Apple's policy change brings classic Nintendo games to Vision Pro
Apple has recently revised its policies on emulators, a move prompted by international antitrust pressures. This change has led to an influx of hardware emulation apps in the App Store, including those for NES and PlayStation. Developer Adam Gastineau has capitalized on this opportunity by introducing "VirtualFriend - VB Emulator" for the Vision Pro.
VirtualFriend revives Nintendo's 90s VR experiment
The VirtualFriend app brings back games from Nintendo's short-lived VR experiment of the 1990s, the Virtual Boy. This console was only available for a year before being discontinued, leaving behind a limited library of just 22 games. However, Gastineau has confirmed that his emulator also supports homebrewed titles, thereby expanding the range of games accessible to users.
It addresses eyestrain issues of original console
The original Nintendo Virtual Boy (NVB) was infamous for causing headaches due to its monochrome red-and-black graphics and parallax 3D viewing technique. The new app addresses this issue by rendering apps on a virtual screen on the Vision Pro's stereoscopic display. This method helps reduce eyestrain associated with isolating the eyes, a common problem with contemporary VR or the NVB.
Customizable color schemes for games
In addition to addressing eyestrain issues, VirtualFriend also offers customizable color schemes. Users can choose to view games in the traditional red-on-black motif or alter the two primary colors according to their preference. There are several preset themes available, including a soothing black-on-green theme reminiscent of Game Boy. These features should help reduce eye strain.
VirtualFriend does not come with pre-installed games
One drawback of VirtualFriend is that it does not come with pre-installed games and there is no straightforward way to browse and import titles to the iPhone. Users will need to find and download the ROMs online, then use VF's file browser to import them into the app's library. This process is common among most iOS emulators.
