Is Active Gaming a Fad?

I read a blog today and felt like it was a very good read and worth sharing about active gaming and the potential benefits playing these games can have on individuals of all ages. The author does a great job discussing active gaming in regards to potential benefits and the outlook on the future. See the blog below:

Exergaming: A serious workout or just a fad?
by HEAD HEALTH NUTTER on FEBRUARY 24, 2012


Are you thinking of purchasing a Wii gaming system to get your exercise in and finally lose that weight you’ve been talking about shedding since New Year’s? Here’s a guest post that discusses the effectiveness of fitness games and whether they’re a wise investment or not.

With the invention of motion detection technology on new gaming systems such as the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox Kinect, games that include a high level of activity have become the latest thing. Perhaps you’ve been to a “Dance Central” party or played a vigorous game of virtual tennis with your kids.



If your video game experience left you sweaty and feeling like you just finished at the gym, congratulations! You’ve been exergaming.

The companies that create games are taking advantage of this trend and have put out games specifically designed to take advantage of this phenomenon. Some of the most famous include “Wii Fit,” “EA Sports Active” and “Your Shape: Fitness Evolved.” Big name franchises are also getting in on gaming as a fitness format, such as “The Biggest Loser” and even “Zumba.”

But is exergaming a legitimate way to get in a workout? Or are you just playing a game?

It depends. How dedicated is the person playing the game? How challenging is the game? How much time does the person spend playing? How regularly do they play? Is the game part of an overall effort to eat right and get more exercise?

While exercises benefits overall health, it also contributes to cheap life insurance rates, something that benefits almost everyone.

The Flaw in “Wii Fit”



“Wii Fit” was one of the first exergames to hit the market back in 2008. Everyone who tried it loved it, and Wii systems flew off the shelves. People who had never thought they would ever own a gaming system were purchasing a Wii and “Wii Fit.” But according to the game developers, people weren’t playing the game consistently. Many systems and fitness boards were collecting dust.

Why? If the dedication and drive to lose weight aren’t there, a balance board and video game system aren’t likely to change that.

So why hasn’t exergaming faded into the sunset? Looking at all the new releases over the past few years, the market appears to be growing. Sequels are out for popular dance games and updates to games designed specifically to be workout programs continue to come out.

Additionally, new technology like the Kinect is solving one of the primary problems people had with “Wii Fit.” No controller to hold and leg strap to fiddle with means a simpler overall gaming experience. People like simple.

Why is Exergaming Still Around?

Perhaps this can be explained by the hopefulness that most people have when it comes to losing weight and getting in shape. “This year I’ll finally lose that weight.” The games are purchased in a burst of optimism and show good sales numbers. Why wouldn’t game companies continue to produce games in franchises that are retail successes?

As long as a person keeps that dedication, these games are a perfectly valid form of exercise. While you probably aren’t going to get fit playing virtual golf, playing “Just Dance” can give you a great cardio workout, to the tune of about 300 calories an hour. Boxing strengthens and tones the arms, back and core, and can burn about 400 calories an hour.

One of the most common pieces of advice given to those who are looking to lose weight but don’t like to exercise is to find a form of exercise that you love. For a number of dedicated people, these games are that form of exercise. And anything that gets people up and moving should be taken seriously.

About the Author

TermLifeInsuranceNews.com tries to provide individuals with useful health and lifestyle tips to help them get the best life insurance rates possible.

Do you own any fitness games? How often do you play them? After reading this post, are you planning to fit exercising into your weekly routine to get more fit?

New Active Game Targeting Physical Education!

Konami is the reason the Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) craze was born. They initially released DDR and have continued to work on making the activity more desirable and effective. Recently, Konami released news of a new DDR product targeted directly towards physical education classrooms. From what I can recall, this is the only product that was designed specifically for the physical education classroom. The new product is multiplayer, meaning an entire class could potentially play at one time. The features are attractive to teachers because they have a built in "playlist" and "roster" for teachers to use to assist with saving play time. In addition, there is a data card for every participant that stores information such as step count, scores, other personal information, etc. In between games, students are able to read quick facts and suggestions for attaining and/or maintaing a healthy lifestyle.

This is merely a few cool features of this new DDR system. Konami will have this product at CAHPERD and again at AAHPERD as a sneak peak but is not planning to fully launch the release until the Summer 2012 or the Fall of 2012.

If you are attending one of these conferences you would definitely take a look!

Wii in Adapted PE?? Wii in Adapted PE!!

I am thankful to adapted physical education teacher Amy Wellik from Mounds View Pubic Schools for being a guest blogger this week! Amy brings to our attention the important subject regarding how active gaming can be beneficial when teaching adapted physical education. As she makes clear, children with disabilities not only enjoy and desire active gaming, but are capable of finding great success at the activies. Here is what Amy has shared:

Teaching students with disabilities in an Adapted Physical Education (Adapted PE) setting has many similarities to teaching Physical Education to students in the general setting. Students with disabilities are more like their non-disabled peers than not. They like pizza, Disney channel, pop music and technology. They recognize and have the ability to use iPads, iPhones, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii.
And just like their peers, keeping motivated, interested and MOVING is a challenge.
Adapted PE teachers and PE teachers need to be creative and innovative about using technology in their gyms.
When I first introduced Nintendo Wii into my Adapted PE classes, it was an “experiment”.
I was not sure how my students would respond and how successful they would be. I quickly discovered that the majority of my students were familiar with the Nintendo Wii and they were thrilled to use it in school.
Two years later, I have successfully incorporated a variety of games, activities and exercises into my Adapted PE curriculum.
If the goal is participation, movement and improved fitness levels, Nintendo Wii is an excellent solution.
Nintendo Wii Activities I have used in Adapted PE:
• Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):Wii Fit (Basic run) Wii Sports (Bowling, Boxing training) Just Dance, Just Dance Kids
• Students with Physical Disabilities: Wii Fit, Wii Sports, Just Dance
• Students with Visual Impairments: Wii Fit (Basic run) Wii Sports (Bowling, Boxing training)
• Students with Cognitive Disabilities: Just Dance, Just Dance Kids, Wii Sports , Wii Fit
Technology is in our schools, classrooms and in our gyms. This generation of students understands how to interact with technology and they are motivated by technology. Incorporating technology into any Physical Education class will enhance learning, increase fitness levels and improve participation.

Thank you Amy!