Rez's trance vibrator, not sexual?

by Ross Miller { Jul 26th 2006 at 6:25PM }

While we try not to oversaturate the 'stiq with article after article on Tetsuya Mizuguchi, this tidbit from a Eurogamer interview made us chortle. The famed Rez developer admits that the infamous Trance Vibrator was his idea. "That was kind of a joke," he said, "but a very serious joke. No sexual meaning." Mizuguchi goes on to allude to the philosophy of synaesthesia, which was the theme of the game.

When Rez was released in Japan, it came with the Trance Vibrator -- a device you can plug into the PS2 that vibrates in rhythm with the game (and shakes violently in between the 10 sub-levels of each stage). As Jane from Game Girl Advance noticed, "it seems to have no other purpose [her emphasis] than to act as a masturbatory aid." Which is why she stuck it down her pants and wrote about it.

Mizuguchi claims the intention was for a player to put the vibrator at his or her feet or hands. One time we we were playing the US version of Rez with the Trance Vibrator in the middle of the coffee table. On the third level, it had shook itself off the table and towards some very concerned friends. Serious joke, indeed ...

See Also:
1UP gives us our Mizuguchi fix
Joystiq Interview: Tetsuya Mizuguchi
Develop: What Inspires Mizuguchi

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jonn @ Jul 26th 2006 6:31PM

It has a *washable slipcover*, people! That's no joke!

Mr_Saeba @ Jul 26th 2006 6:38PM

I was always under the impression that the trance vibrator was created to give people in japan the "full experience". If anyone has played the game, they will know that the fun factor of the game is increased tenfold when you have a good audio system or at least speakers that are able to create good bass.

Japan's cities are extremely crowded and so if anyone living there used a loud audio system it would no doubt anger a lot of neighbors. The trance vibrator, I thought, was created to be placed in a pocket of the player to allow them to feel the beat of the music without waking up everyone nearby.

Plus, if it was for sexual purposes, I doubt he would approve a large square brick.

HaloBreaker @ Jul 26th 2006 6:42PM

For those times that the dual shock feature just doesn't quite get you off.

Levi @ Jul 26th 2006 7:25PM

Tee Hee!
http://crazybuffet59.1up.com/

GSI @ Jul 26th 2006 7:36PM

Sure...and the "washable slipcover" was for collectible reasons right? LOL

Tiago @ Jul 26th 2006 7:36PM

I find odd why there are still so few female gamers with accessories like that.

Girls can actually buy a vibrator with their parents xD

"It's just to play a game mom."

Night Elve @ Jul 26th 2006 7:44PM

I always wanted one of these, you could have some weird fun with your girlfriend.

;)

Trixie @ Jul 26th 2006 9:21PM

I have one and my bf had SUCH a difficult time playing the game....

^_~

Best purchase I've ever made! :)

Babylonian @ Jul 26th 2006 10:55PM

I always thought that the claimed purpose of the Trance Vibrator was for placing under your couch cushion, so vibrations wouldn't just be limited to the hands.

Yninja @ Jul 27th 2006 9:24AM

Perfect way to get your girl into gaming, I say.

grantalias @ Jul 27th 2006 9:45AM

you really should put a warning about that link. :-o I clicked it at work and thank god the boss wasn't walking by ;-)

Gonzo @ Jul 27th 2006 11:12AM

I tried to find one of these for my wife who loves Rez almost as much as I do and is almost as much of a horn-dog as me. The only problem is that I can only find the brick used on ebay and I don't want any part of that. Can't help but think of Tom Waits' feelings on used erotica: Who used it?... Who Cleans it?... Are they certified?
Jokes aside, the sexual concept of the trance vibrator, is I believe a first. Before that I'm not aware of any game you could have an intimate experience with. I think they should develop other peripherals that would allow for this kind of exciting, messy,... wet... experience.
Excuse me.
But auto-erotica is a direction that hasn't been explored by video games even though it would probably be the most appropriate industry for this kind of venture... That is, now that many gamers are older. I'll always prefer "doing-it" the old fashioned way with my wife but I'm hoping Rockstar or one of the other "more adventurous" publishers would explore this idea further. I just want to see how amusing the first drafts would be.