The "Piss-Screen" 23 Aug 2007

The charmingly-named "Piss-Screen" is a pressure-sensitive inlay that sits within a urinal, enabling the "user" to play a car game while he pees. The game itself is displayed on a plasma TV above the urinal, and automatically starts as soon as you begin to pee. The player can then control the car whilst relieving himself - if he wants it to go right, he aims right; if he wants it to go left...well, you get the idea.

Ideas like this have been kicking around for some time, of course. However, the ambition of most of these men's room games is limited to keeping the toilet area clean (i.e. encouraging participants to keep their aim on the urinal and not on the surrounding floor tiles). What's interesting about this particular version though, is that it's intended to curb drunk driving - Saatchi & Saatchi installed this driving game in male restrooms across Frankfurt, teaming up with a variety of bars, clubs and cafés in an attempt to reduce the number of young Germans involved in alcohol-related accidents. Its creators explain:

"The overall design of the driving game [is] similar in style to that of Need for Speed, requiring relatively quick reactions. Obviously the more drunk you are, the slower your response, reinforcing the effects of alcohol to the gamer. The game ultimately culminates in a shocking crash-sequence, leaving the viewer with little doubt as to the repercussions of driving while drunk."

You can find out more about the project over at Piss-Screen.de - where you can also watch videos of the game in action (Yes, really.)