Video Games That Are Good For Your Health
Due to the smash success of Nintendo’s “Wii Fit”, game makers all over the world are introducing new titles with a healthy focus, such as French game publisher Ubisoft’s "Allen Carr’s Easyway to Stop Smoking" that hits on Nintendo DS in November.
All over the world, nearly 10 million smokers have turned to Allen Carr’s Easyway books, clinics or DVD in order to stop smoking, but now smokers wanting to quit can instead play 14 mini-games.
The games, designed by Ubisoft’s Quebec studio and Allen Carr’s team, focus on why people smoke rather than why they shouldn’t.
Denis Dore, the game’s producer, said each game has been designed to be very accessible, using only the stylus on the Nintendo DS, so a non-gamer can have fun instantly.
"We are not talking here about a game that will allow you to gain virtual rewards, but one that can in fact help you quit smoking."
“Research has shown that people absorb information better when they are actively and enjoyably engaged in a learning process,” said Robin Hayley, CEO of Allen Carr’s Easyway International.
The makers hope the game could attract younger smokers who are less inclined to visit a clinic or read books to quit the habit and being played on Nintendo DS makes the games portable.
"Some games explain and illustrate the points better than is possible in a book as, using the senses of touch and vision," said Hayley.
Ubisoft just shipped a new game for Nintendo DS called “My Weight Loss Coach” that helps people keep track of their fitness goals with a pedometer that gamers can wear all day then plug into their DS to feed that data into a game.
If a player walks enough, the game will let them know when they’ve navigated the equivalent of the Great Wall of China.
The virtual weight loss coach can also make suggestions like taking the stairs rather than the elevator and parking farther away from the store.
Ubisoft spokesman Tony Key said ‘My Weight Loss Coach’ is designed to help players develop healthy lifestyle habits like eating well and staying active.
"’Wii Fit’s’ positive reception is a signal that people are interested in being active, and getting fit, as long as it’s engaging and fun."
“Wii Fit”, designed by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of such characters as Mario, Donkey Kong and Link, has made exercise fun.
The game uses a balance board that tracks shifts in weight. In addition to the recently shipped "We Ski" from Namco Bandai, various new games, including Ubisoft’s "Shaun White Snowboarding" and Electronic Arts’ "SKATE IT," will use the board.
According to the NPD Group, “Wii Fit” has already sold over 688,000 units at $90 each.
Like the Wii console, "Wii Fit" has been sold out since it shipped in North America last month.
“”˜Wii Fit’ sales will top 3 million this year as long as Nintendo can keep up with demand,” said Michael Pachter, video game analyst for Wedbush Morgan Securities.
Miyamoto hopes families use "Wii Fit" together and that it will make gamers more conscious of exercise and what they eat.
Konami introduced the dance mat game "DanceDanceRevolution" to Japanese arcades in 1998, which migrated to North America a few years later and made its console debut on PlayStation in 2001.
The game continues to sell and has even been used by some schools.
Don’t expect "magic" weight loss with games like "Wii Fit", said Miyamoto. But he believes if games can get people into exercising routinely, they will start to notice changes in their bodies.
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