South Park launches ‘smell-o-vision’ virtual reality game where players actually experience characters’ scents

In keeping with the tone of the series, the main scent that people smell is when characters break wind

Andrew Griffin
Thursday 18 August 2016 11:17 EDT
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Visitors watch exclusively the new Syfy hybrid show 'Halcyon' at the Gamescom 2016 gaming trade fair during the media day on August 17, 2016 in Cologne, Germany
Visitors watch exclusively the new Syfy hybrid show 'Halcyon' at the Gamescom 2016 gaming trade fair during the media day on August 17, 2016 in Cologne, Germany (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Syfy)

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South Park has launched perhaps the first mainstream game where players can smell other characters’ farts.

Ubisoft – which made many of the most popular and celebrated games in the world – has launched “smell-o-vision” inspired game and says that it is a development of virtual reality.

The device is named Nosulus Rift, taking its cue from the Facebook-owned Oculus Rift VR system. Players can try it out at the Gamescom video game conference being held in Germany this week.

The kit was at first thought to have been a prank, or a hoax. But it actually works and will be shown off at conferences – though it won’t be available for purchase.

It is made up of a face mask that sends odours into the nose of the person wearing it. Those primarily happen when the in-game characters break wind.

"This device, only available during conventions and not for sale, takes virtual reality to a whole new level by allowing players to enjoy South Park: The Fractured But Whole in the most immersive way possible,” said Ubisoft. A new perception through a sense that has never been tickled in gaming before: the sense of smell."

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