Experience the impact of every hit in Mortal Kombat. Feel the explosive energy in Contra 3. Sense the intense heat of being “on fire” in NBA Jam. Sounds amazing, right? Well, not quite. In reality, it wasn’t as great as it seemed.
Back in 1994, Aura Systems unveiled the Interactor, a haptic vest that connected to kids’ backs and generated vibrations synchronized with the gameplay of Super NES and Sega Genesis. The February 1994 edition of Popular Science featured the device in our “What’s New” section, describing it as:
The Interactor vest vibrates in sync with direct hits and music bass lines when connected to the audio-out jack of a video game system, TV, or stereo system. You have the option to adjust the intensity of the vibrations or filter out background music. Price: $89.
Despite the initial excitement and hype surrounding the Interactor, it failed to resonate with kids, leading to its eventual obscurity in gaming history. Simply put, it didn’t capture the interest of children, and their parents were hesitant to invest in a gadget that didn’t excite them. As 12-year-old Jeremy Belcher candidly expressed to the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1994: “It feels weird.” Not the most promising feedback.
Popular Science‘s Kevin Lieber got his hands on an Interactor via eBay to delve into why this once cutting-edge VR accessory fell flat. It’s a tale of a massive $5 million marketing campaign, a visionary inventor, and the intriguing world of cymatics.
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