MIT Creates Urine-Controlled Video Game 76

Posted by simoniker on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @05:21AM from the you're-in-control dept.

cscx writes "Well, they've done it again. The boys at MIT have designed a video game that's playable by doing your business at a urinal . The game resembles "Duck Hunt" from the Nintendo days, except instead of the Zapper gun, the game is controlled by your stream hitting a multitude of sensors placed on the back wall of the urinal. Weird? Yes. Still cool? You bet." The accompanying document (PDF link, here's an HTML version from Google) explains how this game could lead to improved sanitation, since you won't want to miss, and may even increase personal hydration, since getting rid of all that water is now so much fun.

MIT Creates Urine-Controlled Video Game

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Now... (Score:4, Funny)

by KDan ( 90353 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @05:33AM (#5899700) Homepage

I seriously think this game is just taking the piss...

Daniel

- Re:Now... (Score:1)
  
  by Inf0phreak ( 627499 ) writes:
  
  Sooo... it's drinking this beer [pi55.com]?
- Re:Now... (Score:3, Funny)
  
  by macdaddy357 ( 582412 ) writes:
  
  If you are playing this game, you are playing with yourself.
Well (Score:2, Funny)

by Anztac ( 322182 ) writes:

I guess it does bring a whole new meaning to headshots... *ducks*
Finally! (Score:2)

by InsaneCreator ( 209742 ) writes:

The iLoo expansion pack! ;)
FP (Score:5, Funny)

by rakarnik ( 180132 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @05:57AM (#5899745) Homepage Journal

First pee!!!

Position of screen (Score:1)

by greenjinjo ( 580285 ) writes:

It's a shame they did not manage to build the screen into the urinal. They probably expect people to have great hand-eye coordination because now you cannot see where you are peeing.

Suggestion for next in-urinal game: House of the Dead?
- Re:Position of screen (Score:1)
  
  by Wog ( 58146 ) writes:
  
  House of the Pissed...
- Re:Position of screen (Score:2)
  
  by The Night Watchman ( 170430 ) writes:
  
  They'll just have to incorporate WYSIWYP technology. What You See Is Where You Pee
  
  ---
Similar to this (Score:5, Interesting)

by AllMightyPaul ( 553038 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @06:04AM (#5899756)

The FlyUI [weblogs.com] already does this over in Europe, just without all the high-tech crap.

- Re:Similar to this (Score:1)
  
  by You're All Wrong ( 573825 ) writes:
  
  Yup a Dutch invention, a great idea! They have it in many cafes too, it's not just the airport.
  The Dutch are a funny lot when it comes to, ehem, downstairs functions - they like those crappers where it just sits on a shelf until you flush, eugh!
  
  Back to your usual programming...
  
  YAW.
- Re:Similar to this (Score:2)
  
  by Dr. Photo ( 640363 ) writes:
  
  The FlyUI [weblogs.com] already does this over in Europe, just without all the high-tech crap.
  
  Dammit, this story is about high-tech pee. High-tech crap is clearly offtopic! ;-)
So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:5, Funny)

by mithras the prophet ( 579978 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @06:06AM (#5899763) Homepage Journal

Video games are always being marketed to boys, but this takes that gender-preference a little far, don't you think?

- Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:1)
  
  by C0LDFusion ( 541865 ) writes:
  
  Not really. Once most guys learn that their girlfriends were right, and indeed their urination aim sucks, they will give up and this'll die out.
- New Market (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by infernalC ( 51228 ) writes: <(moc.elgoog) (ta) (nollem.wehttam)> on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @07:15AM (#5899986) Homepage Journal
  
  No, it just creates a new market for accessories.
  
- Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:4, Interesting)
  
  by Kj0n ( 245572 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @07:59AM (#5900194)
  
  Not true!
  
  Women can use a urinal too. [p-mate.com]
  
  - Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:2)
    
    by KDan ( 90353 ) writes:
    
    Wow... But surely they'll be at a disadvantage using such a crude instrument. I mean, can they even aim with that?
    
