Japanese gamers pillin'

  • By Emma_UK, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 9, 2008 3:19 am PT

Anyone who's ever been in a convenience store in Japan will know of the nation's obsession with Genki drinks and health supplements, a dazzling variety of which always seem to be available.Genki drinks are tonics which claim to help with various maladies including hangovers, tiredness, and other...

Anyone who's ever been in a convenience store in Japan will know of the nation's obsession with Genki drinks and health supplements, a dazzling variety of which always seem to be available.

Genki drinks are tonics which claim to help with various maladies including hangovers, tiredness, and other energy-related problems, and can contain anything from Vitamin C to nicotine. Health supplements offer much the same, but in pill form for those who prefer them to the syrupy taste of the drinks.

Now gamers have their very own pills to pop to help with exhaustion issues that come from playing Halo 3 all night, as Game Suppli has been developed specifically for hardcore gamers, reports Reuters.

Manufactured by Kyowa-Yakuhin, two types of pills are available--blueberry tablets which claim to be good for the eyes, and capsules containing Docosahexaenoic acid, which allegedly improves concentration.

Docosahexaenoic acid--otherwise known as DHA--is, incidentally, also an ingredient in many different types of powdered baby milk in the US.

It's not the first time that supplements targeted at gamers have gone on sale in the land of the rising sun. Last year, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII, drinks maker Suntory and Square-Enix teamed up to put limited edition "Final Fantasy Potions" in stores. The drinks contained vitamins and royal jelly. American gamers haven't been exempt, either; the avalanche of Halo 3 marketing that hit North American shelves included cans of Mountain Dew Game Fuel emblazoned with Master Chief's face and the game's logo.

249 Comments

  • Bhinder94

    Posted May 13, 2009 3:19 pm PT

    Wow, it's funny how the retarded person who made the article, kept mentioning Halo-3. Is it to trick the unknown, that Japanese gamers, like mediocre games?

    Also these pills are simple chemicals. Like they'll allow someone to play all day without fatigue. The eye ones are going to be helpful for a lot of people (gamers and non gamers alike.) And if those concentration pills are any good, it would stop people, from getting a high off coffee.

  • Shurien

    Posted May 13, 2008 9:14 pm PT

    Interesting......I would like to try them, specially the blueberry one 'cause after 8 hours in front of a tv screen my eyes tend to get tired....lol

  • Zeriga

    Posted May 11, 2008 4:46 am PT

    This is completely stupid to me honestly. Anyone that plays games 24/7 without proper social interaction... Will most likely die at an early age. This product is killing people already. Slowly, but surely. But alas, there isn't much somebody can do without money these days. And the gaming companies have a lot of that, so why not have the systems automatically save and shut off after awhile? Meh, this is starting to look like a rant. Sorry 'bout that. Anyway, for a joke... "What will the Japanese come up with next?!" - Several people.

  • fallujahhoe

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 10:15 am PT

    dude wtf
    this is really sad
    pills for gamers hahaha
    jesus
    games are about games
    for real gamers
    greed is pushing crap

  • deadlynatas

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 6:04 am PT

    wow this is too fun now we can game even more and have no life at all :p lolz wonder when this will hit us in america..

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 10:42 pm PT

    I miss the old days where games said No to drugs at the loading screens.

  • gamefreak3111

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 6:02 pm PT

    Lol, now tournaments need to check for gaming enhancement drugs. "Gameroids!"

  • AceCometh

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 6:33 pm PT

    I wonder how safe these products really are. Why would I want to drink something that has the same thing in it that gets people addicted to cigs? Not cool. Not cool at all. Hopefully that's only one drink and not the status quo.

  • meta_berkut

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 8:15 am PT

    pills for losers, how pathetic it is, muhahahaha

  • Tratzo

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 8:42 am PT

    A... Ki... Ra...

  • themovi3nut

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 8:22 am PT

    lol if your exhausted from playing games get some sleep.

  • JimmeyBurrows

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 4:59 am PT

    heres a plan... just take regular brakes... I'm sure it's better to keep your eyesight than to miss out on a few minutes of staring at the screen, lol.
    seriously... these drugs sound dodgy... they're probably untested and do nothing useful... ever heard of a placebo. good way to steal peoples money XD

  • God_Inc

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 3:58 am PT

    Don't know much about the DHA one, but the blueberry one is most likely just blueberry extract along with some other supplements such as lutein, as this is what is sold in the drugstores. Supposed to be good for the eyes, targeted at those who sit in front of a monitor several hours a day at work. I only take half the recommend amount, but I do feel the difference on days that I forget to take my dose.

  • Rancor2001

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 6:37 pm PT

    what ever happened to good ol fashioned smack? that gets you pumped

  • wookieeassassin

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 2:26 pm PT

    How incredibly stupid. Most likely, the things either do absolutely nothing, or are pretty bad for you. If you are playing games long enough to where you are exhausted and have eyestrain you need to stop and go do something else. Everything should be done in moderation.

  • Darth_Tyrranus

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:39 pm PT

    This is absolutely pathetic. Whatever happened to playing games for fun?

