Exergaming

There have been several product launches of exergames, mainly sports games, combining real exercise and a display screen. Melanie Lazarus has recently posted on healthGAMERS an exhaustive chronology of exergames.  Even though some of these games could be categorized as memorable flops to be taught in MBA marketing courses, all have two elements in common:

1. Putting the player “in the game” and
2. Taking a typical outdoor activity and bringing it indoors by requiring the player to connect with technology.

A scientific article published almost three years ago in the British Medical Journal pointed out that the energy used when playing active Wii Sports games is not of high enough intensity to contribute towards the recommended daily amount of exercise in children. It is therefore interesting to solve this equation of videogaming and exercise and to figure out how kids can burn calories without playing only exergames.

Physical Activity Monitoring

It is possible to imagine that a player or his parents could report on the computer real exercise performed in real life. Such monitoring can then be coupled to a lock/unlock game function which takes into account the amount of calories spent. You can then convert these spent calories in game time, next level access, bonuses and extra points.  In fact, this already exists.  For example, HopeLab has created Zamzee that should be available in 2011,  an online rewards system powered by physical activity recorded through an activity meter.

It is also possible to imagine that games could be used as a reward for physical activity in the real world. Imagine a fat Mario with limited power which can be improved by the amount of burnt calories of the player. The access and the use of video games is therefore controlled by the level of recorded physical activity. Again, as for example, iToys, a major Canadian toy industry actor, has created Me2, a hand-held activity meter device which is already sold on Amazon. When plugged into a computer, the device transfers the activity recorded into a 3D game that powers the gamer’s avatar.

Human-Generated Energy

In order to include players who never play sports games, some ingenuous systems have been conceived including the pedal-powered laptop developed by the MIT students. The player has to generate sufficient energy to charge the computer or to keep it turned on.

Indeed, Motion Fitness, an Illinois based company, already sells a similar system, “Brain Bike,” which was developed by a team of neuropsychologists and medical specialists. It relies on the Neuroactive® brain-fitness program that improves cognition while pedaling. The computer is connected to a module called Gamercize which interacts with the BrainBike by activating the mouse when pedaling then stopping the mouse when pedaling stops.

Furthermore, Humana Games, a subsidiary of HMO company Humana, has created the “Horsepower Challenge,” an online game that motivates physical activity in school-aged children. Each student wears a pedometer on his or her shoe which stores data and wirelessly uploads it to a website. When an individual accesses the site, the player is represented by a horse avatar. Steps can then be collected for an entire school. The students’ steps power a virtual school bus on a race around the world, which pauses for brief history lessons on historic landmarks along the way.

Alternate Reality Gaming

Augmented reality technologies bring a whole new way of gaming. It offers the possibility to play and interact with the outdoor environment in real-time.  For example, Hidden Park, available on the App Store, is a GPS adventure game for the iPhone. The game is played while visiting parks all around the world and uses alternate reality and geo-caching to create a fantasy world with digital photographs taken by the player. By the end of the day, the player has an album of their adventures, and they can compete or share their experience with others in the gaming community.

As a projection in the very near future, HP has created “Roku’s Reward” a demo game for their Tablet PC. HP says that they are not currently developing the game, however, the technology seems to be mature enough to consider the development of such a game in the near future.

Conclusions

I believe we are at the very beginning of understanding how these new technologies could be used in the most efficient way to help kids spend their extra calories because trying to prevent them of playing video games is already a lost battle. With the development of Human Generated Power and augmented reality technologies, there will be a huge body of possibilities to create new and highly interactive videogames that might help reduce obesity in children and increase physical activity.

HardCORE Swimming is an Exertion Game prototype that combines the use of a Wii Fit balance board, Wii controller and nunchuk to swim through a shark-infested sea while collecting treasure.  In our last healthGAMERS interview we talked Floyd Mueller, an instructor at the University of Melbourne, Australia, who is teaching students the art of computer game design through Exertion Games: games that not only require exercise input but also rely on exercise for game outcomes. Today we talk with one of these innovative student teams.  Kane, Alex, Amber, Dean and Christian have created an exertion game they call HardCORE Swimming, a game that their instructor feels is ready to pitch to Nintendo today.

The interview.

HG: HardCORE Swimming seems to utilize several Wii peripherals.  Can you describe the general gameplay for us?

HCS: The gameplay of HardCORE basically involves the player or players lying on their stomachs in the middle of the Wii balance board and holding the Wii mote and nunchuk in their hands. They lie in the a superman-like pose with their arms outstretched. Basically the player is constantly falling and the only way to stay up is by shaking the Wii mote and nunchuk.

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HG: What makes HardCORE Swimming entertaining?