    Daniel
- Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:1)
  
  by beders ( 245558 ) writes:
  
  Just have take her with you and let her have a go :)
  
  Will men go to the toilet in groups like women do now?
- Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:2)
  
  by DonkeyJimmy ( 599788 ) writes:
  
  Yeah haha, but read the article: In order to allow both men and women to participate in the demonstration, we created a customized game controller, consisting of a nylon belt, a formedacrylic pelvic plate, water bottles, tubing, and a flexible garden hose nozzle. The controller is worn around the waist and the bottles are gripped and squeezed to pressurize astream of water. To use the You're In Control system in standard restrooms, women would need to take advantageof a device such as Whizzy [4] or P-Mate [
- Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:2)
  
  by cscx ( 541332 ) writes:
  
  I guess you've never seen a really drunk girl in a frat house bathroom before, huh? ;D
Real men play: (Score:3, Funny)

by JimDabell ( 42870 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @06:08AM (#5899770) Homepage

Peeball! [peeball.com]

Basically, it's who can dissolve the ball of dodgy chemicals int the fastest time/most stylish way. I'm a Master Blaster :)

Wee (Score:3, Funny)

by smari ( 257143 ) writes: <spm@vl u g . e y j a r .is> on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @06:19AM (#5899793) Homepage

Finaly people will stop looking at the urinal I'm using!

UT2003 & Battlefield 1942 mod (Score:3, Funny)

by tankdilla ( 652987 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @06:19AM (#5899795) Homepage Journal

Now we just need to get these sensors working in toilets. Every time I drop a deuce, I'd use the Redeemer in UT2003, or bomb the unsuspecting enemy camp in Battlefield 1942.

cheating (Score:2)

by tankdilla ( 652987 ) writes:

Anyone ever cheat in Duck Hunt by using the light gun really close to the TV screen? Now the hung dude will be accused of cheating. (Which would be me in that case >B^)>
- Re:cheating (Score:1)
  
  by Adrian Voinea ( 216087 ) writes:
  
  This reminds me of a joke I just read...
  One Saturday afternoon, a man was sitting in his lawn chair drinking beer and watching his wife mow the lawn.
  A neighbor lady was so outraged at this, she came over and shouted at the man, "You should be hung!"
  To which he calmly replied, "I am. That's why she cuts the grass!"
Dick Hunt! (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @06:42AM (#5899864)

I think "Dick Hunt" is a catchy name that is far less ambiguous than "You're In Control".

- Re:Dick Hunt! (Score:1)
  
  by joFFeman ( 574971 ) writes:
  
  the problem with 'dick hunt' is it could be misinterpreted and lead to the guy in the next stall getting a bit 'grabby'.
This game... (Score:2)

by Soul-Burn666 ( 574119 ) writes:

This game just pisses me off!!
We aim to please, you aim too, please! (Score:5, Funny)

by wowbagger ( 69688 ) * writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @06:49AM (#5899888) Homepage Journal

Some of the slogans this can use:

"We aim to please, you aim too, please!"
"The fingers that pick the cigarette butts out of the urnal also flip your burgers."

However, I hope they don't start accepting advertising on this system:

"Hey guys - want high score? ENLARGE YOUR THING!"
"You could aim higher if you got OUR GENUINE V*AGRA!"

Don't get addicted to this game (Score:5, Funny)

by Craig Maloney ( 1104 ) * writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @07:01AM (#5899928) Homepage

I can just see some guy getting addicted to this game:

"No, sweetheart, we can't leave... I HAVE to go to the bathroom again. Get me a pitcher!"

Improved Sanitation? Right. (Score:1, Troll)

by elmegil ( 12001 ) writes:

Last time I was using my pee for target practice (about second grade) waving all that around made for much worse sanitation than simply focussing on one spot.
duck hunt comparison (Score:1)

by joFFeman ( 574971 ) writes:

what about those of us who tried to shoot that annoying dog? our accuracy would probably suffer, not improve.
why not... (Score:1)

by i chose quality ( 413813 ) writes:

... develop a clone of SinkSub controlled by the vector of your poo?

you know? depth charges... :)
Kinda reminds me of (Score:1)

by Inf0phreak ( 627499 ) writes:

Water Closet [somethingawful.com]. Part 2 can be found here [somethingawful.com].
*** WARNING: You will probably find it extremely offensive. (Or at least gross) ***
down? at MIT? (Score:1)

by kasper37 ( 90457 ) writes:

apparently their webserver is out of urine because I can't get to the site...
Monzy (Score:1)

by aberson ( 461047 ) writes:

FYI, this is partly courtesy of Monzy, of Monzy.com fame. more here [monzy.org]
Heck (Score:3, Funny)

by shadowbearer ( 554144 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @07:27AM (#5900046) Homepage Journal

It's just another pissing contest.

SB

Honestly... (Score:1)

by ASPirant ( 139119 ) writes:

I'm surprised no one mentioned possible use of "streaming video" and "flushing the cache".

