HeartBeat Corporation

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HeartBeat Corporation
Founded: 1988
Defunct: 1997-09-08
Headquarters: 700 Canal Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06902-5921, United States (former), 1717 K Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 2006, United States

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HeartBeat Corporation was a third-party American video game hardware manufacturer which developed the HeartBeat Catalyst, a Sega Mega Drive exercise peripheral with included body-mounted fitness sensors that adjusts gameplay according to the user's current level of exercise.

Company

Founded in 1988 by Adam Benjamin, Justin Hall-Tipping, and Nick Burton, and officially incorporated on on December 24, 1991, HeartBeat Corporation worked with Sega of America, Western Technologies, and Electronic Arts.

Decline

Sales of the Catalyst and Personal Trainer were notably poor, and HeartBeat encountered significant difficulties in marketing and selling the unique devices. Less than one year later, the company cancelled production of any remaining hardware and software projects while it tried to locate other sources of funding, and transferred the entirety of its tangible assets to a newly-formed sister corporation in Lansing, Michigan. The new affiliated company did not produce or develop any content, only existing to advertise and sell unsold HeartBeat products (likely only in the local Lansing area), and was later officially dissolved on September 8, 1997. After the company's dissolution, a number of internal prototypes and limited-release games would eventually make their way into the hands of Michigan video game collectors.

Hardware

HeartBeat Catalyst

Main article: HeartBeat Catalyst.

In November 1993, HeartBeat Corporation released the HeartBeat Catalyst, a Sega Mega Drive exercise peripheral with fitness sensors which detect heart rate, motion, and skin salinity levels for in-game feedback. The most well-known game to utilize the hardware's unique capabilities is Outback Joey (the pack-in game.) Contrary to popular belief, the HeartBeat Catalyst does not require the HeartBeat Personal Trainer to operate.

HeartBeat Personal Trainer

Main article: HeartBeat Personal Trainer.

Sold alongside the HeartBeat Catalyst was the HeartBeat Personal Trainer, a bundle comprised of the Catalyst hardware and a fitness-themed Sega Mega Drive (and still including Outback Joey.)

Softography

Mega Drive

• Outback Joey (1993)
• NHLPA Hockey (1994)
• Outworld 2375 AD (1994)
• PGA Tour Golf II (1995)

Patents

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