We've all had moments of extreme tension while gaming. A tough level, an unbeatable boss, winning the race at the last corner, or dodging bullets with every turn—it all goes through our eyes, but our body registers it too. The people at Mionix propose to know our body's reactions in more detail while we play, using the NAOS QG mouse, which integrates a heart rate monitor and a galvanic response sensor.
I insult the screen a lot when I play. It's a flaw I haven't managed to fix despite all these years. Losing a game of FTL in the final battle or watching an attack destroy half of my base in RimWorld has brought out the worst in me, and probably will continue to do so. I'm really bad at FPS (to be honest, the only one I want to play tells the story of a certain Gordon Freeman) and the same applies to strategy games (minerals are never enough), so they don't usually generate as much frustration in my case. Now, I've seen some videos of games like DOTA 2 and LoL where the famous rage quit is common currency. What happens in those players' bodies when the match falls apart, the heroes die, and defeat becomes a fact? Now there's a mouse that can tell you.
More than just a mouse
Just as a runner or a footballer can collect data to study their performance, the Mionix NAOS QG records aspects in the player such as heart rate and galvanic skin response. The software that accompanies the mouse has no limitations regarding games, so the user can switch from FarCry 4 to DOTA 2 and get information in those titles without issues. The NAOS QG also allows capturing secondary elements such as the number of actions per minute, the distance covered with the mouse, speed, and precision levels. Mionix's plan is not only to offer a mouse, but to develop a community around it, allowing data exchange through social networks, as well as inviting developers to create additional software or patches for their games with open and free APIs.
Kickstarter and pricing
The Mionix NAOS QG arrived on Kickstarter during the last days of December, and with just five hours remaining, it just reached its goal of $100,000. If you're interested in getting one, this is a good time: Its price is $89, they offer free worldwide shipping, and the first deliveries are scheduled for July. It's estimated that the final cost of the NAOS QG outside crowdfunding will be around $129.
