Nintendo and Target are teaming up for the “Wii Fit Experience” which will be held in the parking lot or entrance of the stores January 16-31, at select locations. Those who complete the Wii Fit Plus demo will receive a $15 gift card (while supplies last), which can be applied toward any Target purchase. The Wii Fit Experience can be found at the following locations:
Jan. 16-17
2705 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
3201 Preston Rd
Frisco, TX 75034
1525 Market Place Blvd.
Cumming, GA 30041
Jan. 23-24
1800 W. Empire Ave.
Burbank, CA 91504
2200 Dallas Parkway
Plano, TX 75093
15005 SW 88th St.
Miami, FL 33196
Jan. 30-31
24425 Magic Mountain Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355
25901 Highway 290
Cypress, TX 77429
100 Perimeter Center Place
Atlanta, GA 30346
The nine locations mentioned above will feature eight kiosks where visitors can get a demonstration of the Wii Fit plus. “The Wii Fit Plus sampling events give our guests the opportunity to try out this popular fitness game before making a purchase,” said Mark Schindele, senior vice president of Target.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Pokemon pedometer
Can Pokémon end childhood obesity?
Nintendo has revealed the Pokéwalker - a pedometer that interacts with the Nintendo DS via infrared, which will accompany the European release of Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version in March. Players can transfer any of their Pokémon into the Pokéwalker and then train them by taking them for an actual walk.
For every step you take while wearing the PokeWalker the transferred Pokémon will gain experience and happiness, eventually leveling up when a certain amount of steps are reached. So walking around a lot will mean you can do better in the game therefore creating a direct link between playing and exercise.
Nintendo has revealed the Pokéwalker - a pedometer that interacts with the Nintendo DS via infrared, which will accompany the European release of Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version in March. Players can transfer any of their Pokémon into the Pokéwalker and then train them by taking them for an actual walk.
For every step you take while wearing the PokeWalker the transferred Pokémon will gain experience and happiness, eventually leveling up when a certain amount of steps are reached. So walking around a lot will mean you can do better in the game therefore creating a direct link between playing and exercise.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Versatility of programs using the Wii for rehabilitation and exercise
Reported in the U.K. Sun was a story about Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security institution in Britain, home to serial killers, rapists, and murderers recently receiving Wii’s purchased by taxpayer money. A spokesperson for the center said that the Wii and Wii Fit were important for their patient’s mental and physical rehabilitation programs and part of a strategy to increase exercise. As you can imagine, this news is causing quite a bit controversy with Britain’s citizens, many wondering if it's right for society to pay to entertain these patients. But it does go to show you the versatility of programs using the Wii for rehabilitation and exercise.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Economy will drive 2010 fitness trends - exergaming to prevail
According to a new report by Reuters, exercise trends in 2010 will change greatly due to the tough economy. Instead of expensive personal trainers and fancy workouts, people will opt for more cost conscience workout options, and exergaming, such as Nintendo's Wii Sports, Wii Fit and the PC-based Dancetown are predicted to be on that list.
Exergaming will also be taking hold with older adults because senior centers are offering it to a population that is sometimes underserved in exercise options.
Experts are hopeful this new trend in fitness will help fight the growing obesity epidemic.
Exergaming will also be taking hold with older adults because senior centers are offering it to a population that is sometimes underserved in exercise options.
Experts are hopeful this new trend in fitness will help fight the growing obesity epidemic.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
5 Benefits of Exergaming
I came across an old post, written by Kelly Kilpatrick, which listed 5 benefits of exergaming. With a New Year among us, and many “New Year’s Resolutions” being to exercise more, I thought it was worth reposting these benefits for all to read again.
1. Exergaming has a wide appeal. Going to the gym is not for everyone, and neither is going outside to exercise. Exergaming appeals to people of all ages and walks of life, and enables people to exercise on their own time and on their own terms.
2. Exergaming is interactive. For many, the idea of exercise is boring. Exergaming offers an interactive way to stay physically fit and breaks the monotony of exercising alone in a gym. Turning exercise into a game involves people who may not normally have wished to exercise in the first place.
3. Exergaming tracks your progress for you. Rather than maintaining your own records, WiiFit and other games that use the Wii Balance Board save your statistics, making it effortless for the user to track his or her progress. This in turn motivates the user to challenge him or herself to do better, which is the beauty of pairing up exercise and gaming.
