Toylets

Manufacturer: Sega AM1

Add-ons: Stand, Coin box, Frosted glass cover

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	2011-10^[2]	¥140,000^[1]	SLS07E990513005^[3]

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Toylets (トイレッツ) is an interactive urinal video game system developed by Sega AM1 and manufactured by Sega. Intitially seeing a limited release in Japan in October 2011^[2], the Toylet is one of Sega's more curious endeavors, featuring interactive minigames controlled via the strength and direction of the user's urination.

Hardware

A pair of installed Toylet systems.

The Toylet is a two-part system, featuring a LCD screen^[4] placed above its respective urinal to display the game's software, and a specialized motion-tracking sensor^[4] mounted atop the urinal itself. Due to this, the system is compatible with most existing urinals, and has been installed on a variety of urinal bodies and styles.

A small sticker of a bulls-eye is affixed to the bottom of the urinal's main basin wall, and the Toylet's sensor is then calibrated towards that spot. In addition to serving a technical purpose (providing the sensor with a clear, static reference for measuring stream motion and amount), the bulls-eye also encourages players to direct their streams towards the sticker and retain their aim for the entirety of their urination. Importantly, this reduces the amount of excessive urine which escapes the basin - resulting in cleanlier bathrooms and lower maintenance costs - and something used as one of the Toylet's key selling points.^[5]

The screen itself contains a custom Sega hardware board running Windows Embedded CE 6.0 at a resolution of 800x600 pixels.^[4] It features a single monaural speaker for sound output, and a USB 2.0 port through which both players save their scores and venue-owners interact with the system.^[4] Additionally, the Toylet features a software-enabled power saving mode^[6] which drops the system's power consumption from 14w to 4w.^[5]

Software

A selection of urination-controlled minigames are available for play, with users' high scores recorded by the system in a similar manner to arcade games. Scores can later be downloaded and saved by inserting a USB flash drive directly into the system. Between games, the LCD screen displays brief advertisements selected by the installed venue.

List of games

Main article: List of Toylet games.

USB high score records

One of the Toylet's selling points was its ability to save players' high scores. By bringing a personal USB flash drive on a trip to a Toylet-equipped venue (or by preferably utilizing one already attached to players' keychains), users can insert their drives into the system itself and save their completed game's score.

This direct user contact with their high scores not only allows for a legitimate competitive element among Toylet players, but more importantly serves as a form of digital souvenir for their time with the system itself. As the Toylet was often installed specifically to draw in guests based on its unique premise alone, the ability to take home a small reminder of that experience notably added to the Toylet's appeal and value - and something which also continues to preserve its unique legacy on a more intimate scale.

Magazine articles

Main article: Toylets/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Toylets/Promotional material.

Images

Flyer.
The Toylet's screen and main hardware.
Toylet with attached stand.
Toylet sensor (bottom.)
Toylet sensor (front.)
The Toylet's bulls-eye.
Toylet coin box.
Installed Toylets.
Installed Toylets.
Installed Toylets, including a handicap-accessible urinal.
Toylet being demonstrated at an unknown event.
Toylet booth at an unknown Japanese trade show.
Tamero! Shoubengozou Deluxe being demonstrated at an unknown Japanese trade show.
Tamero! Shoubengozou Deluxe being demonstrated at an unknown Japanese trade show.