Nintendo Alarmo: An unexpected gadget from gaming giant

Hear the word, “Nintendo,” and you’ll likely think of video games like Super Mario or Legend of Zelda. That’s why waking up to the Nintendo Alarmo’s announcement was a strange yet pleasant surprise.

Alarmo is an alarm clock that features iconic Nintendo characters, allowing gamers to start their days with Mario and the others. 

The official online Nintendo Store prices it at $99.99 or roughly ₱5,707.23 at the time of writing. It will be available in retail in early 2025.

How does the Nintendo Alarmo work?

The Nintendo Alarmo wakes you up with animations, sounds, and characters from some of the Japanese gaming company’s famous titles: 

The clock will show your chosen game character minutes before your alarm as if they’re waiting for it to go off.

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The alarm begins by playing gentle sounds from your game. Also, Alarmo’s motion tracking will play other sounds when you toss around in bed.

For example, the Mario theme plays the coin-picking chime and the plumber’s “Wahoo!” catchphrase when you move. 

If you don’t get up immediately, the game character will leave and pause the alarm. Later, Nintendo Alarmo will repeat this cycle until you wake up. 

Once you do, the clock will reward you with your chosen game’s completion theme. Alternatively, you may wave your hand over the device to stop its alert. 

Otherwise, Super Mario villain Bowser will appear and sound a more intense alarm!

The device also helps you sleep by playing soothing melodies from your favorite titles.

READ: Everything about Japan’s new Nintendo Museum

Nintendo Alarmo also tracks your sleep patterns with its Records feature. It notes how much time you’ve spent in bed and how often you’ve been moving during slumber.

The Verge reveals that Nintendo has been planning for a sleep-tracking device since 2014. 

On October 9, Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development Department developer Yosuke Tamori revealed the company started making the device during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Nintendo Alarmo will be available in early 2025, Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack members in the US and Canada may already buy it now via the My Nintendo Store.

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