Lifestyle Gaming

In last week's Pokémon Direct Presents, there was an odd but unique game that was unveiled, which was Pokémon Smile, a game that is played while one is brushing one's teeth, making it an "assistant" in a way. This is hot on the heels of another game announced last year in the same vein, which was Pokémon Sleep, which is played well when one sleeps well and invites one to do so. Both of these games are not only games; they reach into one's lifestyle in order to affect it, hopefully for the better. I have chosen to classify these two games by the term of "lifestyle games" and the act of playing those games as "lifestyle gaming".

Many games are designed to be entertaining, though their effects on one's lifestyle may be minimal, and if there are any, they may be fully unintended. However, the games above are truly intended to change one's lifestyle - through better teeth brushing and sleeping habits - all the while fulfilling the premise of being entertaining, which is true of many games. Therefore, a "lifestyle game" would be a game that is not just meant to be played, but also meant to be a force in one's lifestyle. If a game were to demand one to follow a routine of going out at a certain time and going back at another, that would be considered a "lifestyle game" for what it does.

The two games above are definitely "lifestyle games" based on what they do. Meanwhile, the Pokémon game I play the most nowadays, which is Pokémon Go, to some extent can be considered a "lifestyle game" as well, even if it's not entirely one. When one plays, one's travel distance is being tracked, and especially so if one chooses to enable a certain feature that tracks distance even outside the game. Its photography capabilities are also quite great, particularly if one possesses a capable device to take advantage of just that. It's still not a "lifestyle game by any means, but some parts are pretty close to one.

Pokémon seems to have a lot of potential for "lifestyle gaming" due to its presence everywhere and appeal for all. The games pervade into sleep, hygiene, and even fitness and hobby, and they attempt to bring improvement to all of these areas with a Pokémon touch. And these areas are also part of a great lifestyle that can only become greater when improved. Such is the point of "lifestyle gaming", by which games not only become leisure activities but also normal activities that any person does in life, only made more entertaining and definitely better. I'm up for that and I hope others do too, whether through the "lifestyle games" of Pokémon or others.

One year ago: Cosplay: ENNICHISAI 2019 + CLAS:H/ICGP Nationals

Two years ago: Gym Rework, One Year Later

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Gym Rework