Kasabian Football Hero

Is this a different kind of exergame? I think this is just absolutely amazing. This video of Kasabian Football Hero shows freestyle football players (soccer) playing a giant guitar game controlled with footballs. Sure looks like a lot more exercise is involved than in the traditional Guitar Hero Game. 

 

Gamercize Family Fit - 3 in 1 for Fitness now available

Gamercize brings you a revolution in home fitness, with an exercise machine designed to appeal to the whole family, and provide both strength training and health boosting cardiovascular fitness at the level you want and it is available for all three major consoles on the market; Nintendo Wii, PlayStation3 and Xbox360. The patented Gamercize interaction provides you with the best of both worlds, a workout that is second to none in the exergaming world and the very best of video game entertainment. To appeal to the entire family the Gamercize Family Fit 3 in 1 for Fitness can also be used as a regular fitness machine, with both rowing and cycling actions.

Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle

Tony Hawk has had many games out in the past, however on November 17, the new Tony Hawk: Ride Skateboard Bundle will be released for all three current consoles. Not only will Xbox360 and PS3 owners will finally get a taste of the balance-board exergaming that has helped make the Wii such a sensation, any gamer that buys this game will get to experience the true thrill of skateboarding as never before through the revolutionary new skateboard controller. For the first time in video game history, anyone can jump on a skateboard and feel the freedom, creativity, and accomplishment of skateboarding. Using full motion sensing technology, the intuitive skateboard controller allows players to physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks seen in the game. Tony Hawk: Ride is designed to be fully accessible to everyone – from hardcore fans to players with no prior skateboarding experience. 

Check out Tony Hawk: Ride - Tutorial Video #1

Special Education Center Uses Wii for Therapy

A special education program in Milton-Freewater, Oregon is using the Nintendo Wii to help kids with various disabilities gain coordination and balance. The Learning Center bought the system this summer, thanks to a grant from a local Casino and has since been integrating it into its therapy program. Center leaders realize that keeping the mood light is very important with these young kids and that motivation is a key factor in therapy. The Nintendo Wii helps that motivation happen. Read more about this program and watch the KEPR News clip at: Kids Use Nintendo Wii To Learn Skills. 

University of Detroit's Athletic Department's rehabilitation is assisted by fun and games

The University of Detroit’s athletic department uses the Wii and Wii games to assist with rehabilitation. The Wii particularly helps with balance and coordination which are usually the most affected after an injury. The Wii also adds structure and fun to a rehabilitation program, so it can help motivate the athlete to stick with the program.

Tone your arms with Wii Dumbbells

Wii Dumbbells can help tone your arms while playing any Nintendo Wii game, not just the exergames. Fitted specifically for the Nintendo Wii remote the slip-on dumbbells add a little extra weight to each wireless controller, which might not sound like very much of a workout, but I am sure you will feel it after playing games for a half-hour or more. The dumbbells allow for full use of all the buttons and leave room for the wrist strap. There are different brands of Wii dumbbells on the market, the Everlast dumbbells weigh 2 lbs each and the Riiflex dumbbells come in 2 different weights, the green ones weigh 2 lbs each and the blue ones weigh 5 lbs each. Whichever brand you buy, they're meant to just add some resistance to your game. The dumbbells don't work with the Wii MotionPlus accessory. 

A school in Asia one of the first to use the Wii in PE

The Primary 2 pupils of North Vista Primary School spend their PE time working out on a Nintendo Wii video game console, in a special galaxy-themed space at their school in Sengkang. The school is one of the first in Asia to incorporate technology into its PE curriculum.

The principal of the school said they felt that the usual game concepts in PE seemed insufficient, and are not always relevant when the kids go home, for instance, students don’t always have a basketball court or the people to make up the teams to play with, so they didn’t want what they taught in school to be so isolated from real life, and the Wii helps make this learning process more relevant. 

The school does not feel that the Wii games are a substitute for real physical outdoor activity, but they help to simulate environments and places like tennis courts, bowling alleys or boxing rings, where it isn’t always possible to take the students.

Read, Wii it’s time for PE, to learn more about this school and their Physical Education Program. 

