I wanted to tackle this subject in writing for quite a while, but I just couldn’t find the spark to trigger it. That was until Friday evening when I stumbled upon a press release about a Yoga game being launched for Wii at the end of the month. No surprise here, I’m used to seeing all sort of BS being released for Wii and called video games. But the text emphasized on how you can relax your body, calm your mind and achieve physical and inner balance right in your living room. For me that last part triggered an episode of nervous laughter, muscles spasms and the urge to smash something. First, because I was already in my living room, calm, relaxed and balanced until that piece of news came and ruined it for me. Second, because I consider that all forms of physical exercises should have nothing to do with electronics such a TVs and plastic white boxes that dare to call themselves gaming consoles, but more with fresh air, with parks and, if the exercise allows it, with other people. And third, because Yoga was the last thing I expected. I never took one single Yoga lesson in my entire life, but I always regarded the philosophy with respect. I always thought that Yoga sessions must come with a certain amount of privacy and concentration, of discipline and harmony. Now tell me, how do you see the Wii and a large screen TV connected to that small picture I just described? It’s like a big violet elephant on the highway – it just doesn’t fit! Let’s take this one step further, shall we?

Apparently the whole Nintendo strategy around their champion is focused on all the little gadgets you can attach to it and not on the actual console. I can’t blame them really, because on one hand the Wii is technological relic of the previous century that wears a lot of make-up and can’t spell High Definition, but on the other hand the Wiimote is indeed innovative and opens up a wide range of game developing opportunities. So yes, you can play games and move in the same time, but they are really pushing it with the idea of physical exercises indoor. I can’t point my finger at the Xbox or the PS3 for making me stay inside if I wish to play a shooter because I can’t actually pick up a real gun, go outside and do the same thing. Actually I can, but that rather counterproductive on a social level. But I can point my finger at the Wii because you can go outside and play tennis or baseball and I can guarantee it’s many times more fun than wiggling a plastic stick in front of a TV. The most common excuse I’ve heard is that kids are so hooked up on video games nowadays that it is almost impossible to get them out of the house. Oh really? Excuse me, but that’s just stupid. Instead of buying your kid a video console when he is only seven years old, how about buying him a tennis racket and introduce him to an instructor first? After a while he’ll start enjoying himself, after a couple of years he’ll become good at it, during his teens he’ll enjoy the social advantages of a fit body and when he is older, if he hasn’t turned into the new Agassi by then, he will at least thank you for not letting him develop into an obese man that can hardly move and has almost no friends because he can’t go out. So think about it and stop blaming the kids!

Make no mistake: I’m not advocating against video games or for physical exercise. I’m just telling you that you shouldn’t fool yourself into thinking that you can successfully mix the two of them, because you’ll end up enjoying the benefits of neither. Wii Sports is not as fun as Call of Duty, and tennis video games are not as physically demanding as the real thing. So stop buying moronic games! Oh, and while we’re at it, don’t buy that belt that helps you lose fat while sitting in front of the TV. Electrical shocks are not that good for your nervous system; although you might end up thin, you will also end up a bit twitchy.