Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[DDR Classroom Edition gets kids moving on sweet wireless mats]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/ddr-classroom-edition-gets-kids-moving-on-sweet-wireless-mats/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/ddr-classroom-edition-gets-kids-moving-on-sweet-wireless-mats/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/ddr-classroom-edition-gets-kids-moving-on-sweet-wireless-mats/#comments
Though we imagined the DDR Classroom Edition setup as a bunch of kids fighting their way out of a tangled mess of cable in some smelly gymnasium, the end product looks a lot more interesting -- and a lot more wireless. These kids are dancing on some sweet mats!

JoystiqDDR Classroom Edition gets kids moving on sweet wireless mats originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classroomdance-dance-revolution-classroom-editionddrddr-classroom-editionexergamingfitnesspcTue, 28 Feb 2012 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exercise your right to view a Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/exercise-your-eyeballs-with-this-your-shape-fitness-evolved-201/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/exercise-your-eyeballs-with-this-your-shape-fitness-evolved-201/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/exercise-your-eyeballs-with-this-your-shape-fitness-evolved-201/#comments Looking to get in shape for, uh, Christmas? This November, Ubisoft will release its sequel to Kinect launch title Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. Luckily for us, Laurel House is ready to talk about the sequel now in this latest trailer.

JoystiqExercise your right to view a Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exergamingfitnesskinectlaurel-housemicrosoftubisoftxboxyour-shape-fitness-evolved-2012Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 coming this November]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/your-shape-fitness-evolved-2012-coming-this-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/your-shape-fitness-evolved-2012-coming-this-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/your-shape-fitness-evolved-2012-coming-this-november/#comments
Ubisoft just announced a new version of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved at its E3 press conference, set to arrive in stores for Kinect later on this November. The short teaser didn't reveal much but the obvious -- that it's an update of the fitness title, with the same basic exercises and activities and likely a few new ones.

The trailer also mentioned a goal -- overall, Ubisoft promised a goal of one billion calories for all players, and then asked what your goal was. Does getting off the couch to grab another soda from the fridge count for us?

JoystiqYour Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 coming this November originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-2011fitnesskinectmicrosoftubisoftxboxyour-shapeyour-shape-fitness-evolved-2012Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Your Shape: Fitness Evolved introduces 'Your Shape Center' portal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/your-shape-fitness-evolved-introduces-your-shape-center-porta/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/your-shape-fitness-evolved-introduces-your-shape-center-porta/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/your-shape-fitness-evolved-introduces-your-shape-center-porta/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the ways Your Shape: Fitness Evolved plans on keeping players motivated and encouraging interactivity is with the Your Shape Center, an online portal that not only provides feedback on your own progress but allows players to motivate each other through custom challenges. An example given was setting a certain number of calories users would need to burn over a predetermined amount of time. Then through the online portal, you could see which of your friends completed or failed the custom challenge in question.

It's a motivational tool Ubisoft hopes will keep users engaged over the long run. For a brief overview of Your Shape Center, stretch your clicking finger and head on past the break.

Gallery: Your Shape: Fitness Evolved (online integration)

Continue reading Your Shape: Fitness Evolved introduces 'Your Shape Center' portal

JoystiqYour Shape: Fitness Evolved introduces 'Your Shape Center' portal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exergamingfitnesskinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-kinectubisoftxboxyour-shape-centerYour-Shape-Fitness-EvolvedWed, 06 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tae Bo inventor appearing in Wii exercise game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/tae-bo-inventor-appearing-in-wii-exercise-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/tae-bo-inventor-appearing-in-wii-exercise-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/tae-bo-inventor-appearing-in-wii-exercise-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Billy Blanks, former action star and Tae Bo exercise video baron, will star in a new Japanese Wii exercise game. Billy's Boot Camp: Wii de Enjoy Diet! will feature Billy working out alongside your Miis, and will support the Balance Board in addition to multiple Wiimotes. It's not entirely random to have Blanks appearing in a Japanese release: 1UP notes that the fitness trainer lives in Osaka now and appears frequently on Japanese television.

If your life has a Blanks-shaped hole in it that can only be filled by this game, take heart: Ubisoft localized the last game in this series, Shape Boxing: Wii de Enjoy Diet, with a Gold's Gym license. There's hope for Billy.

JoystiqTae Bo inventor appearing in Wii exercise game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billy-blanksbillys-boot-camp-wii-de-enjoy-dietexercisefitnessjapannintendorocket-companywiiWed, 22 Sep 2010 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jillian Michaels gives her Fitness Ultimatum to D3 Publisher]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/jillian-michaels-gives-her-fitness-ultimatum-to-d3-publisher/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/jillian-michaels-gives-her-fitness-ultimatum-to-d3-publisher/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/jillian-michaels-gives-her-fitness-ultimatum-to-d3-publisher/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If we keep ignoring the demands set forth by Jillian Michaels, she is going to get really mad. The trainer is giving us her third Fitness Ultimatum, Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2011, so we'd better all get fit or else. She's putting her foot down this time.

And this time, the Ultimatum is being delivered only in the form of a Wii game (no DS game), so there's no option to kowtow to Ms. Michaels on the go. Ultimatum 2011 incorporates a more traditional game-like design than its predecessors, including a story mode that involves taking down "an evil food and drug corporation."

Intriguingly, the license is now in the hands of D3 Publisher rather than Majesco. Majesco recently popped up in the news when it acquired the My Baby license from SouthPeak (though not with SouthPeak's cooperation), and now one of its former licenses has moved to another company.

