Nintendo has released several unique peripherals for its systems over the years, but there are some that were canceled before seeing a full version, such as the WorkBoy. The peripheral was destined to launch for the Game Boy in the 90s and would have turned the handheld device into a working PDA. While the WorkBoy was canceled before mass production began, DidYouKnowGaming’s Liam Robertson was able to locate a prototype, which was provided by Frank Ballouz. Ballouz oversaw the production of the WorkBoy for Fabtek and had the keyboard prototype. There was only one problem: it required an accompanying cartridge that Ballouz did not have.
Fortunately, however, a recent leak from Nintendo provided the Internet with code for unreleased software and resources. The WorkBoy software code was part of the leak and Robertson was able to put that code in a cartridge in order to put it into operation. Robertson was able to test the device and share his findings on YouTube. The Robertson video on the peripheral can be found embedded below.
The WorkBoy would have been produced in a collaboration between Source Research and Development and Fabtek, and would have been officially licensed by Nintendo. The peripheral would have been launched when personal computers were much more expensive and long before the importance of mobile phones. The WorkBoy would have retailed for $ 79-89 and would have included several features, such as a world clock, an address book, the ability to make currency conversions, and more. Considering how most of these features can be easily found on most modern cell phones, it seems that the WorkBoy is ahead of its time. Unfortunately, the peripherals were scrapped after Nintendo revealed plans to lower the price of the Game Boy. As such, the WorkBoy would have been more expensive than the system itself, which would probably have disabled potential buyers.
The video game industry has several stories, such as the WorkBoy. From completely finished games that ended up scrapped without seeing releases, to add-ons like the legendary “Nintendo Play Station,” the WorkBoy is in very good company. Still, thanks to Robertson’s tireless efforts, Nintendo fans and video game history enthusiasts can now glimpse what it could have been!
What do you think of the WorkBoy? Do you think the peripheral would have been successful? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp to talk about all the games!