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Power Pad/Family Fun and Fitness/Family Trainer |
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Power Pad/Family Fun and Fitness/Family Trainer |
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| This device was released by
Bandai, first in Japan as "Family Trainer", then in Europe and the US as
"Family Fun and Fitness", and then shortly thereafter repackaged, slightly
redesigned and rereleased again in the US by Nintendo, under the name "Power
Pad". The European, Japanese and original Bandai US models are identical to each
other, the Nintendo model is the same internally with some cosmetic changes. The idea behind this device is simple, take video games, something kids get too much of these days, and exercise, which kids don't get enough of, and voila! A device which lets kids play games and get exercise at the same time. While this sounds like a good idea, it didn't quite work, and the device didn't catch on. Really, a device like this only has a novelty value when it is newly released, after a while something gimmicky like this gets old, quick. I mean, c'mon, is there really demand among gamers for games which combine gaming and exercise? Besides, it was easy to "cheat" and simply sit on the mat and push the buttons on the mat rapidly with your hands, and most kids figured this out quickly, so they didn't even get the exercise as intended. I am also sure more than a few wondered how much support there would be for the device in the long run; in the end, this device ended up just like R.O.B. and the Power Glove, a few games made for it at startup with the promise of lots more to come, which never happens, and support is dropped for it in a matter of a year or two from its release. Anyways, the device is a big mat you place on the floor. On the mat there is 8 different "buttons", four in the middle (two in the middle are red, which the player usually started off standing on), and a set of two in front and in back. You plug the device into controller port 2 on the NES, and use the NES controller (plugged in port 1) for menu selection, pausing the game etc. Of the two versions, I would say the Bandai mat is a bit rarer, but both are fairly common. Thanks to H. Meun for the scans below: Click here to see the front of the European Family Fun and Fitness box. The people pictured on the box should consult their local authorities concerning possession of this device, because having as much fun as they are having can't be legal. Click here to see the
back of the European Family Fun and Fitness box. Not many games where made for this accessory (see games list below) and was only supported by Bandai and Nintendo. The games that are available are all lame, and not really worth a serious gamer's attention, and only worth buying if you are an NES collector (which I am). Most of these games are fairly common, and cheap, since they have such limited appeal. |
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Games compatible with the Power Pad Can someone complete this list with all US, Euro and Japanese titles?
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Japanese FT Game Boxes Can someone identify these games?      |
