(Paull

 

 

 

 

By Mark Fisher

hanks to the Nintendo Wii,
people are playing video games

like they never have before:
standing up. With its revolutionary
motion sensor design, Nintendo has
expanded what video games can do
beyond anything that has been seen
before. Wii Sports and Wii Fit have
brought millions of new casual gamers
into the market, giving everyone a
chance to play virtual versions of
their favourite sports. Even non-sports
games can get into the action; players
can use the controller to swing a sword
in Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
or have fun shaking the controller
wildly in Wario Land: Shake It!

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really make
you fit’?

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It’s a long way from sitting on a
couch and pushing buttons, or sitting
at a computer and moving a mouse.
It’s a certainty that the next generation
of gamers will be more active than the
previous one. With child obesity rates
at an all-time high, Nintendo’s timing
with the Wii couldn’t be better. When
it comes to getting inactive kids to do
something physical, video games have
several advantages that the real world
can’t match. It’s less competitive and
easier on the kids self-esteem. Kids can
learn at their own pace without having
to worry about letting their team down
or falling behind the other kids doing
the activity with them. There’s less
chance of being injured. Video games
don’t get interrupted by bad weather

and you don’t have to drive across
town to play them. And it’s not just
kids who can get a lot out of the Wii.
Adults are crunched for time these
days too, so having the convenience
of having a workout that you can plug
in and do whenever you have the time
is a big plus for them. I know that
I’m always wishing that I had more
time to exercise, but most days all the
exercising I get is walking around the
college.

But when you play Wii Sports or
Wii Fit, how much exercise are you
really getting? How does it compare
to a regular workout, like riding a bike
or walking on a treadmill? Now that
people are using these games as a way
to stay in shape, these questions are

very important. Nintendo hasn’t made
any outlandish claims that their games
replicate a serious fitness routine, but
just calling a game Wii Fit carries a
certain implication. Most people who
buy it would be interested in knowing
whether or not it will actually help you
get fit, or just make you think you’re
getting a good workout.

Katrina Lindroos and Laurie Wong
are students at Douglas College who
have set out to measure the health
benefits of playing the Wii. The results
of their findings will be on display
during Douglas College’s first-ever
Student Research Day. Both are both
enrolled in the fourth year of Douglas’
Bachelor of Physical Education and
Coaching Program. To conduct the