VR video game gets your hamster in on the action

Traditional playtime between humans and their pets has generally been limited to fetch, tug-of-war, and the occasional chase around the coffee table before bedtime. Well if researchers from the Emerging Art and Architecture Research Group, or RASTER, and Singapore's Mixed Reality Lab have anything to say about it, pet owners will soon be able to kick those old fashioned games to the curb in favor of video games that let their animals get in on the action. The group is in the midst of designing a game called "Mice Arena", wherein the human player is pursued by an on-screen avatar controlled by a real world hamster, which chases a piece of motorized bait corresponding to the human's position on the in-game map. What's more, the hamster's game space -- a specially designed tank -- actually adjusts its terrain to match the on-screen action through a series of actuators underneath the floor. Future games from the collaborative -- and we'll leave the jokes to you on this one -- will incorporate decidedly less pet-like animals in the fun, with tentative titles such as (we're not making this up): "Chicken Petman"  and "Jellyfishtrone."

[Ben Hobbs @ Apr 17th 2006 3:19PM]

So, not only do I have to take being beaten at games on my xbox360 by 10 year old kids, now my pet mouse/cat/chicken will be able to usurp my scores.

[Isaac @ Apr 17th 2006 3:28PM]

Oh yes, just what I was always wanted, to be chased by a giant version of my pet. You know, some people have nightmares of that situation and have to get counseling for it. Now we're going to make games out of it. I can't wait for, "Tarantula Terror".

[james @ Apr 17th 2006 5:18PM]

What ever happened to the good 'ol hamster ball? Can you imagine buying a $5,000 toy for a $5 pet?

[Ian Wood @ Apr 17th 2006 6:18PM]

I don't want my hamster in on any action with which I am involved.

[Nate @ Apr 17th 2006 6:23PM]

Actually, I wouldn't mind playing something like this with my cat.

No, I'm not talking about loosing my cat in a cage with a hamster (while, that may be a fun game in and of itself!). He'd really go for something like this, I think.

Now, if I could just get away from the inevitable triple or quadruple digit price tag...

[Tony Rayo @ Apr 17th 2006 11:02PM]

lol, did anyone notice they modified Vice City for this? Best... mod... evah!

[Kristin @ Apr 18th 2006 1:26PM]

Does anyone know of game designers who have a product to market, and are looking to distribute their games?