HCS: At intermittent times a flashing message will appear on the screen saying ‘SHARK INCOMING – LEAN!!!” and a second or so later a shark will rush past the screen. If the player leans to the left on the balance board (basically balancing on their side) then their character will lean and dodge the shark. If they don’t lean to the side they will get eaten. There’s also treasure spawning randomly at the right side of the screen that can be collected to add points to their score.

HG: The ultimate purpose of Exertion Games is to get a great workout while still having fun.  What muscle groups should a player expect to work while playing HardCORE Swimming?

HCS: This game is particularly great for people who want to do abdominal exercises whilst still having fun. Your body’s core is one of the most important things to build when being involved with any physical exercise. In our game, the player is in an existing exercise position called the superman which is designed to work the core. By lying down in a superman pose waggling the remotes out the front and leaning to the side, the player gets quite an abdominal work out.

HG: Is gameplay designed for one player or two?

HCS: There is multi-player mode where two players vie for treasure to stay alive. Two player mode has a slight limitation because each player must haves their own Wii Fit board.  We wanted to figure out a way to make the game more economical and utilize only one balance board, but we need to keep designing.

HG: How did you come up with the concept for HardCORE swimming?  Was there any particular inspiration?

HCS: The concept of HardCORE swimming was originally formed when we were searching for a game idea and one of our team members who is competitive swimmer suggested incorporating something to do with swimming.  The central idea was to get the players to engage in what is actually a very strenuous core body exercise but to distract them using a simple game they could focus on.  Thus hardCORE swimming was created! However, I must stress that we ploughed through many, many ideas before finally settling on this one and as a result we had to rush on the final technical implementation – but it still worked!

HG: Who do you see enjoying this game? Does it appeal to a specific age group?

HCS: HardCORE swimming is a game that is suitable for all ages and gamer skills. It is fun for children whilst teaching them good skills for a balanced lifestyle. It is good for swimming professionals to take time out from real training and enjoy simulated training whilst still having fun.

HG: Studies show that many exergames like Wii Fit are played for two weeks and then never played again. What about your game gives it replayability?

HCS: Our game’s constant replayablility is drawn from the way that it is based on a core exercise. Many people involved in sport or just general fitness already do the superman core exercise, and we have made it more enjoyable to do. The idea that you can beat your existing score or compete against a different opponent also adds to the interest of playing the game over and over.

HG: Your teacher, Mr. Mueller said that he believes this prototype game in particular is ready to market to Nintendo.  What makes your game special compared to other class prototypes?

HCS: We think HardCORE Swimming would appeal to Nintendo because it is a fun game for all people of all ages. It is marketable because it is a simple concept to understand, and the easy interface makes it basically unnecessary for the use of complex instructions. It would be a very suitable game for the Wii console.

Closing remarks.

I think this game has a lot of potential both from an entertainment and physical activity perspective.  I haven’t seen a Wii game that utilizes the core muscle groups, specifically the abs, yet. Perhaps we will see this game or one like it on the market soon.  Congratulations to the HardCORE Swimming team, and best of luck with their prototype!  To see more amazing Exertion Game prototypes from RMIT, Australia, visit their Lecture 2130 website.

I first found out about Floyd Mueller and his creative “Lecture 2130” at the University of Melbourne, Australia from the Games For Health listserve.   Mr. Mueller is doing some pretty amazing stuff with his computer game design students using Exertion Games.  Here’s my fascinating interview with this innovative instructor and how his students are taking exergaming to the next level.

The interview.

HG: For those unfamiliar, define “Exertion Game”?  How is this different from an exergame?

FM: For my work, I use “Exertion Game” because I want to highlight that in my games the exercise affects the game outcome. For example, running on a treadmill while playing Xbox is not an Exertion Game for me. I also use Exertion Game to highlight the game aspect, for example, interactive yoga exercises such as some done with the Wii Balance Board, they are not games. By highlighting these aspects, I hopefully will be able to show designers that there is still a vast amount of potential we have not explored yet!

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HG: Tell us more about your class at RMIT.  How and why did you start teaching physical games “Lecture 2130″?

FM: This is a first year class for aspiring new computer game designers. Through an extensive selection process only the best students with the most potential will be selected, as competition is fierce.  I have been researching “Exertion Interfaces” for almost 10 years now across Europe, the USA and Australia, being interested in designing better technology for the body. This class teaches the important role that physical concepts have in computer games. It evolved from looking at the underlying principles in 3D worlds, as seen particularly in FPS, to the emerging trend of physical games that challenge our understanding of the player’s body. This becomes important when designing for new platforms such as the iPhone, Nike+ and the Nintendo Wii. With this trend from being ‘physical’ in the virtual world to being ‘physical’ in the real world, we realized that there was an opportunity to make a difference to the future careers of young game designers, but also to the future of gamers, as these games can address the obesity issue.

