proposition 2
James Blake
Major Studio
2/11/08
Proposal
It’s On
Abstract
Since video games popularity has been getting increasingly larger every year, these games have had good and bad effects on the mass culture. A Study done by the University of Texas in 2004 has linked obesity amongst children to there gaming habits. The lack of physical activity compared to generations prior, seem to be one of the largest reasons why the surge in obesity is becoming more common amongst kids. This is why I have designed an interactive game that will encourage outdoor activity, while still giving the draw and capabilities of online gaming.
Precedents
Interactive games that encourage physical activity have in some cases been known to triple the amount of calories burned as appose to the traditional gaming. Games Like Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Sports and Wii Fit are not a replacement for physical exercise, but these games help get the ball rolling and help lead people in the direction of a slightly healthier life style. These games have also shown that a game like this can be wildly successful, proving that there is quite a market for games demanding physical activity.
Overview
The Game I purpose on making is called IT’S ON! The premise is you are the leader of whatever color army you so desire, and you need to defend your base and conquer others. How this is accomplished is by having a little chip in the bottom sole of the child’s shoe, this chip registers how far he has traveled in that day by walking/ running. The child would take this chip out from the bottom of the sole of his shoe and plug it into the USB of the computer when he wants to play the game. The more exercise the child does, the more they are rewarded in fake money used to purchase vehicles and weapons in the games.
Scenario
Little Bobby is 8 years old and has gained a substantial amount of weight, when his parents suggest maybe he should go out side and play with his friends, he chooses to stay inside and play on his computer with the newest Dora the explorer game. So Tech Savvy Dad goes out and reads up about this new video game encouraging exercise amongst kids called IT’S ON, and buys it for bobby. Bobby resists exercising at first but once he realizes his friends are totally “stomping” him, he realizes he needs to get it in to gear. Now Bobby is at a healthy weight, and he is now “stomping” his friends online.
