The Quest for the Perfect ExerGame » Definition

EX-UXD’d?

GamerSize — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:01:36 +0000

Going for the prize of most cryptic post title ever. Give you a clue, “EX” as in EXercise. If you are reading this blog, and looking for, or into, ways to make exercise a fun and engaging experience then you might just have done some UXD! Still confused? Well the inspiration for this post was a profile of a really cool sounding job – wait for it – a “User eXperience researcher/Designer”. At last there are people out there whose job it is to make technology fit round people and not the other away around!!!

So, if you are interested in or in the business of helping people have a really great experience when they are physically active, then whether you realized it or not, looks like you too have been doing some EX-UX Design. Which now leads me nicely onto ExerGaming. It got me thinking as to whether or not “good” ExerGames are EX-UXD’d? Is ExerGaming about designing exercise to fit around people rather than try to get people to do things that don’t appeal to them and are just not a good experience.

ExerArt – Physically Interactive Digital Doodling

GamerSize — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:40:54 +0000

Pixel art is all around us. How about doing some digital doodling where you have to physically move around to create the doodle? The DigiGripper is a interactive pixel wall which you can physically interactive with to create art. Is this a new genre?

ExerArt = Exercise + Art

A Functional Approach to Defining “ExerGaming”

GamerSize — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:47:12 +0000

How exactly do you define “ExerGaming”? This post has been a while coming in that it has taken me some to try and come up with a coherent answer. In the past I have tended to favor the term “Active Video Games” as being more descriptive of the phenomenon that I was researching. Having now broadened my interests, the simple concatenation of “Exercise” and “Gaming” (or “Game Play”) seems to me to sum things up clearly and succinctly.
However, when you consider that the term “Gaming” is in fact generally held to be taken from “Video Gaming” then it becomes harder to define what an Exergame is. Is it a video game that is controlled by body movement? What about electronic games that require exertion but don’t have a video display component?
I would like to propose an alternative approach to defining “ExerGaming” based on functional outcome rather than game play mechanics. In formulating this proposal, I recalled a while back when I completed the first qualification in training to be a ski instructor. Given that alpine skiing is an adventure sport we were taught that our primary consideration was the safety of our class and that second came the development of technique and our final consideration was fun such that the class members enjoyed themselves. However, the “secret” of being a good instructor was that each pupil experienced fun, had a chance to improve their technique and developed some safety awareness. Put simply the instructor planned technique and fun that order, but the pupils experienced fun, technique and safety in the opposite order.

Extending this functional approach to defining “ExerGaming”, health professionals etc. are concerned are intending to improve health by promoting exercise using a gaming medium.
From the individual player’s point of view, “ExerGaming” is an engaging and challenging game play activity which is facilitated by some physical exertion and is likely to be in some way good for their health.

So there you have it, except that this functional definition might now be considered too broad. For me the key is the phrase “engaging and challenging”. Carefully designed ExerGames have the potential to match an individual player’s skills and abilities no matter what they are – something which is not easy to do with conventional exercise and sporting activities.

Definition of ExerGaming – Part 3

GamerSize — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:51:55 +0000

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.

Definition of ExerGaming – Part 2

GamerSize — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:36:13 +0000

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.

Definition of ExerGaming – Part 1

GamerSize — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:42:34 +0000

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.