  • Briantb_2008

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:22 pm PT

    No interset at all I stay with a plan old pop or nothing at all

  • Eclipsis

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:50 am PT

    i would never use one of them. call me old school but if they are supposed to keep you awake then im out. i have too many awsome memorys about playing games all night and being tired as heck when you get to a point that you are so tired the game becomes funner, every moment means more and you have to keep going for the next something to keep you going. i think gameing and tired go hand and hand and i dont need no supplement to keep me going im old school hard core.

  • lew_0911

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:38 am PT

    Good God, if Jack Thompson sees that he'll have a new tagline up his sleeve.

  • high_flier429

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:36 am PT

    Screw that DHA stuff, all us American gamers need is some THC for some good gaming time.

  • Grandstream

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:27 am PT

    is that an advertisement for the Akira anime film I see on that pill? =3

  • Crawl_to_China

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:20 am PT

    like anyone in Japan plays Halo 3....other than that crazy guy who shaves his head with the Xbox logo from time to time...

  • Ry5h3

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:19 am PT

    "...issues that come from playing Halo 3 all night..." Halo, in Japan? this stuff must be made by a Microsoft affiliate, so watch out the active ingredient not labeled is probably EVIL.

  • NicoThaG

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:06 am PT

    Try eat some vegetables instead of this crap, try eat some carrots it gives you an better eyesight, as for concentration chew a gum it keeps the mind up and youre thinking higher, usually energy given stuff **** you up.

  • morpheus_phd

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 9:57 am PT

    Okay then i purpose a Gamer Anti-Doping Agency. LOL

  • kingdre

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 9:41 am PT

    Performance enhancers for gamers... I never thought I'd see the day.
    Now that's just... sad.

  • kingdre

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 9:41 am PT

    Performance enhancers for gamers... I never thought I'd see the day.

  • Tillekaratne

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 9:15 am PT

    Pills?! For gaming!? You can NOT be serious! Am I the only one that thinks that is reeeeeally pathetic? Taking medicine to improve VIDEO GAME skills?! Sorry, but no way. The Japanese must be mad.

  • EvilDarkGon

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 8:35 am PT

    You've gotta be kidding me. Yeah, you could take pills to help you game longer, or you could just, you know, do something else.

  • Raefx8

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 8:21 am PT

    one word.....addorall

    Works like a charm!

  • Damnation7

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 7:41 am PT

    Well In my day we didn't need any special pill or liquid,
    just good old fashion skill and coffee.

  • thrillyum

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 7:27 am PT

    its pretty wierd. I have this thing that i always do when i get tired from playing games and when my eyes start to hurt. I just go to sleep like a normal person. It works pretty well, but i can see why someone would need a pill for maximized video game playing. Because it is really logical and useful, if you are the biggest, wierdest nerd ever.

  • gameHOG325

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 7:17 am PT

    nah i'll pass Dr pepper all i need (to live) o.O

  • BringTheBlood

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 7:10 am PT

    coming to america???

  • LordSpleach

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 7:06 am PT

    The Akira pill seems evil!

  • silverarrow123

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 6:52 am PT

    Personally I think anyone who needs pills to improve there performance in gaming shouldn't be playing!

    Bit like the Olympics I suppose because these could be potentially be made into performance enhancing drugs!!

  • Bane_v2

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 6:46 am PT

    /facepalm

  • Pyro77

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 6:20 am PT

    Yay, now we wont have to blink. As all we hardcore gamers, blinking is the #1 cause of all deaths in all FPS shooters.

    p.s. Before you guys ask (and I know you will), the #2 cause of all deaths in fps gaming is when wife/gf/mom nags you to take out the garbage. There isn't a pill for that yet.

  • andalore

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 5:21 am PT

    haha, Digital Steroids, Wheres the fun in that!? Just Drink booze, Always Fun Playing Halo When You're Drunk

  • Gamingcucumber

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 4:16 am PT

    These kind of things has bad things written all over. Although it's said to "improve" your health, I doubt that's what it will do in the long run considering how people are going to abuse it.

    I have a feeling that exhaustion is going to knock on quite a few people's door in the land of the rising sun.

  • Giantstalker

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 2:54 am PT

    True gamers will keep their crystal me - *is shot*

  • kuraikyo

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 2:16 am PT

    seriously?! ahaha! so cool. XD i wanna try some too!! XD

  • bugtrip

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 10:19 pm PT

    I expect detailed drug testing for all professional gamers.

  • realistgamer

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:30 pm PT

    popping those pills baby!

  • alberto2045

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 8:55 pm PT

    lol thats awsome I rember seeing the potions I wished I had one lol

  • felshs

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 8:42 pm PT

    pills.........remind me of the one that they sell on the street

  • Alltapdout

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 8:25 pm PT

    I use mushrooms

  • taj7575

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 7:23 pm PT

    kbaily

    What a ripoff. It probably doesn't do a damn thing, just like Airborne. You just think it helps you.

    ----------------------------------

    nice point

  • French023

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 7:14 pm PT

    For me the game is exciting enough to keep me awake, or maybe the glowing screen 4 feet from my face

  • Pete5506 posted Apr 9, 2008 7:12 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Pete5506

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 7:12 pm PT (hide)

    wow this is a little dumb

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