There are hundreds of different types of geeks our there. For example, I can easily fall into the D&D Geek, Sci-Fi Geek and Band Geek categories. However, there is one thing that seems to be a common tie amongst almost all geeks. Video games.
This attachment to video games can be quite fun, but are not exactly a key part of successful workout routine. I don’t know the specific amount of calories burned by mashing the b button, I doubt it will get your heart rate up. Fortunately, there are a few good ways for gamers to burn a few calories while playing. Here are a few games that will give you and your video game console a workout.
Dance Dance Revolution (DDR)
DDR is the king of video game exercise. Even at early levels in the game, DDR will have you burning as many calories as the treadmill at the gym. DDR is also a blast, as long as you can accept that you will look quite goofy while doing it. A DDR setup with a mat and a game can be had for less than $100 dollars, which may seem like a lot, but pales on comparison to the cost of most exercise equipment. I’ve played 4 or 5 DDR games and I would reccomend DDR Max 2 for PS2. It’s got a huge number of songs and a customizable workout mode.
Yourself Fitness
Yourself Fitness is not really a game; It’s more of a virtual personal trainer. It’s currently available for the XBox (and XBox 360 with a patch) and provides exercise routines, yoga routines and low-calorie recipes. I found the game motivating and useful. There are a wide variety of exercises and the virtual instructor, Maya, provides plenty of motivation and encouragement. It also provides the ability to do goofy looking aerobics in the comfort of your own home. It’s not as fun as DDR, but provides a great energizing experience with the exercise programs and a nice relaxing break with the yoga programs.
Wii Fit
I haven’t had a chance to play this yet (since I don’t live in Japan), but based on the quality of the other Wii games I’ve played it should be good. The only downside to the activity oriented Wii games is the motion sensing. Most of the motions can be done with very little movement, which makes it easy to cheat yourself. The game has sold amazingly well in Japan and will be released in May 2008 here in the US. One word of warning, my good friend Andy managed to throw out his back with Wii boxing, so take it easy.
Kilowatt Game Controller
This isn’t a game, it’s a controller for games. The Killowatt is a rather large device that looks a lot like a piece of traditional exercise equipment and allows you to control any console game through movement. Different parts of the device allow you to push, pull and move them with a variable amount of resistance. Each of these controls is able to be mapped for each game you play and the whole thing works with multiple consoles. It seems like a good idea, and the people at G4TV liked it, but it has a hefty price tag of $800 or more.
These are just a few options for burning calories while playing games. These games alone may not allow you to shed the pounds at lightning speed, but combined with healthy eating and possibly some traditional exercise can make the weight loss process a lot more fun.
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