Wii Vitality Sensor sounds boring, but could be fun if used right
Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 1:01pm by Boss Hog
The Wii Vitality Sensor is probably the most head-scratching announcement of this year’s E3. “People will be able to use the product we are developing with the Wii Vitality Sensor to achieve greater relaxation,” said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata on Monday, during the company’s annual press conference. “It may not be long before games are used to let people unwind or even make it easier to fall asleep.”
A game that helps you fall asleep? That doesn’t sound fun. But I have to admit I’m intrigued with the prospect. No, I don’t particularly care for a Wii game that helps me fall asleep. But I would be thrilled if a savvy developer starts using the Vitality Sensor to send a Wii game real-time feedback about my anxiety, fear, and interest levels. Imagine the power of that data. If used right, a game could respond to your current state of mind, and adjust the play experience or difficulty accordingly (e.g. by sending more enemies if a gamer becomes bored).
That’s the kind of Vitality Sensor I could give the finger. Unfortunately, it seems doubtful that Nintendo will take the peripheral in that direction. Remember, Iwata unveiled the peripheral right after talking about products to encourage “maybe” gamers, persons who have yet to respond to even the recent casual phenomenon. But maybe third-party developers could come to the gamer rescue.
June 5th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Rayman Raving Rabbids used to help me fall asleep… then I exchanged it!
(Oh, SNAP!)
June 5th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Yeah, I wonder how it would work if you combined the Wii Vitality Sensor, with some sort of Director A.I. like they have in Left4Dead. That really could work.
Though there is the fact that you’re paying to have your finger pinched and that the nunchuck cant be used with this on. Still, I’ll do my best to give Nintendo the benefit of my doubt. They do have a penchant for turning supposed [failures that will never EVER work and will destroy gaming as we know it] into blockbuster success that end up dominating the market after all.
June 5th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Still, Iwata isn’t doing this any favors when one of his examples for practical use include putting you to sleep. (When I can’t relax and sleep, I just listen to my recording of Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue. Only $10, works every time, AND isn’t potentially invalidated by a “next-gen” MP3 player.)
June 5th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
If the final product has something to measure people’s blood pressure, the Wii Fit crowd will go ape shit for the vitality sensor.
June 5th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
i want to see a silent hill that utilizes a heart rate gauge/meter.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Ooooh! Oooh! Oooh! How about an Eternal Darkness sequel!? That could TOTALLY work with the vitality sensor!