Blood Sport’s blood-siphoning controller drains gamers for a good cause

We’ve seen weird and wonderful Kickstarter projects over the years, but the latest gaming-orientated idea takes kill shots to a whole new level.

Blood Sport uses a modified gaming controller, an Arduino micro-board and a sharp needle in a juicy vein to literally suck blood from your body whenever you’re killed in the game. Each time the controller rumbles, the electrical signal engages a pump that draws a predetermined amount of blood from the gamer. The result is tangible evidence that you’re getting your ass kicked.

Luckily, there’s no Jean-Claude van Damme involved.

Even though it’s not something you’ll likely have in your living room, it’s all envisioned with a utilitarian end goal in mind — boost blood supplies in clinics and healthcare centres.

“Our goal is to develop a refined multiplayer unit that can be taken across the country for blood donation gaming events,” Blood Sport notes on its Kickstarter page.

“We are not a charity and we are not a game manufacturer. We are simply creating the gaming hardware that will allow us to get gamers thinking about more important issues while still doing what they love.”

The Brand & Grotesque creator team of Taran Chadha and Jamie Umpherson hopes that this will improve medical facilities’ stocks, make gaming more realistic and of course, make giving blood less traumatic (or make gaming more traumatic).

There are inherent issues though. Gamers will obviously question the tendency for controllers to rumble for more than just taking bullets, so how accurate is this system really? And how does it ultimately benefit gamers?

Of course, there have been more curious projects to see the light of day on Kickstarter. Remember that chap who kickstarted a bowl of potato salad?

Read more: The numbers behind the humble Potato Salad Kickstarter campaign

Nevertheless, Blood Sport has just one working prototype at present but it’s looking for C$250 000 to take more machines around Canada. This sum includes the cost of medical gear, gaming equipment and transportation. The team currently sits at just under C$3500.

The launch will coincide with Battlefield Hardline‘s much anticipated debut on 17 March 2015.

Could you ever imagine Blood Sport becoming a commonplace system in clinics, hospitals or moreover, your lounge? Is this idea sick or simply brilliant? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.