DDR Added to West Virginia School Curriculum

[fitbabits]

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz) has the details (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2127&Itemid=2).

Konami has entered a three-year agreement with the State of West Virginia to bring Dance Dance Revolution to 765 of the state's public schools.

The state will develop a DDR curriculum that will be incorporated into health and physical education courses to counteract obesity issues in students. The program will also be used as a testing ground for controlled analysis of the benefits of DDR in schools. Data from the study would be forwarded to Konami, then distributed to other school systems through professional journals.

"Bringing the health benefits and enjoyment that DDR provides to school children is a great way to combat childhood obesity that is caused by the sedentary lifestyle of today's kids," said Konami's Clara Gilbert, director of business partnerships. "DDR has been a proven success in schools and this program with the State of West Virginia demonstrates the positive effects that can come from making DDR a part of one's daily routine. This first-of-its-kind partnership will help us continue to demonstrate the benefits of DDR to consumers around the country."
That's all we need - getting schooled on DDR by a bunch or pre-pubescent kids!

All I ask is that I'm given advanced notice when the NRA succeed in having Doom added to some school district's curriculum so that I can pack my bags and head for the hills.

[petroleumjelly]

All I ask is that I'm given advanced notice when the NRA succeed in having Doom added to some school district's curriculum so that I can pack my bags and head for the hills.


So, according to this quote you are saying that Jack Thompson is right in that Doom causes kids to murder each other and the NRA would like this to happen? If this is true then lets ban first person shooters and guns! See, if we remove the first and second amendments it will stop the bullying, bad parenting, drugs, and racism that are normally involved in school shootings.

[fitbabits]

So, according to this quote you are saying that Jack Thompson is right in that Doom causes kids to murder each other and the NRA would like this to happen? If this is true then lets ban first person shooters and guns! See, if we remove the first and second amendments it will stop the bullying, bad parenting, drugs, and racism that are normally involved in school shootings.
Hi, how are you today? I guess you missed my sarcastic tone.

[Citizen Philip]

LOL.

Our kids are fat.

Make them DANCE!

What about making them eat better in the first place?

Communist.

[Valkyrist]

I like this idea a lot, actually.

Personally I put in at least an hour of DDR a day, and I've never been fitter. Going to a gym or "working out" just seemed to have such a negative stigma in my mind. DDR was a good way to get around that mental block.

Cheers to this idea. Kids are too fat these days. This just seems a more entertaining alternative/addition to P.E. classes.

[Crabby]

More entertaining than fucking dodgeball, kickball, or even crab soccer? Gawd, you're distasteful. :D

[Worldcrafter]

Cheers to this idea. Kids are too fat these days.

I think you mean American kids are too fat these days. As far as I can tell, the rest of the world is doing a bit better weight wise than those of us in the USA. Like you, I think this is a great idea to get kids (and adults) interested in excersize, but I do have a fear:

What if DDR becomes popular among a majority of the US population. With all that weight hitting the ground at once I would expect some sizable tsunamis to be visiting Japan and England in the near future. Or even worse, we could knock the Earth out of it's orbit!

[Worldcrafter]

More entertaining than fucking dodgeball, kickball, or even crab soccer? Gawd, you're distasteful. :D

Man, kickball was the shit back in the day. We used to play that all the time at recess. When I was at college, like minded people started up regular kickball games which was a blast. DDR is all well and good, but it just doesn't top kicking a big rubber ball as far as you can and running like a mad man.

[fitbabits]

I don't suppose anyone here played British Bulldogs:

Played on a large field (a soft, grassy one, if you're going to play "tackle").

One player is the "bulldog", and starts in the middle. The other players line up along one end of the field.

When the bulldog yells "British Bulldog!" the players try to run across the field without getting caught.

The bulldog tries to catch as many players as possible, either by tackling them, or tagging (less rough).

Those caught then stay in the middle and become bulldogs for the next round.

The last player left wins!
Brutal stuff, especially if you were unpopular.

