Editing Power Pad

{{Short description|Nintendo Entertainment System accessory}}
{{Redirect|Family Trainer|the 2008 game known as ''Family Trainer'' in Japan and PAL region|Active Life: Outdoor Challenge}}
[[Image:NES-power-pad.jpg|right|thumb|The Power Pad, Side A]]
[[File:Nintendo Power Pad.png|right|thumb|The Power Pad, Side B]]
The '''Power Pad''' (known in [[Japan]] as '''Family Trainer''', and in [[Europe]] and briefly in the [[United States]] as '''Family Fun Fitness''') is a floor mat game controller for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. It is a gray mat with twelve pressure-sensors embedded between two layers of flexible plastic. It was originally developed by [[Bandai]].

Bandai first released the accessory in 1986 as the ''Family Trainer'' pack for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System#The Nintendo Family Computer|Famicom]] in Japan, and later released in the United States. Nintendo released it in 1988 as the Power Pad,<ref>Bogost, Ian (2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110626154556/https://www.exergamefitness.com/pdf/The%20Rhetoric%20of%20Exergaming.pdf The Rhetoric of Exergaming]. [[Georgia Institute of Technology]]. Retrieved on 8 August 2009.</ref> along with the game ''[[Stadium Events|World Class Track Meet]]'', which was a rebranding of an earlier game.

==Overview==
The Power Pad was originally released by Bandai as the ''Family Trainer'' in Japan in 1986, and  as the  ''Family Fun Fitness'' both in North America and Europe in 1987 and 1988 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11339534/Is-this-the-worlds-most-expensive-computer-game.html|title=Is this the world's most expensive computer game?}}</ref> In 1988, Nintendo acquired the rights from Bandai for the accessory in North America and renamed it the Power Pad, with the remaining Family Fun Fitness mats recalled from stores.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/66183/10-very-rare-and-very-expensive-video-games|title = 10 Very Rare (And Very Expensive) Video Games| newspaper=Mental Floss |date = 16 March 2016}}</ref> Bandai retained the rights to the product outside of North America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lifewire.com/stadium-events-history-729683|title=Why Stadium Events is One of the Rarest NES Games, Plus How to Spot It}}</ref> The Power Pad sold 500,000 units in North America.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sheff |first1=David |title=[[Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World]] |year=1994 |orig-year=1993 |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |isbn=978-0-307-80074-9 |chapter=Game Masters |page=243 |chapter-url=https://file1.largepdf.com/file/2020/04/08/Game_Over_-_David_Sheff.pdf#page=243 |quote=Nintendo made a deal with Bandai to sell the Power Pad with the NES in America, and half a million units were sold. |access-date=2021-01-02 |archive-date=2021-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102104823/https://file1.largepdf.com/file/2020/04/08/Game_Over_-_David_Sheff.pdf#page=243 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:NES Family Fun Fitness.JPG|thumbnail|European version called Family Fun Fitness]]
The Power Pad accessory is laid out in front of the video display for various games, generally plugged into the second NES controller port, with players stepping on the large buttons to control gameplay. There are two illustrated sides to the pad: Side A, which is rarely used, has eight buttons, while side B has twelve buttons numbered 1-12.

Games using the Power Pad often test players on their timing and coordination, memory, "running" speed, or allow them to play music with their steps. Games such as ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'' can trace the lineage of their control mechanisms back to the Power Pad (see [[dance pad]]).<ref>Webster, Andrew. ''[https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/03/ne-music-game-feature.ars Roots of rhythm: a brief history of the music game genre]''. [[Ars Technica]]. 3 March 2009.</ref><ref>Kohler, Chris. ''[http://www.1up.com/features/out-of-control?pager.offset=3 Out of Control: The Craziest Game Controllers Evar - Atari Vs. NES] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530114132/http://www.1up.com/features/out-of-control?pager.offset=3 |date=2016-05-30 }}''. [[1UP.com]]. 11 July 2006.</ref>