Group Interactive Fitness with iDANCE

The Positive Gaming iDANCE Multiplayer System is an original idea from Positive Gaming, created and designed for environments such as fitness, school and leisure centers. The Positive Gaming iDANCE Multiplayer System offers up to 32 wireless dance platforms for simultaneous play with up to three separate difficulty levels on screen at once. The Positive Gaming iDANCE Multiplayer system is a fun and challenging group exercise dance game of both perceptive and physical skill. It is simple to learn, exciting to play and offers users a wide range of levels to play and achieve. It provides a wholesome exercise gaming experience for up to 32 players at the same time. As DDR fitness is becoming more and more popular in many schools nationwide, this is something that should definitely be looked into as that it provides a portal for many students to participate at once.

NewU for the Wii

NewU, which doesn’t have a release date set for the United States as of yet, is not a videogame, it is a product wrapping up serious content in a fun package. It claims to be the first Wii title combining fitness and nutritional advice. It has goal-oriented lifestyle makeover programs, full-body workouts from the top personal trainers at Fitness First, custom diets and menus by You Are What You Eat, health tips that shape your life for the totally holistic experience and combines innovative use of the Wii remote and balance board to give you feedback on exercises.  The interactive program is published by Black Bean Games. 

This program sounds like a "serious" fitness experience and I am looking forward to its release date here in the United States. 

Motion Freedom 3D Controller by Blaze for the PS3

Coming soon – a new three dimensional motion sensing handheld controller for the PS3, which will have full PS3 functions, a direction pad and full button control allowing you to put yourself in the game; providing Wii style gaming interactivity.

According to the press release, “Video game accessory innovators BLAZE announced on October 9, 2009, their truly unique motion sensing controller, allowing fully interactive gameplay never before experienced on the PS3. The BLAZE PS3 Motion Freedom 3D Controller thrusts the PS3 gamer into the very heart of the action by employing the latest motion sensing technology which before now has only been the reserve of Nintendo Wii gamers. 

This all new device opens up unthinkable gaming possibilities allowing you to interact and become one with the hottest PS3 sporting and action titles.”

Wii-Hab – Using the Nintendo Wii in a Therapeutic Setting

Mershon W. Hinkel, MSPH, OTR/L, will host a one day workshop titled Wii-Hab – Using the Nintendo Wii in a Therapeutic Setting - on October 21, 2009, from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm at Penn State Abington. This one-day interactive course is designed to introduce the rehab professional to the Nintendo Wii and to activities available within Wii Sports and Wii Fit gaming programs. Professionals seeking to incorporate Nintendo Wii activities into their practice will become familiar with equipment set-up, appropriate adaptations for various patient populations, safety considerations, ideas for therapeutic activity progression, and documentation to satisfy third party payers. Space is limited, so contact Penn State Abington Continuing Education to reserve a spot.

Cyberbike

This Winter Bigben Interactive will release a Wii videogame with an innovative accessory to help keep you in shape, a full-size exercise bike that simply connects to you Nintendo Wii and can be used by the whole family thanks to the adjustable saddle and handlebars. According to the press release, Cyberbike introduces a brand new way to do sports in your living room. The game invites you use your eco-citizen's head and legs to clean up the planet. Clear paths and roads of the sources of pollution that are ruining the environment as you cycle along on some of the most improbable vehicles ever imagined—on land, sea and air.

Bomberman evolved

Six people from Aalborg University Copenhagen located in Denmark, made a game as a class project that I think clearly fits the definition of an exergame. The game features two players wearing colored hats who play against each other by running around on the floor. The player’s movements are tracked through the colored hats using image processing and webcams that are then sent to the game, which is projected on a large screen. The game is called “Bomberman evolved”. Check out the website yourself to read all about the project and to see a video of the game in action.  

Padres Pitcher adds Wii Fit to off-season training

San Diego Padres Pitcher, Heath Bell, found fitness benefits with the Nintendo Wii Fit after he bought it last year for his 11-year-old daughter. Adding the Wii Fit as an addition to his off-season training routine of lifting and running, Bell was able to drop 25 pounds. His on-field performance has also reaped the benefits, which he has attributed to better balance that he gained from using the Fit's balance board. Some of his favorite Wii Fit games are hula-hoop, soccer, skiing slalom and yoga. Bell also states that the Wii Fit has helped to strengthen his hips.

Finnish Defense Force Uses Wii

The Finnish Defense Force is using the Nintendo Wii to get its young servicemen on their feet and moving, and thus far the consoles have proven to be popular among the recruits. This project was funded as a means of addressing concerns about the poor physical condition of the Army’s young enlisted members, however the virtual-based workout sessions are not a substitute for the army’s physical training program, just merely an addition, showing the level of concern that authorities have with the health and physical fitness of their servicemen. 

