Conde Nast’s SELF magazine has launched a new way to get fit – it’s an online game that will be available March 19th. They believe its new “SELF Workout in the Park” Facebook game will help its target audience visualize getting out to exercise in real life. The game is a virtual version of the live “Workout in the Park” promotional events that SELF has been doing for 19 years (which is brilliant because you are actually working out).
The game will let players design an avatar that resembles them and set up their own virtual wellness spaces complete with exercise machines, nutrition centers and beauty and fashion locations. Players can sign in and get their virtual selves moving on treadmills, trampolines, yoga mats and free weights, shedding pounds and gaining health (and apparel) as they level up in the game.
The basic idea of the game, players start each day with a certain amount of energy credits and can expend those doing workouts or add to them by completing missions such as blending smoothies. As they progress in the game, their avatars slim down and grow more energetic (now I’ve got one more person to be jealous of because they’re losing weight and I’m not).
This “SELF Workout In The Park” is similar to other social games like FarmVille where players can invite friends into their workouts and give virtual gifts to their friends (I can see I’ve got another APP I’ll have to block).
This online game goes public on the 19th and in April the mobile version will be available – well, that’s a start on getting me off my chair and out of my desk.