==Revival==
In 2007, [[Namco Bandai Games]] announced that the Power Pad would see a reappearance for the original [[Wii]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://au.wii.ign.com/articles/820/820944p1.html |title=The Power Pad Returns |publisher=IGN |date=2007-09-18 |access-date=2007-09-19}}</ref> This version of the pad, called the '''Mat Controller''', will also work in conjunction with the [[Wii Remote]], and connects physically to the Wii console via its built-in [[GameCube controller]] ports. For later Wii models, it is incompatible as they drop the GameCube ports. It was released along with ''[[Active Life: Outdoor Challenge]]'' in North America <ref>{{cite web |last=Boyes |first=Emma |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6179193.html |title=TGS '07: Namco Bandai embraces Active Life |publisher= Gamespot |date=2007-09-20 |access-date=2007-09-20}}</ref> (known as ''Family Trainer Athletic World'' in Japan and ''Family Trainer'' in Europe) in 2008. Its sequel ''[[Active Life: Extreme Challenge]]'' was released in 2009. A third game, ''[[Active Life: Explorer]]'', was released in 2010.

==Compatible games==
The following is a list of all 11 video games which were created for use with the accessory. The games were developed by [[Human Entertainment]] except for the last three entries in the series. All but one of them were published by Bandai, though some were localized in North America by Nintendo.

{{Video game titles|
{{Video game titles/item
|title= Athletic World
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1986|11|12}}|NA|July 1987|EU|June 15, 1988}}
|canceled= 
|refs= 
|release= Famicom, [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|notes= {{nihongo|'''''Athletic World'''''|アスレチックワールド}} was developed by [[Human Entertainment]] and published by [[Bandai]] in [[Japan]] in 1986 and in [[North America]] in 1987. ''Athletic World'' was the first of ten games Bandai released for the Family Trainer series. The first edition of the game in North America features the '''Family Fun Fitness''' logo on the label and box art, and also a mention of compatibility only with FFF accessory.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/The_Official_Nintendo_Players_Guide_1987/page/134/mode/2up |date=1987 |title=Game Guide|magazine=The Official Nintendo Player's Guide|publisher=Nintendo of America|page=134}}</ref> ''Athletic World'' was the pack-in game bundled with the Family Fun Fitness.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The five previous licensees |magazine=[[Computer Entertainer]]|volume=6 |issue=3 |date=June 1987 |page=11 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d5/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.6_03.pdf#page=11}}</ref> After Nintendo bought the rights to the Family Fun Fitness pad in North America, Bandai re-released ''Athletic World'' in 1989 with an updated different box art, this time displaying compatibility with the Power Pad.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/0/01/VG%26CE_US_06.pdf |date=July 1989 |title=Bandai advertisement page |magazine=[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]] |publisher=[[Larry Flynt Publications]] |issue=6 |page=81}}</ref>  Unlike the box, the artwork on the label of the cartridge itself did not change for the reprint of the game although references about the Family Fun Fitness were removed from the sticker and replaced  by a mention of compatibility with the Power Pad. No change at all was made to the [[ROM file]] for the second edition of ''Athletic World'' which retains the original 1987 titlescreen and copyright including the in-game mention "Family Fun Fitness". The original North American box art is now a rare item for collectors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=6196.msg93355|title=WTB NES FFF Athletic World box $375 Bounty!!}}</ref> On contemporary online websites, the average price for new or CIB copies of ''Athletic World'' is significantly higher for those that were released with the Family Fun Fitness compared to the Power Pad ones.<ref name="PriceCharting"/> But loose cartridges cost about the same price for either North American variant and both versions are typically more expansive than the Japanese carts of the game but less than their [[PAL]] counterpart.<ref name="PriceCharting">{{cite web | url=https://www.pricecharting.com/search-products?q=athletic+world&type=prices | title=Athletic World Prices &#124; Athletic World Game List }}</ref>

