“It’s in Japanese… is that okay?” Says the tall, blood-shot eyed twenty-something as he gesticulates softly over the back cover of Otona No DS: Face Training.
I’m in a Laox electronics store in Kawaguchi, about a twenty minute train ride north of Tokyo. “Yes it’s fine,” I say as I take out my point-card for the electronics chain. After paying I walk past a banner-sized advertisement for the (non)game that was released this morning.
Sure a couple of game-sites may have a hands-on preview of this odd title that features one of the DS’ most potentially exciting new accessories, but only on Infendo will you get a day to day review of how the (non)game progresses, and whether or not it improves the musculature and/or appearance of my face.The game comes in a paper box that’s twice the width of a regular DS box and contains a standard plastic DS case (with the cartridge, instructions, and camera), and another cardboard case that houses the cheap two-piece frosty-white DS stand. The camera is just a little bigger than a GBA game and has a switch to pop the lens of the camera out of the housing a bit, which is presumably for original DS users. After starting up the game, the disembodied head of Fumiko Inudou appears to guide you through getting a facial scan and your first face-training exercises.
It took about four shots before the game would let me progress beyond the initial facial recognition phase, and though there is an on screen guide, it looks like the game doesn’t really work unless you’re up close and facing the camera straight on. Also, it looks like the game won’t work so well if you are in a low light environment, or if you can’t place the DS/stand on a flat surface.
After the game had taken a photo that both Inudou and I approved of, another (slightly younger looking) woman’s head appeared and the DS began to talk at me, asking me to make a U shape with my mouth. Then, I was asked to close one eye and raise that side of my mouth, first right, then left. Finally I was asked to raise both eyebrows as high as possible, while at the same time somehow lowering my mouth.
“Surely I look like a complete moron,” I thought, as the five-second timer rang, and my first face training session ended. Fortunately the game had taken a photo at the apex of each exercise to show me just how stupid I looked, and then gave me a grade of 89% (A), after which Inudou’s head asked me to focus more on my eyes, which I remembered screwing up in shot four.
Though A is probably a pretty good grade for a first time “Facener,” I’m pretty sure the exercises get harder as you go along. More importantly: was it fun? Enough that I had a hard time not cracking up while trying to keep my silly faces for a fully five seconds.
I’ll be updating every day for a while in order to track the game (and my face’s) progress, so check back to find out if Facening is a fixture or a fad.
Sounds like a good laugh. XD
keep us posted indeed
On a serious note, this non-game could end up like Brain Training (Age). I actually have nerve damage in the right side of my face and partial motor control loss in my lips, jaw muscle, eyelids and brow muscles. Even my tongue has a tendency to lean to the left when I talk because the right side of my face is weakened. It’s been this way since I was 18. I’ve managed to recover about 85% of what I lost 8 years ago, but I sure wish there’d been something like this non-game around when I first got Bell’s palsy. It was really bad at first, but things eventually got better. I did a lot of whistling and facial movement exorcises in the mirror, driving everyone I knew crazy. Moving to France and becoming fluent in French actually rehabilitated my lips, and doctors have told me that video games helped keep my ocular muscles healthy via frequent rapid eye movement. Products like this are a firm testament of how integral video games have become to culture throughout the world, breaching the worlds of science, art, and entertainment equally.
Is the camera sold separately? or it is only packaged with the game?
Balam… Did you actually read her Blog entry? It’s written that the game case is twice as big as a regular DS game and that the inside of the case is devided in two carton cases… One haveing the game and the other the camera and the stand!
I think this game looks fantastic. As a singer, it’s important for me to keep toned all the different muscles in my face; especially those that are part of what is called the “zygomatic arch” or “mask” — A.K.A. the place that, on most people’s faces, gets sunburned (the follows along side the bridge of the nose / below the eyes; we use them when we squint!)
Also, I read somewhere that Asian people actually have a harder time making different facial expressions… plus, this will actually, if you used daily, help you look younger!
I think it’s brilliant use of the DS hardware; because of this, I predict it will sell millions!
Sounds interesting, I’ll be looking forward to more
“Balam… Did you actually read her Blog entry?”
Good point. But despite his pink DS and long hair, Dale is in fact a male.
Of course I read >>HIS
entry, but I just wanted to know if you can buy the camera alone (without the game). Sorry for the mutliple posts hehe.
Balam- So far the camera (which is actually called the “facening scan”) is not being sold separately, as there is so far only one game it is used for. For the sake of the device I hope more games start using it- after which it will probably be sold seperately.
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