Aren't they worried that this game would only be played by men? Women would be at a severe disadvantage on this one.
uh oh (Score:2)

by Joe the Lesser ( 533425 ) writes:

I don't want to know what they're planning for toilets...
- Re:uh oh (Score:1)
  
  by ASPirant ( 139119 ) writes:
  
  Super Bust-a-Move?
- Re:uh oh (Score:3, Funny)
  
  by Euphonious Coward ( 189818 ) writes:
  
  One word: "Battleship!"
  - Re:uh oh (Score:1)
    
    by giraffecock ( 671738 ) writes:
    
    Three words: "Raped your mom!"
- Re:uh oh (Score:1)
  
  by The_dev0 ( 520916 ) writes:
  
  um... "organic" tetris?
Hey... (Score:5, Funny)

by Alethes ( 533985 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @07:38AM (#5900101)

At least it's not a swordfight game.

Queen of Outer Space (Score:2)

by Euphonious Coward ( 189818 ) writes:

This reminds me of the classic line from the brilliant 1958 film, "Queen of Outer Space". Zsa Zsa Gabor plays the chief scientist of Venus, where they've done away with all the men. A spaceship arrives from Earth, and the crew learns of Venus's plan to destroy Earth with a death ray that Zsa Zsa has built.
"But how could they aim it?", one exclaims.
- Re:Queen of Outer Space (Score:1)
  
  by giraffecock ( 671738 ) writes:
  
  "Your mother's a whore!", another announced.
This Is A Hoax!!! (Score:1)

by th3walrus ( 191223 ) writes:

Just another prank pulled off by some students at MIT. On the web site you can clearly see a picture of a female standing there at the urinal playing the game. How can she do that? It's a known fact that women do not exist at MIT.
Already been done in Europe for a lot less! (Score:1)

by Remlik ( 654872 ) writes:

In Europe they simply put a little picture of a bug where they wanted the stream to hit. Rest Rooms were much cleaner after that.

Seems a little over engineered here in the US.
Whoa (Score:1)

by Gangis ( 310282 ) * writes:

This posting's been here for quite a while but nobody has mentioned the classic Scary Movie scene where they have a pissing contest in the bathroom in the movie theater, reminescent (sp?) of that old carnival game with the water gun and the thingy that raises whenever you hit it.
Pissing away your time (Score:1)

by jcwren ( 166164 ) writes:

Pissing away the moments that make up the dull day
You pee and waste the hours in an in hand way
Leaking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to shake it away

--Pink Floyd

Shake it more than 3 times and you're duck hunting with it.
Advantage (Score:2)

by blahlemon ( 638963 ) writes:

The great thing about this game is it's got a built in time limit. It will only work so long as you provide the ammo! I do have a couple of questions though...
Does it have a boss key?
Does it keep a top score?
What happens if you've got the top score and no more juice left to select the initials?
How do you tell the difference between someone who's looking over your shoulder to see your top score and someone who's looking over your shoulder just to get their kicks?
Is there a better score for a lower calibre we
public urination??? (Score:2)

by Goronguer ( 223202 ) writes:

From the article:
You're In Control questions a basic social code of privacy by assuming that (even simulated) public urination is acceptable if the participant is playing a computer game.
Does that mean they are thinking of putting these things in arcades? Talk about stage fright . . .
Awww... (Score:1)

by Kelz ( 611260 ) writes:

Now we're gonna get flooded with all those corny "joystick" jokes.
Would this be considered... (Score:1)

by rudeboy1 ( 516023 ) writes:

A pee shooter?
But the big question is... (Score:1)

by JackMonkey ( 631985 ) writes:

...will there be multiplayer?
Typical (Score:4, Funny)

by flikx ( 191915 ) writes: on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @11:14AM (#5901775) Homepage Journal

This is typical sexism at MIT. How are women supposed to play this game??

Kinda Gives New Meaning... (Score:3, Funny)

by GTRacer ( 234395 ) writes: <gtracer308@@@yahoo...com> on Wednesday May 07, 2003 @11:20AM (#5901835) Homepage Journal

...when I tell people "I'm gonna whip out the ol' BFG!"
GTRacer
- More like a Cricket, actually...

