This week KineticShift will be reporting from the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 (June 7-9) in sunny Los Angeles. We expect big news on the video game front from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony – and we hear this will include more fitness games and activities that will help encourage gamers to get off the couch.
Check back all week for the latest from E3. This is one show we’d hate to miss.
Move over Mario. Gamers looking to tone up can now put down the controller – well hang on to it as you’ll be needing it – and get off the couch and take part in more than 150 simple yet challenging exercises with Namco Bandai’s ExerBeat. The new interactive fitness game has arrived for the Nintendo Wii,
The games spans a variety of categories including dance, martial arts, body conditioning and even offers quirky mini-party type games. More importantly the games types allow for options for all ages and skill level, to help get those totally out of shape to tone up while still encouraging those who are their way. ExerBeat is compatible with the Wii Balance Board and Wii MotionPlus accessories.
(Trailer after the jump)
The jury has been out for a while now on the exact “benefits” of video games as fitness. We agree that video games alone can’t really replace actual trips to the gym or other physical workouts, but a new study has found that the Nintendo Wii could play an important role in getting “inactive and overweight people into exercise regimes.”
This is among the findings from a new study from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), conducted by Creative Industries Research Associate Dr. Harvey May, a former personal trainer. He worked with a small group made up mostly of women, and found that they felt more motivated to exercise after a two-week fitness regime using the video game system.
In the study the participants showed significant reduction in body mass and fat deposition around the abdominal area and improved strength, balance and walking fitness. The study, which was conducted with QUT alumnus Dr. Kagawa from Kagawa Nutrition University in Japan, included one-hour sessions with the Wii that included yoga, strength exercise, aerobic activities and balance games.
There was some negative findings as well, notably that the video games could result in repetitive stress and “poor direction for some activities.” Still, anything that helps motivate people to do more is good in our book.
[Via HealthCanal.com: Game consoles can help inactive adults get fit]
A new workout game will hit consoles in March. Fit in Six from Ubisoft will be available on the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii. As the title suggests, Fit in Six focuses on six modalities to get you in shape and reach your goals. Those are core body, upper body, lower body, cardio, balance and flexibility.
It is official, there is no reason not to want to be a loser, and by that we mean a big loser, as in The Biggest Loser. Based on the hit reality series The Biggest Loser health and fitness games for the new Kinect for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii have arrived.
The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout for Kinect for Xbox 360 features a dynamic routine of exercise moves that are adjusted to how well the players do. And The Biggest Loser Challenge for the Nintendo Wii offers its own challenging ultimate workout that uses resistance bands as well as a stability ball. Players – if players is actually accurate considering that the idea is to get a workout – can work out with a friend in 4, 8 and even 12-week programs, which can be customized from more than 125 exercise moves, including cardio boxing.
Since working out alone won’t keep you in shape, both titles include a library of 50 recipes and a wealth of valuable nutritional tips to keep up a healthy lifestyle.
While we like the idea that the Wii can get gamers off the couch and actually get their hearts pumping, we don’t like the fact that the hard plastic controllers will leave a mark when they come in contact with an opponent’s skin. In other words: getting hit with a controller mid-match just plain hurts. And this isn’t what we had in mind when we said no pain, no gain.
But BLAZE has gone for a soft touch with its latest Fitness First licensed product line, the Wii Fitness First Soft & Safe sports pack. These padded controllers feature soft foam materials so you can swing away without worrying about causing physical injuries. The attachments, which include bow, handle bars, Frisbee, paddle and bat are all fully motion plus compatible and can be used with Wii Sports Resort and other Wii Sporting titles. The Blaze Fitness First, Soft & Safe Sports Pack will be available in November.
There is just something about bowling and video games. The Nintendo Wii’s success owes no small share of success to the Wii Sports bowling, and clearly other video game developers are taking note. Carve Games clearly was at the head of the class, as it is the first out of the gate to let player knock down the pins with its new Brunswick Pro Bowling, which shipped today for the PlayStation3. It will of course be fully compatible with the PlayStation Move motion controller.
The game allows players to compete in one of six bowling environments – smells not included fortunately – and each lane will have its own unique characteristics. There will be five different gameplay options, including exhibition, league play, tournament and spare challenge, as well as online functionality for players to join teams and compete in multiplayer matches. Who needs to go to the bowling alley anymore it seems if you have this one at whole.
While this one features accurate ball and pin physics for an accurate and fully realistic bowling simulation, there is also a kid-friendly bumper bowling option to prevent gutter balls – something that probably won’t be utilized just by the kids.
“Brunswick Pro Bowling brings to life all the fun and excitement of live action bowling by delivering a high-quality virtual experience that appeals to both casual and hardcore gamers,” said Betsi Gijanto, Executive Vice President, Crave Games. “With the addition of the new motion controller technology, this game brings together bowlers, gamers and families of all ages.”
