It’s an RPG, Weight Watcher style!
In the world of video games and unhealthy lives styles one particular company has figured it out. A recent article that I read on WIRED analyzed and compared the Weight Watchers online dieting tool to an RPG.
After my own personal stint with WW online and an avid RPG gamer, I would have to whole-heartily agree with him. Maybe that is why it was personally successful because I am attracted to that type of gaming which made WW fun and easy for me. It was interactive and I could see my progress laid out right in front of me. It was designed to reward when I did something positive and get me back on track when I did something harmful to my success. We all know that losing weight is not easy and it can be mundane. I think in the ever-emerging generation of gamers and pc oriented life-styles Weight Watchers has developed something that innovates that mentality.
“Think about it. As with an RPG, you roll a virtual character, manage your inventory and resources, and try to achieve a goal. Weight Watchers’ points function precisely like hit points; each bite of food does damage until you’ve used up your daily amount, so you sleep and start all over again. Play well and you level up — by losing weight! And the more you play it, the more you discover interesting combinations of the rules that aren’t apparent at first. Hey, if I eat a fruit-granola breakfast and an egg-and-romaine lunch, I’ll have enough points to survive a greasy hamburger dinner for a treat!
Even the Weight Watchers web tool is amazingly game like. It has the poke-around-and-see-what-happens elegance you see in really good RPG game screens. Accidentally snack on a candy bar and ruin your meal plan for the day? No worries: Just go into the database and see what spells — whoops, I mean foods — you can still use with your remaining points.
And those 35 extra points you get every week? They’re like a special buff or potion — a last-ditch save when you’re on the ropes.”
-Clive Thompson, WIRED
I am not sure I could have explained it better myself having previously used WW online tool site and currently living in a RPG world; I think he nailed the tail right on the donkey! I am curious to see just where this might take us with other daily tasks and challenges. I have yet to check out Wii Fit, which I hear is changing peoples’ lives globally. I happen to know someone that swears by it and looks fantastic since they got it. Technology is an incredible and utterly fascinating track to be a part of. Besides, those bandwagons always have the best rides!
Get a wii!!! I wanna play.