Tag: Video Games

E3 2012: Fitness Game Preview

The annual video game industry trade show – the Electronic Entertainment Expo – kicks off today, and the rumor mill hasn’t exactly been working overtime, especially when it comes to fitness related titles.

What has been announced so far is that Majesco Entertainment is sticking with what it knows best and that means Zumba Fitness. According to the company: After selling more than 6 million copies worldwide, the Zumba Fitness video game franchise is breaking new ground in the fitness genre with an exhilarating new experience. Be there when Majesco reveals its next Zumba Fitness game that’s set to hit store shelves this fall. Continue reading E3 2012: Fitness Game Preview

Adidas miCoach Gets in the Game

Adidas miCoach is looking to follow The Biggest Loser and Zumba Fitness into the video game arena. This week 505 Games announced that it would publish the upcoming Adidas miCoach for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3. the Xbox Kinect motion camera peripheral and the PlayStation Move controller accessory will be not only supported , but will be integral parts of the game. Continue reading Adidas miCoach Gets in the Game

Spin to Make Mario Go (Kart)

httpv://youtu.be/pjPv8SRr5Vo

This past Sunday’s episode of The Simpsons, showed the efforts patriarch would go to avoid working out while watching TV on his treadmill. Fortunately, someone else has devised a way of turning Mario Kart into real exercise. The SMKCycle transforms an exercise bike to work as an SNES controller, where pedaling will hold the A button down to accelerate and make Mario’s kart go.

Well we would still prefer a real bike ride, at least this adds some exercise to playing with Mario.

New Study Finds Fitness Video Games May Not Be So Fit, After All

We have written a few stories about the fitness video game trend (in fact, we just posted one the other day), but one new study has found that such games don’t offer kids any benefits, according to a HealthDay report, and questions whether using video games as a way to get kids active is appropriate or not

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, examined the physical gaming activity of two groups of kids (78 children between the ages 9 and 12) over a three-month period. Each child was given a Nintendo Wii system (none of the kids had ever owned one) plus accompanying accessories. One group of kids could choose from a selection of five fitness-based titles such as Wii Fit Plus, while the second group played “non-active” video games like Mario Kart Wii. Continue reading New Study Finds Fitness Video Games May Not Be So Fit, After All

Wii Will Cycle

Video games have opened possibilities beyond mere “gaming.” While no one is actually going to be a rock star playing the various musical themed games, the wave of Rock Band and Guitar Hero have reportedly inspired some young musicians while more recent releases have actually utilized more realistic instruments. On the fitness side of things games have tried to encourage exercise, with motion control opening up new possibilities.

But just as real music isn’t actually being created with video game controllers, real exercise isn’t happening either. And the interesting part is that it should be so hard. Dr. Werner Schoeman is one researcher who thinks that video game systems could be used as exercise machines.

“There remains a significant market segment untapped in the cycling game genre,” Dr. Schoeman tells KineticShift.com, “specifically it has been a practical hardware interface that has proven difficult. Most cycle simulator games require you to buy the whole cycle, such as the typical cycle simulator games found in up market gyms.” Continue reading Wii Will Cycle

Toy Fair: The O Let’s You Throw Your Phone

Admit it – there are times when you just want to throw your phone. You know you shouldn’t do it but it would feel so good. At last week’s Toy Fair The O was awarded the Popular Science Best of Toy Fair 2012 award for making a way to throw the phone and even make a game of it.