Gallery: Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2011 (Wii)



JoystiqJillian Michaels gives her Fitness Ultimatum to D3 Publisher originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Collision-StudiosD3-PublisherExerciseFitnessJillian-MichaelsJillian-Michaels-Fitness-UltimatumJillian-Michaels-Fitness-Ultimatum-2011nintendowiiThu, 05 Aug 2010 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Preview: Active Life Explorer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/preview-active-life-explorer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/preview-active-life-explorer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/preview-active-life-explorer/#comments It's pretty much a Wii version of Uncharted 2.

Okay, that's a bit of a stretch. However, one of the levels of Namco Bandai's Active Life Explorer has you running down a train, jumping from car to car, as you try to make your way to the front. Along the way, you'll be dodging overhead lights, in a frantic rush to stop the train from meeting a fiery end. But, unlike Naughty Dog's PS3 game, you're not shooting your way through. Instead, you use a DDR-esque mat to literally run through the game.

The Wii is no stranger to fitness games (the Active Life franchise already has multiple iterations on Nintendo's console). However, what makes Explorer so charming is that it actually feels like a game. The game's Treasure Adventure mode features a world map and story, and has you traveling through the map, talking to NPCs and activating challenges to progress in a quest to find treasures. Although simplistic, the narrative does a good enough job of giving some context to the various mini-games you play.

Gallery: Active Life Explorer

Continue reading Preview: Active Life Explorer

JoystiqPreview: Active Life Explorer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Active-Lifeactive-life-explorerExerciseExergamingFitnessMinigamesnamco-bandainintendowiiFri, 16 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect accepts 'Your Shape' from Ubisoft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/kinect-accepts-your-shape-from-ubisoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/kinect-accepts-your-shape-from-ubisoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/kinect-accepts-your-shape-from-ubisoft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Remember that yoga game we saw at last night's madness-infused Kinect event? As it turns out, it's actually an Ubisoft-developed game entitled Your Shape. Microsoft featured the game during it's second pre-E3 event this morning, showing off a trailer with flying people and "Nick, the cardio coach" (spoilers: he's a looker, ladies). The trailer also promises that it will evolve fitness, though we're not totally sure how that's gonna happen. Also, like everything featured in today's presser, the game is exclusive to the Xbox 360.

JoystiqKinect accepts 'Your Shape' from Ubisoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-2010fitnessKinectmicrosoftubisoftxboxyogaYour-Shape-Fitness-EvolvedMon, 14 Jun 2010 14:44:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop holding Wii Fit Plus demo events]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/gamestop-holding-wii-fit-plus-demo-events/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/gamestop-holding-wii-fit-plus-demo-events/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/gamestop-holding-wii-fit-plus-demo-events/#commentsIf lifestyle software like Wii Fit Plus is truly "evergreen," selling for long periods of time beyond the normal sales cycle, then we suppose it follows that its marketing can be evergreen as well. Which is why Nintendo can hold "Wii Fit Plus Demo Days" at GameStops across the U.S. now, even though Wii Fit Plus was released in October 2009.

If you're curious about, say, the ridiculous Bird's Eye Bulls-Eye event, or the ability to create workout routines, you can go to one of the 100 participating stores between 1-4pm on April 25 or May 2 and try it out for yourself.

JoystiqGameStop holding Wii Fit Plus demo events originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exerciseexergamingfitnessgamestopNintendoWiiwii-fitwii-fit-pluswii-fit-plus-demo-daysWed, 21 Apr 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: EA Sports Active 2.0 executive producer Tarrnie Williams]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/interview-ea-sports-active-2-0-executive-producer-tarrnie-willi/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/interview-ea-sports-active-2-0-executive-producer-tarrnie-willi/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/interview-ea-sports-active-2-0-executive-producer-tarrnie-willi/#comments
Tarrnie Williams, formerly of Relic Entertainment, now spends his days working at EA Burnaby on EA Sports Active, which now has him wearing plastic peripherals and extolling the virtues of exercise in his role as executive producer on EA Sports Active 2.0. He's definitely very eager about working out, and he's eager to shake the image of chubby dudes playing games in their parent's basement. He wants them to be fit while they're down there.

We talked to Williams at the EA Sports Opener at GDC where he deftly dodged questions about the Xbox 360 version, and didn't give up much information on the iPhone and iPod Touch versions, other than the fact that "they're online enabled." We'd sure hope so. He does talk about the peripherals and future plans for the property, which includes monitoring your brain. So jog beyond the break to read the full interview.

Continue reading Interview: EA Sports Active 2.0 executive producer Tarrnie Williams

JoystiqInterview: EA Sports Active 2.0 executive producer Tarrnie Williams originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-Sports-Active-2.0EA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseexergamingFitnessgdc-2010interviewNintendoTarrnie-WilliamsWiiThu, 11 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active 2.0 coming this fall to Wii, PS3 and iPhone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/ea-sports-active-2-0-coming-this-fall-to-wii-ps3-and-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/ea-sports-active-2-0-coming-this-fall-to-wii-ps3-and-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/ea-sports-active-2-0-coming-this-fall-to-wii-ps3-and-iphone/#comments EA Sports' "Season Opener" event at GDC contained one major announcement for the developer's bevy of franchises: EA Sports Active will receive the sequel treatment this Fall with EA Sports Active 2.0 (working title), an updated version of the exergame for the PS3, Wii, iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. The console versions of the game will come equipped with two motion sensors and a heart rate monitor the player can strap to their arms and legs.

