I've always believed that Nintendo's talented team of developers are some of the most creative folks in the world of video game creation. However, I think this may be the first time that the company has gone into strange territory. Game|Life has word of an upcoming camera attachment for the Nintendo DS. Yay, right? I mean, a DS camera has been rumored for a long time. Can you guess what amazing experience Nintendo has lined up for this new peripheral? Here's a hint: Nintendo has already convinced people to train the inside of their heads. Now the focus is on the outside. It's Face Training!
Otona No DS Kao Training, or Face Training, includes a camera that plugs into the Game Boy Advance slot on the Nintendo DS and videos your face as you play the game. The idea is what the Japanese call "facening," or facial exercises. By doing certain facial exercises, you can make your skin more elastic and have a prettier face, or so goes the theory.
Oh, come on! This is where the buckets of revenue have led Nintendo? I can understand the whole Brain Age thing and even some of the more unique nongames that focus on health or cooking, but, seriously, how did we get to this point? Where were we led astray? Are there really so many faces out there in need of proper training that a new camera accessory is required to maximize experience? I sincerely hope that Face Training is the afterthought that came from creating the DS camera for some unannounced non-face game, because otherwise the peripheral sounds like a solution in search of a problem.