HG: What makes exertion games appealing to students?

FM: Maybe it is a realization that games that go beyond the gamepad experience can be more social, more emotional and healthier. These games will be huge, and change the lives of millions, and students see the market and potential to be creative in an otherwise very competitive market.

HG: I see from your blog that students in your class have to create their own Exertion Games as part of their large final project.  How much did it cost students to create their game?  How long?

FM: The students had 6 weeks from their first class at university, which included forming a group of 5 students, to a Madness session where they had 1 minute to present their idea to 80 other students to get rapid-fire feedback to implementation to demo’ing in week 6, including showcasing the game on their website. They each invested 20 Australian dollars (ca. $US 18), so they had $AU 100 together as a team. Currently, they are preparing for the next demo round to do it all over again with even more exciting games!

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HG: Can you see these games being used in the “real world” such as those made for The Fun Theory?  For example, the Escalatek game could utilize a mall or office building.  How could the game be modified or implemented to benefit the public?

FM: We actually talked about the Fun Theory (it is not actually a theory though) on the blog, and a lot of our games fall into this category. The Escalatek team already has some ideas on this, and I let them (and the others) talk about how they ‘blur the magic circle of play’ (some of the topics discussed in class) in order to benefit the public.

HG: Was there one project in particular (2009 or 2010) you thought had commercial potential?  Why?

FM: I thought the Hardcore Swimming game could be sold for Nintendo tomorrow, so could the Hot Head Balloon game.  The JunkFooders’ Game was loved by everyone because it required so much exertion and could be installed in schools. And another game uses existing Foursquare technology on an iPhone but turns it into a game.

Closing remarks.

There are many, many other creative ideas on the class’s blog.  Each team has a webpage (accessible from the left menu on the class’s blog) where they document their ideas and progress.  Be on the lookout for more ideas from this innovative class, and stay tuned for part 2 of this interview series where we go behind the scenes with one of these amazing student teams.

Introducing full-sized bike to Wii.

Cyberbike is a full-sized stationary “home- bike” complete with back pedaling and brake capabilities. I was unable to find any specs on the peripheral’s weight and height, but as you can see from the official Cyberbike Trailer, it’s a pretty large accessory. [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.] Unlike many BigBen Interactive products, the Cyberbike also comes with a Wii game title of the same name.  The Cyberbike game includes 18 tracks, personalized vehicles and characters, 3 game modes and varying levels of difficulty.  I found the story mode plot line a little unexpected.  Here is a little summary of what to expect:

Drive, along with your family, the most improbable vehicles from planet Cyclo. Use your body and mind, as an eco-citizen, to finally rid this world of the many sources of pollution that are literally suffocating it. Collect the elements that are polluting planet Cyclo either on the ground, in the air or under water, using the vehicles provided for this purpose.

Bikes not your thing?

If Cyberbike doesn’t suit your fancy, why not try Wii Fit look-alike My Body Coach with two 500g dumbells (that’s 1.1 lbs) for your Wiimotes.  Already have a Wii Fit?  You can also purchase BigBen Interactive’s famous Wii Fit Fitness Premium Pack which comes with a storage case, silicon cover and built-in battery compartment for your Wii Balance Board, floor mat, belt with a pocket for Wiimote, two wrist hands and a pedometer.  What else could you ask for?

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is a 25-year-old nonprofit dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective health and fitness products, programs and trends.  They have done extensive research on exercise regiments from pilates to dumbbells.  The latest on their research agenda?  Exergames, including dance pads and the Wii Fit.  Their research question: Does the Wii really help people get fit?

The study sample.

In 2008, the ACE teamed up with the University of Wisconsin to test the potential fitness benefits of Wii Sports.  Here are the details of the study:

• Sample size: 8 men and 8 women, ages 20 to 29 years old
• Baseline: recorded through standardized exercise test with a treadmill, tracking heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake; all subjects were given time to practice with the Wii prior to the study

In 2009, the ACE and University of Wisconsin team reunited to test the potential fitness benefits of Wii Fit:

• Sample size: 8 men and 8 women, ages 20 to 24 years old
• Baseline: same as 2008 study

The measurements.

2008 Wii Sports:

• Subjects were told to mimic the onscreen action as closely as possible (ex: in Wii Tennis, subjects had to swing their arms to hit the virtual ball versus just flick the wrist).
• Each subject played a total of 5 games for 10 minutes each with 10 minutes of rest between each game.
• Researchers recorded heart rate, oxygen uptake, and perceived exertion.  Calories burned were also calculated.

