Exergame effectiveness

Abstract

A sedentary lifestyle is linked to many diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, as well as ailments such as obesity, which is becoming the major root cause of early death in most industrialized countries. The advent of the television, computers and videogames has resulted in a more sedentary lifestyle, with more time spent in front of a screen more than ever before. Exergaming is a term used to describe video games that provide encouragement to exercise, particularly for an audience that may be reluctant to engage in the more traditional forms of exercise. Exergames are a commonly accepted method of encouraging more physical activity to promote better health for those with high levels of sedentary screen time. In this work, we survey a number of quantitative exergame studies to define a general set of elements that make exergames effective from a physical standpoint. We also examine the intended audience and the incentive elements necessary for an exergame to meet the needs of its audience. Finally, we examine our own exergame system and how well it performs against commercial systems.

Designing Brutal Multiplayer Video Games

“…Comparisons were also drawn with commercial exergames,"like cardio really, you can feel it going in your chest, whereas with the wii stuff you don't really get to that level of tired." This demonstrates that computer technology can be used in ways that encourage genuinely high intensity exercise (unlike the relatively low levels of intensity found in most exertion games [31]). …”

Misrepresentation of Health Research in Exertion Games Literature

“…Many short term studies have shown that playing exertion games involves a level of exertion above rest [66]. These studies often show that players of exergames do genuinely move while playing.…”

Custom-designed motion-based games for older adults: A review of literature in human-computer interaction

“…Preliminary results of research on motion-based game play suggest a variety of positive effects of engaging with physically challenging games. Potential benefits range from an increased level of overall physical activity 14 to acute cognitive benefits 15 , an increase in social interaction 16 and emotional well-being 9 . Additionally, exergames can be applied to help address the problem of childhood obesity in Western societies 17 , which is suspected to be partially caused by increasingly sedentary lifestyles among children and teenagers.…”