About: The Victormaxx StuntMaster, often advertised as the Virtual Reality StuntMaster, is a Sega Mega Drive and Nintendo Super Famicom-compatible head-mounted display developed and published by Victormaxx. Marketed as a virtual reality headset, the StuntMaster is instead simply a head-mounted display with basic stereoscopic effects. Released exclusively in the United States in August 1993, the headset is notable for including an instruction manual and supporting documentation written in the first person (as if the unit is speaking to the user), even going as far as to include a fictional résumé for the device.
As the StuntMaster connects to Sega Mega Drive hardware using the model 1’s rear DE-9 port, it is unable to operate with later model Mega Drive hardware. No games were designed to take advantage of any of the headset’s possible functionality. Additionally, the headset has gained a modern reputation as being difficult to set up, heavy and uncomfortable to wear, and providing a poor display of the games being played.
VictorMaxx Stuntmaster Specs and Info…
Device: VictorMaxx Stuntmaster, (Virtual Reality StuntMaster)
Manufacturer: Future Vision Technologies, VictorMaxx
Announced Date: Unknown
Release Date: August 1993
Launch Price: $219 (£161)
Device Type: VR Headset (Console Powered)
Display: X2 LCD panels at 280 × 86 (Per Eye)
Diagonal Field of View(FOV): 40°
Refresh Rate: 30 Hz
Weight: Unknown
CPU: N/A
GPU: N/A
Battery: N/A
Tracking: 3 DoF Non-positional (Gyroscope Based)
Controllers: N/A
Our Thoughts: The Stuntmaster virtual reality headset released by VictorMaxx allowed you to play SNES and Sega Genisis games in 3D! Simply moving your head left to right moved the game sprite controlled by you making it perfect for race games.
Most people blame its high RRP and poor quality build, but the whole setting up process just to get it to work was also a real nightmare. No matter what the reason for its failure is, it will forever be remembered in our virtual reality hall of history.
Sources used…
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Vision_Technologies
- http://videogamekraken.com/stuntmaster-by-victormaxx