Media artists Volker Morawe and Tilman Reiff devised a way to make gamers feel the game. Back in 2001, while students at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, the two created a Pong type arcade cabinet that inflicted pain on players. The game shocked whipped people's hands, causing the skin to bruise and bleed. Due to infection and legal issues, the game ceased to be shown at galleries.

The two have redesigned the machine. The original wire whip has been ditched in favor of a "bouquet-o-whips." From feathers to thicker rubber, players can pick their whip of choice. While the old game has only one pre-set pain level, the new cabinet allows players to adjust the motor speed and voltage. The artists apparently wanted something to inflict visual pain, but pepper spray was a no-go. Rather, a flash bulb is now used to blind players.

"We feel that there's more to video games than just doing better graphics or— there could be much more feedback and the body could be way more involved," says Volker Morawe. Same goes for art: there's more than just being sensational. While its fantastic that video games has been embraced by artists, it often seems like games are used as a vessel to impersonally or coldly explore violence or perversities. And there's no feeling in that.

PainStation [Official Site]

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