When Nintendo unveiled the above pictured Wii Vitality Sensor at their E3 press conference, the audience began to snicker. Whispers between attendees exploded into laughter when someone seated behind Nick and I said something along the lines of "Seriously?" when the announcement was made.
That's not going to stop Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime from trying to talk it up like it's the next big thing, though.
"If I told you that you would be standing on an oversized 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," Fils-Aime told Fast Company.
Reggie, I still don't get the bathroom scale!
He insists that we'll eventually "get it" when we try/play with it: "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'. Until you have that software, it's tough to understand."
He goes on to say that this product isn't necessarily aimed at us, the core gamer. It's aimed at the bathroom scale people. Look, if showing my heartrate and changing game play is your "software," then I'm not impressed. Really, how much can you do with our vitality data?
[via Eurogamer]
Contest:
9:20 AM on 07.10.2009
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You're still thinking like Nintendo cares about the core gamers. Think of the easily impressed casual gamers. They bought said scale. Nintendo didn't need you to get the scale. Remember when Nintendo said they weren't going to be competing with Microsoft and Sony this generation? This is going to be the same basic premise. They no longer need us.
But, then again, this is Nintendo we are talking about, so it more likely all we will get is Wii Yoga and Wii Cardiologist...
oh hai
I mean, I don't have any interest in the thing at this point either nor will I be surprised if it's only aimed at the Wii Sports/Resort/Fit crowd (or the "casual audience" as most call them), but Christ I can at least wait to see what exactly it does before declaring any good or bad.
If they want to make me strap this thing on in a Blade Runner game to see if I'm a Replicant, or have some cop ask me questions in a game like Indigo Prophecy, or whatever, then... yes.
Otherwise... no.
If there's one developer out there that can usually turn a strange and original idea into a fairly cool and successful peripheral, then it's Nintendo. With that said, I still remain somewhat skeptical about the Vitality Sensor until I see what exactly it has to offer in gaming.
i want to see the wii blood pressure cuff and thermometer to go with it.
At least, it'd be pretty spiffy if they had a sequel and your heart rate had a purpose. =P
The problems (as I see them) are:
(1) Nintendo is lousy at providing support for their accessories beyond an initial game, and I doubt that many/any third parties will be interested in experimenting with this oddball item.
(2) Although there are some cool applications possible, "some" probably means about 3 in this case. Combined with the first point, that only makes the accessory even less worthwhile.
Come on something like the Tetrisphere add-on should work out, cut the bullshit Reggie.
Sounds like urinating!