E3: Iwata shows Wii Vitality Sensor

By Dan Pearson Published 2 June, 2009

Aims to relax rather than excite.

Mario's legal guardian Satoru Iwata has introduced a curious pulse-measuring device known as Wii Vitality during Nintendo's E3 press conference.

Looking for all the world like one of those machines we have on Brighton pier which tells you if you're in love by sticking your finger in it, the device is designed to go beyond a simple cardio report.

In fact, in a rather poetic description, Iwata promised that it would provide information "relating to the inner world of your body". Although probably not in a particularly medical sense.

Instead, it's aimed at aiding relaxation by monitoring stress and nervousness, even helping people to sleep.

No software was announced, but expect Mario Police Polygraph to be hitting the shelves soon.

Picture of Dan.

About Dan Pearson

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Pearson archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (11) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Lucien21 #1 3 years ago

    Like he said Brain Age trained your brain.

    Wii Fit trained your body.

    Maybe this is for training your soul. It will help you reach a guru meditation state.

    Wii Dalai Lama.

  • des #2 3 years ago

    lol

  • cheekyjay #3 3 years ago

    Seemed very un-Nintendo to show off a new peripheral without demonstrating it through software or a tech demo. Ideas are great, but it's the applications of those ideas (or at least some suggestions as to how it could be used) that drives the industry and consumer interest.

  • mattrix33 #4 3 years ago

    Brain age trained your brain...Wii fit made you healthy...did they hell as like.

    Just another plastic twat device for Nintendo to peddle out to the stupid arse heads that think it really does something.

    Don`t you think that if someone had shed loads of weight playing Wii fit that Nintendo would not of put them on show.
    The reason that you don`t see them is that after a few weeks people wake up a bit and realise that look like a donkeys knob whilst playing on bathroom scales.

  • Cannibal #5 3 years ago

    Sound slike something Scientologists use

  • grussbarbar #6 3 years ago

    I'd love to see a survival/horror game with this, where the game throws a scare at you if you're getting too relaxed. :)

  • the_dudefather #7 3 years ago

    /:|

  • Canyarion #8 3 years ago

    If you're not relaxed enough, it punishes you with electric shocks. I want it.


    I do remember seeing a documentary on mind-controlled games. You did it through your finger which was plugged into a sensor. Would be cool if this was that technology. If you thought of moving forward, you went forward in the game. If you thought about jumping, you jumped.
    Edited by 1 at 02/06/09 @ 19:11

  • Canyarion #9 3 years ago

    Haha, nice. Miyamoto has said in an interview that he's been involved in a tech demo where you control a robot with your thought. Using the Vitality Sensor.

    It's the technology I was talking about a few posts above. :)

    But it still was pretty stupid to present it without any games. I think they kept it as a backup, for when XBox would amaze people (which it did).
    "Others are copying our motion control, but we're working on thought control!" ...

  • kipper #10 3 years ago

    @Canyarion: "I do remember seeing a documentary on mind-controlled games. You did it through your finger which was plugged into a sensor. Would be cool if this was that technology. If you thought of moving forward, you went forward in the game. If you thought about jumping, you jumped. "

    I doubt it. If you could receive a signal from the brain via the finger, hospitals wouldn't need all those damn expensive MRI scanners.

    I would love to be proven wrong though.

  • fiery_jackass #11 3 years ago

    the onion, as always, delivers. Alex Franklin in particular...