Best. Run. Evar!
Worlds collide in the most interesting ways …
Exhibit A: The other day I went running and found myself thinking the following: if I complete this level I will be able to move to the next level. Honestly. And then, after finishing a run I said to myself “I feel stronger now!” This logic and these words are familiar to anybody who has played Tombraider. But they also, apparently, apply to the acquisition of actual strength (as in real life activity).
Exhibit B: Having completed almost all of the levels of Katamari Damacy I am now going around trying to get some of the gifts. In addition to unlocking “eternal” mode #3 while rolling up the moon I also managed to score a lovely little pink running jersey on another level (oh how I wish I had a screen grab). You cannot imagine how delighted I was after a gruelling run to receive this little symbolic gift. The King was very happy with me, indeed.
And so I have concluded that either: a) video game logic is starting to define my offline experience; or, b) that there really is some benefit to playing video games while attempting to learn a new sport. If you think I think about Katamari Damacy too much then maybe you should read this Slashdot thread about Katamari and gamespy wireless on the DS.
Arcade wisdom: You can overcome any challenge simply by having enough quarters.
[Of course any vidkid knows raw talent beats a big bank account any day of the week.]
u r so 31337 d00d!!11
;->
There’s a surgeon who trains other surgeons through video games –he’s found that the fine motor hand-eye coordination that the games trained one for was fantastic for developing the same skills necessary for slicing up arteries, colons, kidneys and the like. I also read recently in the news about this case in Japan, I believe, where in an online game one person loaned this powerful sword to another person in the game, and that person turned around and sold it for something like $900 real dollars (meaning the money actually went into the dude’s bank account). The original owner of this virtual sword was so angry he went to the betrayer’s place and stabbed him to death.
Damn, I’m bad on my references right now, but I know there’s some other gaming system available where you actually have to physically move –like you have to run, on this special pad, and you’re running through a setting on the screen (maybe you’re being chased, I dunno).
I feel like a schnook; I just criticized a student for not citing sources, and I can’t remember where I got any of the above, and I’m too lazy right now to bother checking.
Games make you stabby:
http://www.secretlair.com/index.php?/clickableculture/entry/fact_games_make_you_stabby/
Gaming- Bad for the Knees:
http://secretlair.com/index.php?/clickableculture/entry/gaming-bad-for-the-knees/
Nike Does the EyeToy:
http://www.secretlair.com/index.php?/clickableculture/entry/nike-does-the-eyetoy/
Joley – BTW, Tony is one of the most AWESOME gaming writers around. If you haven’t already, you should go check out his blog Clickable Culture. His stuff is right down your alley:
http://www.secretlair.com/index.php?/clickableculture
Duly noted –I’m heading over there right now.
thx 4 the p1mp4g3, m3lz0rz