HeartBeat Personal Trainer
From Sega Retro
HeartBeat Personal Trainer | ||||||||||
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Manufacturer: HeartBeat Corporation[1] | ||||||||||
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The HeartBeat Personal Trainer is a Sega Mega Drive variant themed around personal fitness. Designed and manufactured by HeartBeat Corporation, and including the HeartBeat Catalyst body-mounted fitness sensor hardware with purchase[1], it was released exclusively in the United States in November 1993. Notable for having a production run of only 1000 units, and shipping with the pack-in game Outback Joey (which was specifically developed to utilize the Catalyst, and not available for purchase separately), both are considered some of the rarest pieces of Mega Drive history in existence.[3]
Hardware
The HeartBeat Personal Trainer is compatible with any NTSC Sega Genesis cartridge, and has no additional features over a standard Sega Mega Drive. The outer shell of the system itself uses a smooth, sandpaper-like texture designed to mimic that found on the grips and handles of gym exercise machines. Though not a requirement, the Personal Trainer is intended for use with fitness machines such as exercise bikes and treadmills, and also saves past exercise history for later study.
Contrary to popular belief, the HeartBeat Personal Trainer is not required to operate the related HeartBeat Catalyst.[1]
History
The HeartBeat Personal Trainer was released on November 24, 1993, and was available for purchase for $299.00 in a bundle which included the HeartBeat Catalyst.[1] For buyers who already owned a Sega Mega Drive, the Catalyst hardware was available for purchase separately for $199.00 (still including Outback Joey.) [1]
The system, alongside the HeartBeat Catalyst and its dedicated software Outback Joey, appeared at Winter CES 1994[2][4] and was used to demonstrate how the specialized fitness sensors could be utilized with a traditional video game.
Images
The HeartBeat Personal Trainer with Outback Joey.
- OJHPT 5.jpg
The RF and video adapters.
The HeartBeat Catalyst exercise bike controllers.
The HeartBeat Catalyst controller adapter.
The HeartBeat Catalyst power adapter, fitness sensors, and attachment clip.
The HeartBeat Catalyst fitness sensor cables. (?)
Physical scans
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 http://videogamekraken.com/heartbeat-personal-trainer-catalyst (Wayback Machine: 2021-04-14 05:43)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 GamePro, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 92
- ↑ https://www.sega-16.com/2004/08/genesis-accessory-peripheral-guide/
- ↑ Mega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-17), page 12