A farewell to arms
- August 22, 2007 5:23 PM |
- By Ian Johnson
by Steve Morales, CBCNews.ca
Research shows that video game play can cause vision problems, carpal tunnel syndrome and even seizures. Japanese company Atlus Co. tried to offer a whole new paradigm in video game-related injuries but has now backed off with a relatively low casualty count.
The company announced Tuesday it would recall all 150 of its "Arm Spirit" arm-wrestling machines after complaints that three people broke their arms battling the machine.
Photo: The Atlus. Co. arm wrestling arcade game machine "Arm Spirit". (AP/Atlus Co.)
Atlus spokesperson Ayano Sakiyama expressed surprise, since "even women should be able to beat it."
"We think that maybe some players get overexcited and twist their arms in an unnatural way," she said.
The company was investigating the incidents and checking the machines for possible malfunctions.
Players of "Arm Spirit" advance through 10 levels, grappling with a French maid, a drunken martial arts master and a chihuahua before the final round versus a professional wrestler. The company did not say which level the three injured players were on when hurt, although accurate statistics may be impossible to determine since anyone who plays an arm-wrestling game likely wouldn't admit losing to a chihuahua.
About the Authors
- Tara Kimura
is a multimedia producer for CBCNews.ca.
Categories
All News blogs
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Tech Bytes
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Recent Entries
- Universe hates Higgs boson, Chicago Cubs
- By John Bowman, CBCNews. A physicist working on the Large Hadron Collider doesn't think much of the theory that the universe is sabotaging the project to prevent the discovery of the Higgs boson. Might as well say that Nature hates... Continue reading this post
- Large Hadron Collider goes Back to the Future
- By Peter Evans, CBCNews.ca. Two respected physicists have put forward the theory that the Large Hadron Collider's stated aim of finding the Higgs boson might be so abhorrent to nature that mysterious forces are traveling back through time and sabotaging... Continue reading this post
- Multi-touch concept for desktops: 10/GUI
- By John Bowman, CBCNews.ca. I'm a fan of alternative ideas for human-computer interaction, so this video caught my attention. It shows an idea for a ten-finger touchpad interface and associated changes in the way a computer would handle multiple windows.... Continue reading this post
Comments (5)
Haha I don't know what's worse, this arcade machine breaking peoples arms or the spokesperson's remarks. "Even women should be able to beat it"? Granted Japanese women tend to be tiny, but my cousin could probably twist that arm into a pretzel! Toughest girl I know.
Charlie Bear and I were JUST talking about this the other day! The machines themselves weren't designed to apply dangerous amounts of force, which leads me to believe either a malfunction caused a surge leading to a jerk which, in turn, broke an arm... or, as people have a tendeceny to do, people were being morons with the machines.
It happened with the wiimote when people realized sweat + nun-chaku = ouchies and broken windows/tv monitors.
It'll happen with all kinds of technology.
Hell, even DDR mats come with tons of procedures to follow to avoid injury.
Does it mean people won't get hurt?
OF COURSE NOT. People get hurt all the time because they ignore warnings.
In this case, it could be both the machine and the man to blame... but personally, I agree with the company when they say it might be people using it oddly. Hell, I can just PICTURE it.
"GUYS! I CAN ARM WRESTLE THIS THING _BACKWARDS_!"
Yeah. I'm siding with the company. :D
I've played an arcade very similar to this. It's very difficult.
Even with two people, doing what some may refer to as "cheating", we couldn't get very far.
As to how arms broke, I have no idea. It must be more comsumer stupidity like with the Wii remotes breaking TVs.
I believe Altus Co has a medical supplies division that makes the plaster and bandages used in arm casts. I'd be willing to bet they did this on purpose to increase revenue for a struggling product line. And also, should we trust the author of this story? He's obviously using a pseudonym.
As someone who's played the game before it was removed, I have to completely disagree with you Filip. Such a statement is unfounded and cruel to the corporation. They're trying to make something fun and it went wrong; now they're taking it out.
Your argument is basically the same as saying:
Well, XBox360 does this and Microsoft makes this, so when their XBoxes broek and cost them millions, it was on purpose.
Think again, thanks. :D