While fans have been waiting to hear any scrap of information regarding the long-rumored “Switch 2,” Nintendo has pleasantly surprised them with something entirely different. For instead of announcing yet another gaming device to make them established for their wacky but tech-savvy inventions, they’ve introduced an interactive alarm clock that merges game and wake-up routines.
Priced at $100 for general market release early next year, Alarmo is currently available as a pre-order only to Nintendo Switch Online members in the United States and Canada. It may be a super-limited availability in its opening period, but judging from the history of Nintendo’s limited-run products, the Alarmo may just be a highly sought-after collector’s item.
Behold, the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo. This is no alarm clock; it’s an experience. True to Nintendo’s colorful form, the clock sports a bright red body with a large, invitingly white button, like time itself had been designed by Mario. This rather whimsical appearance reflects how well the company can blend technology and fun in the most unexpected ways.
Equipped with motion-sensing technology, this alarm clock not only rings but also knows whether you are still in bed. Large movements-like walking around-or subtle ones, such as the slightest shifts during sleeping-are all picked up by these sensors. Instead of a snooze button to hit, users must physically get out of bed, adding in interaction to try and avoid falling into those “just five more minutes” moments once and for all.
If someone needs that little extra shove to get up, the Alarmo has a mode where the alarm’s volume gradually increases if one has overslept. If that is not enough to rise anyone from their bed, then characters from games such as Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Splatoon 3 might just pop up to help one bound out of bed.
But one of the coolest Alarmo features is being able to set up wake-up sounds with themes and music from 35 different Nintendo game scenes. Just think about starting your morning with heroic tunes of Breath of the Wild, or maybe it’s up to the beat of never-ending action in Splatoon 3 that gets you up. Super Mario Odyssey fans may even find Bowser nudging them to get going.
These are not the only game sounds for waking up because, with Alarmo, soothing nighttime sleep is insured with benign pointed melodies taken directly from the users’ favorite Nintendo games. This will continuously be updated with even more themes, like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe scenes and Animal Crossing: New Horizons scenes, to keep this clock fresh and easily usable over time.
