5 Gadgets That Were Supposed to Change the World but Flopped Horribly

Nintendo Co., Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS:NTDOY) is poised to launched a new console, the Switch, in 2017. The device is rumored to eventually feature VR technology, at least based on the company’s patents, which showed the use of the upcoming console’s detachable tablet with a VR headset. But this will not be the first time that Nintendo meddled with VR, which is just now hitting its stride. More than two decades ago, in July 1995, the company launched the Virtual Boy, a video game console that promised “true 3D graphics” and sold for $179.95. The product was panned over its high price, induced discomfort, and failure to live up to its marketing promises. In the end, the device sold just 350,000 units in North America in 1995, well below projections of 1.5 million units. By March 1996, the Virtual Boy was out of the market. Nintendo sure hopes that the Switch will last longer than the Virtual Boy, which shouldn’t be an issue…but then, who really expected any of the products on this list of 5 gadgets that were supposed to change the world but flopped horribly to fail SO disastrously?