Nintendo has released a number of unique peripherals for its systems over the years, but there are some that were canceled before seeing a full version, such as WorkBoy. The device was intended to be released for the Game Boy in the 1990s and would have turned the portable device into a functional PDA. While WorkBoy was canceled before mass production began, DidYouKnowGaming’s Liam Robertson managed to find a prototype, offered by Frank Ballouz. Ballouz oversaw the production for WorkBoy for Fabtek and happened to have the keyboard prototype. There was only one problem: it required an accompanying cartridge to operate, which Ballouz did not have.
However, like luck, a recent leak Nintendo provided the Internet with code for unpublished software and assets. The code for the WorkBoy software was part of the leak, and Robertson managed to put that code on a cartridge to get it up and running! Robertson then managed to test the device and share his findings on YouTube! Robertson’s video on the peripheral can be found embedded below.
WorkBoy was produced in a collaboration between Source Research and Development and Fabtek and was officially licensed by Nintendo. The device would have launched when personal computers were much more expensive and long before the prominence of mobile phones. WorkBoy would retail for $ 79-89 and offer a range of features, such as a world clock, an agenda, the ability to make currency conversions, and more. Given how most of these features can be easily found on most modern mobile phones, it looks like WorkBoy was ahead of its time! Unfortunately, the device was abandoned after Nintendo revealed plans to reduce the Game Boy price. As such, the WorkBoy would have been more expensive than the system itself, which would probably have stopped potential buyers.
The video game industry has a number of stories just like WorkBoy. From completely finished games that ended up being abandoned without seeing the release, to supplements like the legendary “Nintendo Play Station”, WorkBoy is in very good company. However, thanks to Robertson’s tireless efforts, Nintendo fans and video game history enthusiasts can now take a look at what it could have been!
What do you think about WorkBoy? Do you think the peripheral would have been successful? Tell us in the comments or share your opinions directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp let’s talk about all the games!