. But in fact, in the past, Yokoi Junpei vigorously promoted SQUARE and other third-party software manufacturers out of the public will to support the sound development of the game industry, and he may not have the selfish desire to establish cronies. He knew nothing about SQUARE's actions!

After these two events, Yokoi Junpei could only "take the blame and resign" in the end!

Yokoi Junpei is so awesome, he invented the famous "cross key" of Nintendo. He is also the father of GameBoy, and also participated in the design of Game\u0026Watch, red and white machine! Junpei Yokoi can be said to be the core soul of Nintendo's hardware department. His design concept has almost influenced Nintendo and even the entire Japanese game industry!

When Yokoi Junpei left Nintendo, Henry was overjoyed!

Such talent, Nintendo abandons it, it is simply too stupid!

Henry remembers that Yokoi Junpei later came to a company called "BANDAI", and then helped this company develop a WS handheld that could rival GameBoy. However, Yokoi Junpei died in a car accident on October 4, 1997. Henry said that Junping Yokoi died very strangely. He didn't die sooner or later, but he died while helping BANDAI design the WS handheld...

Jealousy of Yingcai or what? This is unknown...

How could Junpei Yokoi's legendary life come to an end here? Henry also asked him to design a lot of game consoles for himself! Immediately, Henry sent someone to contact Junping Yokoi and hired him to work at Atari!

After Yokoi Junpei resigned, Henry was the first person to contact him, and he sent someone to his house that night. Yokoi Junpei seemed shocked and moved!

In the face of Henry's warm invitation, Yokoi Junpei just hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement.

In the next few days, Yokoi Junpei finished dealing with the affairs on the Japanese side and flew to the United States immediately.

...

"Mr. Yokoi, you are welcome to join Atari Corporation!" Henry said with a smile as he stretched out his hand.

"Thank you!" Yokoi Junpei shook hands with Henry, "It's my honor to be able to join Atari, please take care of me in the future!" After saying that, he bent down and bowed.

Henry waved his hand and said with a smile: "Mr. Yokoi is the backbone of Nintendo, and he has worked hard. Since Nintendo doesn't want you, Atari wants you. Mr. Yokoi, the Atari hardware department will be handed over to you from now on, I hope you don't let me disappointment!!!"

Yokoi Junping's face froze for a moment, he didn't think that he would be able to take on a heavy responsibility as soon as he came, and he was suddenly a little excited.

"Mr. Williams, thank you for your trust, I will not let you down!!!" Yokoi Junpei said firmly.

Henry smiled slightly and nodded.

"Mr. Yokoi..."

Henry was interrupted by Yokoi Junpei as soon as he spoke: "Mr. Williams, you can call me Yokoi Junpei or Yokoi, you don't have to call me Mr. Yokoi!"

"Well, well, Junpei Yokoi," Henry said, "if I let you continue designing and developing virtual reality consoles, would you be sure?"

Yokoi Junpei frowned, hesitated, and after ten seconds, he replied, "I am confident! However, through the development of VB game consoles this time, I found that virtual reality still requires a lot of technical skills. Accumulation, there will be no significant effect within a few years!"

"No problem, I can totally wait," Henry laughed. "Wherever you fall, get up there. Yokoi Junpei, you will be responsible for the future of virtual reality game consoles!"

"Yes!!!" Yokoi Junping nodded heavily.

"Oh, by the way, Junpei Yokoi, have you heard of brain wave games?"

(To be continued ~^~)