Healthy Gaming » exergaming

An Interview With The CEO of Gamercize

Chris — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:21:22 +0000

Fitspott is excited to present our first of many upcoming interviews that will cover a variety of topics and issues facing the health and fitness industry. For our first interview we have selected Richard Coshott, the CEO of Gamercize UK.

Gamercize is an exergaming company that uses the attraction of video games to develop motor skills, and to help build the confidence to participate in physical activity.

We asked Richard several questions that we believe will significantly impact the fate of exergaming.

Part 1

Part 2

Cameron High School Slated for ‘Exergaming’ Facility

Chris — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:40:20 +0000

From news-register.net:

Several West Virginia entities want to see area students and parents get fit, and a first step toward making that happen has been taken by Marshall County Schools.

After reviewing a proposal submitted Dec. 16, West Virginia School Building Authority Director Mark Manchin approved plans to have a prototype "exergaming facility" constructed at Cameron High School.

The project is a collaborative effort of the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency, the Northern West Virginia Rural Health Education Center, the West Virginia University School of Medicine and Tygart Valley Rehabilitation and Fitness. The approval was given during a meeting Manchin had with representatives from those entities and Marshall County Schools administrators.

Source

Does some pretend have real benefits?

Chris — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:37:47 +0000

From timesunion.com:

Buchanan is a volunteer in a research project being conducted by two Capitol Region professors. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded the researchers $200,000 to see if workouts integrated with video games motivate the elderly to exercise more.
The video simulates the crunch of earth under the tires. A wooden fence blinks and Spandex-clad cyclists throw quick looks over their shoulders as they pass. You can almost feel the competitive juices flow.
“I’m disinclined to exercise by myself,” Buchanan said in slight drawl that belies her Boston roots. “It’s not a lot of fun to exercise by yourself.”
Although video-exercise games have been around for more than a decade, the field was revolutionized by the Wii game system that makes players “feel” like they are really swinging a bat or jumping a hurdle or dozens of other athletic movements.

Source

Get in the game at new type of fitness center

Chris — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:03:04 +0000

From desmoinesregister.com:

XRKade, in the newly opened 7 Flags 24/7 X-Press at GreenWay Crossing in West Des Moines, is all about exercise gaming in a fun environment. Members get a workout while playing video games that involve dancing, boxing, cycling and snowboarding, in competition with people nearby or, in some games, at other XRKade locations.

…

Next, we tried a running-and- jumping game called “Jackie Chan Action Run.” Using a special running pad, we became Jackie Chan on the TV screen, running along the streets of Hong Kong, jumping up and sideways to avoid obstacles, and running along the length of the pad to battle dangerous-looking ninjas dropping from the sky.

Source

Video games promoted in fight against childhood obesity

Chris — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:12:51 +0000

From canada.com:

In the fight against childhood obesity, grim statistics continue to be reported.

One in four children in the U.S. spend at least three hours a day sitting in front of the computer surfing the net but not doing school work – up from 22 per cent in 2003.

Yet as an international conference being held in Montreal this week shows, the news isn’t all bleak. In fact, one of the evils that’s been blamed for contributing toward obesity in children – video games – is now being used to promote physical activity.
Exergaming is a ‘wholesome’ activity that is free of the violence that plagues so many of today’s video games, argues Linda Carson, a professor of physical education at West Virginia University.

It’s called exergaming, video games that spur children (as well as their parents) to use all their limbs rather than only their thumbs.

Source

Health and Wellbeing central focus of Sportex

Chris — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:07:03 +0000

Technorati Tags: exergaming,gaming,exercise

From albawaba.com:

“Health and Wellbeing central focus of Sportex Nutrition and fitness key topics for discussion at international event for the sports, fitness, health and leisure industry taking place at DWTC this week.

…

Gaming has advanced tremendously in the past few years with games becoming as good as the real thing. It is only a matter of time when we will start to see sports and health centres replacing their traditional fitness equipments with more exciting interactive equipments called exergaming. Exergaming is a blend of exercise and gaming. The industry will evolve to become more interactive, fun and rewarding.”

Exergame Announces Partnership with XRtainment Zone to Provide Exergaming Wellness Programming

Chris — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:30:57 +0000

Technorati Tags: exergaming,xrtainment,games,exercise,kids

From pr.com:

“The growing epidemic of Childhood Obesity and Inactivity among kids, teens and adults has prompted the need for entertaining game based fitness solutions that engage users – called Exergames.

Two USA companies that have pioneered the Exergaming industry have now joined forces to offer the largest selection of tested Exergaming products, along with medically proven programming to help fight the raging epidemic of obesity around the world. The new programming division is called “XRGame Zone – Exergame Fitness Programming.”"