Today's most beautiful video: Face Training
by Zack Stern 
{ Aug 2nd 2007 at 12:00AM }
Ever since we heard about it, we've been waiting to see Face Training in action. The DS muscle control A camera connects to the GBA slot, and the DS perches on a stand, pointing the lens at the player user. Face Training then seems to monitor and rate your ability to smile. Aside from physical therapy, we're not sure where the market is for this game application. Maybe Japan has more of a need to practice eyebrow movements than we ever realized.
See the trailers after the break. (Or for an even longer look, visit the game's Japanese site.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
cc123 @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:09AM
So when is Staring Contest Training going to come out?
Should be a big hit...
RoboChamp @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:13AM
Nah, Breathing Trainer DS will be waaay beter.
dramamoose @ Aug 14th 2007 3:10AM
Actually, I'm looking forward to "Sexy Wink Trainer"
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:20AM
"Don't make faces or they'll stick!"
"But Ma Face Training will help retain your youth!"
"GIMME!"
darkelf @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:53PM
But if you worry you get wrinkles. ;)
Naota @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:49AM
Could be good for actors in training?
Neebs @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:49AM
Well, that's ludicrous.
happygolucky @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:52AM
if i ever found one of my friends playign this game infront of me..i might just have to punch them in the face
although it would be a nice picture
racecanyon @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:52AM
Sometimes the word intrigued gets overused, its meaning lost.
This moment, however, I am undoubtedly and most seriously intrigued.
That is, unless it turns out to be rubbish, in which case I will deny all of this wholeheartedly.
Mike @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:12AM
I can already do the worm with my eyebrows. On the other hand, I have a terrible smile, and I don't think I can frown at all.
Patrick @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:14AM
Does this story somehow have something to do with Itagaki..?
me bad :(
wackyban @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:47AM
GBA groove and the DS squats in a lower surface and indicates the objective to the customer of the player. The training of the face seems to steer then, its of the ability and estimate. Over to the physical therapy outside we are not safe, where the market for this application of the play is. Japan has more than one necessity for which to practice in the motion suppressible which we never carry through.
Untamed @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:54AM
The spelling is good, and they're all real words, but I can't seem to understand what you're saying, sir.
Raikage @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:00AM
OMG it's just like lawrence... but real words...
You and him are my favorite posters now...
cc123 @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:04AM
What the hell?!
Looks like someone typed this out in Chinese then ran it thru an internet translator.
lol
wackyban @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:19AM
Therefore you have a problem understanding, that I try to say? If picked, that one correctly they are sure, that you come to a free summary.
Why not to use a translator? Its easy sense effendi understands that what legend of I. Not?
cc123 @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:26AM
For understanding say I done translator before. Love so post I all much. Write you continue till.
Month nominate of post to you!
miguelon918 @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:27AM
Sorry but i find this "videogame" if you call it like that toooooooo damn ridiculous i mean face training? whats next? dick training?
Jerk Face @ Aug 2nd 2007 9:02AM
Ha ha! Dick Training? Comedy Gold!
Megaqwerty @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:14PM
Jelq Trainer: Lengthen Your Phallus in Minutes A Day!, also known as Dr. Gräfenberg's Jelq Trainer: How Long is Your Phallus?
Spartacus @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:34AM
I guess I'll be the first to say it...
Nintendo is becoming less and less of a game company and more and more of a gimmick company (that somehow markets ridiculous ideas to the mass market as of late) which only recently has paid off monitarily. As a gamer, I'm slightly irked by this, though I haven't been a Ninty fan since the 64...
rokerovakero @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:19AM
Nintendo knows a lot of people left during the n64. They don't want them back or they'll come asking them to "BUY EXCLUSIVES!" "EVERYTHING ONLINE!" "WALLPAPERS!" Nintendo makes a ton more money going with the mainstream audience than buying back their place with the Playstation gen. What may be a gimmicky to you and the hardcore seems to be selling pretty well to the rest of the world.
Spartacus @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:08AM
I realize that. I mentioned they seem to make money and that I was a gamer, not the casual mainstream. What bewilders me is how anyone who enjoyed the NES, SNES, N64 or even the GCN would buy into the direction the big N is taking now. Zelda, Street Fighter and Golden Eye to WiiFit and Face Training? It's sad to see what the console manufacturer I grew up with has become.
