Glucoboy

Last updated
Glucoboy
ManufacturerGuidance Interactive Healthcare
Type Blood glucose monitor
Generation Sixth
Release date14 November 2007

The Glucoboy is a medical device developed by Guidance Interactive Healthcare as a removable accessory for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. The device is a blood glucose monitor targeted at children with diabetes that provides users with incentives to monitor their blood glucose levels through the use of games and points. Advertised as the "first medical device to interface with a Nintendo Game Boy", [1] the Glucoboy received retrospective attention for its innovative and unusual use as a peripheral for handheld devices. [2] [3]

Contents

A successor to the Glucoboy called the Didget was released by Bayer HealthCare for the Nintendo DS in 2009 in the UK and 2010 in the US. [4]

Description

The Glucoboy is a blood glucose monitor targeted for use by children with diabetes, [5] with hardware that fits into the cartridge port of a Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS Lite. [6] Glucoboy software aims to assist users with diabetes management by providing points when they perform a blood glucose test and additional points when blood glucose levels are within target ranges. [7] These points can be used on the software's Guidance Reward Platform: a reward system for monitoring compliance that allows users to unlock additional games or accessories and apparel for the games on the software. [8] [7] [9] [10] The Glucoboy contains two games: Knock 'em Downs, an action RPG set in a fair, and Lost Star Saga, a sci-fi themed turn-based RPG. [11] [12] In both games, power-ups and items are unlocked through the use of the Glucoboy. [12]

History

The Glucoboy was developed by Guidance Interactive, an entity managed by Minnesota based director Paul Wessel. [6] Wessel developed the concept after noticing that his son, who had been diagnosed with diabetes, carried his Game Boy with him when travelling. [13] [14] [3] Wessel stated the concept was based on a way to "marry the two types of media together - a medical testing device and a gaming system - to make testing blood sugar levels fun". [14] Wessell patented the idea in 2003, [15] and following several years of pitches to investors, in 2006, he received $1.5 million from an Australian investment bank and London investment group to pilot a limited commercial release in Australia. [14] The peripheral was launched in Australia on 14 November 2007 in concurrence with World Diabetes Day, [7] and sold around 70,000 units, according to Wessel. [16] Following release, Bayer Diabetes Care acquired Guidance Interactive Healthcare after expressing interest in the company. [14] Bayer subsequently released a similar peripheral, Didget, for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite in 2009 in the UK and 2010 in the US. [4] In 2023, the software for the Glucoboy was located and its ROM image was preserved online. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ "Glucoboy Moves Closer to Reality". Diabetes in Control. 2003. Archived from the original on 23 September 2003. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  2. ↑ Edwards, Benj (11 June 2016). "7 Things Everyone Should Know About the Game Boy Advance". PCMag. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Game Boy: These 10 Crazy Accessories Really Existed". Jeuxvideo.com. Webedia. 23 July 2022. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  4. 1 2 IGN Staff (28 April 2010). "First and Only Blood Glucose Monitoring System That Connects with Nintendo DS". IGN. Ziff Davis, Inc. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  5. ↑ Siegel, Scott Jon (6 December 2007). "Glucoboy turns diabetes blood-testing into a game". Joystiq. AOL. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  6. 1 2 Hinkle, David (15 November 2007). "Get diabetic children interested in their health through video games". Engadget. Yahoo Inc. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Arendt, Susan (3 December 2007). "DS Game Takes Place of Glucose Monitor". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "Sugar Sugar Kandy Pop". Edge. No. 130. December 2003. p. 21.
  9. ↑ Sprinkle, Timothy (19 May 2008). "The Secret to a Better, Stronger, Dorkier You? Nintendo DS". Wired. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  10. ↑ Grant, Christopher (6 December 2005). "GLUCOBOY: Game Boy glucose meter". Joystiq. AOL. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  11. ↑ Kunzelman, Cameron (27 October 2018). "Game Historian Explains Blood Testing Devices For Nintendo Handhelds". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  12. 1 2 Sprenger, Linda (7 August 2024). "One of the most obscure Game Boy Advance games is a blood glucose meter". GamePro. Future Verlag. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  13. ↑ Fruhlinger, Joshua (26 October 2004). "Glucoboy brings blood sugar monitoring to GameBoy". Engadget. Verizon Media. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Phil, Bolsta (1 May 2011). "Turning Points: Paul Wessel". Twin Cities Business. Tiger Oak Media. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  15. ↑ United States Patent and Trademark Office (16 September 2003). "Glucoboy". Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 1274 (3): 298.
  16. 1 2 Bailey, Dustin (7 June 2023). "Maybe the most obscure GBA game ever made has been preserved - an Australia-only blood sugar tester". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2024.

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