Mayo Clinic prescribes active games
by Justin Murray 
{ Jan 6th 2007 at 5:24AM }
The Wii has been getting a lot of attention lately, mainly because of its different control mechanism. However, movement in gaming isn't a new concept, which hearkens to days such as the NES Power Pad. Now, exergaming is getting a supporter.
The Mayo Clinic has released a report on the results of an exergaming study. Using a sedentary base, games that use a camera (such as EyeToy) and using a treadmill while gaming burned triple the amount of calories as sitting (five times over for more obese children); dance games registered the greatest calorie burn at six times the sitting rate.
With this new study, Nintendo is likely to jump on and further promote the health benefits of playing the Wii. Pulling children away from video games is a difficult task these days. While the Wii will unlikely burn the fat like Dance Dance Revolution would, they can add a bit to the marketing pamphlet to say the Wii requires exercise (if used right) for something their kid would otherwise be vegetating to do. As if we needed any more reasons to buy a Wii.
[Thanks, Ben]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Markusdragon @ Jan 6th 2007 5:54AM
I need more active games due to my Mayo addiction.
...It had to be said!
Troy @ Jan 6th 2007 7:37AM
That sounded kinda gay.
...It had to be said!
kevinski @ Jan 6th 2007 7:54AM
Power Pad? I remember my cousin playing Track and Field on the NES with that thing. It was easier to just pound on the mat with your fists. Talk about easily exploitable peripherals...
J Louis @ Jan 6th 2007 10:24AM
Put the Wiis in stores before doing more marketing. Where are they?
Ben Friesen @ Jan 6th 2007 11:22AM
This isn't Nintendo doing the marketing though - it's free publicity from a large, unaffiliated medical organization. While this is great news for Nintendo, this is also great news for gaming in general; it marks a recognition of gaming as a good thing by the second best hospital in the U.S., which is itself a great sign of mainstream acceptance.
It also tells me that exergaming will probably draw in a lot of non-gamers if major medical organizations keep putting out good publicity.
Zegim @ Jan 6th 2007 4:16PM
I can't wait for a DDR game for the Wii that requires both footh and hands/arms work.
Mr. Khan @ Jan 6th 2007 5:55PM
@ Zegim
Bad idea,
I believe there was an eye-toy compatible DDR for PS2 that employed the same concept (Hand motion and footwork), and damn, did it suck
What Wii needs is its original rythm game (although Bust-a-Move seems to work fairly well for the purpose, as would a Samba di Amigo sequel), something that employs hands only action with the Wii Remote
Maybe Nintendo could re-adapt Elite Beat Agents for that...
Rare Hare @ Jan 7th 2007 12:10AM
Exergaming (with the possible exception of Yourself Fitness.. though that wasn't really a game) is complete bullcrap.
The calories burned waving your arm to operate the Wii or "dancing" on a DDR pad are not enough to justify the fact that one is inside playing video games as opposed to engaging in ACTUAL physical activity.
I hate to burst the bubbles of exergaming advocates, but playing chess, yelling, and banging your head against the wall are all things that also actively burn calories. Please, no one full yourselves into thinking that playing Wii Sports is a substitute for exercise. Not even close.
Eggman @ Jan 7th 2007 1:53AM
Okay. Just stop man. The calories you burn in DDR are PLENTY enough to lose weight. Trust me. Having played the game for going on 6 years now, it lets you lose weight very quickly if you just keep up with a few sets per day, like any other aerobic exercise. I've lost at least 15 pounds to the game myself.
So yeah, DDR IS actual physical activity and...get over yourself and out of 1990. Things have changed.