First Gaming Fitness Arcade Opens in CA 60
Turismo writes "In an effort to convince teenagers to exercise, one entrepreneur has started a 'fitness arcade' in California that lures teens with movement-based videogames, WiFi, and study lounges. Should kids be getting even more exposure to media when they workout?" From the Ars Technica article: "When asked whether incorporating gaming into a workout routine was sending mixed messages to adolescents whose free time is often consumed by video games, instant messaging, and TV watching, Ferrell said that the approach Overtime Fitness is taking was necessary. 'In some ways, we're waving the white flag,' he admitted. 'But if we went the opposite way, they would be far less likely to jump in.'"
Re:I can't be the only one (Score:4, Interesting)
Great Idea (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Great Idea (Score:2, Interesting)
Alternatively, they should find a way to link the game to the equipment. Imagine - the rate at which you can move around is dictated by how fast you pedal or run. Or maybe your health/mana/rage/etc regen rate is affected by how long your heart rate has been elevated above resting. Or, even more motivating: your need vs greed roll is weighted by your activity level.
The real question is, how many subscribers would they lose if they enforced this...
It beats watching TV at the gym (Score:4, Interesting)
I've been after my gym to get something like this. For a while, they had some of the cardio machines equipped with Internet access, but the gear was from a dot-com that went bust. They have TV, but that's boring, and working out usually doesn't align with the TV schedule.
There was an arcade game called "Sky Cycle" about ten years ago, with a stationary bicycle. If you pedaled harder, you gained altitude. But all you could do was pedal along a canned route and pop balloons. Something like that, but more aggressive, would be fun as a piece of gym equipment. Tie it into a game like "Crimson Skies". Offer multiplayer mode, so you can have dogfights at the gym. Even in single player, though, Crimson Skies is fun. Now that would liven up cardio machines, which are, let's face it, boring.
Who goes to gyms? Middle-aged people, now. Thirty years ago, the average age at gyms was 18-23. Now it's 46. It's the same people working out. That's part of why we're seeing teenage "wide loads". We need more fusions of gaming and gym equipment.
Wait, huh? (Score:3, Interesting)
Umm, the problem isn't too much media exposure, the problem is kids aren't working out. This is using a potential problem(media exposure) to solve an existing problem(not enough to nil exercise).
Re:Adults aren't welcome? (Score:3, Interesting)
Well if I were a fitness entrepreneur, I'd start introducing gaming machines into my adult-only gyms slowly. But I'm not, which means I'll have to keep my mad-DDR-skillz at home.
More support. (Score:2, Interesting)
As a multi-relapse former gym member, this interests me a whole lot more than my local Gold's Gym. I don't know if its the entertainment or gaming aspect of it, but this seems like it would be more enjoyable, from a physical exercise aspect, than hitting weight rack, machines, or mass cardio class. I prefer a little more mental stimulation when exercising, and the visual aspect that some of these exercises provides would probably fill that.
I know I'm speaking for my preferences here, but ask yourself this: why would we not want something that we get exercise from and a little enjoyment/fun out of??
Hmmm.... kinda like sex.
It's not just DDR, Konami has sports gyms too (Score:3, Interesting)
I used to own Konami shares - the Konami firm actually owns a chain of sports gymnasiums in Japan, and I could easily see them expanding DDR with some Wii games here and doing quite well. It's a fairly profitable component of their business, not counting the gaming machines (Mah Jong and gambling ones) they also run here in the US.
Dance, Dance, Dance DDR! (Score:2, Interesting)
Mixed Messages? Nope. (Score:3, Interesting)
How is that sending mixed messages? People multi-task today. This is the same as how Lance Armstrong or Mr. Nine-To-Fiver will go running with his iPod while listening to an NPR podcast. The only difference is the demographic and the focus of the media. I go running (almost) daily while listening to music, it gives me a chance to listen to my friends' and I's music [atomisk.com] and concentrate on it with little else distracting, a far cry from attempting to listen while driving or at home with roommates, spouses, and IMs. Same could go for gaming. Just keep on moving and keep on gaming.
Re:3 Hours of DDR... (Score:3, Interesting)