Special education students in 85 schools across Nebraska, including 17 in the northeast corner of the state, began utilizing the Wii Fit video games in January as part of a study to reduce child obesity. Each received a Wii Fit and components. A PlayStation 2 outfitted with the Dance Dance Revolution game and components was also part of the grant for middle school PE classes.

The video games, all of which require students to get up and be active, put a fun twist on traditional physical education classes and utilize technology that students are familiar with and enjoy.

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More importantly, Jones believes the interactive game play enables his family to get plenty of exercise. "You can get worn out playing these games," he said.

For years, video games have been partially blamed for the nation’s epidemic of childhood obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases linked to inactivity. But now fitness experts are trying to determine whether interactive video games are a good way to get fit.

After all, players of the game "Dance Dance Revolution" can work up a sweat jumping on a "dance pad” to hit colored arrows in response to musical and visual cues.

But how healthy are interactive video games? Are doctors encouraging their use as a form of exercise, especially when local residents feel stuck inside in cold winter months?

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Maybe you’ve moved on to Guitar Hero or perhaps you’re playing Wii Fit now, but both games owe a debt of gratitude to Dance Dance Revolution, the dancing rhythm game from Konami that is 10 years old today.

We sort of take the game for granted because it’s been around a while but it truly was a pioneering title and the more we see casual gaming grow, we see that DDR played a good role in laying the ground work for that.

For the uninitiated, DDR challenges people to dance on a pad, hitting the various sensors in time with musical beats represented onscreen. It popularized the idea of a game based primarily on rhythm, which is basically what Guitar Hero and Rock Band are, just with different peripherals.

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From mpnnow.com:

Brighton’s director of health, physical education and athletics, Fritz Killian, has seen changes to the physical education programs in his three years in the district.

They’ve added a rock climbing wall, a Dance Dance Revolution gaming unit, kayaking and an orienteering program that uses global positioning system (GPS) technology. Of course, Brighton still offers the traditional gym sports, but Killian said it’s important to offer activities for everyone.

“You’re always going to have a population that loves the traditional basketball or football,” he said. “But we’re also getting students who would like to try those non-traditional activities.”

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