Video Game Exercise - Articles - Zimbio

Health Experts Back Video Games

Mon, 28 Oct 2008 17:55:56 GMT

posted by gamercize
Exercise makes video games acceptable.

A research study has been completed to determine the free choice in activity of children aged between 7 and 11 yrs, when given three activity stations:

Traditional games with no physical activity
Gamercize stepper and cycle fitness machines on PlayStation 2
Traditional stepper and cycle fitness machines with no gaming

Given free choice the children were 6 times more likely to engage in physical activity with Gamercize over traditional fitness equipment and they burned nearly 28 times more calories with Gamercize than playing sedentary games.

Here's what the health experts said after reviewing the findings.

“This test encouraged children to be more active, and that’s a great starting point. I know as a dad that the reason why video games are so popular is because they are so good, and kids will not leave them. It’s better to be smart and work with the games, making children more active in the process.”
Dr Ian Campbell, Medical Director of Weight Concern and Associate Specialist University Hospital Nottingham

“This is a very interesting result – it opens up a possible way of getting children more active.”
Dr Colin Waine, Chairman of the National Obesity Forum

“My feelings are mainly supportive, looking at the study, and the products at face value as a means of increasing physical activity in novel and attractive ways. Childhood obesity is, obviously, a major problem, and conventional methods of tackling it have failed miserably, so congratulations for thinking of an innovative new way.”
Dr David Haslam, Clinical Director of the National Obesity Forum

The study results show the effectiveness of Gamercize and the power of using video games for health. Ultimately the kids win out by keeping active and having fun.

Two New Gamercize Fitness Options

Sat, 12 Oct 2008 10:53:36 GMT

posted by gamercize
Modular Exergaming Reaches the Next Level!

This is the riders eye view from the seat of the new GZ Spin Trainer, the latest innovation from Gamercize. The official unveiling will be at the School and Sport's Partnership Conference next week.
The full sized spin bike will join the existing range of portable stepper and cycle exercise machines that have proved hugely popular. The GZ Spin Trainer represents the highest end of exergaming fitness training and will be available for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.

The undoubted success of the PlayStation 2 was in part due to compatibility of games and accessories with the original PlayStation. We agree with rewards to brand loyalty, so the new GZ Spin Trainer is fully compatibility with all existing Gamercize products, making Gamercize the only choice for modular exergaming.

The flexibility of the games and consoles supported by Gamercize is unparalleled in the industry, and now we can bring ultimate ultimate flexibility in fitness options too with our second announcement, the GZ Family Fit. Simply, this new machine represents the most innovative way to make exercise appealing to everyone, regardless of your age or ability and caters for all goals in weight loss, fitness improvement and strength training.

The GZ Family Fit will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii and will also be fully compatible with all existing Gamercize products. The GZ Family Fit also includes a proper medical fitness test, which I believe is unique over all home fitness equipment and definitely a unique function in exergaming.

The two new machines will be available to purchase from next year, initially only to existing Gamercize customers before general release. Prices are to be confirmed, but if you want to try these new machines come to the SSPC, next week, in Telford on October 15-16th.

Streetwise Active Gaming with Gamercize

Sat, 9 Nov 2008 23:56:00 GMT

posted by gamercize

I came across this on YouTube, does anyone know what show this came from? It's great to see the reaction of people in street to Gamercize and definitely a great idea for raising awareness that video games can be fun exercise.

Wii Fit - The Death of Video Game Exercise?

Wed, 4 Sep 2008 19:28:23 GMT

posted by gamercize

The single biggest event in exergames could be the last.

The public and media have picked up Wii-Fit as the iconic exergame - combining video games with exercise, but has the frenzy gone too far and put people off the idea of exergaming altogether?

When the Wii was first announced it was brilliant news for the industry. A huge multi-national company waking the world up to combining video games and exercise. The industry was young and needed the big cash boost of publicity and advertising awareness Nintendo could offer. The fighting between Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo over the newest consoles furthered the interest of the press and public and things could not have been brighter.

Video game exercise is synonymous with Nintendo in the public eye, to the point that the XaviX system was tested recently, and did rather well, but this reported as a Nintendo success by the British media. It does appear Nintendo have cast a big shadow over the entire industry, which while it started off well in raising awareness could now be a bad thing.

So, Wii Fit is released. Here is why I loved it; I bought one, used it a couple of times, sold it on eBay for way more than I paid for it - and used the proceeds of the sale to buy Super Mario Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Kart Wii, with exercise provided by my Gamercize Power Stepper. Way better games and way better exercise.

I wasn't really that keen on the Wii Fit because I found it a little boring compared with the games I could have been playing in the small time I had. There is nothing wrong with Wii Fit, if that's what you want, but do people in general really understand what it is?

How many people really buy a Wii Fit thinking they can embark on a new healthy lifestyle taking extra exercise, paying attention to what they eat and monitoring progress with Wii Fit? How many people buy Wii Fit because it's hot, its what everyone's talking about, it's hard to find and oh, it has something to do with games and fitness - that must be good, right?

When I hear that 6 of 10 people use Wii Fit once and never again, I'm not that surprised, but I am a little concerned. Nintendo have waved the banner of video games and exercise across the worlds media and then given us something that doesn't really do either very well.

My question is this. If millions have only seen exergaming as Wii Fit and the love affair ends the first time it is used; how many of these people will embrace the same idea when advertised at a fraction of Nintendo's budget and without intensive world wide press coverage?

Maybe the industry should step up and get moving towards global certification of products or be a point of reference for definition on what each product can and can't do? The trouble is the only force in the industry big enough to achieve these goals at the moment is Nintendo itself. So, how about it Mr Satoru Iwata?

Advice: teacher's guide to video game age ratings

Thu, 10 Oct 2008 00:12:36 GMT

posted by gamercize

Exergames use video games, which is positive because kids love video games. There needs to be awareness that not all games are suitable for children. Choosing an inappropriate game for exergaming is mentally unhealthy for children and will produce a negative response from some parents. Despite a few high profile games that are considered unsuitable for children, there is a significant number of alternatives. This post is intended to help you when selecting appropriate video games for children related to age groups.

Video games are rated according to age, similar to movies. This rating is typically visible on the outside of the packaging of the video game. There are various styles of age rating scales available -some using numbers and others using letter codes.

The number systems, such as the Pan European Game Information (PEGI), are self explanatory as they provide a number that indicates the lower age limit. Additionally PEGI gives an indication of the type of content on the outside of the package, such as bad language or drugs. The coding systems, such as the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), also include additional information regarding the content of the game, but use letter codes instead of numbers to define an age range. There are additional rating systems, but these are the two main styles you are likely to find.

It is important to implement positive mental practices as well as physical practices during exergame play in physical education. Therefore, paying attention to the video games children bring to class, and considering age rating as an important part of the purchasing criteria for you and the parent is necessary. In practical terms, you will need to decide what the lowest age is during each class, and make sure you are using appropriate video games for all potential users during exergame play.

As an example, to incorporate exergames into a school with children at various age levels, it is essential to avoid using video games designed for older children with children that are below the appropriate age. A game of a low age rating will be a suitable choice that everyone in the school is able to use. Most of the popular sports games have a 3+ age rating; yet, teenagers are also engaged. It is essential that any games with higher age ratings, chosen by older age groups, should be unavailable to younger children.

Allowing your children to bring their own games to class is a great way to get them excited with exergame play. However, if you allow this, simply check the age rating on the package to make sure it fits your standards. And, as we all know how children can be deceivingly smart, make sure the children have not brought an older rated game in by sneaking it into a different package with a younger age rating!

For further reading see http://www.esrb.org and http://www.pegi.info.