The Quest for the Perfect ExerGame

There have been quite a few news items on “ExerGaming” in which my work has featured, often alongside that of others. It gives a good flavor of what I am up to and how the various media perceive the field.

Animation World Magazine

The Wii Workout: Getting Healthy Through Gameplay

March 31, 2008. By Janet Hetherington

http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3594&page=1

seattlepi.com

Live Interview

May 9, 2008. By Videoblogging 206

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/videoblogging/archives/138531.asp

http://odeo.com/audio/19196333/view 

US National Public Radio

Gaming Your Way to Fitness

May 15, 2008. By Allison Aubrey

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90448872

U.S.News & World Report

The Power of Wii: Getting in Shape with Video Games

May 16, 2008. By Katherine Hobson 

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-fitness/2008/5/16/will-public-get-exercised-over-exergames.html

Toronto Star

Wii Fit looking to ignite `exer-gaming’ revolution

May 16, 2008. By Daphne Gordon

http://www.thestar.com/article/425836

http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/425836

I have it on good authority from my Mii friend on Wii Fit, that it has been asking after me, having noted that my own Mii has not exercised for a while (I make it a week). It’s nice to know Wii Fit cares. I had a very long list of things I had to do before I went and I guess I forgot to tell it I was going to be away. Still, it’s the thought that counts. 

I was out for a walk at lunchtime and suddenly was aware of a perceptible in my posture. Was it that it was a fine day, the birds were singing and spring was in full bloom? Or was it wishful thinking after a number of days of Wii Fit play? I can’t objectively say, but it is something I will look out for.

Having been enthusiastically working my was through the various Wii Fit activities, I suddenly wondered “Where’s the training schedule?” Whilst the guidance given when performing the various activities is very helpful and readily picks up where you are going wrong – there does not appear to be a specific “Programme”/”Program”! Has personal interest replaced the personal trainer or am I missing something? Perhaps this is a subtle (or not so subtle) to place the player very much in control?

It is a few years ago now, but at one time I was a pretty proficient Alpine Skier. I was a keen arm chair fan of Ski Jumping – but have always wanted a go. Anyway, thanks Wii Fit, one of the balance games is “Virtual” ski jumping. The game appears a very good simulation and an understanding of the sport definitely appears to help. Anyway, having regularly managed to jump over 150 metre, I have reached the rank of “Professional”.

Despite getting my hands on a Wii Fit when the shops opened at 9:00 am this morning, it was straight to the lab to set it up for GamesLab 2008. Whilst I glances enviously as the students in my class put it through its paces, it wasn’t till this evening that I finally stepped on…

I was barely into the balance tests, when an obvious weakness in my right ankle was picked up. I had sprained it whilst out running 5 days previously. To be honest, I was pretty tired from being on my feet all day and didn’t really do that well at all.

Today was a very exciting day. It was the Europe-wide launch of the Wii Fit balance board and associated games. A couple of months of careful planning came to fruition. I organised a Games Lab for my final year undergraduate students as part of a module on Physical Activity and Health Promotion. In order to enhance research-teaching linkages, I was able to devise a small study to assess the physical exertion in terms of heart rate of a variety of different ExerGames. The students moved round in a randomised order, different stations which included two Wii Fit games, two EyeToy games, a dance mat and control conditions of a walk on a treadmill and a coventional video game.

Although very much a preliminary study, was this a first? What about the first university course to study the Wii Fit?

I am just putting the finishing touches to my presentation for the forthcoming Games for Health conference. I am very excited about it as there will be a good number of ExerGaming researchers there. My talk will be based on a review of several studies that have been undertaken in my research lab. Pooling the results has given me new insight into some of the factors that make a “good” ExerGame.

Two days to go to the Europe wide launch of the Wii Fit balance board. I didn’t manage to get hold of a preview version, so the next best thing is having one on reserve at a local store. I intend to pick it up as soon as the store opens and take it straight into the the exercise physiology laboratory.