''Athletic World'' simulates five different [[Olympic Games|Olympic]]-style challenges — [[Hurdles]], Hop A Log, Animal Trail, Rafting, and Dark Tunnel. Movements in the game are controlled by the player physically running, jumping, and stepping on the pad in a similar fashion to modern dance pad games. Each challenge is designed to train the player in a different manner.  Hurdles tests the player on timing, while Dark Tunnel challenges the player's [[dexterity]].  This game also offers the unique feature of having players' game play experience tailored to them by asking for their Name, Age, Gender, and the current date to provide them with customized advice.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|article=Stadium Events
|title= Running Stadium / Stadium Events / World Class Track Meet
|date= ''Running Stadium''<br />{{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1986|12|23}} }}<br />''Stadium Events''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|September 1987|EU|1988 }}<br />''World Class Track Meet''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|August 1988}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''World Class Track Meet'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587781.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom, NES
|notes= {{nihongo|'''''Running Stadium'''''|ランニングスタジアム|Ranningu Sutajiamu}} was published by [[Bandai]] and was released in Japan in 1986 and in North America in 1987 under the title '''''Stadium Events'''''. However, Nintendo purchased in 1988 the North American rights to the Family Fun Fitness series and decided to market this particular game themselves.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Activity at Nintendo's CES "Mega-Booth"|magazine=Computer Entertainer|volume=7 |issue=3 |date=June 1988 |page=9 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/4/42/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.7_03.pdf#page=9}}</ref><ref name="September 12, 2011"/> As a result, ''[[Stadium Events]]'' was renamed and repackaged under the title '''''World Class Track Meet''''', and copies of Bandai's ''Stadium Events'' were pulled from store shelves.<ref name="September 12, 2011">{{cite web | url=https://www.wired.com/2011/09/golden-nintendo-quest/ | title=The Quest for the Golden Nintendo Game | date=September 12, 2011}}</ref> The North American release of ''Stadium Events'' has become the [[Stadium Events#Rarity|hardest to find]] game available on the Nintendo Entertainment System.<ref name="September 12, 2011"/> ''Stadium Events'' and ''World Class Track Meet'' are nearly identical to one another aside from the titlescreen.

The game features an Olympics-style competition, with events such as the 100m dash, 110m hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. Race opponents were named after animals, the slowest being Turtle and the fastest being Cheetah.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|article= Dance Aerobics
|title= Dance Aerobics
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1987|2|26}}|NA|March 1989}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Dance Aerobics'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587213.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom, NES
|notes= Known as {{nihongo|'''''Aerobics Studio'''''|エアロビスタジオ||}} in Japan, '''''Dance Aerobics''''' is the third game in Bandai's Family Trainer series, and is the only [[music video game|music game]]. Unlike the two previous installments and later ''Street Cop'', this game was never published by Bandai in North America though it still saw a release in that region by Nintendo.

''Dance Aerobics'' features eight classes in the exercise studio. The player must follow the motions of the instructor. The score begins at 100 and decreases with each mistake. However, it goes up for each routine completed correctly.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|title= Jogging Race
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1987|5|28}}}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Family Trainer: Jogging Race'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/578413.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom
|notes= {{nihongo|'''''Jogging Race'''''|ジョギングレース||}} is a [[Jogging]] and [[Hiking]] game released only in Japan, on {{Start date|1987|5|28}}. It is the fourth game in Bandai's ''Family Trainer'' series.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|title= Meiro Daisakusen
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1987|7|31}}}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Family Trainer: Meiro Daisakusen'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/578447.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom
|notes= '''Meiro Daisakusen''' {{nihongo||迷路大作戦|''Maze Epic Battle''|}} is a maze exploring game, released only in Japan on {{Start date|1987|7|31}}. It is the fifth game in Bandai's ''Family Trainer'' series.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|title= Street Cop
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1987|8|31}}|NA|June 1989}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Street Cop'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587657.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom, NES
|notes= Released as {{nihongo|'''''Manhattan Police'''''|マンハッタンポリス||}} in Japan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/making-police-games|title=You're a Loose Cannon: The Challenge of Making a Good Police Game|last=Bailey|first=Kat|date=12 August 2014|work=USgamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=13 August 2014}}</ref> '''''Street Cop''''' is a game where the player has to chase after criminals while jumping over things and using the club to apprehend the foes. The player has to step on the buttons corresponding to each of the cop's actions, such as moving, jumping and clubbing.

