Bogost Releases Guru Meditation to iPhone, Atari 2600
Legend has it, Amiga's developers became so frustrated while programming the Amiga computer operating system, as a relaxation technique, they practiced sitting absolutely still on the company's Atari Joyboard peripheral (a Balance Board-like controller used for games like Mogul Maniac) -- and from that came Amiga's Guru Meditation fatal error messages.
Paying homage to that Amiga lore, Persuasive Games designer Ian Bogost created Guru Meditation, a relaxation game for Atari VCS that has players sitting cross-legged on a Joyboard. So long as the player sits still, an on-screen yogi character will levitate as on-screen clouds wander by.
Neat as it is, the Joyboard isn't required: "In joystick mode, the end result is the same, but the player indicates his zen by pressing up on the first joystick controller." The Atari VCS game is only available in a signed, numbered limited edition set of 10, which includes the game, a console, and accessories.
Bogost also released an iPhone port with the original's graphics, sounds, and gameplay, using the handset's "similar (but more sophisticated) accelerometer, touch, and sound controls to encourage focus and inactivity." Says Bogost:
"The iPhone offers a unique opportunity for a true relaxation game, since it makes such constant demands on our attention—telephone, email, text messages, Twitter, etc. Guru Meditation for iPhone literally makes it impossible to pursue other activities while playing. As such, it offers a convenient secondary commentary on the often overwhelming values of "connection" that today's portable communication devices embrace."
You can download Guru Meditation's iPhone edition from the iTunes App Store.