[Citizen Philip]

I played British Bulldogs. I remeber them trying to ban it, it was too violent. We played space invaders, you played on a full court of some kind, which were the boundries. One player was the alien: the alien calls out "space invaders!" where you tried to run to the opposite end of the court. If the alien touched you, you had to sit down on the spot and could help grab other people so the alien could catch them.

We also played a game called: make fun of the weird kid, make fun of the fat kid, oogle the pretty girl and lunch money the game.

[Thenetcase]

I have a good idea...

How about we TEACH our kids at school and ENTERTAIN our kids at home???

I thought school was for LEARNING. I'm SCARED for the next generation. Our kids are turning into brainless idiots who know how to each nachos, watch football and DANCE?!

-TNC-

[Atepsflame]

UNGH. Damn. Curse DDR and the hold it has over people. It is an insult to rythem inept people such as myself. Oh, well. At least it's fun to watch people making complete asses of themselves while playing it.

[Valkyrist]

How about we TEACH our kids at school and ENTERTAIN our kids at home???
Physcial Education (aka P.E.) has been party of the US public educational system for generations... If the PARENTS won't make their kids go outside and get exercise, and the kids aren't interested...well shit at least this works.

This is a reactional change: In that kids are getting fat, so the schools want to do something to get them more interested in healthy habits like exercise. Heaven forbid they have some fun while doing it.

[Ghost_Saint]

About time that the educaitonal system caught on to video games. The US military has already been using video games for light training, or things that can't be safely/accurately simulated in real life for the past 10 years.

[phantomhitman]

the fucking military is going a little far with the new ads and "sponsored" games, that is just saying "come here you fucking brats because we are running out of troops to fight". I am glad in the future wars be played out on pcs so no one gets killed.

[net7runner]

We also played a game called: make fun of the weird kid, make fun of the fat kid, oogle the pretty girl and lunch money the game.As one of the weird kids, I would have infinitely preferred being able to play some DDR than get my face smashed into the ground every class period by some super-human 13-year-old.

[Thenetcase]

Frickin' country is being taken over by absolute morons. Gosh!

::edit::

And they are being influenced by even STUPIDER Japanese morons. Gosh! Retarded! ;)

[Crabby]

Physcial Education (aka P.E.) has been party of the US public educational system for generations... If the PARENTS won't make their kids go outside and get exercise, and the kids aren't interested...well shit at least this works.

This is a reactional change: In that kids are getting fat, so the schools want to do something to get them more interested in healthy habits like exercise. Heaven forbid they have some fun while doing it.


Again, I reference previous comments regarding kickball. What kind of damn mutants do we have here in the US that they can't even enjoy some regular PE activities. What about the damn parachute?!?!

[ElectricMonk]

I don't see how this is bad. If DDR makes kids interested in continuing a physical fitness routine then good for them. Just like if guitar hero makes kids want to play an actual guitar then that's also excellent.

I think games are just starting to realize their potential as educational tools.

Also it's not just american kids who are getting fat, living in canada it is becoming an increasing problem (pun unintended) here as well.

[mister_slim]

This just in: Wal-Mart to require customers to play DDR.


Sorry, I just don't care enough to make that funny.

[Shifteh]

I don't suppose anyone here played British Bulldogs:

I ruled that game.

As a tiny white kid with a quick mouth, I learned to run fast.

[Ultima Thulian]

Hi, how are you today? I guess you missed my sarcastic tone.

You forgot your sarcasm smiley, however.

I live in West Virginia, but I'm in college, so I guess I miss out.

But I think this is great. It can help kids get fit and it gives games a positive image. Besides, it beats the hell out of Carmen Sandiego.

[fitbabits]

You forgot your sarcasm smiley, however.

I live in West Virginia, but I'm in college, so I guess I miss out.

But I think this is great. It can help kids get fit and it gives games a positive image. Besides, it beats the hell out of Carmen Sandiego.
A-fucking-gain!

[Expugnare]

Hey don't dis DDR. Very fun after you learn to play it. More fun than running and, well, running.