User information in this new game can be shared over an online social network, allowing fellow players to keep track of how frequently you've been skipping out on your demanding workout regimen. EA Vancouver is reprising its role as developer for the title. We'll let you know when we hear more about 2.0 -- like, for instance, why the game is apparently skipping out on launching on the 360.

JoystiqEA Sports Active 2.0 coming this fall to Wii, PS3 and iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-Activeea-sports-active-2ea-sports-active-2.0EA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseexergamingFitnessgdc-2010iPodNintendosportsWiiTue, 09 Mar 2010 22:50:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active earned publisher $125 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/ea-sports-active-earned-publisher-125-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/ea-sports-active-earned-publisher-125-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/ea-sports-active-earned-publisher-125-million/#comments EA Sports Active for the Wii, the third-party publisher's sweatier response to Nintendo's best-seller Wii Fit, has earned the company $125 million. Gamasutra reports that at the conclusion of Electronic Arts' fiscal year (which is at the end of this month), the company believes the product will be one of the "top 20-selling ... Wii titles of all time." Of course, with Nintendo's dominance on its own platform, EA Sports Active is likely closer to the 20th position than the first.

Despite some hiccups, EA Sports head Peter Moore says that he and the EA brass are still "great believers in the Wii." He notes that the publisher has seen the most success on the platform with "specific experiences that are built around that consumer." He then announced EA Sports Mall Walker ... kidding!

JoystiqEA Sports Active earned publisher $125 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiWed, 03 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Wii/DSi accessory bundles announced]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/ea-sports-wii-dsi-accessory-bundles-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/ea-sports-wii-dsi-accessory-bundles-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/ea-sports-wii-dsi-accessory-bundles-announced/#comments Because your EA Sports games need that extra oomph, EA has signed a deal with Sakar International to produce a lineup of attachments for your Wiimote and -- wait, DSi? Sure enough, the press release mentions "realistic-looking EA Sports golf clubs, tennis rackets and baseball bats for the Wii and Nintendo DSi as well as fitness gear for use with EA Sports Active" as part of a deal EA announced last month.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and 11 on Wii will get a series of golf club attachments for kids on up to adults -- extendable up to 24 or 36 inches depending on the set you acquire -- and Sekar will also offer baseball and racquet accessories for other Wii games like Grand Slam Tennis. As for the DSi, the press release mentions five-in-one carrying kits themed around football, baseball, basketball and soccer -- each kit will include a game case, skin, stylus, and clip-on earphones or headphones.

Then there's the EA Sports Active stuff, which comes in two flavors: Starter Kit and Gym Kit. The first will retail for $19.99 and comes with a Wii Balance Board bag, yoga mat, fitness cord, armband and legbands, while the Gym Kit will set you back a bit more at $39.99 and includes a gym bag, yoga mat with a fitness cord and wrist and ankle weights.

While we can't really comment on these proposed attachments without at least seeing them first, we just hope EA reads the internet every now and then. Some attachments are great, while others are just a painful memory you wish you could forget.

JoystiqEA Sports Wii/DSi accessory bundles announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsiEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessgrand-slam-tennisnintendo-dsisakar-internationaltiger-woodstiger-woods-10tiger-woods-pga-tour-10tiger-woods-pga-tour-11Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Two EA Sports Active games due Holiday 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/two-ea-sports-active-games-due-holiday-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/two-ea-sports-active-games-due-holiday-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/two-ea-sports-active-games-due-holiday-2010/#comments Just before today's sure to be thrilling investor's call, EA released a fact sheet to the folks gearing up for the hour-plus finance-a-thon -- a fact sheet that revealed two "TBA" EA Sports Active games set for release on consoles in the third quarter of the company's fiscal 2011 (October 1 through December 31, 2010, in human being time).

We've yet to hear anything on a new EA Sports Active title for the Wii, though we did hear some rumblings at E3 last year that the franchise would be headed to Sony and Microsoft's respective motion-based outings. And considering the unannounced titles are set for release in line with the announced release of Microsoft's Project Natal, and perhaps just after the PlayStation Motion Controller, there's a good chance that these pending EA Sports Active releases are for those platforms -- maybe one for Natal and one PlayStation; or one for Natal and Playstation and one for Wii.

JoystiqTwo EA Sports Active games due Holiday 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arceaEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoplaystation-arcplaystation-motion-controllerproject-natalq4-2010release-dateWiiMon, 08 Feb 2010 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: DJ Hero best-selling new IP of '09, by revenue only]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/npd-dj-hero-best-selling-new-ip-of-2009-by-revenue-only/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/npd-dj-hero-best-selling-new-ip-of-2009-by-revenue-only/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/npd-dj-hero-best-selling-new-ip-of-2009-by-revenue-only/#comments Activision has announced that DJ Hero was "the #1 new intellectual property by revenue in the U.S. and Europe for calendar 2009, according to the NPD Group." Lest you sped through that proclamation, take note of the two key words: "by revenue" -- in other words, the total amount of money spent by consumers. Considering DJ Hero debuted at $120 for the standard turntable bundle and $200 for the Renegade Edition, it's no wonder that it managed to bring in the most money (though not necessarily the most profit, and certainly not the most units sold for a new franchise).

NPD representative Anita Frazier clarified for Joystiq the performance of last year's new IPs in terms of actual unit sales. As you might have guessed, DJ Hero wasn't quite #1 in that category, but managed a respectable 789,000 units in U.S. sales. Still, it was soundly outsold by other new IPs, including Borderlands and Dragon Age: Origins, which sold 1.11 million and 1.14 million units, respectively. Besting them all, however, was EA Sports Active, which amassed 1.2 million units sold.

