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Water Cooler Games served as the web's primary forum for "videogames with an agenda" — coverage of the uses of video games in advertising, politics, education, and other everyday activities, outside the sphere of entertainment.

The site was maintained at watercoolergames.org from 2003-2009, where it was edited by myself and Gonzalo Frasca. It is now archived here in full.
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Wii Fit: Exercise or Simulation
by Ian Bogost July 10, 2008

Over on Game Critics, part of their ongoing series on Wii Fit suggests the question, is this exercise through a game, or just a simulation of exercise. The counterpoint might be: how does it really differ from any other pop-exercise regime, in book or video form, for example.

Comments (1)

It doesn't differ. Simply because people may be more inclined to exercise because of digital feedback doesn't mean it isn't real exercise, it is moreso a testament to our gratification culture. We need feedback to everything at every moment.