The Journey to Wild Divine Biofeedback Software & Hardware for PC & Mac: The Passage
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Customer Reviews of The Journey to Wild Divine Biofeedback Software & Hardware for PC & Mac: The Passage
Customer Review: More Helpful Than You Realize
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading others reviews, I thought I would give my 2 cents worth. I received this product as a Christmas present - something I really wanted. I have been extremely pleased with the product, and would definitely recommend it to the right people. But I have realized that there could probably be more details about the game on their website for people who are blindly purchasing this product.
It was mentioned that the software is not user-friendly, but I have not had any problems with it. I found it rather easy, as a matter of fact.
It was also mentioned that this games takes over your computer screen. That is only true to some extent. Please note that you do not have to "quit" the game in order to go to other applications. If you hit "Ctrl/Alt/Delete" and bring up your task manager, you can then switch to another application, which will in turn minimize the game. However, when you return to the game, I suppose depending on your monitor, it will come back up a small size. I have a widescreen monitor, and the game comes back up in a small window. Actually, I suppose that makes it easier to navigate your desktop if you want to, but I prefer the game to cover my entire screen so as not to be distracted in any way.
As far as directions, the book definitely makes you think. But I did learn early on to read each location I was traveling to before starting gameplay in that area. If it didn't sound like it made sense, I would read it a few times before beginning gameplay.
As far as the difficulty/simplicity of the game, I would say that it is definitely an easy game for those who have mastered their breathing techniques and such. I feel that I am good at meditation and being quiet, but I have to say that this is still a good tool for me. I have anxieties, and I find that as I'm doing some of the breathing exercises, depending on which ones, my anxieties tend to kick in a little bit. This is helpful for me to learn to control these anxiety attacks and heart rate increases. Very frustrating when it happens during gameplay, but nonetheless a helpful experience for me. When trying to lower my heart rate, I sink when my heart jumps and the "glow" goes ALL the way to the right. Lol!
Again - this is not for everyone. I'm also not sure why people are buying it simply for biofeedback. I understood upon reading/learning about this game that the biofeedback equipment is simply a tool for the game to use - not for my own personal use, if that make sense.
I also find that it's just a beautiful game that gives you something really nice to focus on in your quiet times. And some of the music is incredible. I have found new music to add to my own personal library as a result.
Customer Review: An amazing use of technology for all ages
Summary: 5 Stars
I am incredibly enthusiastic about the Journey to Wild Divine! I am not a computer games person at all, but this experience is totally absorbing and a wonderful way to learn for all ages.
I have been using this product for over a month and have advanced my ability to concentrate and focus. I am able to use my breathing and mental processes to relax, steady my inner state, lift my energy level, or achieve peacefulness. In so doing, as I journey through the landscape visiting cottages, gardens, and temples, I am able to open doors, juggle balls, levitate golden orbs, or release a falcon from a cage, etc.
I am a retired psychotherapist and have experienced many therapies that did not quite live up to the hype. This use of biofeedback is engaging and a great technology to use in working with stress reduction and mind-body-spirit integration.
One of my most wonderful recent experiences was an afternoon with my son and grandson. After demonstrating a bit of the game, I invited my 4 1/2 year old grandson to put on the sensors and try it out. We helped him put the sensors on his tiny fingers and for the next hour, with my son and daughter in law looking on, he was embarked upon the journey.
With only a bit of prompting from me, this child focused and concentrated on juggling the balls, spinning the pinwheel, starting a fire in a fireplace, and balancing a stack of rocks on top of each other. In each activity he was eagerly using only his thoughts and/or breathing to accomplish these feats. What a thrilling sense of accomplishment. And yet when he could not do one of the activities, he could accept that coming back later after he had practiced more of the skills, was part of the process. No sense of frustration or defeat.
He is a very imaginative and active child. However, he sat for over an hour, amazingly engaged in a computer experience that involved no violence or fast action. He happily, and with his own initiave, began to learn about how to relax and yet control his thoughts and body. Wow! What a gift it is to all ages.
The technology and thoughtfulness that has gone into this process is worth the price of admission! Thank you Wild Divine Project.
Customer Review: I am not mad just disappointed. and now all is forgiven!
Summary: 1 Stars
I looked upon the arrival of this product with great anticipation. This is such a cool idea, I read about biofeedback years ago. But home participation in this kind of activity has always been outside my price range. Further, the spiritual theme of "Wild Divine" can only be of great use. What a marvelous anti-stress tool.
