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| Wii board mixes excercise and gaming
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| Friday, March 28, 2008 |
Wii board mixes excercise and gaming
The Wii Balance Board and Wii Fit software offer 40 exercises that focus on building "core" strength and balance through small, movements, usually shifting your bodyweight. (Handout)
By Mark Brooks | Special to amNew York
March 28, 2008
Nintendo's Nintendo's Wii already has gamers moving about, flailing their arms and interacting more physically with their games, and the latest device, the Balance Board, is another step, literally, in that direction.
The Wii has found a cultlike following in the gaming world and even appeals to non-hardcore gamers, children and families.
The Balance Board could be another way to target a new set: Working mothers and other groups who have little time to exercise, but could be motivated with a little fun. It's not the first game to sport activity-based play, Konami's (much faster paced) Dance Dance Revolution series has been doing it for years and who can forget Nintendo's early foray with the Power Pad, which had kids jumping and running back in the '80s.
The Balance Board looks like the platform used in step classes in gyms. It syncs with the Wii console to track your progress.
When first stepped on, Wii Fit software will test your weight, body mass index and balancing abilities (yes, you see your actual weight on-screen). It can assign fitness goals based on those measurements. Users can also set their own goals -- though, they'll be warned if they have chosen an unhealthy pace.
There are 40 exercises that tend to focus on building "core" strength and balance through small, movements, usually shifting your bodyweight. Categories include: strength training (arm and leg lifts, pushups); aerobics (Hula Hoop movements, rhythm boxing); yoga stretches and balance games.
The board can handle users up to 330 pounds, but it won't survive the pummeling from running or jumping.
After a few stretches, we tried the "Ski Slalom." By shifting our weight, we guided our hapless skier down a short downhill course while careening through a series of gates. It's extremely easy to play (almost mindless) yet the experience of using your entire body in-game takes a little getting used to. We'll get better with (much needed) practice. Still, it was incredibly accessible and quite fun.
The motion-based gameplay of the Wii is already being used by a number of hospitals for physical therapy. Now, assuming there's solid software support for the Balance Board, Nintendo just might score another (over a million sold in Japan) huge hit. After all better health is the ultimate power-up.
Source: am NewsLabels: Nintendo, Wii |
posted by Perimbean @ Friday, March 28, 2008
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