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nekokami · 01-18-2009, 01:07 PM

I'm not sure what was wrong with the link above, but try this: http://www.wilddivine.com or go directly to the game description: http://www.wilddivine.com/servlet/-s...to-Wild/Detail

Don't buy that version, though, because it doesn't have the hardware you need to play the game. They're apparently out of hardware until next month. In any case, you may be able to pick the game up for less on ebay or elsewhere.

It's not a gimmick and works well. It's expensive compared to typical video games -- about three times the cost, including the hardware-- and the game play time is probably 10-15 hours from start to finish, but I still use the activities, which can be accessed on an individual basis, and I've had the game for about 5 years. I have the sequel as well.

What it does is frame a series of mental exercises, most of which are supported by the biofeedback hardware, in the context of an environment you can walk around in, with a simple plot. The environment itself is beautiful. The background scenery is probably inspired by the area around Boulder, CO (where the designers live), but the architecture is a mix of mostly Eastern Asian styles. Video of teachers for the different activities is very nicely blended into the environment. The music is also very restful (for the most part-- there were a couple of pieces I didn't care for). The activities tend to consist of four types. Two types use a skin conductivity measure and teach you to lower or raise your level of "arousal" (not a term used in the game). Lowering arousal calms you. Raising it psyches you up and makes you more alert. It's helpful to be able to have some control over this, and I found the exercises very helpful in this regard. The feedback, again, helped me to understand more clearly what thoughts stress me out and what thoughts help me keep my balance.

The third type of activity is a breathing exercise designed to smooth out heart rate variability. There's a fair amount of research in this area that I'm not qualified to evaluate, but from my own experience, this breathing technique has helped me with migraines and (oddly enough) menstrual cramps, as well as general stress. I have heard from others who felt it helped them with hyperactivity as well.

The fourth type of activity consists of guided mental exercises. Most of these were pretty good, and I found them helpful.

I don't really play video games much, but I remember, right before I discovered this game, telling someone I wished I could find a video game that would be about saving the world in some kind of non-violent manner. This game comes the closest to that idea of any I've ever seen. It's probably not for everyone, but I think it's worth checking out if you have problems with stress.

I have an affiliate link with WildDivine, which I'm happy to PM to anyone who's interested. However, as noted above, it seems that they're out of the hardware at the moment, and you probably can get the product less expensively by buying it elsewhere.

01-18-2009, 01:07 PM	#116
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I'm not sure what was wrong with the link above, but try this: http://www.wilddivine.com or go directly to the game description: http://www.wilddivine.com/servlet/-s...to-Wild/Detail Don't buy that version, though, because it doesn't have the hardware you need to play the game. They're apparently out of hardware until next month. In any case, you may be able to pick the game up for less on ebay or elsewhere. It's not a gimmick and works well. It's expensive compared to typical video games -- about three times the cost, including the hardware-- and the game play time is probably 10-15 hours from start to finish, but I still use the activities, which can be accessed on an individual basis, and I've had the game for about 5 years. I have the sequel as well. What it does is frame a series of mental exercises, most of which are supported by the biofeedback hardware, in the context of an environment you can walk around in, with a simple plot. The environment itself is beautiful. The background scenery is probably inspired by the area around Boulder, CO (where the designers live), but the architecture is a mix of mostly Eastern Asian styles. Video of teachers for the different activities is very nicely blended into the environment. The music is also very restful (for the most part-- there were a couple of pieces I didn't care for). The activities tend to consist of four types. Two types use a skin conductivity measure and teach you to lower or raise your level of "arousal" (not a term used in the game). Lowering arousal calms you. Raising it psyches you up and makes you more alert. It's helpful to be able to have some control over this, and I found the exercises very helpful in this regard. The feedback, again, helped me to understand more clearly what thoughts stress me out and what thoughts help me keep my balance. The third type of activity is a breathing exercise designed to smooth out heart rate variability. There's a fair amount of research in this area that I'm not qualified to evaluate, but from my own experience, this breathing technique has helped me with migraines and (oddly enough) menstrual cramps, as well as general stress. I have heard from others who felt it helped them with hyperactivity as well. The fourth type of activity consists of guided mental exercises. Most of these were pretty good, and I found them helpful. I don't really play video games much, but I remember, right before I discovered this game, telling someone I wished I could find a video game that would be about saving the world in some kind of non-violent manner. This game comes the closest to that idea of any I've ever seen. It's probably not for everyone, but I think it's worth checking out if you have problems with stress. I have an affiliate link with WildDivine, which I'm happy to PM to anyone who's interested. However, as noted above, it seems that they're out of the hardware at the moment, and you probably can get the product less expensively by buying it elsewhere.