So it is with great regret that I give this product a low rating. I was unable to transfer the software from the compact disk to my hard drive. I kept receiving the message, "data error cyclic redundancy" . Actually, disk one loaded--but the second disk failed to load more than 90 percent before it crashed.
I called their service number and they were extra polite about returning my call. I was pleased when they agreed to express-mail another copy immediately. The new software arrived one day later and unfortunately I experienced precisely the same problem. The well-mannered, friendly person I talked to on their help-line suggested I try loading on another computer. This was very difficult to do as I don't run into a lot of strangers on the street who will let me download alien (no offense intended) software onto their computer. In any case I was able to try this on three different computers and still I got the same result.
So tomorrow I will call them one more time and see if they have any more ideas, if not I will try and get a refund. But truthfullly I would rather have the product in working order.....Updated...I have now received the correct undamaged software and am extremely happy. My last phone call put me in touch with the right person, the corrected software was sent to me and the product loaded easily. Fantastic art. Blissful atmosphere and music. Fantastic possibilities for growth and entertainment. At no time did I have any doubt in the people associated with this company. I tried really hard not to say anything bad about them when I was having trouble. I wish the company continued success in sharing their "hopefully evolving" product. Please forgive the 1-one star rating. I tried but was unable to change to 5-stars. Peace.
Customer Review: I'm really impressed!
Summary: 5 Stars
It's now 2006. I had heard about this game when it first came out, but could just not envison spending $200 for a computer game. However, my doctor put me on blood pressure meds, which I don't want, and I decided I could maybe use some help that's not a pill. It installed easily, and I can get the monthly emails if I want them. I personally find that in order to get the conductivity I need, I have to use a bit of hand lotion on my index and ring fingers, as the game suggests. I am amazed by the concentration it takes to do some of these tasks. I am a hairdresser, and my job is very high-energy, and some of the tasks are difficult. My best friend is a massage therapist, and he had a much easier time with some of the tasks. We also each visited the Sky Temple, then visited it together, with both of us having a sensor on, and holding hands. It was really neat to see the differences. Having read some other reviews, I'd have to say my only major criticism is that it's completely intuitive. I've done some things, but not all of them, and I tried to do one event, and was told I had to go back and do something else first. The game could have used a bit more guidance, or perhaps a more guided mode and an "explore on your own" mode. I don't necessarily need to be walked through step by step, but I am having a hard time navigating. All the areas are so lovely it's hard to remember if I was there or managed to do the task. This reminds me a lot of the Myst series of games, in that it's very intuitive. However, the puzzles need to be solved by raising or lowering your energy instead of pushing levers and finding code numbers. If you're having a hard time unwinding at night before bed, or stressed out, or needing to relax and meditate, it's an excellent choice. And from what I've read, the sequel "Wisdom Quest" utilized lots of feedback and had a more guided mode. It's like meditating ewith your eyes open, only thre focus you have makes things happen on the screen. Would be great for pretty much anyone. Very enjoyable! Can't wait to figure it all out.Customer Review: Perfect way to learn to meditate
Summary: 4 Stars
First, I have to say that meditation has always been my downfall. I have always had a hard time calming my mind(I have taught martial arts for 15 years). This program was a great help. Meditation is now much easier and I feel much better.
The program installed OK, even on a 64 bit Windows 7 machine (install it using VISTA compatibility until they come out with a fix) and runs great.
The Pros:
-The scenery is beautiful as is the music.
-Easy to understand what to do.
-Guide book is a great help.
-Lots of different areas to go to and things to try.
-So far the Best way to get into meditation that I have found.
-Forces you to slow down and take it easy.(you can't rush the game and this is good)
The Cons:
-Not easy to use if you are colorblind. For some unknown reason many of the "cues" they use are color related. Normally, this isn't a big deal. However, they used colors that are the most common colors colorblind people have difficulty with. For example they use close shades of blue and magenta, reds and greens.
-While the graphics for the city and surrounding areas if good, the "special" imagery and effects are really cheesy and looks like something from an old Flash Gordan movie.
-Does not support multiple monitors or 3D sound.
-No easy way to transfer your saved files to another computer.
-Many of the things you can do, like shooting arrows and balancing rocks, are used in both "The Passage" and "Healing Rhythms".
-Extremely expensive and the licensing/activation is a bit cumbersome. Come on, why worry about all the activation stuff if you have to use the hardware and software together? Who is going to pirate the software if they can't use it because they don't have the hardware?
Bottom line is that it works great for teaching how to meditate and is also a lot of fun. I would highly recommend it. The downside is that it could really use a lot of work to make it more of a Professional, finished program.