Brain Training spends record-breaking 80 weeks in UK top ten

If only it was a real game, then maybe it would be impressive.

Why isn’t it a “real game” then?

It’s a utility.

What makes it a utility and not a game? It’s got lots of game elements – just because it could be deemed beneficial to the user?

It’s a vague feeling I have, I just don’t consider Brain Training, Wii Fit, etc to be games. I think it’s because there’s no aim in the game.

So what about Space Invaders? Pac-man? They could hardly be considered to have aims either.

Kill all the aliens/collect all the food-things?

As I said, it’s a vague feeling, I just don’t consider them games.

You’ve never actually played them have you? They track high scores and Wii fit in particular provides a lot of variety. Head the footballs, ski jumping, slalom etc. What’s not gamey about those?

It’s not a game though. It’s a video game by association, but it’s not sold as a video game.

Wii Sports is, but Brain Training is advertised to keep your from getting mentally old, and Wii Fit is advertised as making sure you can still be a lazy ass without gaining weight.

DrDamn: I’m with you here, but I fear all efforts are wasted :/.

So the DS Cookbook is a game too?

The Brain Traning has game elements, but nothing that couldn’t be done on paper with a person. It has Sudoku which is a game and Wii Fit has Skiing which is a game. But neitehr focus on that element.

The words are wasted, but not becuase we are ignorant as implied.

If the DS Cookbook is just a cookbook i.e. an electronic book then no it’s not a game. Brain Training and Wii Fit have interactive gameplay elements to them. I really can’t see how being able to do them on paper makes it any less of a game.

What is the difference between :-
a) See how quickly you can draw a line through stuff avoiding other stuff
b) See how quickly you can move pacman through a maze avoiding ghosts

Which makes one a game and the other not?