Exergaming | ShrinkGeek

It’s all in your head

Nov 122010

Homer Simpson (c) Fox Media

Well, maybe not entirely, but some recent research does bring up an interesting point: if we think what we’re doing is good exercise, does it actually become good exercise?

It’s certainly true that our attitude towards exercise itself informs our enthusiasm and performance – if you dread getting on the treadmill, it’s going to feel like it sucks, or if you’re fired up about a game of ultimate frisbee, you’re primed to go all-out. But what these researchers did was more subtle – they simply told people that what they already do on the job was considered to be a healthy level of exercise. There wasn’t any additional work or exercise being done, just that mental seed being planted.

It worked.

5 ways Kinect can improve exercise games

Featured, Op-Ed, Video Games 3 Responses »

Jun 212010

For those of you who don’t necessarily follow console gaming trends, but are always looking for new ways to work out, then this may be welcome news to you. Last week, Microsoft unveiled their new peripheral for the Xbox 360, Kinect. Originally codenamed “Natal”, Kinect will enable people to play video games purely by using their own body as the controller. Obviously, when it comes to fitness games, this is a pretty large breakthrough in terms of technology.

We’re pretty excited about this here at ShrinkGeek Orbital HQ. Why? Well, join us behind the break as we run down the reasons why we think Kinect may well be the answer to some of our exercise gaming prayers.

Sticking Points

Op-Ed 3 Responses »

Feb 022010

Similar to, but not exactly, the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field (© Alasdair MacDonald)

It’s hardly uncommon to run into a point in the leveling process or particular fight that kicks your butt for weeks on end (your hosts here, during one memorable period during The Burning Crusade, beat our collective heads against The Curator for about six straight weeks). When it comes to fitness, these tend to be innocuously called “plateaus” rather than “OMG WHY DOESN’T ANYTHING CHANGE?” or, as Scott called them, “Hell Levels.”

That’s probably to save on typsetting costs, but still.

Being stuck can take on a bunch of different guises, but they’re all frustrating. Of course, the easiest to identify is the whole being stuck to the couch thing. Curiously, that study makes no mention of video games, though we’ve all seen a pile of research claiming various evils stemming from those. Mike pointed out that simply engaging in marathon television viewing sessions is actively bad for you (not to mention shortening your life), so that’s one more reason not to veg out in front of the tube.

But when it comes to busting the plateaus that happen in our fitness lives, what can we do?

Nintendo Wii coming to Sports Authority

Video Games 1 Response »

Nov 202009

It appears as though the line between fitness and video games is getting even blurrier.

Nintendo announced on Wednesday that they will soon be bringing the Nintendo Wii in Sports Authority chains nationwide. Marketed by the folks at Sports Authority with the catchy phrase “We know fit. We know fun”, the console will be displayed in an interactive kiosk that will include fitness and sports related games and accessories in select stores starting on November 19th, 2009.

I have mixed feelings about this.

An incomplete list of possible achievements

Ding, Grats! No Responses »

Oct 232009

halfgeekachievement

Unlike simply trying to best yesterday’s high score in Peggle (or beat Mike in yet another game of Lexulous), real life comes with a nearly infinite number of achievements. Thankfully, most of them aren’t as tedious or expensive as farming rep for every last mount, or an ultra-rare pet drop.

Forthwith, an almost certainly incomplete list of achievements that have gotten us out of our computer chairs and away from our desks.