And get this, if we consider new IPs that launched before 2009, then Wii Play and Wii Fit were technically the best-selling new IPs in 2009 in terms of unit sales and revenue, according to the NPD.

Finally, we should point out -- as did Frazier -- that NPD data only covers the U.S., despite Activision's claim that the group provided European sales data regarding DJ Hero.

JoystiqNPD: DJ Hero best-selling new IP of '09, by revenue only originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borderlandsdj-herodragon-age-originsEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessMicrosoftNintendonpdsalesWiiXbox-360Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active price pretty slim on Amazon today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/ea-sports-active-price-pretty-slim-on-amazon-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/ea-sports-active-price-pretty-slim-on-amazon-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/ea-sports-active-price-pretty-slim-on-amazon-today/#comments If you're among those who resolved both to lose weight and procrastinate more in 2010, you've got a perfectly opportunity to belatedly begin your regimen today with Amazon's Gold Box deal: EA Sports Active. The fat-fighting gamercise is available for $40 right now, $20 less than its usual price.

It's a shame to have to break one of your resolutions to keep another one, but you sadly can't procrastinate too much on this deal: It'll disappear by day's end.

JoystiqEA Sports Active price pretty slim on Amazon today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon-gold-boxEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessThu, 07 Jan 2010 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: EA Sports working on manly football fitness game for men]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/rumor-ea-sports-working-on-manly-football-fitness-game-for-men/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/rumor-ea-sports-working-on-manly-football-fitness-game-for-men/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/rumor-ea-sports-working-on-manly-football-fitness-game-for-men/#comments
EA Sports Active may be fine for the ladies, but we want to get trim with more manly pursuits, like lumbercraft and bronzemanship. According to a rumor posted by Destructoid, we may just get our wish. The site reports that, according to sources close to the project, EA Sports is creating NFL Trainer for Wii, which will help players work on their technique and get fit with a variety of football drills.
As if that weren't manly enough, there's talk of an included football peripheral to plug your Wiimote into. Can you imagine the rush of pretend-throwing the old virtual prolate spheroid down the e-gridiron? If that's not enough to put hair on your chest, we don't know what is.

JoystiqRumor: EA Sports working on manly football fitness game for men originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-Sportsea-sports-activeEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessfootballnfl-trainerNintendoWiiTue, 29 Dec 2009 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active stores open in Boston and San Francisco]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/ea-sports-active-stores-open-in-boston-and-san-francisco/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/ea-sports-active-stores-open-in-boston-and-san-francisco/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/ea-sports-active-stores-open-in-boston-and-san-francisco/#commentsIf you live in Boston or San Francisco and are curious enough about EA Sports Active to go into a retail store devoted entirely to the fitness game, you're in luck! And maybe you've also learned something about the amount of curiosity you have about EA Sports Active. On November 15, EA opened two EA Sports Active stores, featuring demo units of both Active and the new EA Sports Active: More Workouts, "Active Trainers" who will show attendees how to use the game, and even a supply of games to lend out to visitors so they can try it at home. The stores also take reservations for workout sessions. They'll be open until December 14.

EA invited some bloggers to the Boston location for a tour and a workout. Not us, but fitness bloggers. You know, the people that someone might listen to if they cared about being healthy. Luckily for us, those bloggers took plenty of pictures of the inside of the Boston store. If you'd like to visit, the addresses of the stores are posted after the break.

Continue reading EA Sports Active stores open in Boston and San Francisco

JoystiqEA Sports Active stores open in Boston and San Francisco originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-Activeea-sports-active-more-workoutsEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiTue, 17 Nov 2009 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Fitness group 'underwhelmed' by Wii Fit exercises]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/fitness-group-underwhelmed-by-wii-fit-exercises/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/fitness-group-underwhelmed-by-wii-fit-exercises/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/fitness-group-underwhelmed-by-wii-fit-exercises/#comments The American Council on Exercise recently conducted a study on the effectiveness of Nintendo's Wii Fit, and was "underwhelmed" by the results (PDF link). The study examined what the ACE dubbed to be the "most aerobically challenging activities," including the Free Run, Island Run, Super Hula Hoop, Free Step, Advanced Step and Rhythm Boxing. The study found that Free Run burned the most calories, averaging at 165 calories burned during a thirty-minute session. The next highest was Rhythm Boxing at 114, not exactly the fat-melting miracle one might hope for. Said Dr. John Porcari, "The Wii Fit is a very, very mild workout."

The ACE noted that performing the real-life activity -- real boxing, step aerobics, running, etc. -- burns significantly more calories than their Wii Fit counterparts. As an example, the study notes that traditional boxing burns three times as many calories as Rhythm Boxing. That said, the study did note that Wii Fit burns twice as many calories as normal video games, and that's got to count for something.

Still, if you're looking to really feel the burn, the study concluded that Wii Sports "is a better option" for gamers looking to find a decent workout.

Source - ACEFitness.org -- Wii Fit - Or Just a Wee Bit? (PDF)

JoystiqFitness group 'underwhelmed' by Wii Fit exercises originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceAmerican-Council-On-ExerciseexercisefitnessnintendoWiiwii-fitWed, 11 Nov 2009 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Beyonce expresses interest in fitness game, men everywhere pre-order]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/beyonce-expresses-interest-in-fitness-game-men-everywhere-pre-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/beyonce-expresses-interest-in-fitness-game-men-everywhere-pre-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/beyonce-expresses-interest-in-fitness-game-men-everywhere-pre-o/#commentsIn a rather lengthy interview with Billboard, music megastar Beyoncé intimated that she'd like to create her own fitness game. She told the magazine that she "really" loves Wii Fit -- and her DS, of course -- but added that she'd like to see the game include dancing. Her own workouts are apparently much more enjoyable when they include dancing, rather than simply "running on a boring treadmill."

