GamerSize Science-Quest for the Perfect ExerGame

Video games have long been inspired by conventional sporting activities. Indeed, it could even be said that “Pong” was the first “e” Sport. Now their is an immense range of eSports games available from driving simulators through to team management simulators. In a recent newspaper monthly sports magazine a number of tops sports starts were revealed as fans of armchair sports. It was also suggested that the ability to live out fans dreams of managing their team to the top might be useful training for the real thing and questions were raised about whether or not professional video gaming constitutes a sport.
Obviously some eSports games are also ExerGames in that they use a controller that requires body movement in order to play the game. Now all manner of add-on accessories are available for the controllers to make them more realistic for the sport in question (e.g. rackets, bats, clubs). I even noticed that you can now get a specially designed “kit bag” to carry them all in!

ExerGaming - defn 3. A possible stepping-stone to conventional sporting activities.

On the flight back to Edinburgh last night I spoke to an accountancy alumna from my the institution where I work and who knew one of my former students. We started by discussing the possibility of using points- based incentive schemes to effect behavioral change (hot topic at the moment) since she was after all a bean counter!

We soon moved on to ExerGames, which she latched onto, being an avid “Wii Fitter”. Since she was also a gym regular, I was keen to establish if she had experienced any in a gym setting. “No“, was the answer, but not being a fan of group classes, she was always on the look out for something that “KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED“.

ExerGaming - defn 2. Something that keeps you motivated.

Traveling back to Scotland from the Leisure Industry Conference in Birmingham, England last night I had to check my hold bag through the oversize channel. This was due to it containing a Gamercize Stepper kindly given to me by CEO Richard Coshott.

“Are there any gases, chemicals or electrical items in your luggage, sir?” asked the security man. “Yes“, I replied, “A Stepper“. The security man continued, “And you also have a couple of video games controllers?“. “Ah yes“, I confirmed. “IF YOU DON’T STEP, THE GAME CONTROLLER WON’T WORK!”

“I see…Thank you sir and have a nice flight.”

So there you have it, part 1 of my series on the definition of ExerGaming. In case you missed it:

ExerGaming - defn 1. If you don’t step, the video game controller won’t work.