4. Exergaming creates interest in other activities. Exergaming is the gateway for many real physical activities. From tennis to skateboarding, players of physically active video games soon develop interests in the real-life versions of the games they play on the Wii. Those who like certain formats also seek out other video games that offer the same interactive physical activity.
5. Exergaming has limitless possibilities. With the popularity of the Wii, WiiFit, and the Wii Balance Board, the possibilities truly are limitless. From more physically demanding games, to educational applications, the integration of physicality into the world of gaming is truly the way of the future for gaming.
1. Exergaming has a wide appeal. Going to the gym is not for everyone, and neither is going outside to exercise. Exergaming appeals to people of all ages and walks of life, and enables people to exercise on their own time and on their own terms.
2. Exergaming is interactive. For many, the idea of exercise is boring. Exergaming offers an interactive way to stay physically fit and breaks the monotony of exercising alone in a gym. Turning exercise into a game involves people who may not normally have wished to exercise in the first place.
3. Exergaming tracks your progress for you. Rather than maintaining your own records, WiiFit and other games that use the Wii Balance Board save your statistics, making it effortless for the user to track his or her progress. This in turn motivates the user to challenge him or herself to do better, which is the beauty of pairing up exercise and gaming.
4. Exergaming creates interest in other activities. Exergaming is the gateway for many real physical activities. From tennis to skateboarding, players of physically active video games soon develop interests in the real-life versions of the games they play on the Wii. Those who like certain formats also seek out other video games that offer the same interactive physical activity.
5. Exergaming has limitless possibilities. With the popularity of the Wii, WiiFit, and the Wii Balance Board, the possibilities truly are limitless. From more physically demanding games, to educational applications, the integration of physicality into the world of gaming is truly the way of the future for gaming.
Do active video games such as Wii count toward recommended amounts of physical activity
According to Karen Collins, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., moderate physical activity feels like you are exerting yourself 5 or 6 on a scale of 0 to 10, and playing video games that involve movement and increase a player’s heart rate and breathing noticeably would be considered moderate physical activity.
Though the results are mixed, a few studies suggest that games such as Wii boxing and Dance Dance Revolution played at skill level 2 do involve moderate activity. Others, such as Wii bowling and golf and Dance Dance Revolution played at the lowest skill level involve lower levels of activity, but are clearly a step up from the more sedentary activity of watching television or playing a video game using only our thumbs while relaxing on a couch.
http://calorielab.com/news/2010/01/03/working-out-with-wiifit-and-antioxidants-in-applesauce/
Though the results are mixed, a few studies suggest that games such as Wii boxing and Dance Dance Revolution played at skill level 2 do involve moderate activity. Others, such as Wii bowling and golf and Dance Dance Revolution played at the lowest skill level involve lower levels of activity, but are clearly a step up from the more sedentary activity of watching television or playing a video game using only our thumbs while relaxing on a couch.
http://calorielab.com/news/2010/01/03/working-out-with-wiifit-and-antioxidants-in-applesauce/
Exergaming can help you beat stress
Stress can really get us down and be detrimental to our health, therefore it is important to try various stress-management strategies to avoid feeling out of control.
Dr. Joseph Stubbs, president of the American College of Physicians and an internist in Albany, Georgia, offers many tips on how to relax and beat the stress. Among those tips is exercise. Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise in San Diego says that by exercising, we are helping our bodies learn how to accommodate stress. McCall recommends starting small, two times a week for a minimum of 20 to 25 minutes, and aiming to work your way up to about an hour a day for long-term health benefits. He even suggests using electronic "exergames," such as Nintendo's Wii Sports and Wii Fit, to raise the heart rate.
For more tips on how to beat stress, read this article, Relax, You Can Beat That Stress.
Dr. Joseph Stubbs, president of the American College of Physicians and an internist in Albany, Georgia, offers many tips on how to relax and beat the stress. Among those tips is exercise. Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise in San Diego says that by exercising, we are helping our bodies learn how to accommodate stress. McCall recommends starting small, two times a week for a minimum of 20 to 25 minutes, and aiming to work your way up to about an hour a day for long-term health benefits. He even suggests using electronic "exergames," such as Nintendo's Wii Sports and Wii Fit, to raise the heart rate.
For more tips on how to beat stress, read this article, Relax, You Can Beat That Stress.
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