A gamercising elementary in Arkansas

An elementary school in Paragould, Arkansas, has recently turned a former locker room into a "gaming" cardio room. They have exercise bikes hooked up to video game players, which are used in a cardio class that is offered in addition to normal P.E. classes to all 4th through 6th graders. The school paid for the equipment with funds from a nearly $500,000 grant awarded to the school. In addition to the game bikes, the school also has dance pads, a treadmill, and an elliptical machine set up in their new cardio room. This new program at Oak Grove elementary is the only one of it's kind in Arkansas and with the obesity rates so high, the health and fitness consultant, Diana Layrock, says anything that can give the students a little exercise is great. The school has intentions of installing another 12 flat screens and 24 more dance pads in the near future. This original article, Offbeat: Student Exercise, contains a short video clip about the program.

We Cheer 2 -Releasing this Fall

We Cheer 2 will be released this fall and it will offer new dance moves, more stages to play on and even some new gameplay modes. All the characters that appear in the game, weather they are male or female, can be completely customized, and the routines will flow smoother than in the first We Cheer. It will include several hit tunes but also many unknown ones. In We Cheer 2, just as in the first one, players will use the Wii Remotes as virtual pom-poms and follow on-screen prompts for choreographed routines that utilize a full range of arm and body movements. I am looking forward to trying this out to see if it gives me a workout and may even recommend it to one of our after school programs that uses DDR as something different add to their program. Check out the We Cheer 2 Nintendo Wii Trailer.

Wii Fitness for Dummies

Wii Fitness for Dummies, written by Bill and Christina Loguidice, is on its way to a bookstore near you. It is expected to be available for purchase by February 2010. This book will be a great tool for readers who want to learn how to combine videogames with traditional fitness. It will show readers how to use the workout routine feature to maximize their workout experiences. Readers will be guided through best practices when using the various fitness videogames. Read a review of the book and see its price at Amazon.

Exergaming for Osteoarthritis

University of Florida researchers are utilizing video games in an osteoarthritis study by offering women between the ages of 50 and 70 who have osteoarthritis of the knee the opportunity to try exergaming to see what effect it will have on their level of pain. In order to determine pain levels, researcher will ask women who join the study to ride a stationary bicycle that's connected to a popular car racing video game.

 

Jackie Chan Studio Fitness J-Mat for the Xavix

This weekend I tried out the Jackie Chan Studio Fitness J-Mat for the Xavix. I played it for about an hour and a half with my 14-year-old son. The J-Mat consists of a wireless mat that has four spots to step, hand-weights and the game cartridge. The fitness game comes with 4 modes: the step lively, which is an aerobic workout with Jackie Chan as your personal instructor, the vigorous step, which has varied dance step routines, Jackie's Action Run, in which you become Jackie Chan and travel through the streets of Hong Kong in a 5 minute workout which includes walking, running, jumping, squats and side-step, and dash and reflex, which are designed so that you can test and improve your agility and reaction time. The J-Mat seemed to have the potential for high intensity exercise and it was a lot of fun.

My favorite was the dash, which actually measures how many steps you can do in 10 seconds. My son and I had a lot of fun competing with each other on this one, trying to see who could get more steps in the 10 seconds, and I am proud to say that I beat him by 4 steps, a great feat as that I am 20+ years older than him. It was great that it could be a family activity, be fun and an exciting platform for fitness. After the workout, my heat was pumping and I was sweating, so I think that for indoor fitness, this is a good game system and if the calorie counter is correct, I burned over 500 calories during my workout, which is good for an exergame. The major drawback of the J-Mat is the graphics, they are very primitive, but for me it didn’t affect the workout. Also the side-to-side shape of the J-Mat has you stretch your legs out to reach the two furthest pads for some of routines so if you are short this might be difficult and it takes coordination to follow some of the dance and aerobic routines, so that can take some time to catch on to; it did for me, but I am as uncoordinated as they come, however I would definitely use this again for a workout option.

Video Games Encourage Kids to Get Outside

With obesity rates on the rise, the video game industry is trying to do its part to keep kids moving. Not only are games being created that can be classified as exergames, games are also being created that are encouraging kids to get outside and get moving. Aspyr Media recently published TreasureWorld, which is a game for the Nintendo DS that converts real-world wifi signals into online treasures. In this game, more than 2,500 in-game items and ‘treasures’ can be unlocked as players access the more than 200 million wifi treasure spots worldwide that are registered within the game. There is also an iPhone application called HiddenPark, which is an adventure that leads children into a fantasy world of trolls, fairies and tree genies right in their local park. To read more about both games go to this post, Using Digital Hide and Seek to Get Kids Outside: A Treasure Trove of Ideas, on the Shaping Youth blog.

