Love Tester
| File:Nintendo love tester.jpg | |
| Inventor(s) | Gunpei Yokoi |
|---|---|
| Company | Nintendo |
| Country | Japan |
| Availability | 1969– |
The Love Tester is a novelty toy made by Nintendo in 1969. Designed "for young ladies and men", the device tried to determine how much a man and woman loved each other. To operate the device, both users would grab one of the connected spherical metal sensors with one hand and hold each other's hands with the other; then, the meter on the device displays, on a scale between 1 and 100, their "love score".[1]
The Love Tester was designed by Gunpei Yokoi (eventual creator of the Game & Watch series and the original Game Boy[2]), who said that he "loved explaining that the meter gave better results when people kissed the girl..." It was the first product by Nintendo to use real electronic components. It was also one of the few products by Nintendo during the 1960's that was sold outside of Japan.[1] The device was marketed in Western markets as a "Love/Lie Detector".[2] It was also released as part of a "Mini Game Series", and other versions of the device were packaged differently and contained English instructions. It was advertised heavily on Japanese television, in which its commercial has gained a cult following. It originally sold for ¥1,800.[1]
In July 2010, the Love Tester was re-released in Japan by Tenyo, which features the original packaging.[1][2] Website UGO reported that the device currently sells for US$55, but it is not known whether or not Nintendo has endorsed the product.[3] The Love Tester is considered one of the most sought-after products from Nintendo's earlier years and is considered one of the more unusual products created by Nintendo.[1][3]
References
- ^ a b c d e Gorges, Florent (2010). The History of Nintendo. Vol. 1 (1889–1980). Collaborated by Isao Yamazaki, translated by Raphael Mourlanne. Triel-sur-Seine, France: Pix 'n Love Publishing. pp. 148–149. ISBN 978–2–918272–15–1.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ a b c Plunkett, Luke (July 1, 2010). "The Nintendo Love Tester Was More Than A Vitality Sensor". Kotaku. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ a b PerLee, Ben (July 1, 2010). "Nintendo Love Tester back on the market after 41 years". Destructoid. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
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