Isle of Miles: The Origin Story

I often had my lunch at a Chipotle, two traffic lights away from where I used to work. The first light en route was pretty long and I typically checked my phone while I waited for the green light. One day I started to play Bubble Breaker (a game similar to Candy Crush) and was feeling optimistic about a personal best score when the light turned green. Disappointed, I decided to pull into the next parking lot to finish the game. I became even more frustrated when I couldn’t break my personal record with that game. So, I decided to try one more time.

Twenty minutes and four games later, some part of my brain woke up and sent a signal asking, “What the heck are you doing?” I felt pretty disappointed in myself for wasting so much time sitting in a parking lot. As I continued driving with a guilty feeling, I started to think about games. What if everything I’m supposed to do in life was as interesting as a game? Why can’t they make games that help me accomplish something? I wanted to make a game that would help me meet my fitness goals in life. Why start with fitness? That brings us to the second part of this story.

I can’t think of a time in my life when I was not trying to lose weight. I’ve always had an extra 20 to 30 lbs on me. I love the idea of eating right and exercising, but somehow I was always starting “next Monday”. I would even prepare by finishing that pint of ice cream in the freezer so that it wouldn’t tempt me on Monday. Given my struggles to get fit, a game that could help and motivate me felt like a great place to start.

That is how Isle of Miles, a mobile fitness game where you use the miles you walk or run to build an island, was born. It’s not just for fun, but it can help you stay healthy. Games have a way of making us stick with it.

I’d love to hear from you. Do you have a story of going out of your way to finish playing a game?