Life is a game
Posted: June 2nd, 2010 | Author: Sermad | Filed under: Advertising, Gaming | View CommentsGaming is hot again in advertising. I’m not talking about making online games (that is soooo 2000) or even building on top of Foursquare, but taking elements of gaming (achievements, rewards, levels) and applying this in other ways. The recent Nike Grid project was a great example of how these gaming structures could reward realworld participation.
What if we can extend a realworld participation back into videogames.
The brilliant Nike78 project has a film by Nick Marsh where they have hacked a Wii controller into a pair of running shoes. By running on the spot you control the game.
This is genius but restrictive. Could you do this in the real world?
Well actually – possibly yes. Nike+ is out there. By running you accumulate points.
In Grand Theft Auto your character gets fitter and can run further by running more in the game.
Could we combine Nike+ with Grand Theft Auto so that by running in the real world makes your gaming character fitter?
If there was a clear Nike+ API and the developers of GTA chose to implement this feature then it could be possible.
What other physical or social choices could there be to create this same offline/online reward structure?
+ 
Can shopping create points to spend in Farmville?
Again probably yes. There is a Tesco.com API and a partnership with Farmville could be thrashed out.
So can videogames influence our behaviour? I believe we could be at the point where they actually could.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Great post. I see Foursquare bringing a gaming element to the real world. I also like the way that ARGs mix up real world and fictional characters and stories.
Part of the fun of games is escapism though, so if I was playing Farmville I might not necessarily want to be reminded of Tescos or anything back in the real world. I guess it's all about finding the right crossovers that compliment each other.