Nintendo talks up Wii Vitality Sensor – no one is convinced
The Wii Vitality Sensor is a new Nintendo peripheral which measures your pulse for God knows whatever reason. Since it was announced, no one has really understood what the point of it is going to be. But fear not, as Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime is here to help us understand. Sort of.
You may remember Nintendo’s press conference at E3 2009. You may also not remember it because it hardly set the world alight. The highlight, at least as far as Nintendo was concerned, was the unveiling of the Wii Vitality Sensor, a new official peripheral (yes, another) which you stick your finger in to measure your pulse.
The Wii Vitality Sensor didn’t really get that much attention at the time, partly because we were all too busy arguing over whether Sony’s motion-sensing controller was better or worse than the controller-less Project Natal, and partly because, well, the whole thing sounds completely retarded.
I don’t know about everyone else but there’s really only one thing I like randomly sticking my finger in and I don’t think Nintendo makes one of those yet. Although it is inevitably only a matter of time. But a peripheral to check your pulse and, and, that’s it? Well, color me completely underwhelmed and a little confused.
I’m not the only one who doesn’t get it, as N’Gai Croal, the man whose efforts to use Project Natal lead to it being labeled as possibly racist, is also lost on the concept. Unlike me, he gets to interview Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime, and in a recent Fast Company interview asked him about the Wii Vitality Sensor and what the hell it’s meant to do.
We probably had a similar conversation about the Wii Remote: how is this going to work, how is it going to work with the games that I want to play–I don’t get it.
And all I can tell you is, with the game developers that we have, we will bring forth an experience that you will say, “Wow, I get it.â€
Until you have that software, it’s tough to understand. If I told you that you would be standing on an over-sized bathroom scale, and having fun doing it, you probably would have said, “Reggie, I don’t get it.†And yet here we are with the balance board arguably as the third largest development platform across the globe.
Croal: So I’m lacking imagination?
And you’re lacking the specific software example that undoubtedly will show exactly how it comes to life.
I take the point about the Wii Remote, although it was much clearer what the real-world use for that would be. I even take the point about the Wii Fit Balance Board, but again it was more obvious why you’d need a peripheral of that nature. But a pulse checker? For games? My brain hurts thinking about the distinct lack of possibilities it creates for gamers.
I guess we’ll all have to wait until “the specific software” that will bring the Wii Vitality Sensor to life arrives. Just don’t expect me to get moist with anticipation in the meantime.
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21 Responses to “Nintendo talks up Wii Vitality Sensor – no one is convinced”
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July 10th, 2009
I can think of a certain type of game, couple it with a certain appendage it could be used on…
Would probably sell really well in Japan actually…
July 10th, 2009
Where is Mike?
July 10th, 2009
it is for the “mood or tention” of the game.
if ur heart is beeping fast then the game is going to create an atmosphere like ur really about to die, and the game is going to go crazy on you, music is going to change to a more dramatic one etc.
ur calm then the game is going to flow as normal.
July 10th, 2009
“there’s really only one thing I like randomly sticking my finger in”
Is that your nose? LOL
Nintendo is becoming less and less a game company and more and more a Medical Health and Wellness Company.
That’s why they are doing so well. There are so many fat and unhealthy people in this world that they are making a killing.
I don’t think it has anything to do with casual gaming. That’s why MS and Sony will never get the casual market.
July 10th, 2009
“Is that your nose? LOL”
LOL LOL LOL LOL
July 10th, 2009
Well, not even a Wii-tard like myself like this… while I can see some interesting feedback as suggested by Roca, I have problems with the shape of the thing… Why couldn´t they make it a bracelet? Right now, it looks unconfortable and cumbersome to play with.
As a bracelet they could add a termometer too (if they want to keep supporting the use some medical centers give to the Wii). For sport games for example, temperature and pulse would give a clear idea how tired the player really is and use that info for the sake of safety and gaming.
But again… the thing looks unconfortable and if this is some kind of electronic sphygmomanometer, would it be a little too sensitive to sound and movement?
July 10th, 2009
Wouldn’t it have been easier to just include a pulse sensor strip in the Wii-mote, or offer that as an upgraded Wii-mote? How are you supposed to play a game wich requires both hands with that lump attached to your finger?
July 10th, 2009
Sadly this is a prime example of just how out of touch, and far Nintendo has tumbled this gen.
Games like…. wait for it…. GAMES!
Sure they had tremendous success with Wii Fit, but this seems to be a shameless attempt of trying to recreate the phenomenon. Nintendo has lost all respect for gamers in general.
July 10th, 2009
Also to stir the pot while throwing in a shameless plug… does anyone think that the Wii is a better console than the PSP? I have scientific proof that the PSP is better in every possible way.
blorge.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=100
July 10th, 2009
to me the game cube is Better console for gaming than the Wii, if only the Gamecube have got the support the Wii is getting.
i bought Twilight Princess for the Wii, after i got bored and tired of moving my arms and swinging the sword, I traded in for the Gamecube version. enough said.
July 10th, 2009
*Gamers like…. wait for it…. GAMES!*
July 10th, 2009
Rimmer:
“How are you supposed to play a game wich requires both hands with that lump attached to your finger?”
Exactly.
July 10th, 2009
Barnabe Jones
I think you’re the one not getting the point here.
Wii fit largely appeals to a completely new and different market and this makes perfect sense for them.
No matter how much Dave and anyone else can’t understand the wide appeal of the Wii it is doing something good.
It is bringing in money to game devs at a time when that is no certain thing.
It will help finance those devs and their other, more serious if you must, games rather than see them contract or go bust.
How are more revenues and sales a bad thing?
How is breaking out of the small geeky gaming niche a bad thing?
It might not keep gaming as ‘pure’ but it is a hell of a lot more stable footing for these companies to be operating under and that has to be a good thing for us all.
July 10th, 2009
Everyone knows this is just another idiotic peripheral designed for ONE purpose: further fleece the sheep that bought that idiotic “oversized bathroom scale,” Wii Fit.
Now Wii Fit can read your pulse!*
*(only compatible with NEW Wii Fit Balance Board Wii Plus. ESRB: $300)
-Arvis
July 10th, 2009
Is it “ESRB?” MSRP? What’s the acronym???
-Arvis
July 10th, 2009
they bring Money to game developer but not to the gamers. Gamers are basically getting ripped off
most of the Wii $50 games will be $10 games on the PSN/XBL
July 10th, 2009
That’s probably the smartest thing you have said to date HH.
The only problem is that it’s Nintendo that is getting most of that money and they do not have the hard core gamer’s interest in mind.
And because of their success Ms and Sony are going to forget about the hard core games also. Not this gen but surly next gen.
July 10th, 2009
I just don’t see it as being so ‘one or the other’ with no inbetween.
The gaming market (as it is) is pretty big and IMHO there’s a ton of room for various niche & specialist elements within a wide spectrum of ‘gaming’.
July 10th, 2009
Roca
Game prices have always been at a rip-off level, even back to Speccy & C64 days.
IIRC it went extra stupid at the time of the first Playstation (although the platinum range helped, a little).
July 10th, 2009
ur right happy but im just saying now days “mini-game” games are usually downloadable games on the PSN/Marketplace for $10
July 11th, 2009
haha I remember the Speccy. I used to have an Amstrad back in those days.