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[Wii Sports Boxing workout equivalent to the real thing?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/wii-sports-boxing-a-workout-equivalent-to-the-real-thing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/wii-sports-boxing-a-workout-equivalent-to-the-real-thing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/wii-sports-boxing-a-workout-equivalent-to-the-real-thing/#commentsFiled under:



You know as well as we do that, with some games, you can really break a sweat while playing Wii. Some student researchers from Cleveland University have found out that, at least in Wii Sports Boxing, your workout with Wii is equivalent to that of real, traditional exercise (they aren't the first to conduct tests, though). The goal isn't to get anyone to ditch those traditional routines, mind you, but to get more people exercising.

Still, the difference in calories burned is kind of small. They found that working the bag for 30 minutes only burned 28 more calories than a workout with Wii Sports Boxing over the same period of time. They hope that working out with the Wii will be a more inviting prospect. "One reason people don't exercise is because they feel like it is too strenuous. With the Wii, they get the workout, but there isn't that negative feeling," said CSU Associate Professor Ken Sparks. "Even if you can't get out and jog, you may be able to get the exercise on the Wii."

[Via Go Nintendo]

People have been using the Wii to exercise for awhile now. Aside from Manhattanites paying exuberant amounts of money to workout with the machine, you can also read about a Canadian gym using Wii Sports right here. Surgeons are even using it! The Wii is also a great tool for those in rehab. It can pretty much do anything.

JoystiqWii Sports Boxing workout equivalent to the real thing? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxingexerciseresearchwii-sportswii-sports-boxingworkoutWed, 13 Aug 2008 14:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Manhattanites pay for the privilege of being too good to buy a Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/manhattanites-pay-for-the-privilege-of-being-too-good-to-buy-a-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/manhattanites-pay-for-the-privilege-of-being-too-good-to-buy-a-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/manhattanites-pay-for-the-privilege-of-being-too-good-to-buy-a-w/#commentsFiled under:

Can't find a Wii or Wii Fit for home workouts?? Too good to bother haunting the shops in the hope that one turns up? You can always shell out for 'em on eBay, but why give some random dude the satisfaction? If you live in Manhattan, you've got another option: drop over a hundred bucks an hour to play a little Wii Sports.

Quite a few trainers seem to be jumping on the Wii workout bandwagon, but we rarely get to see more than a vague estimate of the cost of the sessions. Dorothy Evans isn't shy about trumpeting her fees, however; if you want an hour with her, it's $110, and the NYC-based fitness maven is mixing Wii Sports (on a twenty-foot screen!) in with other activities, and she calls it a full-body workout. Maybe we should be playing harder.

[Via Kombo]

JoystiqManhattanites pay for the privilege of being too good to buy a Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fitnessgymmanhattanwii-sportsworkoutThu, 07 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian gym sets up Wii Sports in style]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/19/canadian-gym-sets-up-wii-sports-in-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/19/canadian-gym-sets-up-wii-sports-in-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/19/canadian-gym-sets-up-wii-sports-in-style/#commentsFiled under:

Vancouver's Studeo 55 is the latest to see the benefits of Wii Sports in action and they've decided to dedicate some space to the game -- and when we say space here, we mean it. They've set up a console in a 400 square foot theater-style room with a huge projection screen. The upscale gym, which caters to wealthier patrons willing to pay sizable membership fees each month, has been encouraging members to use Wii Sports as a warm-up or cooldown exercise, or as part of a circuit training regimen.

Former Olympic swimmer Kim Bey gave the title a try despite some early reservations. "I'm not a video game person ... So at first, it was like, 'I don't get it,'" she said. But after playing with her personal trainer, she started to understand the benefits of a game as part of an exercise regimen.

Not everyone was such an easy sell, however. Video games aren't very popular among most workout aficionados; in fact, owner Nathan Mellalieu reportedly faced a lot of criticism over the decision to include Wii Sports at first. Once patrons can be convinced to give it a try, however, reactions seem to change. Mellalieu cautions those who need to lose a lot of weight against depending solely on their Wiis, however -- a few games of Wii Sports is not enough for an overall lifestyle change, but the title can certainly be a part of that. We can't help but wonder if the addition of Wii Fit will spread the console's reputation as an exercise-helper even further. Maybe we'll start to see Wiis in gyms everywhere!

[Thanks, Alex!]

JoystiqCanadian gym sets up Wii Sports in style originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CanadaexergaminggymKimBeyNathanMellalieuVancouverWiiSportsworkoutThu, 19 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WiiHealthy.com sets your wii-kly workout regimen]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/wiihealthy-com-sets-your-wii-kly-workout-regimen/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/wiihealthy-com-sets-your-wii-kly-workout-regimen/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/wiihealthy-com-sets-your-wii-kly-workout-regimen/#commentsFiled under: ,

DDR isn't the only workout program out there anymore, WiiHealthy.com has a workout regimen using Wii Sports that'll help you shed those unwanted Cheetos and Mountain Dew pounds.