Noting that "a lot of women would enjoy" a fitness game bearing her likeness, she didn't mention how much men would also enjoy a game in which Beyoncé dances. Is there a better motivation for us to get rid of these beer guts?

JoystiqBeyonce expresses interest in fitness game, men everywhere pre-order originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beyonceculturefitnessFri, 09 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active inspires 'More Workouts' with success stories trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/ea-sports-active-inspires-more-workouts-with-success-stories-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/ea-sports-active-inspires-more-workouts-with-success-stories-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/ea-sports-active-inspires-more-workouts-with-success-stories-t/#comments The newest trailer for EA Sports' upcoming Active line More Workouts retail expansion is live (after the break) and features some heartwarming stories. Well, heartwarming might be a strong word but it definitely features people wearing EA logo shirts describing how EA Sports Active is the best thing to happen to them since the discovery of Pringles.

EA Sports Active: More Workouts hits stores this November. The new version of the exercise title includes over 30 new workouts and a new six week challenge mode, which can be customized for personal tastes.

Continue reading EA Sports Active inspires 'More Workouts' with success stories trailer

JoystiqEA Sports Active inspires 'More Workouts' with success stories trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-Activeea-sports-active-more-workoutsEA-VancoverElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessmore-workoutsThu, 17 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active gets More Workouts Nov. 17]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/ea-sports-active-gets-more-workouts-nov-17/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/ea-sports-active-gets-more-workouts-nov-17/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/ea-sports-active-gets-more-workouts-nov-17/#comments We've always thought slapping a number at the end of a title is a pretty unoriginal way to name a sequel, but EA has lowered the bar, perhaps even digging out a bar-shaped hole in the soft earth below and jamming said bar down into it with EA Sports Active More Workouts. Yeah, that's the real name. EA Sports Active ... but more.

The expansion's 35 new exercises -- like water skiing and paddle surfing -- will focus on abs and add a warm-up and cool down feature. Look for EA to strike a blow against creative nomenclature on November 17.

JoystiqEA Sports Active gets More Workouts Nov. 17 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-Activeea-sports-active-more-workoutsEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseexpansionFitnessmore-workoutsNintendoWiiThu, 20 Aug 2009 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Activism: Moore 'delighted' to talk to female gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/activism-moore-delighted-to-talk-to-female-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/activism-moore-delighted-to-talk-to-female-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/activism-moore-delighted-to-talk-to-female-gamers/#comments Speaking at the Edinburgh Interactive Conference this week, Peter Moore explained how EA Sports changed its business strategy in order to address a growing female demographic. According to Moore, the arrival of the Wii changed everything, thanks to its focus on gameplay over graphics. "We didn't even have arms any more, never mind superior graphics," says more, adding that games "became more about getting up off the couch." This led EA Sports to change its business model.

Moore notes that EA pulled in $150 million "by talking to the female consumer and providing a solution to someone who perhaps can't get to a gym, or afford one, through EA Sports Active." He adds that it's "not only great business" for EA, but it's "changing people's lives through a game." He concludes that EA is "delighted" to be talking to girls and women.

We'll bet the company is delighted. So delighted that it "indefinitely" delayed the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions Grand Slam Tennis in order to push out an expansion for EA Sports Active.

JoystiqActivism: Moore 'delighted' to talk to female gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendopeter-mooreWiiThu, 13 Aug 2009 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active player base split evenly between men and women]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/ea-sports-active-player-base-split-evenly-between-men-and-women/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/ea-sports-active-player-base-split-evenly-between-men-and-women/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/ea-sports-active-player-base-split-evenly-between-men-and-women/#comments As you likely noticed if you've turned on a TV in the past few months, EA Sports Active is being marketed pretty heavily towards the female demographic. So you can imagine the company's surprise when, as they told us earlier today, customer satisfaction surveys from its research group indicated that the Active audience was split evenly between men and women.

"Although we focused our marketing campaign on women, EA Sports Active was designed to accommodate everyone and our consumer base reflects that," Monique Gomel, marketing director for the game, told us.

Unfortunately, there's no way to tell if this is a case of EA not reaching the women it's after or dudes just wanting to get tiny before they get huge and start wailing on their pecs. Let's hope it's the latter.

JoystiqEA Sports Active player base split evenly between men and women originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiTue, 11 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Q1 sales better than expected, still slow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/ea-q1-sales-better-than-expected-still-slow/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/ea-q1-sales-better-than-expected-still-slow/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/ea-q1-sales-better-than-expected-still-slow/#comments We've been hearing recession tales of woe for months now in the video game industry. Today is no different, as EA is posting a net loss of $234 million for its financial Q1 sales year over year versus $95 million in losses during the same quarter last year. Unsurprisingly, titles like The Sims 3 and EA Sports Active -- you know, EA's best selling Wii game ever -- helped to boost sales, but overall game sales were lower "due to slowed hardware sales."

Don't worry, though, as EA promises four new IPs for the holiday season (Dante's Inferno, Dragon Age: Origins, Brütal Legend and, presumably, Saboteur) and predicts increased revenue with tiny little titles like The Beatles: Rock Band and Madden 10 landing in the next few months. (We were so worried.)

