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Let's clear up this eMagin mess

by rawmeatcowboy
13 January 2006
GN 1.0 / 2.0

Z800fullsize lgeMagin has been in Nintendo news lately. eMagin is the maker of a VR headset called the Z800 3D Visor. The headset allows you to watch a video signal in 3d. News broke that Nintendo had been interested in the unit, and has bought more then a handful of them. GoNintendo wanted to see just what the deal was with this eMagin business, so we went right to the source.

Our own Link, JohnTheSavage, and Nicky Hill made their way over to the eMagin booth at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The topic on hand was to find out what the real deal was with eMagin and Nintendo. Turns out that the rumor of Nintendo and eMagin working together stems from nothing more then a poorly worded statement.

GoNintendo actually spoke with someone from eMagin who was directly related with the Nintendo incident. It is true that Nintendo has purchased headsets. What is also true is that many other gaming companies have purchased these headsets too. Someone had asked one of the eMagin representatives if big name gaming companies were interested in their Z800 visor. The representative told that person with a yes. Then the person asking the questions asked if Nintendo was one of those big name companies. The representative then answered, yes, Nintendo has purchased headsets. After that, the rest is history.

The eMagin rep told our staff that the second after he had heard his coworker make that comment, he knew it was going to come back and bite him. A simple statement like that turned the internet world upside down with rumors flying that Nintendo really was making a VR helmet for the Revolution. While you never know what Nintendo may do in the future, their work with the Z800 VR headset will most likely not be Revolution related. The truth here is that many gaming companies have purchased eMagin’s headsets and software, all for reasons unknown.

We covered this story on our podcast, but I wanted to post the news on the site for all those who aren’t interested/don’t have the means to listen to our podcasts.