HeartBeat Catalyst
From Sega Retro
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| HeartBeat Catalyst | ||||||||||
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| Made for: Sega Mega Drive | ||||||||||
| Manufacturer: HeartBeat Corporation | ||||||||||
| Type: Miscellaneous | ||||||||||
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The HeartBeat Catalyst is a third-party Sega Mega Drive exercise peripheral with included body-mounted fitness sensors which read players' heart rate, motion, and skin salinity levels for in-game feedback. Developed by American video game hardware developer HeartBeat Corporation and primarily sold alongside the Personal Trainer, it was released exclusively in the United States in November 1993, and is notable for having a production run of only 1,000 units. Sold with the included pack-in game Outback Joey (which was specifically developed to utilize the peripheral's fitness sensors, and not available for purchase separately), both are considered some of the rarest pieces of Mega Drive history in existence.[2]
Contents
Hardware
The HeartBeat Catalyst is a body-mounted fitness sensor hardware peripheral which reads players' heart rate, motion, and skin salinity levels for in-game feedback, and is compatible with any Mega Drive system. Contrary to popular belief, it does not require the Personal Trainer to function, with the Catalyst even being sold separately for those who already owned a Mega Drive.[3][4] The most notable game developed to utilize this hardware, Outback Joey, uses this feedback to control the running speed of its player character, and encourages maintaining a consistent heart rate through exercise. Though not a requirement, the Catalyst is intended for use with fitness machines such as exercise bikes and treadmills.
Technical specifications
- Main article: HeartBeat Catalyst/Technical specifications.
History
- Main article: History of the HeartBeat Catalyst.
List of games
- Outback Joey (1993)
- NHLPA Hockey (1994)
- Outworld 2375 AD (1994)
- PGA Tour Golf II (1995)
History
- Main article: History of the HeartBeat Catalyst.
Photo gallery
The exercise bike controllers.
The controller adapter.
The power adapter, fitness sensors, and attachment clip.
The fitness sensor cables.
The instruction manuals and fitness guide.
Brochures, safety warning, and registration card.
Warning card concerning plugging two processing units into one Mega Drive. (partial)
Warranty card. (partial)
A letter from HeartBeat Corporation concerning shipment of replacement parts.
A letter included with early copies of the system regarding an upcoming Outback Joey software revision.
A 1994 purchase receipt from exercise machine manufacturer NordicTrack.
Physical scans
Magazine articles
- Main article: HeartBeat Catalyst/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
- Main article: HeartBeat Catalyst/Promotional material.
External links
- HeartBeat Catalyst at The Video Game Kraken
- Technology adds new thrills to boring exercise equipment article by Bob Condor at The Chicago Tribune
- THE GOODS: Technowatch: Gone! Last of the Excuses article by Lynn Simross at The Los Angeles Times
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://videogamekraken.com/heartbeat-personal-trainer-catalyst (Wayback Machine: 2021-04-14 05:43)
- ↑ https://www.sega-16.com/2004/08/genesis-accessory-peripheral-guide/
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-24-ls-7959-story.html (Wayback Machine: 2021-10-04 06:35)
- ↑ https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-02-24-9402240306-story.html