JoystiqEA Q1 sales better than expected, still slow originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brutal-legenddantes-infernodragon-age-originsEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessleft-4-dead-2madden-10Nintendothe-beatles-rock-bandthe-sims-3WiiTue, 04 Aug 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active is EA's best-selling Wii game ever]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/ea-sports-active-is-eas-best-selling-wii-game-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/ea-sports-active-is-eas-best-selling-wii-game-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/ea-sports-active-is-eas-best-selling-wii-game-ever/#commentsThrowing stuff at stuff is okay, but what Wii owners really like is stretching. That's the takeaway we've gleaned from EA's quarterly financial results, which reveal that EA Sports Active, selling "over 1.8 million copies in the quarter," is not just a genuine hit -- it's the publisher's best-selling Wii title to date.

If EA hadn't already announced that expansions and versions for other consoles were coming out, now is right about when we would say "there are totally going to be sequels to this." Although, we suppose, technically, the second EA Sports released a game was the second we knew there'd be another one in a year.

JoystiqEA Sports Active is EA's best-selling Wii game ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverearningsElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiTue, 04 Aug 2009 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[New dieting app uses DSi camera for time-lapse humiliation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/new-dieting-app-uses-dsi-camera-for-time-lapse-humiliation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/new-dieting-app-uses-dsi-camera-for-time-lapse-humiliation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/new-dieting-app-uses-dsi-camera-for-time-lapse-humiliation/#commentsNamco Bandai's DSiWare fitness app, Diet Memo, has been officially revealed, after the title showed up in the original Namco Bandai DSiWare announcement back in February. Non-game diet stuff might not be the most exciting thing in the world, but this one at least seems to be implemented smartly.

Diet Memo uses the DSi camera extensively, for before-and-after photos of your stomach and other areas in which you hope to lose weight. You can also snap pictures of food you've eaten and annotate them with calorie data. According to Andriasang, the game can store up to ten meals a day for 90 days, though if you're eating ten meals a day, you may not need such a sophisticated weight loss product (here's your new plan: don't do that).

It also lets players record their weight twice a day, providing a graph of the long-term changes in weight and body fat. This can be exported to CSV and transferred to a computer via SD card, so players can obsessively chart their own stats -- which is both really creepy and very helpful for dieting. Diet Memo will be out tomorrow in Japan.

[Via Gpara, Andriasang]

JoystiqNew dieting app uses DSi camera for time-lapse humiliation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diet-memodsiwareexercisefitnessjapannamco-bandaiTue, 04 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Daisy Fuentes Pilates stretches onto Wii August 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/daisy-fuentes-pilates-stretches-onto-wii-august-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/daisy-fuentes-pilates-stretches-onto-wii-august-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/daisy-fuentes-pilates-stretches-onto-wii-august-4/#comments
Health and fitness is the fastest growing segment of the games market and Daisy Fuentes is the fastest growing segment of "Former America's Funniest Home Videos Hosts We Don't Care About," if you don't count John Fugelsang. So it's great to see that these two powerhouses are working together, teaming for Daisy Fuentes Pilates, which Sega announced will arrive on August 4.

We can't wait to see if Daisy can dethrone EA Sports Active the same way she dethroned Saget.

JoystiqDaisy Fuentes Pilates stretches onto Wii August 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daisy-fuentesdaisy-fuentes-pilatesfitnesshealth-and-wellnesssegaMon, 20 Jul 2009 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Health games big business, experts push for exergaming in schools]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/health-games-big-business-experts-push-for-exergaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/health-games-big-business-experts-push-for-exergaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/health-games-big-business-experts-push-for-exergaming/#comments Thanks to the success of games such as Wii Fit, EA Sports Active and Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009, the medical community is starting to take games seriously as a means to pump you up keep us healthy. Reuters reports that at this year's fifth annual Games for Health Conference in Boston, a bolstered attendance brought health experts together to talk about these games, and you'd be surprised how much money these titles generated last year.

"Healthcare is 18 percent of the GDP of the United States and so games for health is probably the largest sector of activity in the serious games field long-term," said Ben Sawyer, a co-founder of The Games for Health Project. He added, "If you add up the 18 month sales of Wii Fit and the sales of EA Sports Active, Konami's Dance Dance Revolution and other healthy games, the worldwide retail numbers are over $2 billion." That's not a bad slice of the $22 billion pie that gaming lovingly prepared last year, if we may say so.

Some experts think the government should look into offering these types of games in schools to help kids learn the importance of exercise, while others think that a public service campaign should be started and backed by the president, Congress, and other federal agencies. We'd comment, but we really only play Wii Fit for the hulahoop game.

JoystiqHealth games big business, experts push for exergaming in schools originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exergamingfitnessgames-for-healthNintendoWiiFri, 26 Jun 2009 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Moore says Metacritic not so relevant to Wii sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/moore-says-metacritic-not-so-relevant-to-wii-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/moore-says-metacritic-not-so-relevant-to-wii-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/moore-says-metacritic-not-so-relevant-to-wii-sales/#comments We've heard stories of PR reps and devs obsessing over Metacritic scores, but EA Sports' Peter Moore's not sweating them, at least when it comes to Wii games. Noting that some titles in the low 70s can still move millions upon millions of units, Moore says that the people buying casual games and health titles like EA Sports Active aren't getting their info from Metacritic.

Moore's bigger concern? User reviews on Amazon. We'd like to snicker, but that's how we buy vacuums, so what do we know?

