Frag while you Workout

[bapenguin]

It's been tried and tried again; mixing exercising with video games. It just never seems to work. One company (http://fpgamerunner.com/) had a different idea and apparently, it's really good (http://ces.news.yahoo.com/b/ces/cesblog2121).

GameRunner takes this idea and finally gets it right: The company has mounted a home-grown game controller on the handles of a treadmill. It's connected to a PC, on which you can play any of your favorite first-person shooters, like Doom 3 or Far Cry (which I got to see firsthand). Instead of mashing the "S" key to move forward, you have to actually move your feet.

How fast you go depends on how fast you run, so if the bad guys are on your tail, you better get a move on, tubby.
Eh...I don't know. I'd much rather play a biking game on an excercise bike, or a running game on a treadmill. Running around dark hallways avoiding monster closets while running around on a treadmill just doesn't seem to fit. Especially since you'll still have to worry about strafing, looking, firing, etc.

[stomper1080]

I know what ya mean bap, I can't imagine playing FEAR on that thing. How could you concentrate?

Then what happens when you get freaked? You stop running and fall off the treadmill? Hahaha

[phantomhitman]

i can see a massive amout of treadmills damaged when people freak out and start running full speed because something scared them or is chasing them

[dolbex]

I know what ya mean bap, I can't imagine playing FEAR on that thing. How could you concentrate?

Then what happens when you get freaked? You stop running and fall off the treadmill? Hahaha

Thats hilarious! I can see some kid screaming then "whapp!" face plant into the belt.

[Stormwatcher]

Not to mention HOW the hell will you go from full speed ahead to backpedalling? That's something you do a lot on FPS games, and will probably brake your leg or the machine. or both.

[Valkyrist]

Pft, just go play DDR. I log in about an hour or two every other day and I'm in better shape now than when I was in highschool playing hockey.

[dead]

Instead of mashing the "S" key to move forward, you have to actually move your feet.

hmm... the last FPS required me to press W to move forward

[bean19]

Pft, just go play DDR. I log in about an hour or two every other day and I'm in better shape now than when I was in highschool playing hockey.

I do too. . . I'm lean, and have strong legs but terrible core and upper body strength as a result.

If you are serious about getting fit, I highly recommend Yourself Fitness! for the Xbox (and the X360), it works on both.

[AniAko]

Could you imagine playing Sonic, or Space Harrier 3d on this bad boy?

[phantomhitman]

If you are serious about getting fit, I highly recommend Yourself Fitness! for the Xbox (and the X360), it works on both.

yeah, I love doing crouching doggy style technique in the yoga room.......

[Vermillion]

This just reenforces my thoughts that campers are fat, lazy bastards :)

[Malovech]

I would love this if it was more than just forward and potentially backward movement. It needs to be a large square that let's you move laterally, crouch, roll etc.

[AniAko]

This just reenforces my thoughts that campers are fat, lazy bastards :)

LOL we could reverse it, and make the campers work to stand still....

[da.Guvna]

LOL we could reverse it, and make the campers work to stand still....
ROFL, awesome idea!

[Dr Quincy]

I never mash.

[Valkyrist]

I do too. . . I'm lean, and have strong legs but terrible core and upper body strength as a result.

If you are serious about getting fit, I highly recommend Yourself Fitness! for the Xbox (and the X360), it works on both.
Not all of us are guys, and not all of us want a ripped body. =P

DDR just helps me burn off the office doughnuts so I can fit in my pants every morning. I'll do some crunches too here and there for good measure. I just don't wanna be like some of my stereotypical fat nerdy friends. I like waking up on saturday and pretty much not leaving my couch/computer all day...I just don't wanna look like it, lol.

On top of all that, it's fun to be able to go to an arcade and show off, even at 25 years old ^.^

If I had an Xbox I'd check that game out, though. Thanks for the suggestion.

[emperordahc]

DDR helps me keep the weight off. (Ripped both achelies tendons from tennis, so even then, it's not GOOD for me.)

I've tried playing games on an exercise bike, and I've found it just doesn't work. From your arms moving (yes, even just sitting there), accuracy is almost impossible w/ your fingers. (Other than, perhaps a turnbased RPG.) For FPS games, oh, no, that's going to be horrid. (I've TRIED it.)

[bapenguin]

So DDR really works well huh? Maybe I'll pick one up and look like a fool.

[bean19]

So DDR really works well huh? Maybe I'll pick one up and look like a fool.

Well, play at home first, and play on the easy settings for as long as it takes to start "getting" it.

It really is very accessible until you move up in skill.

[Steele Johnson]

How about a game that actually helps you work out? You know, like a virtual trainer?

Oh wait, that might be too useful. Forget what said.

[ldi222]

This kind of reminds me of this other product @ http://www.pwrgrid.com/

I would really like a biking or rowing machine that was compatible with xbox live for some virtual workouts and adventures. How cool would it be to row niagra falls this morning with a buddy or mountain bike off the grand canyon and back up...

[bean19]

How about a game that actually helps you work out? You know, like a virtual trainer?

Oh wait, that might be too useful. Forget what said.

Yourself Fitness (http://www.yourselffitness.com/) is exactly that. . . a virtual trainer. It works for the Xbox and the X360. I am a huge fan of it, but I get scolded a lot for not getting to my workouts.

Good points:

Excellent workout program
Excellent animations
Tracks your fitness over time and adjusts workouts to your needs

Bad points:

Music sucks, play your own music unless you need to be in time with the trainer via music rather than just visually.
Trainer becomes very repetitive in her comments (annoyingly so if you commit to it for weeks).

[RMan]

So DDR really works well huh? Maybe I'll pick one up and look like a fool.
Hehe, yea, I'm very happy with it. Only got it about 6 months ago, but saw some kid playing it at an arcade and it looked like fun. Being self-conscious, I still bought the game and pad before I’d throw down the measly dollar and look silly at the arcade :). Now I’m hooked and willing to pay mucho bucks to get 2 metal pads (playing in “double” mode is really fun), and without a doubt it’s the most enjoyable and convenient way for me to stay a little more in shape. It may not be your cup of tea, but you may be doing yourself a real disservice by passing it up, without a doubt every gamer should at least try it, IMO.

BTW, I'd strongly recommend StepMania, it's for the PC, but it's free and overall far better than the ones you pay for.

[ElectricMonk]

there could be a whole undiscovered genre of exercise games, if done right. look at ddr. some people go on ddr exercise routines.