The Challenge Disc brings some competition to the Wii

MFT recently released it's interactive Challenge Disc, a wobbling balance board, that hooks up to a PC or Mac, and provides "intelligent" physical training with feedback. The company also asserts that performing exercises on the board will improve overall fitness, coordination, back and joint health and even concentration. The system, which comes with 6 different games and the board, has 5 training or difficulty levels. Users determine their level with a pre-test and gradually build to the higher levels. The board uses sensors at the base to read movement and give immediate feedback, but the company claims these sensors work differently than those in the Wii Fit Board, which use pressure sensors. So far, it appears that it can only be purchased in Europe, but I'm investigating to find out more. Stay tuned.

Ohio classroom introduces 'Wiihab'

A multi-handicapped classroom at Elgin West Elementary School in Marion, Ohio, is using the Nintendo Wii to increase students' fine and gross motor skills and help them deal with the concept of winning and losing while they increase their attention in the classroom.

Kevin McDaniels, the teacher in the classroom, said that he had seen online how a lot of nursing homes had begun using Wiis for physical therapy so he decided to see if it would also work in his classroom.

In the school’s current program, the students receive physical or occupational therapy once a week, but they can use the Wii daily, which is a major benefit to them.

Read more about how the Elgin classroom is introducing 'Wiihab'. 

Guinness World Record for the “Largest Wii Sports Bowling Tournament"

At the Reliant Senior Center in Houston, Texas, senior citizens gathered in record numbers for a Wii bowling tournament in hopes of setting a Guinness World Record for the "Largest Wii Sports Bowling Tournament." In order to set the record, over 200 seniors had to compete in the virtual bowl off and amazingly nearly 600 seniors actually showed up, achieving them the record. Watch this short video footage of the bowling tournament that earned this Senior Center its spot in the Guinness Book Records. 

Konami Announces DDR U.S. Championship

Konami has announced it's first-ever national DanceDanceRevolution competition. Beginning September 26th, the competition will bring together the greatest DDR players from around the country to compete in seven different regional tournaments all over the United States.

The DDR U.S. Championships will take place inside local GameWorks arcades in each region. The top performer in each region, based on the highest number of points, will advance to the National Finals and a chance to win a $1000 Best Buy gift card and other prizes - as well as the title of top DanceDanceRevolution player in the country.

The date/location for the DanceDanceRevolution U.S. Championships regionals are as follows: September 26th in Dallas, Texas - October 2nd in Miami, Florida -October 11th in Columbus, Ohio - October 17th in New York, NY - October 24th in Minneapolis, Minnesota - November 7th in Las Vegas, Nevada - November 14th in Seattle, Washington and the National Finals are in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 5th. 

Wii Fit Plus is Pet Friendly

Pet owners can weigh themselves and their furry friends on the new Wii Fit Plus. The updated software, which debuted yesterday lets players create avatars of their dogs and cats, enter information such as their pet’s birthday, and use the Wii Balance Board controller to weigh themselves and their pets. The game continues to monitor the pet’s weight alongside its owner. Although the new software has new features for users, it does not have any training exercises for pets. I haven’t tried this out just yet, but as weird as I think it sounds, I might just have to make an avatar of my little rat terrier and have her join in my fitness journey.

 

P.E. with a Wii

P.E. with a Wii

Video games are a part of many children and adolescents daily experience so it only makes sense that many schools are tapping into that and making them part of their physical education programs. The Nintendo Wii especially is making its way into many gym classes including several in the state of Delaware. John Ray, an education specialist for physical education with the state's Department of Education says as far as the workout the students will get with the Wii, they will only get as much out of it as they put into it, but anything that promotes physical activity and being fit for life is good. 

Misconceptions of exergaming

A recent post on the “Using Technology for Fitness and Motivation” blog lists some top misconceptions about exergaming that the author hears time and time again. Along with the misconceptions, he also provides a reason why the misconception is false. The author further purposes that the way to solve these misconceptions and bust these myths is though diversity in research. He says “it's up to the research community to research what exergames are out there and consider how they can be studied to provide policy makers with better information.” I would have to agree with him on this point; I think this is what we all trying to do.

Misconceptions about exergaming– refer to his blog to read his reason why these misconceptions are false.

1.    Exergaming doesn't count as real exercise.

2.    Exergaming doesn't look like fun.

3.    Exergaming is not as good as real sports.

4.    Exergaming is gets boring for the long term.