Monday, June 23, 2008

Hardcore Gaming and Fitness?

If I spent as much time at the gym as I do playing MMO games, I'd look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime. The trouble is that it's very difficult to be a hardcore gamer and keep fit at the same time. This is usually due to the fact that my brain and body would much rather be playing video games than lifting heavy weights and jogging long distances. It's a pity there isn't a Wii fit MMO or some kind of RPG linked to a body suit, where you actually have to fight with real physical movements to level your in-game character. I think it would solve a large portion of the worlds' health issues.

In the meantime, I still need to solve the issue of balancing fitness with gaming. It occurred to me whilst I was eating my take away Chinese noodles for lunch today, that since getting fit is just a matter of willpower and the proper mentality, why don't I just apply my hardcore gaming mentality to my home gym equipment? I'm talking about the same willpower and state of mind that I used to level my WoW Warlock to level 70. The same willpower I used for farming 200 Guild Wars platinum from the Troll Cave. I simply need to treat my own body like my in-game character and add a few points to my strength and constitution (and maybe a few to willpower to begin with).

Naturally this is just a theory, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I'm kind of in between MMO's at the moment, and WAR is still months away, so I think its a good time to start. Here are the rules:

You get 5 XP for each sit up, 7.5 XP for a push up, 10 XP for a bench press and 15 XP for a chin up. For jogging, its 75 XP per kilometer (120 XP per mile). You start on Level 1 and need 500 XP for Level 2, 1000 XP for level 3 etc.

The plan is to be at level 10 within three months, so I think its time for some power leveling... gulp ;)

4 comments:

Chappo said...

thats one of the best ideas I have heard in a long time! good luck with it, what is the level max?

Crimson Starfire said...

I'm not really sure, I don't think there is one. I thought I'd give it a trial run and make adjustments to 'balance' the fitness routine. I've been treating the workouts like quests. For example, do 20 push-ups, 10 chin-up, 30 sit-ups, then hand in the quest (to myself lol). I can't actually hand the quest in half completed, everything must be done. I've set up 5 different quest types covering different areas of the body and am cycling through them. There's a 100 XP bonus if all five quests are handed in within a week. So far it seems to be working.

Thallian said...

work out on a schedule with your girlfriend, its the only thing that gets me to actually do it.

Crimson Starfire said...

I would definitely enjoy exercising more if I worked out with my girlfriend, but unfortunately she is very anti-exercise, so that really isn't an option for me.