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There was a time in the not-so-distant past when kids actually played outside. We would organize neighborhood games of tag or hide-and-seek and stay out until dark or dinner, whichever came first. I’d hate to join the ranks of the “fuddy duddies” who constantly long for the good ‘ole days, which is why I’m happy to see a new trend towards full-body, interactive video gaming. With the continued popularity of the Nintendo Wii and the massive appeal of games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, kids and parents alike are starting to get up off the couch when they game. Full-body gaming seems to prove that if exercise is entertaining, more people will do it.

Nintendo Wii comes with a motion-sensing controller which you can literally swing like a tennis racket, wield like a sword, punch like a boxer, and “throw” like a baseball (ideally without actually letting go). While it is possible to make small motions and still play the Wii Sports games, the trend seems to be towards treating the Wii as a chance to exercise and have fun at the same time. One man even conducted an experiment using his Wii as his entire training regimen, and his results are astonishing. In just six weeks he lost 9 pounds and 2% body fat. Interactive games like Wii Sports reject the assumption that video games have to be a sedentary experience, and consumers have responded enthusiastically to these new interfaces.

Guitar Hero and its cousin Rock Band have even spawned communities of players who gather in bars and at private parties to game. Rock Band allows players to choose instruments and play together as a group, making it a hit with adults and children alike. The game features download-able songs to keep content fresh. Some enthusiasts have even formed permanent groups, complete with band names, gigs at local gatherings, and large competitions.

Interactive full-body games aren’t just being used for entertainment, either. Some physical therapists and rehabilitation departments in hospitals are also using the Wii to help stroke patients regain small motor function. Reports are even circulating that injured soldiers at a military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany are playing Wii games to regain strength during long recoveries. When the alternative is squeezing a ball of putty or stretching a rubber band, it’s no wonder the Wii is gaining popularity among medical experts. And the games are apparently not just being used by patients, but also by surgeons preparing to operate. A U.S. study shows that certain Wii games are a good warm-up exercise for surgeons. Those who played the games performed 50% better than those who did not.

While some tout the virtues of active gaming, Nintendo’s UK marketing division released a report showing that Wii Sports is no substitute for actual exercise. Unfortunate though this might seem, those who have included the Wii in their physical fitness regimes have seen great results. Perhaps it’s not the games themselves that make the difference, but the motivation to exercise. If all aerobic activities were as entertaining as Wii tennis, it’s safe to assume that we would have more drive to be active. As the popularity of full-body games continues to rise, console manufacturers will have to re-imagine how we want to experience their games, and perhaps even more of us will get up off the couch.

Monday, January 21st, 2008 Both comments and pings are currently closed.

By Haley January Eckels