Remember Super Mario? The ever-smiling, moustached guy whose acquaintance you would have definitely made if you were a child or teen in the 80s and 90s?
Well, he has a new job and house. Tag Heuer has announced a collaboration with Nintendo that has birthed a Super Mario edition of the Connected smartwatch. The “intrepid, iconic hero” will not only dominate the dial in different watch faces, but it will also encourage wearers to get active and reward them when they move.
According to Tag Heuer, Mario’s “upbeat and active personality will encourage wearers of this smartwatch to enjoy moving too.” But it’s not just about being inspired by simply seeing his face on your wrist. The watch’s dial will become “livelier and more animated the more the wearer is active.”
There’s also a “gamification rewards system” at play. Mario will greet you with a salute each morning, and as you move about, you’ll get different animations as you hit 25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent of your steps target. These animations feature familiar items from the Mario universe, like the Super Mushroom, Pipe, Super Star and Goal Pole, an idea the company says this idea was inspired by the notion of “Easter eggs.”
Even when you’re not being active, the Tag Heuer Connected Super Mario edition’s interface will remind you of the character. You can choose from a selection of four new watch faces, and they don’t just offer red-and-blue themes. The Timekeeping dial, for example, uses “retroelements from the 1985 version of Super Mario Bros. with Mario, all in pixels.” One of the designs features Mario’s cap, while another takes elements of the game and puts them in a rotating animation.
In addition to onscreen graphics, the timepiece itself has Super Mario touches. Push buttons, crown logo and bezel graduation now come in Super Mario red, and you’ll find symbols etched into the bezel that reflect the in-game objects you’ll see when you hit your steps goals too. A letter M is engraved on strap buckles and the crown, while the words ‘Tag Heuer x Super Mario Limited Edition’ are also carved into the back of the watch. The company is offering two interchangeable straps for the new watch: a black leather band on red rubber and a “sporty alternative in matching red perforated rubber,” as well as a travel case in Super Mario red.
Since this is a Wear OS device, the rest of the device’s functions will feel familiar. You can access Google Assistant, get your calendar and weather updates, along with Fit progress tracking on the watch. It’ll also offer the company’s own Sport, Golf and wellness apps for better fitness tools.
The Tag Heuer Connected Super Mario edition has a 45mm face and weighs 86 grams (0.18 pounds) with a rubber strap. It’s water-resistant up to 5ATM, and Tag Heuer promises its 430mAh battery can last a full day.
Although the watchmaker has said it is “is also considering making [the design] available on other editions of TAG Heuer Connected at a later stage,” this model is limited to only 2000 pieces and will be available in selected boutiques, as well as certain regions on the brand’s website. Each piece will retail for $2,150 and will be available for purchase from the 15th of July.
Source: Engadget
