Exercise, log, gain exp, ???, profit.

I came to Fitocracy by way of xkcd. And now that I've firmly cemented that I am a gigantic geek, let's move on. The basic premise of Fitocracy is to make fitness routines into an rpg (role playing game, again, huge geek). The whole system is appropriated from the basic formula of American RPGs, whether they be single player or MMORPG (massively multiplayer online rpg). Exp (experience point) values are assigned to all your basic fitness activities (as of today sex is still excluded). When a certain amount of exp is accumulated, you level up. The linear leveling is augmented by quests and achievements. This system exists alongside the typical accouterments of social media (commenting, friends, integrating directly with Facebook)

The whole system is dependent upon the user being versed in the vocabulary of gaming. Sapir notes that this sort of economical communication in possible when complex understandings are preexisting in a group. The Fitocracy user already knows that completing a quest will earn additional exp, that hidden achievements must exist in the system and the possibility for level grinding exists. I've figured out that I'll have real difficulty leveling because right now the system is geared more toward weights and resistance training. I'll accumulate fewer points in 30 minutes of running than someone capable of lifting my body weight over and over for 15 minutes could. In this aspect, like so many other video game endeavors, Fitocracy does exhibit a certain level of built in sexism.

But this too is an expectation within the 'private tribe' of gamers. As the site is still in beta, about a thousand comments have been posted regarding improvements. These improvements seem to be split between adjustments that would make the game fairer for female users and how to incorporate additional RPG elements into the system. I'm half expecting some sort of merchant system and dreading the idea as I am the worst sort of hoarder when it comes to scaving. This includes stealing pencils in Fallout: New Vegas, hundreds of pencils. I considered explaining in this post why stealing pencils is so lucrative, especially since I play with hardcore mode on, but if you belong to the linguistically specialized group of gamers, you already know.

Fitocracy perpetuates the community that it invites. While I've continued playing video games through college and into graduate school, I dropped out of the 'community' quite awhile ago. This is the most excited I've been to compete against other gamers in quite awhile because I feel like I can own this. After I post I'm probably going to go back to trying to figure out how my skinny arms can earn me a consistent 150 points a day. I really hate losing.