Exergames of the future. 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...

Games may improve health in ways you’ve not considered. We’ve always known that they’re excellent forms of relaxation, but of late, video and computer games are being tapped by the medical community as ways to improve general health, treat certain disorders, and even provide therapy and rehabilitation....

In the fall of last year, rumor had it that French company BigBen Interactive was “looking to cash in on the Wii exergaming craze while it lasts” with a project called Cyberbike.  The idea was greatly criticized because the proposed Cyberbike was literally a full-sized bike attachment. ...

The research. 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...

Nobody goes there anymore; it’s too crowded. This week, Ian Bogost and Gonzalo Frasca decided to close their seven year old serious games blog, Water Cooler Games.  In a nutshell, they believe that the idea of games for more than entertainment is no longer novel.  The blog sphere on this topic...

If you’re a healthcare provider, and you think gamers are either 16 years old or someone your age who’s bored at work, read on.   Leading edge innovators in physical rehab and long-term care settings have tiptoed into using Wii as a part of their treatment protocols, and the results have been beyond...

Lack of exercise no longer a problem? 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...

Researchers, start your motion data capturing. 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,...

It’s no secret that Nintendo has people jumping around, stretching, doing yoga and bowling – all in the comfort of their own home. Since the debut of the Nintendo Wii and its exercise focused component, the Wii Fit, the world of healthy gaming has forever been changed! The Wii has impacted...

Bulk up with the Wii. Just in time for summer, the Wii is going buff with a new peripheral, the Riiflex by Power Play.  This fun peripheral is basically a pair of dumbbells (2 or 4 lbs) which are designed to help tone your arms while using the Wii Remote and Wii Nunchuck.  The Riflex boasts an ergonomic...