JoystiqMoore says Metacritic not so relevant to Wii sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonEAEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessmetacriticNintendopeter-mooreWiiWed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports already working on Active for Natal/PS3 Motion Controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/ea-sports-already-working-on-active-for-natal-ps3-motion-control/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/ea-sports-already-working-on-active-for-natal-ps3-motion-control/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/ea-sports-already-working-on-active-for-natal-ps3-motion-control/#comments EA Sports is the very definition of an early adopter. During a lengthy interview with us, the company's Peter Moore confirmed that his teams were working on how to bring the mega-successful EA Sports Active franchise to PS3 and 360, taking advantage of the PS3 Motion Controller and Project Natal respectively.

"Absolutely," Moore said. "Natal is the perfect example of what you could do there. If you could imagine EA Sports Active done via Natal ... and we are working on that right now, we saw Natal a couple months ago and we started thinking about how we could bring health/wellness and fitness to a Natal-type experience. Same with Sony with the motion controller, how can you utilize what they showed on Tuesday to bring fitness to that. But I think Natal is a huge opportunity."

JoystiqEA Sports already working on Active for Natal/PS3 Motion Controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2009EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessMicrosoftNintendoWiiXbox-360Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active gets active in extracting money from wallets]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/ea-sports-active-gets-active-in-extracting-money-from-wallets/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/ea-sports-active-gets-active-in-extracting-money-from-wallets/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/ea-sports-active-gets-active-in-extracting-money-from-wallets/#comments EA Sports was very happy to announce today that it's Wii fitness bundle EA Sports Active had a tremendously successful start, selling over 600,000 copies since its May 19 release. In case you were wondering why EA was so quick to put out an expansion, yeah, that's why. It's not like the company desperately wants you to lose those love handles, you know.

JoystiqEA Sports Active gets active in extracting money from wallets originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiMon, 01 Jun 2009 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports Active expansion out this holiday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/ea-sports-active-expansion-out-this-holiday/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/ea-sports-active-expansion-out-this-holiday/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/ea-sports-active-expansion-out-this-holiday/#commentsEA Sports Active seems to be quite the hit! So much so that, like the resistance bands that ship with the disc, the game is due for expansion. Even though the game just came out May 19, EA has already announced the first expansion pack. It's coming "this holiday, just in time to help you with your New Year's resolutions."

If you resolve to buy more fitness games this year, EA wants to help! Peter Moore did say EA Sports Active was a "platform."

JoystiqEA Sports Active expansion out this holiday originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiMon, 01 Jun 2009 18:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Investors shouldn't put faith in EA 'management's current guidance']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/report-investors-shouldnt-put-faith-in-ea-managements-curre/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/report-investors-shouldnt-put-faith-in-ea-managements-curre/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/report-investors-shouldnt-put-faith-in-ea-managements-curre/#comments EA hasn't been the money-printing powerhouse it had been in previous years, and Cowen Research group blames the decisions of EA's top brass for that. Cowen Research revealed in its latest report (via GI.biz) that EA could still hit its expected revenue of USD 4.3 billion for the next financial year, but that the company would need to see growth in publishing revenue that outperforms overall industry figures by a considerable amount, despite the tough economic climate of today.

Digital distribution will also play a key role in EA's economic future, as the company has stated recently, and EA hopes to grow its business there by 100 percent over the course of the year. Cowen Research's report again sees this as a possibility for the company, yet points out there is considerable risk involved.

One also has the company's two big Wii games to consider: EA Sports Active and Boom Blox: Bash Party. EA expects each to sell 1.4 million and 350,000, respectively, but Cowen Research's report doesn't put much stock in third-party success on Wii. Cowen Research is hesitant to value third-party numbers where Rock Band and Guitar Hero figures are ignored, as the top five percent of third-party titles on Wii sold an average of 860,000 copies, compared to the more lucrative numbers of 1.2 million on the PS3 and 2.5 million on the Xbox 360. These games only accounted for 31.8 percent of total game sales on Wii, compared to 34.2 per cent on the PS3 and 41.2 per cent on the Xbox 360.

Cowen Research finally points out that a buyout could be in the cards, with the company's share price reaching historical lows.

JoystiqReport: Investors shouldn't put faith in EA 'management's current guidance' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 May 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boom-bloxboom-blox-bash-partycowen-research-groupEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiWed, 27 May 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop encourages women to be 'active and healthy' ... and stuff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/gamestop-encourages-women-to-be-active-and-healthy-and-stu/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/gamestop-encourages-women-to-be-active-and-healthy-and-stu/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/gamestop-encourages-women-to-be-active-and-healthy-and-stu/#comments Jumping on the release of EA Sports Active this week, GameStop has revealed plans for a sports and gaming hybrid campaign targeting the ladies. A cadre of pseudo-celebs and the game retailer have teamed up to promote women's health through a recently launched website called "Fit at Any Age."

Various generic crucial health information is available on staying fit in your 20s through your 50s, as well as abbreviated interviews with each of the celebrities involved. We hate to be the naysayers but this thing stinks of advertising and half-assery. Those looking for good health advice along with their copy of EA Sports Active, well, probably aren't reading this site. But if you are, you probably wanna head somewhere other than the "Fit at Any Age" campaign site.

