A hive of inactivity

I keep seeing reports of the Nintendo Wii's amazing ability to keep you fit, illustrated with action shots of OAPs wildly waving their arms around to emphasise the benefits of new non-drug wonder drug. I, however, have been using the Wii to bring myself to ever-higher states of laziness.

Many of the games require you to throw yourself around gesturing vigourously to get the ball rolling/plumber jumping/fists flying, but there are plenty of games placed firmly in the realm of rapid digit movement and little else. And while the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 controllers have to be operated with both hands together, the Wii's remote controller and nunchuck can be held separately, one in each hand. So instead of having to lie on the sofa with both of my hands on the controller in front of me. I can lie back with my arms at my side, moving only my thumbs and index fingers. I have to be honest, I'm actually quite proud of the fact I have found a way of having a leisure activity that is purely the former and none of the latter.

It seems to me that as a society we are being made to feel guilty about spending our spare time in ways that don't increase our cardio fitness or reduce our blood pressure. I feel that embracing the joy of being motionless is, while not the way forward, certainly not a step in the wrong direction either. After all, if my video game character is running around, why should I have to as well?

I am searching for a game that only requires me to blink.

Comments

[Eric Stenberg]

This is incredibly true! I first discovered this phenomenon while playing Need For Speed: Carbon...it's quite an experience to be driving a Lamborghini at over 160mph with your hands at your sides!

[B]

Yes! This is something I love about the Wii, it's so relaxing, holding a controller where the analogue sticks are close together is awkward and gets uncomfortable. Nothing beats lying back, doing some scuba diving in Endless Ocean to some relaxing music (only requires the wii remote), you get totally lost in the comfort zone! Surfing the web on the Wii like this also has it's perks...

Moving swiftly on, This is something people rarely pick up on but for me is a really great feature of it. I'd choose that over snazzy PS3 graphics any day. Nice humorous post by the way, I think only other Wii owners will TRUELY "get it" though.

[Mr. Dog]

Looking for a game that requires nothing more than blinking?

try TV.

[rgdh]

motion games are pretty cool if done properly but if I want to be active I can just go play hockey or football, video games are supposed to be a rest from that, like watching TV, a period of motionless.

[jon]

I think you may be wrong about the wii. Considering that when i played the Wii for the first week that my right arm was sore from how much i was having fun i think you just dont take as much joy in the Wii as I do. Maybe u should try some more games or something.