Waggling the Form Baton: Analyzing Body-Movement-Based Design Patterns in Nintendo Wii Games, Toward Innovation of New Possibilities for Social and Emotional Experience

This chapter describes research conducted to analyze and better understand what is compelling about particular body-movement-based design patterns in Nintendo Wii games, towards innovating new possibilities for social and emotional experience with movementbased games and other interactive experiences. The authors analyzed games from diverse genres, to generate a bottom-up set of dimensions and characteristics of the mechanics, that can help build a foundation for heightening social and emotional engagement and enjoyment through design of novel mechanics, and/or through combining and extending successful existing mechanics. Key findings include the prevalence of kinesthetic mimicry, the value of whole body versus piecemeal movement, tensions between precision and loose movement in design, and the value of using Laban’s dimensions of Effort as a lens through which to understand which sorts of movement patterns are more engaging.