Developed by Physical Apps, a NH-based technology company, The O takes mobile gaming to a whole new level – and in a very big way. Instead of just titling or shaking that iPhone or Android device you can put it in this special casing and really play with the phone! Throw it in a game of “hot potato” – just be sure you don’t play when “mom” calls! Video after the jump

The Zumba Rush is On

While winter is still doing its thing, gamers can get a jump on getting fit right from the living room, as Majesco Entertainment’s latest workout game, Zumba Fitness Rush has arrived. The game promises to be the most technologically advanced and feature-rich addition to the Zumba Fitness franchise. This new title is available exclusively on Kinect for the Xbox 360. Video footage after the jump

Crestron Looks to Make Motion a Controller

httpv://youtu.be/tWZt2vJaj28

In the 1980s “The Clapper” worked with sound to allow lazy people to turn lights on and off without having to get up to do so. Now Crestron is looking to help simply our daily lives in a similar way – but by actually using some motion. Continue reading Crestron Looks to Make Motion a Controller

Kinetic(Mis)Shift: Game Controller Not About Food Control

There is no promise of health benefits with the game controller that Ben Hecks came up with, but we’re calling it out as a Kinetic(Mis)Shift for just taking gamers in the wrong direction. Instead of encouraging gamers to get up and get moving, Hecks created the Hot Pockets extruder that attached to a game controller – allowing a player to eat without having to actually stop playing. It features a manual slider to even push food forward – thus making it a true step backward at least as far as fitness and gaming goes.

[Via Ubergizmo: Xbox 360 controller holds your snack for uninterrupted gaming]

Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits

U.K. Survey Finds More Older Adults Using Wii to Exercise

According to a recent survey of people aged 50 and up in the U.K., one in 25 uses a video game to exercise. Of course, we aren’t talking about the latest Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty, but the popular Nintendo Wii and its Wii Fit accessories and games. While the survey specifically targets segments of the U.K. population past middle age, the results mirror similar surveys that have been conducted stateside since the Wii Fit exploded onto the scene; the Wii has been a been a hit with casual gamers thanks to the active movements and low learning curve required. And, Microsoft and Sony have recently entered the scene with their Xbox Kinect and PlayStation Move products and fitness-related titles.

As we have pointed out, video games are not a substitute for good-old exercise. However, according to a CNN report, the light intensity is ideal for older adults, particularly with systems that require full-body movements. These movement-based games are also great for those who never engage in any form of exercise. As we have reported in the past, institutions such as schools in Alabama and Iowa are using the Wii as part of their physical education curriculum to get kids active and help fight childhood obesity.

[Via The Huffington Post: More Post 50s Use Video Games To Exercise]

Kinect To Go to Space

While fitness video games could be a fad down here on earth, the Microsoft for Kinect for Xbox 360 could boldly go where only a few have gone before – namely outer space. The video game system could help astronauts stay a little fitter, thanks to the body tracking camera system built into the game controller’s sensor.

This could help astronauts better calculate their weight in zero gravity, something very important as those in sapce can lose up to 15 percent of their body mass because the muscles tend to develop atrophy due to lack of use. The crews already spend up to two hours a day exercising, but until recently there has been no way to measure weight post-workout.

Now the Kinect might just do the trick!

[Via New Scientist: Kinect weighs astronauts just by looking at them]

CES Preview: United Health Group Experts to Speak at Digital Health Summit

The New Year is less than a week away, and the Consumer Electronics Show is just a week later. It is a time for many to think about a healthier lifestyle, and UnitedHealth Group will be at the Digital Health Summit at CES in Las Vegas to offer expert advice. Press Release after the jump

Next Xbox to Feature Built-in (and Required) Kinect Functionality

There is no denying that the Kinect for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is a hit. It reportedly holds the Guinness World Record for being the best-selling consumer electronics device, and it has done a great job transforming video games into slightly more active activities. No one is going to argue that games will get anyone fit, but getting moving can’t hurt. Microsoft had previously announced it was bringing the Kinect to the PC, and now it seems that all new Xbox games will be required to offer Kinect support – and if rumors are true the Kinect will be built-in on the future Xbox 720. While this could just include voice support, which won’t get anyone off the couch and actually could make matters worse, we can’t help but think that maybe games will help America get back on a fitness track after all!

[Via Kotaku: Wave Hello: Microsoft’s Requiring Kinect Functionality for All Future Apps Built for Xbox 360]