The website gives a great workout regimen and all, the first example they use is pretty good, a man lost 30 pounds on the Wii workout plan. We're just a little concerned by the second example on the site. A girl named Melany says, "I'm 24 now and wanted to go from 100 lbs to 92 lbs and I did it in only four/six weeks!" Hear that kids, you too can go from being skinny to being, um, skinnier.

Anybody out there lose weight on the Wii Sports? We really can't see how this replaces DDR as the official go-to game for losing weight as a gamer and we really can't wait to see the results when DDR: Hottest Party eventually hits the Wii. Now that's going to be one insane workout.

JoystiqWiiHealthy.com sets your wii-kly workout regimen originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The idea of using the Wii as a workout is becoming pretty common, but do you really think it will work? Can something as simple as Wii Sports transform the lifestyles of a generation of gamers? Well, no, probably not. But can the Wii provide the seed of motivation? A long session with the Wii remote can definitely inject a little energy into a sedentary lifestyle, but should it be the lynchpin of weight loss program? Or is the inspiration unimportant so long as people are getting on their feet?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Wii as exercise machine originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've all found ourselves thinking it at one time or another: "Sure, this game is fun, but it would be even better if I were twisting around in some ridiculous-looking seat hovering just above the ground." Luckily, Australian Simulation Control System's had the same though, and actually did something about it with their pending Dream Machine game controller contraption.

The highly-adjustable Dream Machine uses a " multi modal central support crown" for "rotational and four way pan and tilt action" -- basically a fancy way of saying you can move yourself around by pushing on the handlebars. It's not exactly clear how the $1,700 contraption actually translates your body movements to on-screen actions, but the device's web site claims it's compatible with PC, Xbox and PlayStation games, and that the company is actively looking for companies to create specially-designed applications. Those with too much money and too few novelty controllers can look for it in March.

[Via SciFi]

JoystiqTwist to fitness with $1700 hover-chair controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've run across a couple of bloggers taking on Wii Sports workout regimens and we must say that it does sound appealing. It's funny -- preWii, people were complaining about the potentially tiring effect of playing for hours, and now other people are looking to maximize that very effect. We must say that a few rounds of boxing or tennis are pretty nice after a long day at the computer. What's your take on it? Think that Wii Sports can have any effect on a gamer's physique?

JoystiqEverybody's doing it: Wii workouts originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Jan 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Times columnist, David Pogue discusses the Wii's fitness potential in an online post. After witnessing his family burn calories while gaming, he thinks the Wii is one of the best possible indoor activities for kids. Pogue also has no sympathy for the "nerds who haven't moved their bodies in years" who claim muscle aches and broken furniture.

We like this one-two punch from the mainstream press -- albeit, not in print -- exploring the health benefits of the system and dismissing the over-hyped Wii injuries. We look forward to fitness being a byproduct of active games like DDR; where's the Wii version of Samba De Amigo? Exercise games may have less appeal, but they may also work well; will we see Wiimote ankle holders to measure footwork?

[Via digg]

JoystiqWii has health potential originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Capitalist's Bible, also known as the Wall Street Journal, gives a backhanded compliment to the Wii today saying it gets people off the couch, but "is turning out to be more exercise than some players bargained for." The article explores how people are beginning to develop -- wait for it -- "Wii elbow." One after another the WSJ serves up another poor soul who has been exerted by the Wii-ness. For example, Ryan Mercer lifts weights during the week but Wii Sports' boxing is pwning him, "I was soaking wet with sweat, head to toe -- I had to go take a shower." The following morning he was so sore he had trouble getting his shirt on.

Nintendo's name-dropping spokesperson Perrin Kaplan is quoted in the piece saying she hasn't received any complaints about soreness. Serving back WSJ's backhanded compliment she says, "It was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement ... if people are finding themselves sore, they may need to exercise more."

So the answer is to train up before you Wii and you won't get sore, but please remember you can always play the Wii like a toolbox.

JoystiqWSJ concerned about Wii owner health originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will frequent use of the PlayStation EyeToy:Kinetic game chisel my formless flab (left) into a sleek, muscular, body-ideal (right)?

Following our poll that asked readers to rank themselves on a scale of skinny to obese, I'm conducting an experiment to assess the potential for games to have a positive influence on a gamer's health.

I'll be using an EyeToy: Kinetic for the PlayStation 2. The marketing hype for the product promises a "Body by PlayStation" via a "full-body fitness program like no other." I'm testing that premise with a $500 wager. Read on for details.

Continue reading Cheesesteaks vs. PlayStation showdown

JoystiqCheesesteaks vs. PlayStation showdown originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Mar 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheesesteakdietingdietsexerciseeyetoy kineticplaystationplaystation 2PS2workoutMon, 06 Mar 2006 09:00:00 EST