- Re:Kinda Gives New Meaning... (Score:2)
  
  by The_dev0 ( 520916 ) writes:
  
  You call yours Gary?
I wonder... (Score:1)

by BinaryForces ( 412005 ) writes:

When they programmed the controller - I wonder if they made use of Stream IO...
next thing to work on... (Score:1)

by 95_gst_al ( 601102 ) writes:

...is a game that prevents people from wiping bugers on the dang wall. Now, that would nice.
The real question is... (Score:1)

by bluemeep ( 669505 ) writes:

...Will that damn dog pop out to laugh at me if I miss and hit my foot?
They should combine this other video games (Score:2, Funny)

by nixman99 ( 518480 ) writes:

like xbill!
Duck Hunt? (Score:1)

by kurosawdust ( 654754 ) writes:

The game resembles "Duck Hunt"...
Finally I will no longer get yelled at or arrested for pissing on that goddamn dog
Back in my day... (Score:2)

by Tom7 ( 102298 ) writes:

Back in my day, we didn't have these fancy electronic games. Our pee games were writing in snow, dissolving the urinal cookie, or cutting up toilet paper.
FPS... (Score:1)

by jxa00++ ( 322387 ) writes:

First Pissing Shooter...
Whack the Nation (Score:2)

by mbstone ( 457308 ) writes:

The tag line says they will integrate the video game with an interactive display for news. They are, if you will, missing the mark. The preferred theme is not news, but the Sunday newsmaker talk shows. Combine Whack the Monkey with a few Washington talking heads from Face the Nation, and you get: Whack the Nation. Pee on Bob Schieffer, and Leslie Stahl pops up. Urinum politicum.
Something amiss (Score:2)

by Zork the Almighty ( 599344 ) writes:

Am I the only one who plays this game already ? I aim for the holes. When that gets boring, try to write letters or draw things. Do not eat the big white mints.
Where was this when... (Score:1, Offtopic)

by Dolemite_the_Wiz ( 618862 ) writes:

...Beverly Hills 90210 was popular? MIT could have hit it big with this show still on the air.

I can see it now, target practice with the cast members instead of Ducks.

Dolemite
_______________
3 thoughts (Score:2)

by quintessent ( 197518 ) writes:

It's good to know all those dollars are going to good use.

Actually, this would have been useful at an old college apartment. We ended up putting a sign in the stall asking our roommates to please aim.

Are they going to display people's high scores up on the wall?

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

Now... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Now... (Score:1)

Re:Now... (Score:3, Funny)

Well (Score:2, Funny)

Finally! (Score:2)

FP (Score:5, Funny)

Position of screen (Score:1)

Re:Position of screen (Score:1)

Re:Position of screen (Score:2)

Similar to this (Score:5, Interesting)

Re:Similar to this (Score:1)

Re:Similar to this (Score:2)

So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:1)

New Market (Score:4, Funny)

Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:4, Interesting)

Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:2)

Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:1)

Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:2)

Re:So I guess this is for boys only? (Score:2)

Real men play: (Score:3, Funny)

Wee (Score:3, Funny)

UT2003 & Battlefield 1942 mod (Score:3, Funny)

cheating (Score:2)

Re:cheating (Score:1)

Dick Hunt! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Dick Hunt! (Score:1)

This game... (Score:2)

We aim to please, you aim too, please! (Score:5, Funny)

Don't get addicted to this game (Score:5, Funny)

Improved Sanitation? Right. (Score:1, Troll)

duck hunt comparison (Score:1)

why not... (Score:1)

Kinda reminds me of (Score:1)

down? at MIT? (Score:1)

Monzy (Score:1)

Heck (Score:3, Funny)

Honestly... (Score:1)

uh oh (Score:2)

Re:uh oh (Score:1)

Re:uh oh (Score:3, Funny)

Re:uh oh (Score:1)

Re:uh oh (Score:1)

Hey... (Score:5, Funny)

Queen of Outer Space (Score:2)

Re:Queen of Outer Space (Score:1)

This Is A Hoax!!! (Score:1)

Already been done in Europe for a lot less! (Score:1)

Whoa (Score:1)

Pissing away your time (Score:1)

Advantage (Score:2)

public urination??? (Score:2)

Awww... (Score:1)

Would this be considered... (Score:1)

But the big question is... (Score:1)

Typical (Score:4, Funny)

Kinda Gives New Meaning... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Kinda Gives New Meaning... (Score:2)

I wonder... (Score:1)

next thing to work on... (Score:1)

The real question is... (Score:1)

They should combine this other video games (Score:2, Funny)

Duck Hunt? (Score:1)

Back in my day... (Score:2)

FPS... (Score:1)

Whack the Nation (Score:2)

Something amiss (Score:2)

Where was this when... (Score:1, Offtopic)

3 thoughts (Score:2)

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