ELSPA applauds Government move to accredit Nintendo release
ELSPA has welcomed the decision by the Department of Health to endorse Nintendo's Wii Fit Plus – making the first game to be allowed to use the NHS’s Change4Life logo in future advertising.
As first reported by MCV, the Change4Life endorsement will be used across Nintendo’s promotion for Wii Fit Plus – which is released on Friday.
Change4Life previously incurred the industry’s wrath for its now notorious ‘Risk an early death’ ad, which depicted a young gamer on a sofa.
Director General of ELSPA Michael Rawlinson said: “We are thrilled that active videogames are finally being recognised by the Government for contributing to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
"Since the negative portrayal of video games in a Change4Life advertisement earlier this year, ELSPA worked with the Department of Health to gain proper recognition of the many benefits which active gaming can bring to an energetic lifestyle.
“Children and adults across the UK already know that dancing, jumping or even boxing within an active videogame have real exercise benefits. We are encouraged by this positive step to gain wider recognition of the health benefits that video games can offer to individuals, families and communities alike.”
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Comments
Great but
I would also welcome the decision by the Department of Health to endorse Nintendo's Wii Fit Plus and raising the profile of active gaming, but I would only do that had that decision actually been made. It has not.
Gamercize is a Change4Life partner and I can tell you no such endorsements are on offer under that campaign and the government has no accreditation scheme for commercial products (which is a major omission in my opinion).
I'll reserve my welcoming praise until the government actually does endorse active gaming products. I am sure this is on the cards, but I suspect it will be not for a single product or service but for an implementation of a genre. Such is the way these things work.
In the meantime it would be very forward looking of the ELSPA to lobby the government towards an active gaming accreditation scheme so the consumer and health professional alike can make informed decisioned about quality, energy expenditure and sustainability of active gaming products.
So, Great
The C4L team have confirmed to me that stories relating to product endorsement are untrue, and there is not endorsement. However the DoH have decided not to clarify this situation.
To me that sounds like an endorsement by default, and I welcome that indecision.
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