Andrew Hsieh @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:28AM
I totally understand what you're saying, man. Sometimes I kind of kick myself because I didn't get a XBOX360 or something like that, since I want to play "real" games too, y'know? I don't want to keep playing Brain Age or Wii Sports for this entire generation. I'm fine with the Nintendo DS, but the Wii . . . ?
I feel like I'm just being left behind by the new Big N. :/
Rico @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:34AM
Yeah, because there totally aren't Zelda, Mario and Metroid games coming out for the Wii. Not to mention Smash Bros.
There's a lot of money in the old franchises, that's how the Gamecube netted a profit after all.
Captain Jody Anthony XVIII @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:20AM
yeah, i know, it sucks how nintendo only makes this type of software anymore. i cant believe that all they ever make anymore are these training games.
baby sea tuna @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:31AM
Well, obviously there are still the franchise games they've been milking the shit out of for 10-20 years, but with nongames making up a better part of their catalog (and minimal 3rd party support) you can't really blame former Nintendo fans for starting to jump ship.
Captain Jody Anthony XVIII @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:37AM
I've been a Nintendo fan since I got my NES back in 1987 and I am still a fan of them today. Then again I'm also a fan of Sony since I got my PS1 in 1996, and been a fan of microsoft since I got my xbox in 2003.
It's fun to like all the consoles
Spartacus @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:12PM
Well I never liked Mario (blasphemy, I know) even back in the NES days. My little sisters played it (and loved it) though. Actually the ONLY game that I liked with the fat plumber in it was Mario Kart, the pinacle of which was on the 64.
I didn't get into RPG's until much later in life (PS2 era), so I never played a Zelda game. I still can't stand turn based RPG's, has to be real time combat.
Never got into Metroid either, though I'm not sure why, looks like a good series... So yeah, I just have little incentive to pick up a Nintendo system these days. If you're curious, the games I DID play on the Nintendo systems were (among many others):
NES- (didn't own, I had an Atari at the time)
Duck Hunt
Some random olympic game (played Taekwon Do the most, and some arm wrestling)
A few racing games
SNES-
Top Gear
Street Fighter
Mortal Kombat
Metal Marines
Mario Kart
Rock N Roll Racing
N64-
Cruisn USA
Golden Eye
Wave Race
Star Fox
Mario Kart
There's more, but my memory is a little hazy. I don't know, maybe my taste for games changed or ninitendo just started to look too childish for me to appreciate. Either way I dislike what they've become. Can't fault me for my opinion...
Josiah Albertsen @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:37AM
Actually, I've seen a number of studies over the past few years that link the Japanese (in particular) to having a much harder time making facial expressions and recognising them. I remember reading one where there is actually a school set up in Japan to teach businessman how to smile and act enthusiastic around their overly-enthusiastic American counterparts. Here's one article I was able to find that's related:
http://www.livescience.com/health/070510_facial_culture.html
Kn1ves @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:49AM
i want to play Tetris or Pac-Man with it or maybe even an RPG.
Fear = Heal
Anger = Attack
etc
Martin @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:45AM
Coming soon for Nintendo DS :
Dr Kamakazes Criminal Correction : Become less criminal.
Designed for criminals as part of rehab - complete with DS electric shock probe add on.
darkelf @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:51PM
May be japanese girl are educated for don`t be so expresive, or is rude to do that surprise faces and smile so openly. Remember they cover their mouth of gigles. Not like occidental who can RFLMAO
Yardarm51 @ Aug 3rd 2007 1:47AM
Just so you folks know, there is a huge boom over in Japan at the moment for facial massage, exercise etc etc. Several of the top selling books at the moment are all about how to do "proper" facial stretching so that you don't get, or reduce, wrinkles. A lot of the TV variety programs over here are being guest hosted by a couple of women who are at the forefront of this boom. You cannot escape it. So Nintendo has simply tapped into this. With something like the DS programming is fairly simple to do so any time there is a big fad they can have some kind of software to capitalize on it within a year. Japan is the land of the popularity boom and Nintendo is wisely capitalizing on it.
Elifrit @ Aug 9th 2007 11:13PM
I just don't get it! what the funk is face training for.. training the face for what!!! god I don't know if that's something a japanese person can understand and I can't but it seems just so unnecesary...