 

Virtual golf replaces real golf for some

According to this report, Virtual screens replace greens, it is very expensive to play golf in South Korea, therefore many people have taken to playing the sport indoors in the form of virtual golf, which I think is technically an exergame. In South Korea a round of virtual golf costs them between $20 to $30 to play, which is 10 percent of what it regularly costs to play in the field. Simulated golf is a fast-growing pastime with industry officials estimating seven out of every 10 simulators sold globally are installed in this country,

Dr Mark Smith, head of the Golf Education and Research Group at the University of Lincoln, admitted that a future talent could emerge having developed their game primarily through virtual play. He is actually quoted saying that “In theory there is nothing to prevent a player from rising through the virtual world and developing a level of ability with transferable skills to the outdoor game.” With all the research into whether or not exergaming is similar to playing the real sport, I think this is a pretty powerful statement. 

Wii Fit for Stress Relief and Better Health

Stress plays a major role in many health issues. Meditation can help relieve stress and improve overall health. Did you know that you Wii might be able to help? Rosa Casarez, a writer for The Wii Fitness Examiner, suggests using your Wii Fit and My Aquarium for a little stress relief. She suggests while doing Wii Fit yoga, instead of standing, sit and relax, breathing deeply, while having soft, meditative music playing in the background. She also states that the My Aquarium graphics are colorful and sharp, the soundtrack is perfect for meditating, so sitting and watching the fish move while listening to beautiful music will help soothe your spirit and calm your nerves. Read her full article, “How to release stress and improve your health with Wii”, for some more examples of how to use your Wii to relieve stress and set you on a path to better health.

Do Your Own Wii Fitness Research

With the exergaming field being relatively new, it can be hard to find research-based evidence supporting the health benefits of using exergames.  In her article, “Doing your own Wii fitness research”, the author, Raina Casarez, suggests that if you are a passionate Wii player you should do your own research using these 4 protocols, Observation, Theory, Test and Evidence.  In our Learning Games Lab, at NMSU, we are continuously doing observational research with exergames; finding our own evidence in support of the use of exergames in many different programs.

Fighting For Fitness: Schools Start to Step Up

While many schools nationwide have been seen as a contributing factor in the obesity and overweight problem among our nation's youth, some schools are starting to make the necessary changes in fitness and nutrition during the school day. One school in Chicago, Namaste Charter School, is making physical fitness a priority, bucking the national trend of cutting back PE during the school week. Instead, Nameste requires 1-hour physical fitness classes each day, in which children are exposed to a variety of exercises including yoga and free movement. Additionally students get at least 30 minutes of recess daily and educators incorporate more exercise in the classroom throughout the day. Wouldn't it be wonderful to incorporate exergames into the weekly routine?

Serving up Health School Lunches

A middle school in Berkley is making healthy lunches that kids will love a priority. School chefs emphasize making classic favorites like mac and cheese and pizza, but with a wholesome twist, making them from scratch and experimenting with low-fat options (http://www.edutopia.org/school-lunch-nutrition-berkeley-video). In addition, the school created their Edible Garden program, in which students grow their own organic produce and then learn how to prepare and eat the produce. Science, math, environment, sustainability and nutrition are just some of the subjects covered through the program.

The art of Wii-Hab

Angela Moramarco, an artist who received her Master’s of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design, has created visuals depicting the crucial aspects of Wii-Hab. Her illustrations infuse the human components of the brain into the technical components of the Nintendo Wii. You can see Moramarco's work including an e-Blast, a web site, and a poster at Coroflot.

Calorie count of Wii Sports verses Real Sports

The Cooper Institute Blog recently reported some figures on the calories burned for playing 30 minutes of Wii Sports games verses playing 30 minutes of the real thing. The figures were based on a study that was described in the 2008 July/August issue of ACE FitnessMatters, the magazine for members of the American Council on Exercise.                 

                                     Wii             Actual Sport

Golf                              93              117

Bowling                       117              216

Baseball                      135              219

Tennis                         159              243

Boxing                         216             306

So although you don’t burn as many calories playing the Wii sport as the real thing, it is better than just sitting around and doing nothing, and exergames DO provide some benefits. The key is though, that the game movement must be just like the real sport movement. 

Healthy Kids, Las Cruces Named in Top 10

Healthy Kids, Las Cruces, a community-wide NM Department of Health program to reduce obesity among youth, was named as a top 10 model program in the nation for its efforts. A big component of Healthy Kids, Las Cruces is to collaborate with community organizations to create and implement guidelines that promote healthy eating and physical activity in youth and families. One of the program's pilot schools, Conlee Elementary School, has increased physical education classes from two to three times a week. This site is also an Exergames Unlocked partner in which exergames are being incorporated in the PE classroom to increase physical activity. For more information on the Healthy Kids, Las Cruces accolade, go to http://www.las-cruces.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=2131.