And since the game has the full licensing of Brunswick, you can expect to see the authentic shirts, shoes, balls and other equipment in the game. It’s the next best thing to go to the lanes, so get your bowling shirt out and get off the couch. It’s time to bowl.
THQ is encouraging gamers to get off the couch; in fact it is telling gamers to essentially “drop and give the Xbox 360 or Wii 20.” This week THQ unveiled a bit more details about the upcoming game versions of the popular TV series The Biggest Loser, which will be available in upcoming titles for the Nintendo Wii as well as the Microsoft Xbox 360.
Over the next few weeks the company has promised to showcase a few of the exercises that will be available with the new game. These are based on the same exercises that contestants use on TV under the supervision of trainer Bob Harper. This week it was revealed that two of the routines would include Lunges and Glute Lifts.
The Biggest Loser Challenge for the Nintendo Wii, and The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout for Kinect for Xbox 360 will arrive later this later.
Former Spice Girl Me B is packing on the pounds. But not as you would think. While many aging rock/pop stars let themselves go, the once Scary one has become a healthy lifestyle advocate. As we previously reported Mel B is also working with video game accessory manufacturer BLAZE on a line of Fitness First licensed products.
The newest announced product is the Wii Fitness First Wrist and Ankle Weights that will let users get a little more impact on their console-based workout, while still leaving hands free to take control with the Wii-mote. The BLAZE wrist and ankle weights are designed for use with a variety of fitness games. The are made of soft, cushioned fabric, and weight approximately 520 grams, which is considered an ideal weight to add resistance without being too heavy.
The BLAZE Fitness First Mel B Wrist and Ankle Weights will be available in October.
Every step you take, every move you make, the Fitbit will be tracking you – and it will keep track of calories burned, steps taken and distance traveled. And unlike a traditional step counter, which needs to be worn at just the precise spot on your waist to be accurate, the Fitbit can be placed on your waist, in your pocket or even tucked away. This sleek device contains a 3D motion sensor – which the company claims is just the one found in the Nintendo Wii, except this one won’t help your score on Mario Brothers.
It will instead track your movement in all three dimensions and then converts that movement into easy to understand information on your daily activities. So it can track all your physical activities, as well as track how long it took you to fall asleep and how often you woke up. Thus it can give a 24-hour picture of your entire day, not just the time you’re going for your power walk. Continue reading Get Fit Through Little Bits of Activity
After the last game it looked like the Hawkman’s wings were clipped for good, as Tony Hawk Ride wasn’t so much a thrill ride as outright spill. But you can’t keep a good skater down, and the champ of the board is rising from the ashes, proving he’s a video game phoenix. All indications say it looks like he’ll back in full video game form with the upcoming Tony Hawk: SHRED, in part because this arcade style game isn’t just about the usual sidewalk surfing either. This time the game includes both skateboarding and snowboarding action, and more importantly puts players on a truly revolutionized controller to get the wannabes off the couch and on a virtual deck. Continue reading Tony Hawk Flies Again New Game
While Sony and Microsoft prepare to roll out their respective motion-centric game system add-ons this fall, Nintendo isn’t taking it lying or sitting down. The company, which has essentially danced its way to the bank with the Nintendo Wii, now will let gamers do the dancing. This week Ubisoft announced that Gold’s Gym Dance Workout is available for gamers to shake their way to better fitness.
The game offers a variety of dance routines with workouts that include Latin dance styles, as well as choreographed boxing dances and even mini-games that target specific muscle groups. Gold Gym Dance Workout includes multiple training modes to appeal to a range of fitness levels, whilst the difficulty of the gameplay can evolve as the player’s actual fitness level increases. Virtually players can hit the gym and visit some of the most iconic locations, including those in Japan, Egypt, India, Australia or even the legendary Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach. Continue reading Ubisoft Lets You Dance Your Way to the Gold
People pay good money to join a golf club, and even more money to travel to some of the world’s most scenic courses – but despite this fact there are times when you just can’t get outside for a round of golf. One way to avoid the weather and still get in a full 18 holes is to take advantage of the latest indoor golf simulator technology. And we’re not talking about a simple putting green in the corner or even golf on the Nintendo Wii, because while the video game experience is good, it isn’t quite like the real deal. For that you’ll have to turn to companies such as aboutGolf, which recently announced that it was the “secret weapon” in Canada’s University of Waterloo recent season.
The technology was utilized by the University of Waterloo’s engineering school, which took it to a new level with UW golf equipment and biomechanics researchers. This included studies of the technology, where engineering students used the aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator with new shaft and clubhead deisgns, as well as biomechanic modeling, motion capture, and golf ball simulation and optimization. This collaboration allowed UW’s men’s and women’s golf teams as part of their training for the 2010 season. Continue reading Hit 18 Holes Without Actually Going Outside