Comments on: Wii Fit and Games of Guilt http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/ join the quest for morally deep games Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:14:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Valuable Games » Blog Archive » Where’s the Wii Fit DLC? http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-329 Valuable Games » Blog Archive » Where’s the Wii Fit DLC? Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:51 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/#comment-329 [...] Damned. So when, oh when, is Nintendo going to catch on to the gold mine it is sitting on, a/k/a Wii Fit? My partner and I would pay cash money (or whatever passes for money on these consoles) for voice [...] [...] Damned. So when, oh when, is Nintendo going to catch on to the gold mine it is sitting on, a/k/a Wii Fit? My partner and I would pay cash money (or whatever passes for money on these consoles) for voice [...]

]]> By: Wii Fit Accessories http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-188 Wii Fit Accessories Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:03:04 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/#comment-188 It would be great if they actually made the wii fit board height adjustable. It would be great if they actually made the wii fit board height adjustable.

]]> By: Cloo http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Cloo Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:18:55 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/#comment-182 I like the Japanese version, which actively berates you. I like the Japanese version, which actively berates you.

]]> By: Helen Haste http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Helen Haste Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:28:29 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/#comment-154 A general thought, which I will try to pursue later; guilt may not be the most useful emotion to evoke as it carries, as you say, negative connotations which demotivate. Compassion, and especially anger on behalf of injustice or harm, are possibly more effective. The research on social and political activism strongly suggests that what precipitates such activism is anger - at injustice in the case of various kinds of inequality or suffering - or in some cases at the source of fear-inducing situations. The peace activists of the 70s and 80s for example were very angry that their governments put them in the firing line for nuclear destruction - people who were just frightened didn't get involved. Also, anger as a response is associated with a combination of high level of efficacy or agency - the belief that one CAN have an effect - and low trust in government (or authority). All these should be easy to manipulate in a game situation. One of the outcomes of appropriate reflection is a sense of personal moral responsibility in the situation; 'I should do something'. A general thought, which I will try to pursue later; guilt may not be the most useful emotion to evoke as it carries, as you say, negative connotations which demotivate. Compassion, and especially anger on behalf of injustice or harm, are possibly more effective. The research on social and political activism strongly suggests that what precipitates such activism is anger – at injustice in the case of various kinds of inequality or suffering – or in some cases at the source of fear-inducing situations. The peace activists of the 70s and 80s for example were very angry that their governments put them in the firing line for nuclear destruction – people who were just frightened didn’t get involved. Also, anger as a response is associated with a combination of high level of efficacy or agency – the belief that one CAN have an effect – and low trust in government (or authority). All these should be easy to manipulate in a game situation. One of the outcomes of appropriate reflection is a sense of personal moral responsibility in the situation; ‘I should do something’.

]]> By: Zachary McCune http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-153 Zachary McCune Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:13:16 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/games/2008/06/24/wii-fit-and-games-of-guilt/#comment-153 It's worth appending an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of WiiFit (as well as the legendary auteur of Mario & Donkey Kong) that appeared in the Times of London almost two months ago. In this article, the journalist draws similar conclusion about the motivating forces of ridicule and shame. To quote author John Arlidge: "The Wii Fit is your worst nightmare. It tells you what you weigh day by day. If your body fat increases, it works out by how much and asks you to explain why. It compares your fitness with that of your family and, if you fall behind, it ridicules you. Think a cross between Simon Cowell and Mr Motivator — first thing in the morning, every morning." http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article3821516.ece It’s worth appending an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of WiiFit (as well as the legendary auteur of Mario & Donkey Kong) that appeared in the Times of London almost two months ago.

In this article, the journalist draws similar conclusion about the motivating forces of ridicule and shame.

To quote author John Arlidge: “The Wii Fit is your worst nightmare. It tells you what you weigh day by day. If your body fat increases, it works out by how much and asks you to explain why. It compares your fitness with that of your family and, if you fall behind, it ridicules you.

Think a cross between Simon Cowell and Mr Motivator — first thing in the morning, every morning.”

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article3821516.ece

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