Difference between revisions of "Activator"

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{{AccessoryBob
 
{{AccessoryBob
 
| accessoryimage=Sega Activator.jpg
 
| accessoryimage=Sega Activator.jpg
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| imgwidth=320
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| title=
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| maker=[[Interactive Light]]
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| maker=[[Interactive Light]], [[Sega of America]]
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| distributor={{company|[[Tec Toy]]|region=BR}}
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| official=yes
 
| madefor=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
 
| madefor=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
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| releases={{releases
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| releases={{releasesMD
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| md_date_us=199x
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| md_date_us=1993-11{{magref|gamepro|52|204}}
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| md_date_br=199x
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| md_rrp_us=79.95{{magref|gamepro|52|204}}
 +
| md_date_br=1994
 +
| md_date_ru=1995
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Activator''' is a video game controller released for the [[Sega Mega Drive]] during the mid-1990s. It is an octagonal controller which sits on the floor and uses infra-red beams to interpret movements, acting as supposedly more immersive substitute for a standard [[Control Pad (Mega Drive)|control pad]].
+
{{stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a full-body motion based video game controller unit released by [[Sega]]. It is an octagonal controller unit which sits on the floor and uses infra-red beams to interpret movements. It was revealed for the [[Sega Mega Drive]] console in 1993, intended to act as a more immersive substitute for a standard [[Control Pad (Mega Drive)|control pad]].
  
−
The Activator was created at a time where many video game companies were investing in virtual reality, perceived at the time to be the future of gaming, however for the most part, virtual reality was considered to be too expensive to produce at the time, so products such as the Activiator were produced instead. The Activator was developed by [[Interactive Light]] for [[Sega of America]], though was also brought to Brazil by [[Tec Toy]]. It was based on a musical instrument called the "Light Harp", conceived by musician and martial artist Asaf Gurner.
+
In the [[arcade]]s, similar technology was used for the [[Sega System 32]] fighting game ''[[Dragon Ball Z V.R.V.S.]]'', which used extra sensors for better motion detection.
  
−
The Activator comes in eight segments, which when fitted together creates an octagonal ring which is designed to be placed on a floor. Each section of the Activator fires a beam of light upwards, and the player stands inside the octagon, "punching" and "kicking" to break the light beams and sending signals to the Mega Drive console in the process. The Activator is effectively a glorified control pad, with {{Left}}, {{Up}}, {{Right}}, {{Down}}, {{A}}, {{B}}, {{C}} and {{Start}} buttons mapped to each of the eight segments.  
+
In Russia, sold since 1995 by [[Mikrodin-S]]. It was also announced in South East Asia for late 1993/early 1994<ref>https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19930920-1.2.31.8?ST=1&AT=filter&DF=&DT=&AO=false&NPT=&L=&CTA=&NID=&CT=&WC=&YR=1993&SortBy=Oldest&K=sega&KA=sega&P=5&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=sega&oref=article</ref> but wasn't materialized.
  
−
Sega of America marketed the Activator as a martial arts simulator, claiming that it improved the experience of fighting games such as ''[[Eternal Champions]]'' (one of the few games designed around the peripheral). In reality, the reverse was true - many games such as ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' and ''[[Comix Zone]]'' are considered to be more difficult to play with an Activator, and many games which rely on fast reactions are not suitable for this style of control scheme at all. Furthermore the light beams are easily distorted by a non-flat ceiling or obstructions such as beams of a ceiling fan or light fixture. As a result, the Activator did not see much commercial success and was retired mere months after launch.
+
==Hardware==
 +
The Activator was created at a time where many video game companies were investing in virtual reality, perceived at the time to be the future of gaming. However, for the most part, virtual reality was considered to be too expensive to produce in homes at the time, so products such as the Activator were produced instead. The Activator was developed by [[Interactive Light]] for Sega, and was also brought to Brazil by [[Tec Toy]]. It was based on a musical instrument called the "Light Harp", conceived by musician and martial artist Asaf Gurner.
  