Exergaming trend hits Middle East

The exergaming trend hits The Middle East. A Dubai-based fitness start-up company has revealed plans to roll out exergaming facilities across the Middle East. In Motion will open its first exergaming centre at the StarGate Edutainment Centre, in Zabeel Park, Dubai, later this month. The main reason for bringing this exergaming trend to the Middle East is that a high percentage of children living in this region are inactive and are at risk of obesity and diabetes, explained Osama Al-Othman, In Motion's founding partner, who also explains that there are not really any other exercise activities in the Middle East for children in the six to 18 age range. There are activities for adults and younger children, but not for this age group, therefore, he says, ““exergaming offers a healthy alternative to gaming that generates physical activity while playing video games”.

University of Houston adds Wii video game classes to get students in shape

A number of schools use Nintendo Wii sports games in recreation programs, and now at The University of Houston students can earn an hour of credit for playing, just as they can for traditional physical activity classes like aerobics, basketball, soccer or weight lifting. Charles Layne, chairman of health and human performance, says the Wii class is another attempt to attract students who otherwise might not exercise at all. Degree programs in Layne's department require one or more fitness classes and they serve as an elective in other degree programs. The Wii Performance class, which is new for the fall semester in the UH department of health and human performance, will be used to improve knowledge of health and fitness; assignments will include tracking the calories they consume and the activities they engage in. So not only will students be participating in physical activities using several of the Wii games, they will also learn about the basic principles of maintaining a healthy body weight through proper nutrition. UH fitness courses reach a whole new level.   http://shcomfitup.blogspot.com/2009/09/wii-fit-classes-begin-to-crop-up.html

Exergaming Literature Review

Marina Papastergiou, from The University of Thessaly in Greece, in her literature review of the recent scientific articles regarding computer games and their utility in physical education and health education published in The Journal of Computers & Education, finds that gaming can be of potential benefit to students in the realms of health and physical education and that the relatively new “exergaming” genre deserves special attention due to its potential. The abstract of the literature review can be read at the Teach Video Games Blog: http://games.anamericanintaiwan.com/2009/09/03/exergaming-literature-review/

 

Study finds video games can keep children slim

A recent study has concluded that playing active versions of video games may prevent children from becoming obese. To access this, researchers measured the heart rate and number of calories burned in 18 children aged 6 to 12 years and found that when compared with resting children burned 39 per cent more calories per minute playing the video passive game, 98 per cent more calories per minute playing the active bowling game and 451 per cent more calories per minute playing the action or running game.  This means that active games are a good way to get kids exercising.  Video games keep children slim: Study

Preschoolers get active with Zippity Game System

The Zippity Learning System, the result of collaboration between LeapFrog and Disney, is a video game system specifically designed for kids ages 3 to 5. It is played by kids running and jumping on a special mat controller and using a waist-high joystick called, the bopper. The system uses eight C batteries and it works by plugging into your TV's video/audio input terminals. The bopper can be moved to the right, left, away from you and toward you, and the mat has four colored spots on which to step. The system comes loaded with eight learning games, but additional learning game cartridges can be purchased separately for $25. The games introduce the preschool learning skills of memory, following directions, music, numbers, letters of the alphabet, colors and beginning Spanish. All of the games can be played on two levels of difficulty. Zippity is an excellent way to introduce kids to learning games and more importantly, the games encourage kids to do physical activities. Interested in The Zippity Learning System? Read more – Zippity brings active gaming, learning to preschoolers

XerTech at U.S. Open

XerTech Showcases Fitness Products at US Open

XerTech Inc, which manufactures, markets, distributes and sells high performance training equipment and programs that join computer game technology and exercise, will showcase its XerGame products at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships August 31 through September 13, 2009. XerTech will provide fun and fitness for attendees of all ages using several products from its highly interactive fitness and sports training lines, including: the Sportwall XerPro, the Sportwall XerTrainer and the XerDance multi-player dance game system. 

Healing Power of Wii Fit

In a new study being conducted at St. John's Rehab Hospital in Toronto, researchers are using Nintendo's Wii Fit to help people recover from total knee replacement surgery. The researchers are specifically testing whether adding 15 minutes of play time on the Wii Fit to a rehab program, versus an additional 15 minutes of traditional therapy, two to three times a week will improve a patient's range of motion and ability to walk and balance. To read more, go to the full article - Video games tested for healing powers - Using Wii Fit for injury rehab

Guitar Hero 101

New York University (NYU) is now offering a course titled, "Guitar Heroes (and Heroines): Music, Video Games and the Nature of Human Cognition,” taught by Professor Gary Marcus. The course already has a waiting list. Marcus states that he believes that video games are an understudied area and that people dismiss them unfairly, and he also believes that 'Guitar Hero' is a good tool for teaching, so his course will tackle the finer points of video games and human cognition. Guitar Hero 101: NYU to Offer Course in Rocking Out