What the Wii Fit is missing...

[themelmonster]

I love the Wii and Wii Fit, but I think commercial game developers have missed a very important component of the whole "let's help players get more fit" game. Nutrition! We're trying to make up for that with some casual games on nutrition: www.playnormous.com. What do you guys think?

[abrannan]

Site's blocked from work for me, so I'll have to check it out later. The one thing I will say is that all you can really do with nutrition and games at this time is education. And honestly, education about what is and isn't healthy isn't really the problem, IMO.


I don't think you'll find a person who thinks that Fast food, Soda, and candy is "good for you" or "Something you should eat", just as you won't find smokers who don't know that smoking is bad for you. The problem is breaking the habits that are established, and you can only go so far with a video game.

The contrast with the Wii/WiiFit/Dance Games it that they actively break the cycle of non-exercise. You exercise to play them. You can't really do that with nutrition.

[themelmonster]

Excellent points! I'm very excited I got such a thorough response.

I agree with you 100% on the idea that education isn't enough. The last stats I read said that 23% of adults smoke and 11% of physicians smoke. Physicians! The health experts! Education is necessary, but not sufficient.

However, I disagree with the statement that all we can do with nutrition and games is education. There are some games which have been shown to change nutrition behavior in kids. Check out Squire's Quest! from over 5 years ago: kidsnutrition.org/consumer/nyc/vol1_03/squires_quest.htm
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15927302

I failed to mention that Playnormous.com uses behavior researchers to make games. They incorporate behavior change methods (like in Squire's Quest!) with education/knowledge components. They also clinically test everything to see if kids change their knowledge and behavior after playing.

As far at the Wii/WiiFit/DDRs go, I was thinking that they could have incorporated nutrition (behavior change or education or both) with the physical activity. Having an exercise goal plan with a nutrition plan seem to go hand-in-hand. Playnormous.com is looking into using a dance pad with a tile nutrition game, Food Fury (http://www.playnormous.com/game_foodfury.cfm)

And I agree, we all know candy, soda, etc is bad. But people can make smaller goals too like adding some extra lettuce and tomato to their fast food hamburger, hold the mayo and high fat cheese. Or how about things like eating canned fruit in light syrup versus heavy or tuna in water versus tuna in oil. Sometimes it's the little changes that can really help, you know? I think having exercise goals with small nutrition goals would have been a great add to the WiiFit.

[abrannan]

Except for one key point. Wii Fit is not aimed primarily at children. Yes, there are some children in the marketing, but it is primarily an adult-oriented "game". So, kid oriented nutirion behavior games wound't fit in this sense.

You also run the risk of coming across as too, for lack of a better word, "Preachy". Yes, kids can and will learn from a nutrition game, but would they pick it out themselves, given alternative, non-"teachy" games? That, in my opinion, is the strength behind DDR and other active games. The exercise is an ancillary benefit, not the primary goal of the game. It's insidious that way. You start out to play a fun game, and only later realize the health benefits.


If you want to look at a "game" that incorporated both elements, take a look at Yourself!Fitness.

[xstatic]

You know, I'm curious to give this game a try with Edmund once he comes back from Wisconsin. I don't know if it will keep him interested though. Although he's 10 he's a pretty advanced gamer. (plays warcraft and startcraft on battlenet) But I'm willing to give it a shot and if he participates then I'll let everyone know the results.

As far as dropping the ball with this on games like ddr - I'm right there with abrannan. No one I personally know started playing it for health benefits. We played it for fun...and for it's competitive elements. Competing in tournaments or xbox live...competing for score with your friends... The game fills the void that I had once I graduated high school and no longer had competitive sports. The weight loss and health benefits ended up being the result and what an awesome result at that!

They've actually put a Pump It Up machine in my hometown YMCA now. That's how well known and encouraged these games are becoming for keeping kids physically fit! I think that's just awesome.

[DDRMom]

Well I just am so laughing at the news spots on the morning shows about the Wii Fit...
*turns on news anchor voice*
"Yes, Katie, the amazing thing about these new games is that they are video games, but look at that -- they actually make you GET UP AND MOVE!"

I so want to say "and you've been where for the last 8 or 9 years ...??"

[chiefeagle02]

I've been playing Wii Fit for the last three weeks. I'm planning on writing a review for it soon and posting it here in the forums.

About nutrition...it kind of does have a bit on it, but in a hamhanded fashion. If the game notes that you've gained a significant amount of weight, it'll ask you why. If you mention anything about food, THEN it'll tell you about nutrition...er at least when you should eat.

[themelmonster]

Thanks chiefeagle02--I hadn't seen that! I'll need to look into gaining some weight so I can see the nutrition section. One of the guys at my office is a religious player and has lost 10 lbs since we bought it. He's been losing consistently though so I don't think he's seen the nutrition section either. Thanks for the tip!

And abrannan, you're totally correct. It's not just for kids (however, my neighbors have it and their kids love it--age 3 and 4). It will be interesting to see how long they stay interested in it.

And there is a great risk of being preachy. If it's "good for you" typically kids don't want to play it. I don't think I've seen anyone do it successfully as of yet. Balancing health and still keeping it fun is not easy. I think Playnormous.com is a good start though.

[pama6712]

im looking for sites on the internet where i can download free unofficial wii channels does anyone know a site where you can download it
ps - are you able to download it from the wii internet channel aswell or do you have to transfer it from the computer to the wii.
________________________
download wii games online
free wii game downloads

[prayerwarrior35]

Do you mean you are releasing a Nutrition based Wii game for the North America market?

Like this game for Europe?
www.gamefaqs.com/console/wii/image/960314.html

Why not just release this one for the US market, because it's not kid friendly?

[prayerwarrior35]

Jun 13, 2008 18:04:39 GMT -5 DDRMom said:

Well I just am so laughing at the news spots on the morning shows about the Wii Fit...
*turns on news anchor voice*
"Yes, Katie, the amazing thing about these new games is that they are video games, but look at that -- they actually make you GET UP AND MOVE!"

I so want to say "and you've been where for the last 8 or 9 years ...??"

What was 8 or 9 years ago, when you began playing DDR? DDR came out in 1998 (11 years ago), and before that was Nintendo's Power Pad which was released in Japan in 1986 as the Family Trainer. Power Pad was original, Dance Pads and even the balance pad (while unique) have clear relationships to the original Power Pad. It's good to see the success of the Wii and DDR though, just pointing out I've been gamercizing since 1988, and my power pad never quit working.