2009 Wii Fit:

• Subjects played 6 of the most aerobically challenging activities featured on the Wii Fit for 6 minutes each.
• Researchers recorded heart rate, oxygen uptake, and perceived exertion.  Calories burned were also calculated.

The results.

All Wii Sports games resulted in calories burned, some more than others.

• Wii Sports Golf – 3.1 calories burned per minute
• Wii Sports Bowling – 3.9 calories burned per minute
• Wii Sports Baseball – 4.5 calories burned per minute
• Wii Sports Tennis – 5.3 calories burned per minute
• Wii Sports Boxing – 7.2 calories burned per minute

All Wii Fit games resulted in calories burned, however, NONE were sufficient enough to maintain or improve cardiorespiratory endurance as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine.

• Wii Fit Free Step – 3.3 calories burned per minute
• Wii Fit Advanced Step – 3.6 calories burned per minute
• Wii Fit Super Hula Hoop – 3.7 calories burned per minute
• Wii Fit Rhythm Boxing – 3.8 calories burned per minute
• Wii Fit Free Run – 5.5 calories burned per minute
• Wii Fit Island Run – 5.5 calories burned per minute

The conclusion.

The bottom line message here is that playing Wii Sports or Wii Fit is better than just sitting at home watching TV.  If you want a workout, try Wii Boxing or Wii Tennis. Wii Fit produced underwhelming results and much less caloric burn.  Why?  Dr. John Porcari, lead scientist both studies feels that Wii Fit constrains players to the balance board.  There is much less jumping around than with Wii Sports.

Getting the most out of your Wii.

According to Dr. Porcari, the key to a good workout with Wii Sports is mimicing the real movements as closely as possible.  No wrist flicking allowed!  Wii Fit is a great way to have some fun while burning calories as well as track your fitness progress such as BMI.  However, if you want to actually stay fit, you need to pair it with something more traditional like a bike or treadmill workout.

According to a recent news release in Amsterdam, a research study presented at the European Congress on Obesity determined that food intake alone explains the increase in American body weight over the last thirty years.  Professor Boyd Swinburn, Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and Related Research and Chair in Population Health at Deakin University in Australia was quoted saying,

“There have been a lot of assumptions that both reduced physical activity and increased energy intake have been major drivers of the obesity epidemic. Until now, nobody has proposed how to quantify their relative contributions to the rise in obesity since the 1970s. This study demonstrates that the weight gain in the American population seems to be virtually all explained by eating more calories. It appears that changes in physical activity played a minimal role.”

There are many nutrition experts that disagree, citing potential flaws in the study including the interpretation of food supply data used and ignoring the fact that Americans are more likely to keep off weight if they change their diet and physical activity habits.

Will this have an impact on the exergaming industry?

We’ve heard from many individuals how exergames have changed their lives.  But does this study make these people just lucky Wii fans?  What does this mean for non-active games that are designed to change eating behaviors or focus on nutrition?  Tell us your thoughts in the comments section.

Researchers have been using accelerometers for years to collect data on the physical activity levels of individuals.  With the release of the Wii and Wii Fit, many scientists are now hoping to capture and analyze data using this popular platform.  Unfortunately, the accuracy of Wii Remote motion data capturing is often in question.  When a player moves his or her arm, is the Wii Remote really capturing the movement?  I know I struggle with my Wii Remotes on occasion, especially when I play Wii Boxing and Wii Tennis.

As always, Nintendo has a solution.  According to Gamasutra, Nintendo has confirmed the release of a more effective Wii Remote June 8, 2009.  The Wii MotionPlus accessory will allow for greater motion sensory accuracy.  The accessory easily clips onto the end of the Wii Remote and gives the player (or researcher) the benefit of accelerometer and sensor bar technology to record both arm position and orientation.  Get it for your existing system for only $19.99 or buy it with the new game Wii Sports Resort, set for release on July 26.  Expect lots of tennis games to be taking advantage of this new technology including EA’s Grand Slam Tennis, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and Sega’s Virtual Tennis 2009.

We have more on the Wii.

Visit these other healthGAMERS posts for more on the exciting world of Wii and Wii Fit.

• Wii Adds Dumbells
• Wii-Habilitation or Wii-Hullaballoo
• Retirement Homes Still Give Wii Two Thumbs Up
• HG Interview: Julie from WiiMommies

Rice University and the National Science Foundation are taking health games to the next level with a step game that makes the lives of kids better in more ways than one.  SciRave, a research project led by chemistry/engineering/computer science professor Dr. James Tour,  takes a popular dancing video game, Step Mania, and combines it with science-based music lessons to heighten student learning.  Exercise, science education, and music–what more could one ask for?

Want to play the game?  All you need is a dance mat, a PC adaptor, and the SciRave software which can be downloaded from the SciRave website…for FREE!