A Wii Workout: When Videogames Hurt

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116441076273232312-IHR8Xf3YEG61QlW0e7hA_kHAA8w_20061224.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top' target='_blank'>http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116441076273232312-IHR8Xf3YEG61QlW0e7hA_kHAA8w_20061224.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A videogame maker has finally succeeded in getting kids off the couch and moving around. But the new approach is turning out to be more exercise than some players bargained for. These surprisingly vigorous workouts are being triggered by Nintendo's new Wii videogames. The Wii game console, which went on sale last weekend, competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's new PlayStation 3. One of the Wii's distinguishing features is a motion-sensitive technology that requires players to act out their character's movements, wielding the game's controller like a sword or swinging it like a tennis racket. The new console has been wildly successful, selling out at stores and winning high marks from critics and game buffs. But as players spend more time with the Wii, some are noticing that hours waving the game's controller around can add up to fairly intense exertion -- resulting in aches and pains common in more familiar forms of exercise. They're reporting aching backs, sore shoulders -- even something some have dubbed "Wii elbow."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/PT-AD853_Cover__20061124161843.gif" /><br /><br />A wii elbow? :) Ok, when I read the headline, I thought it was going to be some sort of poignant article about how videogames spend so much time in front of videogames like World of Warcraft or some such, that their personal lives are affected. But no, this is more about how the Wii has finally convinced youngsters to get physically involved in "sports". Cool. For all you parents that read this - would you substitute this kind of physical activity for the one they would get while playing outdoors? Or is this a good enough compromise to at least avoid having them vegetate on a couch?

[Phronetix]

For all you parents that read this - would you substitute this kind of physical activity for the one they would get while playing outdoors? Or is this a good enough compromise to at least avoid having them vegetate on a couch?

From the articles I have read, these are people who have sedentary jobs and lifestyles and haven't actually moved their bodies in years. I think it's fantastic, and it may actually limit video game use naturally. It may also encourage people to get out and participate for real. On the other hand, I shudder to think this will be considered a physical activity substitute. I can just see the future articles of a "progressive" school board ordering 4500 Wii's for their students' PE programs.

All of this momentum ends, however, when the first javelin and discus game is released. ;-)

[Felix Torres]

All of this momentum ends, however, when the first javelin and discus game is released. ;-)

Folks are having to be reminded that the wii-mote has a wrist strap.
There have been incidents. One involved a very large, very expensive HD display.
A moment of silence, please... :twisted:

[aroma]

So far, I love my Wii, but it's hardly a substitue for actuall physical activity. Honesty, on a lot of games, you can tone down the movements to some fairly small movements to get the job done, even still sitting on your rump. Personally I find the games much more entertaining to really get into the motions. (I even do a run-up while bowling...) I had a friend stop by the house the other day, and I was playing a game of tennis in front of a large patio door. They thought something was wrong with me, until they came in and actually saw what I was doing. :)

[hang5lngbd]

I have some quite overweight neighbors, and they were sweating while playing with my Wii. I think that if they get a Wii like they are planning, that it will help them in their efforts to lose weight as it's more excersice than they usually get