−
==Promotional Material==
+
The Activator comes in eight segments, which when fitted together creates an octagonal ring which is designed to be placed on a floor. Each section of the Activator fires a beam of light upwards, and the player stands inside the octagon, "punching" and "kicking" to break the light beams and sending signals to the Mega Drive console in the process. The Activator is effectively a glorified control pad, with {{Left}}, {{Up}}, {{Right}}, {{Down}}, {{A}}, {{B}}, {{C}} and {{Start}} buttons mapped to each of the eight segments.
−
<gallery>
 
−
File:Activator MD US PrintAdvert.jpg|US print advert
 
−
TeamPlayer-MegaMouse-Activator MD US PrintAdvert.jpg|US print advert 2
 
−
File:Activator_MD_BR_PrintAdvert.jpg|BR print advert
 
−
</gallery>
 
  
−
==Physical Scans==
+
Sega of America marketed the Activator as a martial arts simulator, claiming that it improved the experience of fighting games. However, many argued the reverse was true, and many games which rely on fast reactions are not suitable for this style of control scheme at all. Furthermore, the light beams are easily distorted by a non-flat ceiling or obstructions such as beams of a ceiling fan or light fixture. As a result, the Activator did not see much commercial success and was retired mere months after launch.
 +
 
 +
An improved version of the Activator was used for the [[Sega System 32]] [[arcade]] fighting game ''[[Dragon Ball Z V.R.V.S.]]'' It had a number of extra sensors to pull off better reaction sensing. ''Dragon Ball Z V.R.V.S.'' was a popular attraction at the [[Amusement Machine Show 1993]] for its accurate motion detection and fun gameplay.{{magref|edge|2|17}}{{magref|egm|51|222}} It was thus the first successful example of full-body motion sensing in a video game.
 +
 
 +
==Compatibility==
 +
==="Activated" games===
 +
While the Activator will function with any Mega Drive title, a small number of games were partially designed for the Activator and so specifically label themselves as "activated":
 +
*''[[Best of the Best: Championship Karate]]''
 +
*''[[Eternal Champions]]''
 +
*''[[Greatest Heavyweights]]''
 +
*''[[Streets of Rage 3]]''
 +
 
 +
In addition, Sega of America promoted support for ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'', ''[[Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition]]'' and ''[[Streets of Rage 2]]''. The Mega Drive and [[Sega 32X]] versions of ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' also mention the Activator by name, but the control scheme is identical to that of the standard three-button controller.
 +
 
 +
Unreleased games ''[[Air Drums]]'' and ''[[Bounty Hunter]]'' were designed specifically for the Activator and were meant to ship with the product, but were cancelled. Additionally, the internal [[Activator Command Demo]] program is compatible with the hardware, used for testing the various inputs accepted by the peripheral.
 +
 
 +
==Magazine articles==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
 +
 
 +
==Promotional material==
 +
{{gallery
 +
|{{gitem|Activator US Promotional Video.mp4|US promotional video}}
 +
|{{gitem|Activator MD BR TVAdvert 1994.mp4|BR TV Advert (1994)}}
 +
|{{gitem|Activator promophoto.jpg|US promotional photograph}}
 +
|{{gitem|Activator_MD_BR_PrintAdvert.jpg|BR print advert}}
 +
|{{galleryPrintAd
 +
|sv|15|122-123
 +
|egm|52|278
 +
|gameplayers|0612|202
 +
|sv|16|146
 +
|gamepro|54|42
 +
|megaplay|20|8
 +
|sv|17|10
 +
|egm|57|78
 +
}}
 +
|{{GalleryPrintAd
 +
|sv|21|31
 +
|gamepro|64|133
 +
|sv|22|3
 +
|sv|23|81
 +
|sv|24|85
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Physical scans==
 
{{Scanbox
 
{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| region=US
 
| region=US
 +
| front=Activator MD US Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=Activator MD US Box Back.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=yes
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=US (with ''[[Eternal Champions]]'')
 
| front=SegaActivator US Box Front.jpg
 
| front=SegaActivator US Box Front.jpg
 
| square=yes
 
| square=yes
Line 39: Line 90:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
== External links ==
+
==External links==
−
*[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7783366196223400692 Sega Activator Ring Instructional Video]
+
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7783366196223400692 Sega Activator Ring Instructional Video]
−
*[http://youtube.com/watch?v=PyaiGLITrN8 Sega Activator Demonstration at 1993 Winter CES]
+
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=PyaiGLITrN8 Sega Activator Demonstration at 1993 Winter CES]
−
*[http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5045687&printsec=abstract U.S. Patent 5,045,687]
+
* [http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5045687&printsec=abstract U.S. Patent 5,045,687]
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
  
 
{{MegaDrive}}
 
{{MegaDrive}}

Latest revision as of 08:13, 16 November 2024

Sega Activator.jpg
Activator
Made for: Sega Mega Drive
Manufacturer: Interactive Light, Sega of America
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$79.9579.95[1]
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Mega Drive
RU

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Activator is a full-body motion based video game controller unit released by Sega. It is an octagonal controller unit which sits on the floor and uses infra-red beams to interpret movements. It was revealed for the Sega Mega Drive console in 1993, intended to act as a more immersive substitute for a standard control pad.

