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January 28, 2004
Healthy Gamers and Other Broken Myths
Seems like getting gamers off their butts is all the rage. In less than a week, I hear about the <a href="http://www.gamebike.com/">Gamebike Controller</a>, the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3399533.stm">Kilowatt controller</a>, and an endorsement for the <a href="http://www.getupmove.com/">Ignition Dance Pad</a>. Interesting.
As noted in a <a href="http://www.digitalgamedeveloper.com/2004/01_jan/news/dlgmebk12604.htm">Gamebike article</a>, these types of game peripherals are being developed to "address the boredom of indoor exercise and the epidemic of childhood obesity." The 95lbs <a href="http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/view_release.php?id=2080">success story of Tanya Jessen</a> is certainly impressive, but almost too good to be true (in the <em>"your results may vary with this product"</em> category of disclaimer often seen in small print in weight-loss ads). Using games and game-tech in the area of <a href="http://www.socialimpactgames.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=4&topic=&allstories=1">health and wellness</a> is an encouraging trend - not just for losing weight, but also as another indicator of gaming's pervasive evolution...
Other recent myths that have been broken: <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/blog.asp?blogID=1237&trk=nl">Net users are all geeks</a>, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/ptech/01/16/women.gadgets.ap/index.html">women don't like tech/gadgets</a> and <a href="http://www.wiredsussex.com/news/0401/gamegirl.asp">girls aren't interested in game development</a>.
Posted by della at January 28, 2004 12:01 PM
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