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Katilian on 15 May 2008
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TheRealMafoo said:
Phendrana said:

How is it not a game? It can be used for either exercise or recreation. Would you not consider DDR a game?

Now, if it was only the strength training and yoga I'd probably agree with you, but there's a lot more to it than that. I don't think you understand what all is in Wii Fit.


 

WiiFit is not a game (in my eyes) because the creator's vision was to make exercise fun. The goal is not to "win", but to follow a series of exercise that are fun.

You put in your weight, your height, and it calculates your BMI, and tells you what to play in order to reach a defined goal. The reason for the program you follow is not to achieve some game statistic; it's to lose weight, or gain balance, or whatever you told it you wanted to do.

To then compare it to a piece of media that's sole purpose is entertainment (a video game) is pointless.

DDR does none of the above. It's a game that takes effort to complete. Not something that was conceived for the purpose of losing weight.

Oh, and to the person that said WiiFit will not turn a fat guy into a fit guy is wrong. It can get very intense, and as with anything, if you continue to use it, it will work.


Let's say football (whatever variety) doesn't exist and I create it tomorrow because I'm bored of running laps around a field and want it to be more entertaining. Do that not make football a game because my intent was to make excerise fun rather than make a game that involve exercise?

I suppose your view of Wii Fit depends on how you approach it. Each time I play it I try to outdo my previous record, i.e. I make a game of it. Now you could argue that I'm not actually trying to beat the game but myself, but there are hundreds of video games with no ending that all you do is try to beat your previous best. As it also keeps a high score of multiple users, when my girlfriend plays it, she tries to beat my scores, and then I try and beat hers.

There are also times I fired it up just to play the balance exercises. While you can argue some of the other parts aren't really games, these are by far. My favourite is the ski jump, which I'll play by itself for 15-20 minutes at a time sometimes, purely trying to beat my last score, not to get exercise or improve my balance (although this may be an outcome of playing).

I suppose in a way you are right that it shouldn't be compared to a "video game". Not only does it have gameplay, but it has additional features not found in "video games".

In regards to DDR, you are aware that the console versions have Workout modes right? It tracks calories burnt and time played. Now since DDRs sole purpose isn't to entertain, it isn't a game is it, yet you seem to have called it that.

I really don't see how gaming based around physical activity and physical activity based around gaming are all that different. Sure the focus of each might be to one side, but that doesn't discount the other side.