''Street Cop'' was published by Bandai. It was released on {{Start date|1987|8|31}} in Japan and in June 1989 in North America. 
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|title= Super Team Games
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1987|11|27}}|NA|November 1988}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Super Team Games'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587672.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom, NES
|notes= '''''Super Team Games''''' ({{nihongo|'''''Famitore Daiundōkai'''''|ファミトレ大運動会}}) is a game that was published by Bandai in Japan and Nintendo in North America.

''Super Team Games'' consist of a group of different summer camp-style contests that utilized side B of the Power Pad/Family Trainer.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|title= Totsugeki! Fūun Takeshi Jō
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1987|12|28}}}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Family Trainer: Tostugeki! Fuuun Takeshi Shiro'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/578535.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom
|notes= {{nihongo|'''''Totsugeki! Fūun Takeshi Jō'''''|突撃!　風雲たけし城||}} is a contest game based on the Japanese Television series [[game show]]/[[competition|contest]] [[Takeshi's Castle]]. It was released only in Japan on {{Start date|1987|12|28}} and is the eighth game in Bandai's Family Trainer series.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|title= Fūun! Takeshi Jō Two
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1988|12|20}}}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Family Trainer: Fuuun! Takeshi Shiro 2'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/579374.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom
|notes= {{nihongo|'''''Fūun! Takeshi Jō Two'''''|風雲!　たけし城二(ツー)|Fūun! Takeshi Jō Tsū|}} is the sequel to ''Totsugeki! Fūun Takeshi Jō'' and is also based on [[Takeshi's Castle]] with new contests. It was released on {{Start date|1988|12|20}} only in Japan and is the ninth game in Bandai's Family Trainer series.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|title= Rai Rai! Kyonshis: Baby Kyonshi no Amida Daibōken
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|{{Start date|1989|1|26}}}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Family Trainer: Rairai Kyonshizu: Baby Kyonshii no Amida Daibouken'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/579388.html}}</ref>
|release= Famicom
|notes= {{nihongo|'''''Rai Rai! Kyonshis: Baby [[Kyonshi]] no Amida Daibōken'''''|来来!　キョンシーズ。　ベビーキョンシーのあみだ大冒険|''Come come! Fallen Corpses: Baby Fallen Corpse's Amedia Great Adventure''|}} is the tenth and final game released for the ''Family Trainer'' series by Bandai, and it was released only in Japan on {{Start date|1989|1|26}}.
}}
{{Video game titles/item
|article= Short Order / Eggsplode!
|title= Short Order / Eggsplode!
|date= {{vgrelease|NA|December 1989}}
|canceled= 
|refs=<ref>{{cite web|title=''Short Order / Eggsplode'' Release Date |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] 
|access-date=2008-07-20 |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587613.html}}</ref>
|release= NES
|notes= '''''Short Order/Eggsplode!''''' is a game compilation was developed and published by [[Nintendo]] — with no involvement from Bandai — in November 1989. ''Short Order'', features gameplay similar to that of [[Atari Games|Atari]]'s arcade game, [[Touch Me (arcade game)|Touch Me]], and [[Milton Bradley Company|Milton Bradley]]'s electronic memory game, [[Simon (game)|Simon]], where the player must build a hamburger by remembering the order of ingredients that the customer puts out. ''Eggsplode!'' involves a group of twelve hens on their nests and an anthropomorphic canine character that comes along and puts a bomb under them, the player must step on the appropriate position to extinguish the bombs before they explode, while ignoring the eggs laid by hens. This was the final game released for the Power Pad.
}}
}}

==See also==
* [[Dance pad]]
* [[List of Nintendo Entertainment System accessories]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*[http://nesdev.parodius.com/powerpad.txt Technical information]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081013075454/http://www.familytrainerwii.com/ Wii Family Trainer Release]}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130502020007/http://www.nindb.net/game/shortorder-eggsplode.html ''Short Order & Eggsplode''] at [http://www.nindb.net NinDB]

{{Bandai Namco Hardware}}
{{Nintendo Entertainment System}}

[[Category:Dance pads]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System accessories]]