GET MOVING WITH VIDEO GAMES

written by David Lazicki

They say people never change, but the same certainly cannot be said about technology. Not too long ago, I cringed at the idea of video games. In my eyes, video games were the driving force for a sedentary lifestyle. They kept children cooped up in the house for hours on end. Precious time that could have been spent being active was wasted away starring at a screen, while the only physical upside they might've gained would be an advantage in a thumb war. This is no longer the case.

Recently, I have become intrigued with the idea of motion-control gaming. Motion-control gaming is becoming more and more popular because it makes moving fun. The audience is engaged in physical activity, which allows them to become part of the game; not just part of their sofa. A simple tap of a button no longer produces the actions for you. Instead the movement of your body does. Here we'll look at the three major consoles; the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation Move, and the Xbox Kinect, and some great games to think about in Physical Education.

Nintendo Wii
In 2006, Nintendo offered a new way of gaming in the form of the Nintendo Wii. The Wii featured a less traditional controller in the sense that it allowed you to play games in which you could move around. Wii Sports gave gamers the opportunity to use their Wii remote as a tennis racket, baseball bat, golf club, bowling ball, and as boxing gloves. The movements are picked up by an accelerometer while an IR (infrared) sensor monitors the positioning of lights produced by the sensor bar.

At last, a video game console that could be deemed beneficial. Since its release, Nintendo has created the MotionPlus add-on to increase the accuracy of the gamer's movements. Although the Wii does not offer high-definition graphics, it carries all the capabilities to getting an entire Physical Education class excited about moving.

PlayStation Move
In 2010, PlayStation released the add-on peripheral called the Move. The Move connects to the game via Bluetooth and is very similar to the Wii, but offers a more accurate reading of movement. Gamers hold onto the "wand" controller and perform their movements which will be projected onto their screen. Although the PlayStation Move features high-definition picture quality and probably the most accurate read out of movement, its downfall is that in order for multiple gamers to play you must have multiple wands.

Xbox Kinect
Following the PlayStation Move, Microsoft released its own add-on peripheral called the Xbox Kinect. The Kinect is unique in the sense that there is no controller required whatsoever. Awesome! With voice and motion control, the Kinect takes away all the shortcuts of a handheld controller. Like the Move, the Kinect is very accurate itself, picking up the slightest movements. Also, it allows for gamers to jump in and out of game play very easily. The Kinect’s only downfall is the need for space.

Games
The great thing about motion-control gaming is the ability to incorporate it into a Physical Education class. The term "exergaming" is now used to describe video games in which the gamer is exercising. Such games include, but are not limited to, the Zumba Fitness collection, Wii Fit, and the Just Dance collection.

Zumba Fitness: The Zumba Fitness collection is made to work with the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Move, and the Xbox Kinect which gives you flexibility with whichever brand you decide on. Zumba Fitness has some great features to offer, making it a must have. This includes 42 routines and songs, a calorie-counter that tracks your fitness goals, and the ability to locate Zumba classes near you. Another great addition to the game is that it includes a free seven-day pass to try a live Zumba class near you.

Wii Fit: The Wii Fit is a great game to use for exergaming. It allows you to identify your level of balance and how to improve it. It also offers a Body Test in which your balance, body control, and body mass index are measured, and allows you to chart your data to compare it to previous workouts and to set goals. The six training modes (Yoga, Strength Training, Balance Games, Aerobics, Training Plus, and My Wii Fit Plus) offer over 60 exercises to improve fitness. The only downfall is that the Wii Fit can only be used with the Nintendo Wii, not the PlayStation Move or the Xbox Kinect.

Just Dance: The latest of the collection, Just Dance 3, is a great game to get the audience moving. Although it does not offer data tracking to achieve goals like the previous two games, it is still a lot of fun to play. Just Dance 3 offers 49 songs and dances with some of the latest music out, and is compatible with the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Move, and the Xbox Kinect. You may think about using Just Dance as an intro to the previous two games, possibly with pulse/heart rate monitors (or i-devices that include pulse/heart rate monitors, pedometers, etc.). Then you can introduce the other games later due to their more advanced capabilities with data and goal tracking, which is great for Physical Education.

Alternatives
Due to the cost of these consoles, add-ons, and games, purchasing these items may be a long shot for your program. But do you need to spend an arm and a leg to get the same effect? Because the students in my school love to dance, I did some searching and found that I could stream most of the songs from the game Just Dance right from YouTube. This was like a dream come true, and worked like a charm! Although I displayed the video on a Smart Board, the same can be done with any computer with internet access and a projector. The best part about this was the cost, free! Although you don't get the same effect as you would get using a Wii, Move, or Kinect (movements were never truly picked up), students will love following the avatar on the screen and everyone will be sweating by the end of class. Guaranteed.

Resources: Here are some of the kids’ favorite Just Dance 3 videos for you to use from YouTube:

AUTHOR BIO:
My Name is David Lazicki. I've recently earned my BS in Physical Education from Eastern Connecticut State University. While completing my student teaching with Scott Tomassetti, I learned many new ways to use technology in Physical Education. I am excited and eager to take these experiences and implement them into my own classroom someday.

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