My Horse & Me (Wii review)

[manasecret]

From the same person that loves hockey games. Hasn't that argument been floated a thousand times before for a thousand other games? Most recently it was made for Guitar Hero 3, and immediately shot down as a baseless argument. But since it's a Nintendo Wii, the argument holds water.

No wait, it doesn't.

[Bond]

Well, it's fun playing a professional hockey videogame because I personally could never play professional hockey.

I think it becomes dangerous when videogames begin to substitute common outdoor activities (ie. playing backyard football, pickup basketball, working out).

[manasecret]

Originally Posted by Bond

I think it becomes dangerous when videogames begin to substitute common outdoor activities (ie. playing backyard football, pickup basketball, working out).

.... and riding horses?

[Bond]

Originally Posted by manasecret

.... and riding horses?

Obviously riding horses isn't easily accessible to everyone, which is why I didn't use it as an example.

But minus the massive amount of "sarcasm" in this thread, I do think videogames somehow substituting basic outdoor activities and exercise is very dangerous. Isn't our society lazy enough already?

[manasecret]

Originally Posted by Bond

Obviously riding horses isn't easily accessible to everyone, which is why I didn't use it as an example.

But minus the massive amount of "sarcasm" in this thread,

Haha, yeah, sarcasm. I'm just throwing that at Typhoid because it seems like his response to any rebuttal to any of his arguments is "I was being sarcastic" .

Hey, Typhoid, don't read that. If you did, I was just -- you guessed it -- being sarcastic.

I do think videogames somehow substituting basic outdoor activities and exercise is very dangerous. Isn't our society lazy enough already?

I would agree if I thought they were replacing outdoor activities. For many people (if not most), it wouldn't be substituting outdoor activity and exercise, it would be filling that gap. It might even move them on their way to more strenuous exercise outdoors. That may sound like a longshot, but I know for me the hardest part of exercising is starting back up again after I've lost my routine. After a couple weeks of getting back into a routine, exercise becomes addictive and I want to do more and more of it.

Btw, here are some impressions I just read from the Japanese release of Wii Fit

http://wii.ign.com/articles/838/838976p1.html

[KillerGremlin]

While I disagree with Typhoid, someone needs to draw a line when people talk about how you can lose weight by playing your wii. Your wii is not a substitute for real exercise.

[manasecret]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

I was being sarcastic.
Notice how I threw in an NES game - which I own - and which is completely fucking awesome for making you look like a tool for hopping on coloured buttons to run faster. Revolutionary.

That second part about Track and Field II wasn't sarcasm. I actually love that game.

I was being sarcastic.

Oh you couldn't tell?

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

While I disagree with Typhoid, someone needs to draw a line when people talk about how you can lose weight by playing your wii. Your wii is not a substitute for real exercise.

There is no difference between "real" exercise and playing a Wii, it only depends on how hard you're playing a game. If you play a Wii game to exercise, then you just have to make sure you are really making your heart work.

A cardiovascular workout is a cardiovascular workout, and you can lose weight no matter how you go about doing that workout. If you have fun playing a Wii game and you really truly make it into a workout, then who are you or I to judge that? Instead of denouncing their choice -- perhaps someone's only motivation to actually get up and exercise -- I say encourage them and tell them to make sure they actually make it into a workout.

Electronic stationary bikes and treadmills are essentially video games as well, and no one denies the ability to get a tough cardiovascular workout from that. But you can also play around on them and get no workout at all from them. It just depends on the effort you put in.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by manasecret

I was being sarcastic.

Oh you couldn't tell?

I could tell you were.
The last line of "No wait, it doesn't" gives it away easily.

Me saying I was being sarcastic has nothing to do with not acknowledging you, too - were being sarcastic.

I simple said I was, because I didn't expect a drawn out, Nintendo-defense post.

And don't say "Well that's what you're doing now, and I was being sarcastic too, hypocrite", because I am defending myself. Not a company that I just like.



EDIT:

Electronic stationary bikes and treadmills are essentially video games as well, and no one denies the ability to get a tough cardiovascular workout from that. But you can also play around on them and get no workout at all from them.

I'd say that's a far stretch.
You're comparing riding a bike (essentially, a stationary bike IS riding a bike, without moving) to flicking your wrist, or standing on a wakeboard and moving back and forth? The balance board, will only really improve your balance, and maybe lower leg strength - depending on how much weight you have to keep balanced.

I'd make the argument DDR can be seen as exercise, you can't deny that.

[manasecret]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

I could tell you were.
The last line of "No wait, it doesn't" gives it away easily.

Me saying I was being sarcastic has nothing to do with not acknowledging you, too - were being sarcastic.

I simple said I was, because I didn't expect a drawn out, Nintendo-defense post.

And don't say "Well that's what you're doing now, and I was being sarcastic too, hypocrite", because I am defending myself. Not a company that I just like.

I was being sarcastic.

Oh you couldn't tell?

I'd say that's a far stretch.
You're comparing riding a bike (essentially, a stationary bike IS riding a bike, without moving) to flicking your wrist, or standing on a wakeboard and moving back and forth? The balance board, will only really improve your balance, and maybe lower leg strength - depending on how much weight you have to keep balanced.

I'd make the argument DDR can be seen as exercise, you can't deny that.

I didn't mean the balance board specifically, but I guess I should have said that since isn't the game called "Wii Fitness"? My fault. Though I don't know what mini-games will be included with the board thing, there could possibly be some that make you move your arms and legs quite a bit. I think Nintendo marketing that as a "Fitness" device is irresponsible if you don't really get much of a workout from it. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. My instinct tells me it's just a fucking board, how much can you really get out of it? Maybe it has some yoga-type benefits, but I've never done yoga and don't know how much you really get from it.

I was specifically taking about Wii Boxing. If you want to make a cardio workout of it, you can pretty easily. That's about all I've played that could count for cardio, though you mentioned DDR, there's one for Wii that requires you to move your arms as well. I wish there were more games that made you physically move a lot. Maybe that Mario vs. Sonic Olympic Games game? Anyone tried that?

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by manasecret

From the same person that loves hockey games. Hasn't that argument been floated a thousand times before for a thousand other games? Most recently it was made for Guitar Hero 3, and immediately shot down as a baseless argument. But since it's a Nintendo Wii, the argument holds water.

No wait, it doesn't.

I was being sarcastic.
Notice how I threw in an NES game - which I own - and which is completely fucking awesome for making you look like a tool for hopping on coloured buttons to run faster. Revolutionary.

That second part about Track and Field II wasn't sarcasm. I actually love that game.

While I disagree with Typhoid, someone needs to draw a line when people talk about how you can lose weight by playing your wii. Your wii is not a substitute for real exercise.

it is when you get the Wii balance board for the low-low price of $_____, rather than spending 0 travel time and money by going for a run outside. I'd rather have the balance board. I mean, kids can get raped and killed playing flag football nowadays. I don't want my kids outside. Outside is scary.