11 healthy video game gadgets that don't need a gym membership
Staying healthy and fit should not be a painful job or even a chore. And you shouldn't have to spend hefty amounts of money on gym membership fees just to do a few reps on the old bench press and then head back home. In fact, why can't exercise be fun and entertaining? Actually it can be, with the right equipment — fitness gadgets disguised as video games.
It's Healthy Week here at Syfy, and to kick off the festivities we've compiled a list of 11 fun healthy video game gadgets that can keep you looking lean and mean right in your very own home. Sorry, hot sweaty strangers are not included with any of these.
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1. Makoto Sports Arena Imagine a tetherball pole in your home. Now imagine instead of a ball attached to one pole, you have three, eight-foot tall towers that make sounds and light up — that's the MKS. Players stand in the center of the unit and then move to tap a light displayed on a tower. The result is a full body workout that'll have users
stretching at 36 colored targets on each tower. Sounds like a good way to break a sweat, right? [Source]
4. Wii Dumbbells The Wii's famous arm-flailing motion controllers are a lightweight if you actually want to use them in a fitness game like Wii Fit to you know, lose weight, bulk up, or tone your body. These Wii Dumbbells add two pounds to each controller to make every rep burn. It's compatible with just about every Wii fitness game available too. No pain, no gain, right? [Source]
5. Arctic Gym No video game console? No prob. The Arctic Gym is an interactive yoga-like mat that plugs directly into your TV, measuring and keeping track of your fitness routine. The mat's equipped with 30 pressure sensitive pads and sensors that can detect feet and body motions. So is this like a cheap man's Wii Fit? Sorta, only it has some fun games like basketball, bowling and highway racing. Not sure how those play while in a basic "lotus" position, but it might be interesting! [Source]
6. iDance This is exactly what you think it is: a Dance Dance Revolution clone. The main difference between iDance and Konami's follow-the on-screen arrows game? iDance supports 32 simultaneous players at once. [Source]
7. Pokémon Heart Gold and Soul SilverWalking can be rewarding! Heart Gold and Soul Silver are special because both include a cute Pokéball shaped pedometer. With it, you can earn game currency in the form of "watts" and build up a critter's "experience points" by racking up footsteps. Go out there and start exploring the real world, then beam all those watts back to your game and start unlocking cool in-game items! [Source]
8. NFL Training Camp Strap on a wireless arm and leg motion sensor, fire up the game and get ready for an intense NFL workout. Going through virtual obstacle courses and powering through the Field Goal and Quarterback Challenges will have you strengthening those muscles in no time. Just be careful to wear that Wii Remote strap and not throw your controller through into your TV. [Source]
3. CyberBike Exercise bikes are a dime a dozen. The CyberBike for Nintendo's Wii might just be the largest Wii peripheral yet. Players pilot a bike, submarine, wagon and helicopter on planet Cyclo to get rid of all the air pollution. The story's not that great, but with three modes, the CyberBike looks like a fun way to whip the whole family into shape. It even has standard gamepad on its handlebar, so you can pedal while play Super Smash Bros. Melee (CyberBike game is obviously not loaded up). [Source]
9. Dance Central for Kinect With Kinect, there is no controller. Your body is the controller. Assuming you're not afraid to embarrass yourself a little, Dance Central will have you shaking your hips, swinging your arms and strutting your body all over the place to the latest and greatest hit songs and their artists' dance moves. Dancing that weight off isn't a chore, it's fun! [Source]
10. PlayStation Move Sports Accessories Like the Wii Remote, Sony's Move motion controllers spawned a bevy of accessory crap. Sure, you don't need to play Sports Champions with any fruity plastic shells, but shooting through archery and sword fighting in an arena with these plastic sports accessories might motivate the little ones to be more active. If plastic guitars for Guitar Hero don't make you look silly, then why would a sword or ping pong paddle? [Source]
11. Zumba Fitness This fitness game for the Wii, PlayStation 3's Move and Xbox 360's Kinect is similar to Dance Central, but minus the glitter. Attach the included fitness belt (Wii and PS3 only), then slide in a Wii Remote or a Move controller into it and you're all set with a "hip motion sensor." I can't personally vouch for it, but hopefully you'll get yourself an amazing set of abs, much like the lady on the game's box, maybe. [Source]
2. Lightspace Play Wall This massive eight by four-foot LED wall has pressure-sensitive tiles that supposedly contains a limitless variety of games (think of games like Memory). Apparently, players will also be able to throw balls at moving targets on the screen. With each tile being 2.5-inches thick, there shouldn't be too much concern on damaging this $16,000 exercise wall. [Source]
