EA to Join Wii Fitness Craze

[Momma Bear]

Following on the heels of Nintendo's own "Wii Fit," game publisher EA has decided to get physical too. "Sports Active," scheduled for release next spring, will expand on the platform's exercise potential with features like straps that attach to the legs for tracking lower body movement. The Wii


(EA) announced Thursday that it will add to the growing number of fitness games for the [Only registered users can see links. ] with its own entrant, "Sports Active," set for release in Spring 2009.


Developed in collaboration with Bob Greene, fitness expert and personal trainer for Oprah Winfrey, the fitness game will be the first in a new line of EA Sports-branded fitness and sports performance offerings aimed at users of all ages.
As with all [Only registered users can see links. ] for the Wii, EA's fitness software takes advantage of the Wii's motion-sensing controller.
"If you look at the initial Wii products, most of them don't give you a good workout. They get you up out of the chair and moving around, but they don't give you a good workout. There is still a significant opportunity to create a line of offerings that are both fun and really do give you a good workout -- something that most folks who bought the Wii were expecting," Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Enderle Group, told TechNewsWorld.

Breaking a Sweat

"Sports Active" will include a wide variety of interactive activities presented as virtual circuit training for both upper and lower body as well as cardiovascular workouts, according to EA. The system will support up to two players and also offer on-screen motivation via real-time feedback, such as calories burned.


In addition to the software, the fitness offering also includes two specially-designed leg straps to hold the Wii Nunchuk controller and track lower body movements as well as a resistance band for upper body strength training exercises.


Players will be able to launch their new fitness play by participating in Sports Active's so-called 30 Day Challenge, what EA calls a "fitness roadmap" to help them reach their goals under the guidance of a virtual trainer. The Challenge offers users a new 20-minute workout every time they exercise. Like a real-world personal trainer, the software provides instructions, feedback on technique and positive encouragement throughout the workout. Each circuit will have different feel, and intensity of the workout will increase as players' fitness levels improve.
Balance Board on the Table

The [Only registered users can see links. ] will also allow players to create their own custom workouts with varying levels of activity, duration and intensity. Using the Wii Balance Board is optional but will add functionality to many exercises, according to the publisher.


"It's a good idea and the perfect platform to put it on," Enderle commented.
Wii owners can expect to see more game developers releasing fitness-themed games in the future.


"This is the kind of the thing the Wii is uniquely good for. You would expect to see others copy these and EA to even flesh out their offering as well," he noted.

[Sweetie Demon]

It's a good idea, but...I'm abit of a fitness fanatic and have found that games like 'Wii Fit' aren't really for people at an advanced fitness level. It's a great idea though for kids and maybe people who wanna just have some fun, but It's not a sure fire way to lose the pounds. This new game sounds abit more promising, and has recognised that currently, exercise games don't really make you break out into a sweat, so this could be interesting.

I look forward to this though . Thanks Momma Bear.

[mteager]

I've found that I'm not willing to spend £70 on a game that will tell me anything i want as long as i cheat... which is not hard. I like the idea... I kinda like the game as long as i don't buy it.

I like that more companies are getting into fitnessy things. they may not be much good to people of a high fitness level, but then most people aren't and could do with a little exercise.

you go EA!