Lifestyle Games

[Fusilli]

Bambi's 'Theory Test' thread gave me the idea for this.. Recently Nintendo have been releasing games related to our lifestyles so I thought I would look some up.

On the Wii there is Wii Fit ofcourse, which I don't have yet but do want. >_> It seems to be very popular anyway, as Game are only allowing one per customer because of such a high demand. A clear indication of how unfit our country is. Anyway, I'm not sure about any others on the Wii so far..

On the DS there are games like Brain Training, Cooking Guide and Theory Test which all relate to our own lives as opposed to the usual old games.

So anyway, the point is what are your opinions on games like these? (And also feel free to point out any I have missed because I'm sure there are more than that. ><)

 

[SapphireStar]

Some are great, like Brain Training, Cooking guide, Wii fit, etc. but some are shokcing, like "My Bbay" i believe its called. That is just ridiculous, see how you can look after your own baby! I mean, games with rabbits and dogs is far enough, but pretending to look after a baby is the most daftest thing Ive seen. it cannot educate you in the slightest, babys cant be changed or fed via a flipping stylus!

 

[Bambi]

I have brain training, the novelty wore off quite quick though because it kept saying I was slow >_>

I wouldn't mind that Wii Fit either but I reckon the novelty would wear off on that aswel.

I think they are quite a good idea tbh, I'd much rather my DS tell me how to cook summat than have to read shitty cook books that are 1000 years old <_<

And obviously I want that theoruy test one because I can't be arsed doing it at my PC Im too easily distracted

 

[Ness]

I've got Brain Age for the DS. Just like stated above, it was enjoyable for about a solid month, then the novelty wore off. The only reason I play it now: the Sudoku puzzles. =P

I guess it's kind of like the "reality revolution" in television programming. It's an effort to expand into another area to grab another demographic of gamers. But it's fun, at least for a time.

 

[Moogles]

Not a fan of such games, personally. I get the same sort of excitement playing those games as I do working on crossword puzzles and word searches: not a lot.

I have college to stimulate brain activity, several cook books to improve my cooking skills if I feel the need, and exercise equipment to stay in shape. Really, I don't need a videogame for every mundane activity in my life.

 

[Ness]

I have college to stimulate brain activity, several cook books to improve my cooking skills if I feel the need, and exercise equipment to stay in shape. Really, I don't need a videogame for every mundane activity in my life.

There's a good point to be made here. One of the (minor) problems with these types of games is that a lot of people feel like they are absolute substitutes for "the real thing". Unfortunately, in real life, cooking is not about manipulating a fancy controller or a stylus in a special way (I think cooking's the best example here). Playing Brain Age is certainly not a substitute for other intellectual pursuits (reading a real book once in a while, imagine that).

These games can be fun, but God forbid they become the last resort for our budding intellectual and culinary communities. =P

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

The main problem with games such as these is that you have to be 20 years old or more since 20 is the best brain age you can have. Other than that I think it's just for fun and means nothing, sure Wii Sports can knacker you out if you play it for a LONG time but I don't take the ages seriously.

 

[Bambi]

I saw an absolute stack of games in Asda today, sight, maths er...I forget the rest but there was like a full shelf of all these different games you could get I was like woaaaah, you get all these games then just get fat because all you do is try to improve your brain and shit >_>

 

[Mitsuki]

Not a fan of such games, personally. I get the same sort of excitement playing those games as I do working on crossword puzzles and word searches: not a lot.

I have college to stimulate brain activity, several cook books to improve my cooking skills if I feel the need, and exercise equipment to stay in shape. Really, I don't need a videogame for every mundane activity in my life.

I'm gonna have to agree with Von here, even though I still think these are nice ideas. But they're really just for entertainment, so that can't really hurt either. Still, I won't spend money for these type of games, especially that "My Baby" that SapphireStar mentioned. Lol, I already have a baby of my own...it would be really sad if I paid more attention to that virtual baby than my own.

Although...that gives me an idea...my daughter has been asking for a baby sister so I might buy that game for her to uh "subsitute" an actual sibling. She will just have to wait longer. =P

 

[Fusilli]

Isn't the Cooking Guide one basically an electronic cookbook? I think that that's a good idea for people who are bored by books anyway.

Like I said I don't have Wii fit, but it seems like a more fun way to get some exercise than doing sit-ups or something. And because it's on a game console and not an aerobics video then people see it as less of a chore, just like participating in sports.

I hadn't heard of that My Baby game but it just sounds like a virtual doll or glorified tamagotchi. Sounds amusing but I doubt it will make people better parents.