JoystiqGameStop encourages women to be 'active and healthy' ... and stuff originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 May 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbusinessEAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExercisefit-at-any-ageFitnessgamestopNintendoWiiWed, 20 May 2009 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Majesco whipping up two more Jillian Michaels fitness games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/majesco-whipping-up-two-more-jillian-michaels-fitness-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/majesco-whipping-up-two-more-jillian-michaels-fitness-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/majesco-whipping-up-two-more-jillian-michaels-fitness-games/#comments
Apparently, Mrs. Michaels' last Ultimatum wasn't ultimate enough -- a recent Majesco press release dropped an announcement that the Biggest Loser star would be featured in two new games this year: Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2010 and Jillian Michaels' Pocket Trainer 2010. Man, we don't want to be rude or anything, but this couldn't have come at a better time. Our pockets have seriously let themselves go.

Both games are set to drop this fall, and will likely each be purchased 500,000 times.

JoystiqMajesco whipping up two more Jillian Michaels fitness games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSexerciseexergamingfitnessjillian-michaelsjillian-michaels-fitness-ultimatum-2010jillian-michaels-pocket-trainer-2010majescoNintendoWiiTue, 12 May 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch British 'celebs' play EA Sports Active]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/watch-british-celebs-play-ea-sports-active/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/watch-british-celebs-play-ea-sports-active/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/watch-british-celebs-play-ea-sports-active/#comments
What's the best way to sell a Wii-based fitness product in the UK? Have popular singer Alesha Dixon and Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton demonstrate your product, obviously. Ignore the fact that they're two very attractive young women in workout gear. That's totally not what these videos are about. They're about ... what was it called again? Right, right -- EA Sports Active.

Check out the video after the break to see these two ladies strap on and get sweaty together. There's some gameplay footage too, if that's your thing. The second video can be viewed over at the official EA Sports Active website.

Continue reading Watch British 'celebs' play EA Sports Active

JoystiqWatch British 'celebs' play EA Sports Active originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 May 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessUKTue, 12 May 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: EA Sports Active]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/joystiq-hands-on-ea-sports-active/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/joystiq-hands-on-ea-sports-active/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/joystiq-hands-on-ea-sports-active/#comments While Wii Fit never really felt like it could replace the gym experience entirely, EA Sports Active actually does feel like it offers an approximation -- and they did it simply by including a piece of rubber. Amazing, right? We took the new personal trainer for a spin yesterday, and while we don't know if this will give us a Charles Atlas body right away, it definitely felt like a substantial workout.

Go on, "break" a sweat in our review ... behind the break. Sadly, bad puns do not burn any calories whatsoever.

Gallery: EA Sports Active

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: EA Sports Active

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: EA Sports Active originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 May 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiFri, 08 May 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pachter sees potential in EA Sports Active, dismisses Spore]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/pachter-sees-potential-in-ea-sports-active-dismisses-spore/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/pachter-sees-potential-in-ea-sports-active-dismisses-spore/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/pachter-sees-potential-in-ea-sports-active-dismisses-spore/#comments Wedbush Morgan diva analyst extraordinaire Michael Pachter, the man who finds the idea of Apple buying Electronic Arts "retarded," is confident about EA's gaming lineup -- particularly on the Wii -- and is raising the company's stock expectation to $27 (currently $20). Using the royal We, His Analytical Lordship was particularly impressed by EA Sports Active and Tiger Woods, which He sees becoming "blockbusters" on the Wii.

Of course, Pachter can't show his love without asserting his authority with a beating. Warhammer and Spore were graciously cut with love by the soothsayer. He remains skeptical about Warhammer Online's potential, stating that with 300,000 subscribers the game is probably only making about $10 million in profit (which didn't save many staff members) and estimates the game would break even in operating cost if it dips to about 250,000 subscribers. Pachter also isn't confident about EA's attempts to turn Spore into a franchise, noting that that the game "sold about as well as a typical SpongeBob game." Yeah, that's got to sting a little.

Update: Pachter let us know he writes his reports with Edward Woo. So, our loving crack about the royal We wasn't accurate. There goes our image of Pachter in full Elizabeth I garb. So sad.

JoystiqPachter sees potential in EA Sports Active, dismisses Spore originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 May 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendopachterWiiThu, 07 May 2009 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Peter Moore: EA Sports Active is a 'platform']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/peter-moore-ea-sports-active-is-a-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/peter-moore-ea-sports-active-is-a-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/peter-moore-ea-sports-active-is-a-platform/#commentsEA Sports president Peter Moore spoke to VG247 about the state of the economy, offering careful statements about layoffs, sequelitis, and PC releases of sports franchises. But of everything happening at EA Sports, Moore had the most to say about the upcoming Wii exercise program, EA Sports Active.

"I call it a platform," Moore said. "Yes, it's a game, but it's bigger than a game, bigger than a franchise, bigger than a product. It's a true platform that we can sell expansion packs, sell more peripherals, ultimately get some download on there." Interesting choice of words, considering that EA Sports Active's biggest competitor is literally a platform.

Moore said that he hopes to add biometric data soon. "If I can do that, if I can get your heart-rate on the screen, I mean then I can really drive towards what my vision of this product ultimately can be."

Active and other exergames like it, according to Moore, can help EA and the game industry in general deal with "the most vitriolic press," including the Daily Mail, who frequently "blame [videogames] for pestilence, the plague, everything, and I think it's good that we have things to point to that say, 'This is getting you off the couch' and provide a little bit of balance."

JoystiqPeter Moore: EA Sports Active is a 'platform' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-SportsEA-Sports-ActiveEA-VancoverElectronic-ArtsElectronic-Arts-VancouverExerciseFitnessNintendoWiiThu, 30 Apr 2009 09:25:00 EST