In the arcades, similar technology was used for the Sega System 32 fighting game Dragon Ball Z V.R.V.S., which used extra sensors for better motion detection.

In Russia, sold since 1995 by Mikrodin-S. It was also announced in South East Asia for late 1993/early 1994[2] but wasn't materialized.

Hardware

The Activator was created at a time where many video game companies were investing in virtual reality, perceived at the time to be the future of gaming. However, for the most part, virtual reality was considered to be too expensive to produce in homes at the time, so products such as the Activator were produced instead. The Activator was developed by Interactive Light for Sega, and was also brought to Brazil by Tec Toy. It was based on a musical instrument called the "Light Harp", conceived by musician and martial artist Asaf Gurner.

The Activator comes in eight segments, which when fitted together creates an octagonal ring which is designed to be placed on a floor. Each section of the Activator fires a beam of light upwards, and the player stands inside the octagon, "punching" and "kicking" to break the light beams and sending signals to the Mega Drive console in the process. The Activator is effectively a glorified control pad, with Left, Up, Right, Down, A, B, C and  START  buttons mapped to each of the eight segments.

Sega of America marketed the Activator as a martial arts simulator, claiming that it improved the experience of fighting games. However, many argued the reverse was true, and many games which rely on fast reactions are not suitable for this style of control scheme at all. Furthermore, the light beams are easily distorted by a non-flat ceiling or obstructions such as beams of a ceiling fan or light fixture. As a result, the Activator did not see much commercial success and was retired mere months after launch.

An improved version of the Activator was used for the Sega System 32 arcade fighting game Dragon Ball Z V.R.V.S. It had a number of extra sensors to pull off better reaction sensing. Dragon Ball Z V.R.V.S. was a popular attraction at the Amusement Machine Show 1993 for its accurate motion detection and fun gameplay.[3][4] It was thus the first successful example of full-body motion sensing in a video game.

Compatibility

"Activated" games

While the Activator will function with any Mega Drive title, a small number of games were partially designed for the Activator and so specifically label themselves as "activated":

In addition, Sega of America promoted support for Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition and Streets of Rage 2. The Mega Drive and Sega 32X versions of Mortal Kombat II also mention the Activator by name, but the control scheme is identical to that of the standard three-button controller.

Unreleased games Air Drums and Bounty Hunter were designed specifically for the Activator and were meant to ship with the product, but were cancelled. Additionally, the internal Activator Command Demo program is compatible with the hardware, used for testing the various inputs accepted by the peripheral.

Magazine articles

Main article: Activator/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Activator promophoto.jpg
US promotional photograph
Activator promophoto.jpg
Activator MD BR PrintAdvert.jpg
BR print advert
Activator MD BR PrintAdvert.jpg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (US) #15: "October/November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • (US) #52: "November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)[5]
  • (US) #0612: "Vol. 6 No. 12 December 1993" (1993-1x-xx)[6]
  • (US) #16: "December/January 1993/1994" (1993-xx-xx)[7]
  • (US) #54: "January 1994" (199x-xx-xx)[8]
  • (US) [9]
  • (US) #17: "February/March 1994" (199x-xx-xx)[10]
  • (US) #57: "April 1994" (1994-xx-xx)[11]
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (US) #21: "October/November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • (US) #64: "November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)[12]
  • (US) #22: "December/January 1994/1995" (1994-xx-xx)[13]
  • (US) #23: "February/March 1995" (199x-xx-xx)[14]
  • (US) #24: "May 1995" (1995-xx-xx)[15]
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive, US
Activator MD US Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngActivator MD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, US (with Eternal Champions)
SegaActivator US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Activator MD BR Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngActivator MD BR Box Front.jpg
Cover

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 GamePro, "November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 204
  2. ↑ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19930920-1.2.31.8?ST=1&AT=filter&DF=&DT=&AO=false&NPT=&L=&CTA=&NID=&CT=&WC=&YR=1993&SortBy=Oldest&K=sega&KA=sega&P=5&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=sega&oref=article
  3. ↑ Edge, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-09-30), page 17
  4. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 222
  5. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 278
  6. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 12 December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 202
  7. ↑ Sega Visions, "December/January 1993/1994" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 146
  8. ↑ GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 42
  9. ↑ GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 8
  10. ↑ Sega Visions, "February/March 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 10
  11. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 78
  12. ↑ GamePro, "November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 133
  13. ↑ Sega Visions, "December/January 1994/1995" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 3
  14. ↑ Sega Visions, "February/March 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 81
  15. ↑ Sega Visions, "May 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 85


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