Skip to main content

Forget the Virtual Boy, the VR64 is the most retro 3D-gaming headset ever

VR64 Demo
As a shining example of nerdy perseverance and dedication to a truly retro technology, YouTube user 64Jim64 has made a virtual reality headset that is compatible with the Commodore 64. Better than that though, he coded his own compatible game, Street Defender, letting him do some old-school eight-bit gaming on a contemporary VR headset.

Although virtual reality might be most commonly enjoyed on consumer headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, there are a lot of different headsets out there now and some give you access to unique game libraries. In the case of the VR64 though, there is just one game and it is exclusive to the only headset in the world that supports it: 64Jim64’s homemade VR64.

64Jim64 has been playing around with homebrew virtual reality for a while now, building a number of prototypes and compatible software with his daughter (detailed on his blog). However, the VR64 is an entirely fresh project of his own, built using a $10 smartphone VR headset frame and an LCD screen with a resolution of 304 x 200 pixels (resulting in 152 x 200 per eye).

The headset mirrors what is displayed on a standard cathode ray tube (CRT) television, supplying it with all the visuals it would ever need. The only problem with that, is that the Commodore 64 itself never had any virtual reality game releases, so what is a homebrew hacker to do? Make his own game, of course.

Street Defender was the result, a game about fighting intergalactic aliens, ninjas, and robots with a variety of weaponry on the mean streets of Earth. The game employs some clever tricks to display enemies closer and further from the player, as well as give a 3D effect to the walled alleys of the game’s setting.

Although you need to petition 64Jim64 to gain access to the original VR64 headset and the only copy of Street Defender in existence, if you want to get a taste of what it is like to use both at the same time, all you need is a Google Cardboard or another compatible VR headset. Open up this YouTube video in your own headset and you will have a somewhat stereoscopic view of what it’s like to play a virtual reality game on hardware that was released the same year that Tron hit cinemas.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…
Apple and Valve reportedly team up on AR/VR headset scheduled for 2020 release
lenovo mirage ar marvel dimension of heroes review superhero

Apple’s on-again, off-again smart headset project is currently back on, and rumors are pointing to the company working with Valve, the video game publisher also responsible for the Steam online game portal, to produce the accessory. The news comes from well-known -- but not always reliable -- online source DigiTimes, which says Apple is working with Valve on “AR head-mounted display devices,” and preparing to release them during the second half of 2020.

The report adds that Apple is working with Quanta Computer and Pegatron to assemble the units, but does not go into detail on how the headsets will work, what they will look like, or the features we can expect. The rumors come from anonymous industry sources, and should therefore be treated as speculation for now. However, it is not the first time we have heard about Apple’s augmented reality plans.

Read more
British Airways will test virtual reality headsets for first-class passengers
british airways vr headsets first class passengers britishairways 21686761049197

First-class passengers on British Airways will soon get even more perks when the airline begins testing a new virtual reality headset.

The airline announced on Wednesday, August 14, that for the rest of the year, first-class customers on select international flights can watch in-flight entertainment such as movies, documentaries, and travel programs through custom VR headsets for the eight-hour flight duration. The headsets offer 2D, 3D, and 360-degree formats.

Read more
Valve Index VR headset costs $500, but the full bundle will set you back $1,000
Valve Index price release date specs hardware 1000 500 499 999

A lot of the kinks in virtual reality hardware and software have been ironed out, and Valve has decided to jump into the front end of the current generation of immersive experiences with the Index VR head-mounted display. The original reveal of the Valve Index included plans to reveal more in May, but we have a price and official release date a bit sooner. The Valve Index will ship June 28 and the complex VR kit with the headset, controllers, and two base stations will cost $1,000.

Individually, you can get the Valve Index VR HMD for $500. The controllers are $280, and you can get them bundled with the Index for $750 to save a few bucks. The Valve Index Base Station’s price is $150 and is compatible with any headset with support for SteamVR 2.0 like the Index and HTC Vive Pro.
Valve Index VR HMD specs

Read more